A few weeks ago, I took on an engagement with a CEO who was looking for help on some big strategic questions. The work was timely and fascinating, just the kind of challenge I enjoy. What gave me pause was the time commitment. It was a fast-moving project that would Read more…
Not long ago, a friend who was preparing an important announcement asked me to “be a hummingbird” for her. I knew exactly what she meant: spread the word, carry her story from one place to another, just like Hummingbirds, a successful Iowa tech startup built on influencer marketing. When I Read more…
Last month in Fearless, I reflected on the awkward pause many of us feel when praise or an award lands at our feet. That instinct to deflect or downplay is common, especially among accomplished women taught to equate humility with worthiness. But once we’ve mustered the courage to say “thank you” and Read more…
It happened again. I received a call about receiving an award – and my immediate instinct was to resist it. A familiar whisper began in my head: “This can’t be right. There are countless others far more deserving.” My brain, it seems, has a default setting for “deflect and deny.” Read more…
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…