There’s a moment many women leaders can recall…that first post, podcast or public message where they finally decided to share their voice. It took courage. It took clarity. And for many, it took years to get there.
But today, even that moment of bravery is under threat.
We’ve celebrated more women entering leadership than ever before. And rightfully so.
But beneath the headlines, a quieter story is unfolding.
Women are leaving leadership pipelines at every stage…and we’re not talking about it enough.
This isn’t a pipeline issue. It’s a retention issue.
here’s a quiet crisis playout out behind boardroom doors.
Recent research shows:
56% of executives report being burned out
Nearly half of leadership teams have lost top talent due to chronic fatigue and disengagement
Women in leadership are disproportionately affected, especially those holding the “only” seat at the table
These findings come from the 2024 Women @ Work report by Deloitte, which continues to track the evolving workplace experiences of women globally.
For years, we’ve been told the problem is at the top.
The elusive C-suite. The final glass ceiling.
But what if the real issue isn’t just the ceiling?
What if it’s the ladder itself?
According to research, for every 100 men promoted from entry-level to manager, only 81 women are promoted, and the numbers are even lower for women of color. This is what’s known as the broken rung-the first step up that too many women are missing.
Let’s get one thing straight: Your reputation is not what people say about you.
It’s what people believe about you…when you’re not in the room.
And whether your realize it or not, you’re building it every single day.
In a world that constantly tries to put women in boxes…”too much”, “not enough”, “too ambitious”, “not read”…you have a choice. You can let others write the narrative…or you can own the pen.
Being the CEO of your own reputation means getting crystal clear on what you want to be known for…and backing that up with how you show up, communicate and lead. It’s not about polishing a brand. It’s about embodying your values. Consistently.
I’ve coached hundreds of brilliant women who tell me they’ll speak up after the next meeting, go for the promotion next quarter, invest in themselves next year. And when we dig deeper, the waiting isn’t about strategy. It’s about fear. About permission. About the myth that one day, confidence will just arrive.
That’s the scenario too many women in leadership find themselves in. The title is shiny. The stakes are high. And the situation? Often a mess. Welcome to the Glass Cliff…a term coined to describe the unsettling reality that women are more likely to be placed in leadership roles during times of turbulence, decline or flat-out failure. It’s a promotion yes…but one perched on shaky ground.
You’ve checked the boxes. Earned the degrees. Gained the titles. Led the teams.
So why don’t you feel more confident?
That’s the Confidence Trap…believing that more experience will automatically erase self-doubt. For many high-achieving women, especially in male-dominated industries, confidence doesn’t grow in parallel with competence. It often lags behind it.
True leadership isn’t about collecting wins. It’s about creating impact…for yourself and for others. The world doesn’t need more titles or accolades. It needs more women who lift as they climb.
You don’t have to mentor everyone. But you can become the leader you once needed. And in doing so, you create a ripple effect that outlives your job title, your business card or your current role.
What if resilience isn’t about returning to who you were, but becoming who you’re meant to be?
For women especially, challenges show up in every corner of life-personally, professionally and in the space in between. Sometimes, it’s a sudden disruption in your career. Other times, it’s a family situation you didn’t see coming. And while it might feel tempting to retreat under the covers with your favorite blanket and call it a day…life has other plans.
It happens quietly. Maybe you’ve always been great at simplifying chaos into clear action…but you call it “just being organized.” Maybe people always come to you for advice…but you brush it off as “being a good listener.” Maybe you lead with empathy, but you label it “just being nice.”
We often think of change as something massive, dramatic and immediate…like a total career pivot, a big promotion or finally achieving work-life harmony. But in reality, lasting change begins with the small shifts: the thoughts we challenge, the patterns we disrupt and the beliefs we finally let go of.
