As a woman in business I am continually underestimated.
Actually, scratch that – as a woman on Earth I am continually underestimated, just like the rest of my sex – it’s just that running a kickass business that has made it so glaringly apparent to me.
People from the more conventional world of financial success see me – small, baby-faced, inclined towards linen dresses and rapunzelesque hair – and think that they have me all figured out. They put me tidily onto a box marked “of no concern”, and immediately add less weight and credence to what I say.
It’s in marked contrast to the reception I generally receive online. In this space, I guess I come across differently. Folks see my words and my work before they see my appearance. Perhaps the social proof of those numbers and blue ticks beside my name on social media give me some sense of automatic gravity that I lack in real life.
But face-to-face it is a different story, and it’s frustrating as hell. It’s also a gift, of sorts, I think. A secret superpower, even.
Hello, I exist
It’s frustrating because I am tired of proving myself. I am bone-achingly weary of having to struggle uphill to be taken seriously in shiny London boardrooms by shiny-suited men.
I see it as a waste of both time and energy that could be better spent by all involved in actually working – doing whatever we actually met there to do. Plus honestly, it’s intimidating – I work better and contribute more openly when I’m not being openly misjudged. I’m human. Powerful people dismissing me still triggers waves of self-doubt, and it’s hard to share your views freely when you know they’ll most likely be dismissed. You have to weigh up how each point will work in your favour, as well as in the scope of the project at hand. It’s like playing a strategic game of 3D chess while everyone else just gets to argue between black and white pieces.
But, of course, there’s no way in hell I’m going to change myself to conform. I dress professionally, but I’m not about to turn up with power-suit and briefcase like some 80s movie makeover. I’ll never stop considering the emotions and sociology of my work because I fundamentally believe that is a strength for me: just because the more traditional world of business doesn’t acknowledge this is no reason to leave it behind. Changing who I am and how I work to fit with a dated and frankly moribund* methodology would be a foolish step backwards and for all the wrong reasons. I strongly believe that we – nuanced, sensitive, responsive women – are the future of media and communications and business. I believe we are an active part of a change.
“Quiet women don’t change the world”, they say. Traditionally, that’s no doubt true – but isn’t that because it was the men writing the history books? Yes, by becoming more self-aggrandising, opinionated, forceful and loud, I could probably be heard better in these situations. By reducing all the ways I seem “feminine” and becoming more “alpha’ I could be taken more seriously by certain folk – but isn’t it time for some new routes to success?
Not least because all the success I have enjoyed so far in life has come by being soft, fluid, gentle and kind.
Of course, I’m aware that those ‘feminine’ traits didn’t form in a vacuum. Society conditions us to be timid and soft (and I’m a huge fan of Tara Mohr’s balanced work and research helping women push past some of the artificial barriers created for us by this). But tuning in to our emotions, defining success outside of numbers and putting community over competition isn’t exclusively female: in fact it’s arguably generically human. The issue is, men, especially men in a corporate world, are conditioned not to make room for it. Women are allowed, by way of all the other conditions laid upon us – and maybe this means we need to lead the charge in making it universal.
Even if that means we get dismissed sometimes.
I’m not special in this sense and I’m certainly not unique. Where I am perhaps fortunate is that I’ve been able to notice this paradigm because I get to see how strongly it contrasts with the response that eventually follows. Usually, it plays out like this:
*First meeting, set up by someone who understands my work between me and person significantly higher above them in the company*
Them: Yawn. Domineering/dismissive/
disinterested.
Me: “ok, here’s what I do. Bye now.”*Several weeks later, via email*
Them: So, I actually looked at your work, or mentioned you idly in conversation with others who understand it. Turns out you’re brilliant! Allow me to flatter and make all possible allowances for you to be you.
Me: *does the work*
I guess this goes to prove two things: that a good reputation is still incredibly valuable, and equally, that it’s never enough. Frustrating, right? Especially if you’re at an earlier point in your career right now and don’t have that word of mouth or visible body of work available to start shifting their misinformed perceptions.
But wait. Remember when I said it’s kind of a gift too?
A sleeping superpower
In any sort of conflict, it pays to have an ace or two up your sleeve. When we’re dismissed for our gender, appearance or preconceptions about our industry or work, we’ve gifted the element of surprise. The person opposite us is actively choosing to be foolishly misinformed, and there are no situations in business or in life where the best outcome is achieved by a lack of accurate information. They might still win, but it won’t be the best result for them.
