Women in leadership? That’s me now, but holy crap, it’s been a sloppy, crazy ride. I’m sitting in my tiny Philly apartment, rain smacking the window like it’s pissed, my coffee cold ‘cause I got sucked into a work email. My desk’s a disaster—sticky notes stuck to my arm, a half-eaten bagel, and a random shoelace I don’t even know how it got there. I’m a CEO, but getting from manager to here? Total mess, with some real dumb moments. Here’s my honest, kinda embarrassing take on what women in leadership gotta do, straight from my frazzled brain.
Why Women in Leadership Gotta Grind Harder
The corporate world doesn’t exactly throw a parade for women in leadership. First manager gig, I was at this tech startup in Boston, 28, thinking I was hot stuff. But boardrooms? Like walking into a lion’s cage. My heels clacked way too loud, my hands shook, and one time I dropped my whole planner—papers everywhere—right in front of the exec team. Wanted to die right there.
Women in leadership gotta hustle twice as hard for half the credit. Harvard Business Review says women get promoted less than guys with the same chops. You gotta be confident but not “pushy,” smart but not a know-it-all. It’s a tightrope, and I’ve fallen off a ton.
My Big Screw-Up: Apologizing for Breathing
I used to say “sorry” like it was my catchphrase. Spilled water? “Sorry!” Had an idea? “Sorry, just thinking out loud.” So dumb. One time, in a Seattle café, all espresso and burnt toast smells, my mentor—a badass woman who’d made VP—grabbed my arm and was like, “Stop apologizing for existing, girl.” I laughed, but damn, it stung. Women in leadership don’t need to say sorry for having a voice.
Real Steps for Women in Leadership to Climb
So, how do you go from manager to CEO when the game’s rigged? Here’s what I learned, flubs and all.
Step 1: Fake It Till You Ain’t Shaking
When I got bumped to director, I was freaking out. First big meeting, I wore this blazer that was too tight, my voice cracking like a kid’s. Room smelled like stale coffee and ego. My slides froze, I stumbled over words, and I thought, “I’m done.” But nobody cares if you’re nervous if you show up. Forbes says fake confidence till it sticks, and they ain’t wrong.
- My Dumb Trick: I stand in the bathroom, hands on hips like some superhero wannabe, muttering, “You’re fine, dummy.” Goofy, but it works.
- Big Oof: Tried copying a loud dude exec’s style once. Sounded like a cartoon bully. Just be you, weird bits and all.
Step 2: Find Your Ride-or-Dies
Women in leadership need a crew. Not just cheerleaders—real ones, mentors, sponsors, pals who’ll call you out but got your back. Met my mentor at a Women in Tech event in Chicago. She was this sharp Black exec who’d fought her way up in marketing. We bonded over gross conference sandwiches, and she told me about bombing a pitch but still getting promoted. She said get sponsors—folks who’ll vouch for you in rooms you’re not in.
- What I Did: Networking’s the worst, but I went. Spilled wine on a VP’s shoe at a mixer once, apologized to the freaking floor. He laughed, now he’s a mentor. Go figure.
- Weird Bit: Thought mentors had to be older. Nope. Best advice came from a 25-year-old coder who taught me how to read a room’s vibe.
Step 3: Ditch Perfect, It’s a Trap
Thought women in leadership had to be flawless. Stayed up till 2 a.m. fixing typos in emails nobody read. Once spent hours on a report’s font—hours! McKinsey calls this the “perfection trap,” and I was caught bad. Let it go. Good enough gets you there.
Step 4: Say No and Mean It (Kinda)
Saying no’s brutal. I said yes to everything—extra work, late meetings, pointless coffee chats—‘cause I didn’t wanna seem ungrateful. Burned out so hard I cried in a D.C. diner, fries and ketchup smells all around, ‘cause I missed my best friend’s party. Women in leadership gotta set boundaries. Say no to stuff that don’t matter. It’s not rude, it’s survival.
- My Hack: Practice saying no in my car, like, “Nah, I’m good.” Sounds stupid, but it helps.
- Real Talk: Still feel like a jerk saying no. Getting there, though. One step at a time.
The Crazy Ride of Women in Leadership
Being a woman in leadership’s like a rollercoaster with a busted seatbelt. One day you’re killing it, next you’re wondering why you even tried. Got my CEO offer in a noisy Philly café, burnt bagel smell everywhere. Didn’t cheer; I panicked, thinking I’d tank it. That fear still creeps in, but it’s fuel. Every doubt makes me think of that café and keep pushing.
Wrapping Up My Hot Mess of a Climb
So, that’s my story—coffee stains, bad pitches, too many sorries. Women in leadership don’t gotta be perfect; just keep showing up, screwing up, and learning. I’m still a mess sometimes, and that’s fine. If you’re climbing that ladder, you got this. Got a story about your own messy hustle? Drop it below—I’m all ears. Like, seriously, let’s trade war stories.
