The air in the interview room felt thick with expectation, a familiar pressure I’d come to know well throughout my career. I was interviewing for a leadership role at an investment firm, a position that felt like a natural next step, yet a quiet part of me wondered if I Read more…
Have you ever found yourself downplaying a significant achievement, that little voice in your head whispering that sharing it might come across as boastful? I certainly have. I remember vividly the day I received an email informing me I’d been recognized with a prestigious industry award. My initial reaction was Read more…
“Are you crazy?” My friends asked, not unkindly. I just smiled. After several decades climbing the ladder in the high-stakes world of finance, the question hung in the air: “Why would you leave such a successful career?” That was over a decade ago and my peers, family, even the nagging Read more…
I remember the day I was promoted to managing director at the investment firm where I’d worked for several years. Although my MBA degree had prepared me for elements of the job, it had certainly not guaranteed advancement. Moving up required developing a track record of hitting numbers, building client Read more…
What if the biggest barrier to women’s leadership isn’t a lack of ability, but a lack of self-recognition of their identity as leaders? I’ve seen this phenomenon in action. When I worked in financial services, I had a colleague named Patricia, a talented woman who — even without formal authority Read more…
Throughout my career, I’ve faced my share of challenges. When things got really tough, I’d frequently lean on one of my best friends who was a savvy businesswoman. It wasn’t about complaining, but about having someone who understood my situation help keep me accountable. One time, self-doubt was crippling me Read more…
Early in my career, I received a backhanded compliment that highlighted the pervasive stereotypes women face in the workplace. My leader praised my assertiveness, expressing surprise that a woman could possess such a quality. Ironically, at that point in my life, I was not sure how to respond to a Read more…
NAWBO Iowa honors exemplary local women business owners at 2024 Celebration of Excellence One day last month, I had a typical day of meetings and errands: I had a coffee meeting at a local establishment; popped into a neighborhood salon to get a gift certificate to give to a friend; Read more…
Have you ever stopped to count how many digital tasks you perform regularly? I conducted an inventory of my own digital usage recently and was a little stunned by the number of activities I perform on numerous devices — everything from managing work and personal schedules, documents, emails, texts and Read more…
I once turned down a plum offer to start a new division at an investment firm. At the time, I didn’t think I had adequate experience to take on the challenge. Looking back, I wonder why I didn’t believe in myself, especially when the leaders who approached me believed I Read more…