As the person in the room with the clearest insight into the situation, we always have the (quiet, sometimes timid) upper hand.
The trick is knowing when to use it, perhaps. It’s knowing when to say “go ahead, underestimate me – I’m too busy for this crap” – and when to fire off an email that is so articulate, comprehensive and downright fabulous that it pulls up all those pre-conceptions at the roots. It’s letting some of these altercations go, trusting that three years from now they’ll see you working with their competitors or hitting the bestseller list and slowly realise their mistake.
It is not our job – not ever – to educate the traditional business world on why (small/pretty/non-pretty/
It is only ever our job to do the work, to be open and ready, to represent ourselves as fairly and positively as we can.
I have friends – of both genders – who are still mired in the corporate, Male-dominated business world. A world where success is still measured purely in profit, where pushing harder, playing to the ego and being hard are still the rules of the game. People for whom it’s the norm to work in ways that may be legal, but are still unethical – stealing a competitor’s idea, misleading consumers, exploiting employees, poaching clients or avoiding fair taxes – under the justification of “it’s perfectly legal” or even “just good business sense.” Nobody ever became rich by being nice, right?
But when I listen to them I see a Roman Empire set to crumble. I see consumers gathering en mass on social media to push back against these tactics – asking why, demanding change, sharing knowledge and seeing through the bullshit. I see #TimesUp, loud voices demanding their social media app has an ethical CEO, boycotts against businesses with bad ethics or relations.
I see weak business models that can’t stand the test of time because they are built around hype and not heart. If you can’t be transparent with your audience or customers about what you do and why, you’re living with a ticking time bomb under your desk.
We can make money – good money – on different terms to those dictated by the old guard of business. And with money comes influence and the ability to make real and powerful change.
Maybe quiet women have never made history – and I extend my heartfelt thanks to the women before us who fought loudly to build the world we have today. It’s a world where we can make history in entirely new ways – and those who won’t acknowledge us and our strengths will have to fall behind.
Hashtags for Instagram
Every month, I gather up a selection of winning hashtags and send them straight to your inbox, for free.
Sign up to receive my newsletters every month.
71 Comments
Leave a Comment
먹튀제보
March 22, 2024
It?s onerous to find knowledgeable individuals on this topic, but you sound like you realize what you?re speaking about! Thanks
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
click
March 17, 2024
Magnificent website. Plenty of useful info here. I am sending it to a few friends ans also sharing in delicious. And certainly, thanks for your effort!
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
online casino games
March 11, 2024
Wonderful web site. Plenty of useful information here. I am sending it to some buddies ans additionally sharing in delicious. And certainly, thank you for your sweat!
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
situs bokep
March 09, 2024
F*ckin? remarkable things here. I?m very glad to see your post. Thanks a lot and i’m looking forward to contact you. Will you please drop me a e-mail?
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
kontol kuda
March 06, 2024
I will immediately grasp your rss as I can not in finding your e-mail subscription link or newsletter service. Do you have any? Please permit me recognise so that I may subscribe. Thanks.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
fridays
March 02, 2024
const
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
lpg diaphragms
March 01, 2024
I will immediately grab your rss as I can’t find your e-mail subscription link or e-newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Kindly let me know so that I could subscribe. Thanks.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
kontol kuda
February 16, 2024
Currently it looks like BlogEngine is the best blogging platform out there right now. (from what I’ve read) Is that what you are using on your blog?
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
visit site
February 15, 2024
I will immediately grab your rss feed as I can not find your e-mail subscription link or newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Kindly let me know so that I could subscribe. Thanks.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Clarksville TN
February 13, 2024
It’s perfect time to make a few plans for the long run and it’s time to be happy. I’ve read this put up and if I may just I desire to counsel you some attention-grabbing issues or advice. Maybe you can write subsequent articles regarding this article. I desire to learn even more issues about it!
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Queens Nails
February 10, 2024
Hey! Do you know if they make any plugins to safeguard against hackers? I’m kinda paranoid about losing everything I’ve worked hard on. Any suggestions?
