Journey to Leadership

You have a unique position to influence others in the workplace regardless of your title or gender. Whether you are in a leadership or in an individual contributor role, you should feel confident being yourself, voicing your opinions, and leading by example.   

In our panel discussion "Journey to Leadership" our panelists Julie Halegouet (Adyen), Natalie Johnson (AutogenAI), and Katie Capuzzo (WISE) shared their personal experiences in navigating their career as women. 

Here are some key takeaways to guide you in your professional journey.

Being a woman is a strength.

As women, we tend to lead with relational intelligence and are more engaged in active listening. Growing confidence takes time, but by keeping a focus on your mission and objective, preparing well, and remaining authentic, you'll get more comfortable sharing opinions regardless of the audience. Remember, you belong and your perspective matters.

Leadership goes beyond a title.

Many individual contributors find themselves questioning whether management is right for them. It might not be, and that's ok! If you give it a try and realize you prefer hunting, carrying a quota and being the subject-matter expert, you can always go back to being a rockstar IC, where your influence and impact is still recognized.

Stand out in an interview.

Run your interview stages like a sales process. Do thorough discovery, prepare thoughtful questions and clearly understand next steps. It's also important to showcase self-reflection and your desire to consistently learn.

For the allies in the room.

You can make an impact for future generations by calling out gender disparity and non-equal playing fields when you see them. Lead by example and give everyone the opportunity to speak up.

Being a woman in the workplace can be a superpower. Use your natural ability to empathize, influence and engage others.

Need some career advice? Ask our experts at advice@womeninsaleseverywhere.com.

Want to learn more? You can stream the full event recording here. Thank you to all of the WISE partners for making this event possible and our panelists for sharing their time and advice.