Room to not always have the answer —and still be seen as strong Mentors and mirrors —people who reflect back what I can’t always see in myself Examples of leadership that look like mine — not just the loudest voice in the room A reminder that I already have what it takes —now it’s about trusting it These shifts aren’t about fixing ourselves. They’re about returning to ourselves—and leading from that place.
Model imperfection. When we’re honest about what we’re still figuring out, we give others permission to do the same. That’s where learning happens. Celebrate the real wins. Not just titles or outcomes —but the moment someone spoke up, set a boundary, or tried something bold. Create circles, not ladders. Build peer support. Encourage collaboration over competition. Let leadership be something we grow in together, not just strive for alone. Keep reflecting. Make space—weekly, monthly, whenever—for your own check-ins: Am I leading in alignment with who I am? That’s where recalibration starts. We don’t need to change who we are to lead—we need to lead in ways that honor who we are. And the more we do that, the more we open the door for others to do the same. Coming Home to Ourselves For me, learning to lead wasn’t about climbing higher or working harder. It was about coming home to my voice. To my values. To the kind of leader I already was— underneath all the noise, pressure, and expectations.
But we don’t get there alone.
We get there through conversations that make space for honesty. Through communities where it’s safe to be both ambitious and uncertain. Through models of leadership that leave room for voice, vulnerability, and growth. If we want more women to rise—and stay—we need to build environments that support this kind of leadership. That don’t just ask for results, but make room for reflection, self-trust, and authenticity. And that starts with us. With how we lead. With how we show up for one another. With what we normalize, encourage, and model.
And I’m still learning. Still listening. Still catching myself in old habits and gently choosing a different path.
That’s what real leadership looks like. Not perfection. Not performance. But presence.
A willingness to show up, speak up, and keep becoming— over and over again.
When we create space for that kind of leadership—in ourselves and each other—we don’t just grow stronger leaders. We grow something bigger: A culture where more of us feel seen, heard, and powerful in our own skin. That’s the kind of leadership I want to be part of. That’s the kind I believe in. And that’s the kind I’ll keep standing for—until every woman knows: you already have what it takes. Let’s make space for it to rise.
How We Create Those Spaces
Creating space for real leadership—voice, vulnerability, growth—doesn’t always require sweeping change. Sometimes it starts small. But intentional. Here’s what I’ve seen work—in my own leadership and in the teams and women I support: Start with presence, not performance. Slow down enough to actually be with the people you’re leading. Real connection builds real trust. Ask better questions. Instead of jumping to fix, ask: What do you need right now? What feels true to you? That kind of listening changes people.
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