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Ünlü Medyum Haluk Hoca
February 04, 2024
Güvenilir en iyi Gerçek bir sonuç veren en iyi medyumu halu hoca ile sizlerde çalışınız. İletişim: +49 157 59456087 Aşık Etme Büyüsü, Bağlama Büyüsü gibi çalışmaları sizlerde yaptırabilirsiniz.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
En İyi Medyum Haluk Hoca
February 02, 2024
Güvenilir en iyi Gerçek bir sonuç veren en iyi medyumu halu hoca ile sizlerde çalışınız. İletişim: +49 157 59456087 Aşık Etme Büyüsü, Bağlama Büyüsü gibi çalışmaları sizlerde yaptırabilirsiniz.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Medyum Haluk Yıldız Hoca
February 01, 2024
Güvenilir en iyi Gerçek bir sonuç veren en iyi medyumu halu hoca ile sizlerde çalışınız. İletişim: +49 157 59456087 Aşık Etme Büyüsü, Bağlama Büyüsü gibi çalışmaları sizlerde yaptırabilirsiniz.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Medyum Haluk Yıldız
January 31, 2024
Güvenilir en iyi Gerçek bir sonuç veren en iyi medyumu halu hoca ile sizlerde çalışınız. İletişim: +49 157 59456087 Aşık Etme Büyüsü, Bağlama Büyüsü gibi çalışmaları sizlerde yaptırabilirsiniz.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Medyum Haluk
January 30, 2024
Güvenilir en iyi Gerçek bir sonuç veren en iyi medyumu halu hoca ile sizlerde çalışınız. İletişim: +49 157 59456087 Aşık Etme Büyüsü, Bağlama Büyüsü gibi çalışmaları sizlerde yaptırabilirsiniz.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Medyum Haluk Hoca
January 29, 2024
Güven veren Gerçek bir sonuç veren en iyi medyumu halu hoca ile sizlerde çalışınız. İletişim: +49 157 59456087 Aşık Etme Büyüsü, Bağlama Büyüsü gibi çalışmaları sizlerde yaptırabilirsiniz.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Köln Medyumu
January 29, 2024
Almanya hmaburg Güven veren Gerçek bir sonuç veren en iyi medyumu halu hoca ile sizlerde çalışınız. İletişim: +49 157 59456087 Aşık Etme Büyüsü, Bağlama Büyüsü gibi çalışmaları sizlerde yaptırabilirsiniz.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Medyum Haluk
January 29, 2024
Almanya berlinde Güven veren Gerçek bir sonuç veren en iyi medyumu halu hoca ile sizlerde çalışınız. İletişim: +49 157 59456087 Aşık Etme Büyüsü, Bağlama Büyüsü gibi çalışmaları sizlerde yaptırabilirsiniz.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Medyum Haluk Hoca
January 27, 2024
Almanya’da Güven veren Gerçek bir sonuç veren en iyi medyumu halu hoca ile sizlerde çalışınız. İletişim: +49 157 59456087 Aşık Etme Büyüsü, Bağlama Büyüsü gibi çalışmaları sizlerde yaptırabilirsiniz.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
bakar 77
January 23, 2024
I?m impressed, I need to say. Actually not often do I encounter a blog that?s each educative and entertaining, and let me let you know, you could have hit the nail on the head. Your concept is excellent; the issue is something that not enough individuals are talking intelligently about. I’m very glad that I stumbled throughout this in my seek for something regarding this.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Medyum Hoca
January 23, 2024
Köln’de Gerçek bir sonuç veren en iyi medyumu halu hoca ile sizlerde çalışınız. İletişim: +49 157 59456087 Aşık Etme Büyüsü, Bağlama Büyüsü gibi çalışmaları sizlerde yaptırabilirsiniz.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Köln Medyum Hoca
January 22, 2024
Köln’de Gerçek bir sonuç veren en iyi medyumu halu hoca ile sizlerde çalışınız. İletişim: +49 157 59456087 Aşık Etme Büyüsü, Bağlama Büyüsü gibi çalışmaları sizlerde yaptırabilirsiniz.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Bremen Medyum Hoca
January 22, 2024
Köln’de Gerçek bir sonuç veren en iyi medyumu halu hoca ile sizlerde çalışınız. İletişim: +49 157 59456087 Aşık Etme Büyüsü, Bağlama Büyüsü gibi çalışmaları sizlerde yaptırabilirsiniz.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Bremen Medyum Hoca
January 21, 2024
Bremen’de Gerçek bir sonuç veren en iyi medyumu halu hoca ile sizlerde çalışınız. İletişim: +49 157 59456087 Aşık Etme Büyüsü, Bağlama Büyüsü gibi çalışmaları sizlerde yaptırabilirsiniz.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Berlin Medyum Hoca
January 21, 2024
Berlin’de Gerçek bir sonuç veren en iyi medyumu halu hoca ile sizlerde çalışınız. İletişim: +49 157 59456087 Aşık Etme Büyüsü, Bağlama Büyüsü gibi çalışmaları sizlerde yaptırabilirsiniz.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Hamburg Medyum Hoca
January 20, 2024
Hamburg’da Gerçek bir sonuç veren en iyi medyumu halu hoca ile sizlerde çalışınız. İletişim: +49 157 59456087 Aşık Etme Büyüsü, Bağlama Büyüsü gibi çalışmaları sizlerde yaptırabilirsiniz.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Köln Medyum Haluk Hoca
January 18, 2024
Köln’de Gerçek bir sonuç veren en iyi medyumu halu hoca ile sizlerde çalışınız. İletişim: +49 157 59456087 Aşık Etme Büyüsü, Bağlama Büyüsü gibi çalışmaları sizlerde yaptırabilirsiniz.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Berlin Medyum Haluk Hoca
January 18, 2024
Gerçek bir sonuç veren en iyi medyumu halu hoca ile sizlerde çalışınız. İletişim: +49 157 59456087 Aşık Etme Büyüsü, Bağlama Büyüsü gibi çalışmaları sizlerde yaptırabilirsiniz.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
best ISO partner program
January 18, 2024
It is best to take part in a contest for among the finest blogs on the web. I’ll advocate this website!
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Almanya Medyum Haluk
January 17, 2024
Güven veren en iyi medyumu halu hoca ile sizlerde çalışınız. İletişim: +49 157 59456087 Aşık Etme Büyüsü, Bağlama Büyüsü gibi çalışmaları sizlerde yaptırabilirsiniz.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Almanya Medyum Haluk
January 17, 2024
Güven veren en iyi medyumu halu hoca ile sizlerde çalışınız. İletişim: +49 157 59456087 Aşık Etme Büyüsü, Bağlama Büyüsü gibi çalışmaları sizlerde yaptırabilirsiniz.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
medyum haluk
January 16, 2024
Almanyanın en iyi medyumu halu hoca ile sizlerde çalışınız. İletişim: +49 157 59456087 Aşık Etme Büyüsü, Bağlama Büyüsü gibi çalışmaları sizlerde yaptırabilirsiniz.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
medyum haluk hoca
January 16, 2024
Almanyanın en iyi medyumu halu hoca ile sizlerde çalışınız. İletişim: +49 157 59456087 Aşık Etme Büyüsü, Bağlama Büyüsü gibi çalışmaları sizlerde yaptırabilirsiniz.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
medyumlar
January 15, 2024
Almanya Berlin en iyi medyumu halu hoca ile sizlerde çalışınız. İletişim: +49 157 59456087 Aşık Etme Büyüsü, Bağlama Büyüsü gibi çalışmaları sizlerde yaptırabilirsiniz.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Selling POS Systems
January 15, 2024
Thanks for revealing your ideas. I might also like to express that video games have been actually evolving. Better technology and innovations have helped create authentic and fun games. These kinds of entertainment games were not actually sensible when the real concept was being used. Just like other areas of know-how, video games way too have had to evolve by many many years. This is testimony to the fast continuing development of video games.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
더킹카지노
January 14, 2024
This actually answered my problem, thanks!
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
medyumlar
January 14, 2024
Almanya’nın en iyi medyumu halu hoca ile sizlerde çalışınız. İletişim: +49 157 59456087 Aşık Etme Büyüsü, Bağlama Büyüsü gibi çalışmaları sizlerde yaptırabilirsiniz.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
bokep indo
January 12, 2024
Hello! I’m at work browsing your blog from my new iphone 3gs! Just wanted to say I love reading your blog and look forward to all your posts! Keep up the excellent work!
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Casino
January 11, 2024
I think one of your advertisements caused my web browser to resize, you might want to put that on your blacklist.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Almanya medyum
January 11, 2024
Almanya’nın en iyi medyumu halu hoca ile sizlerde çalışınız. İletişim: +49 157 59456087 Aşık Etme Büyüsü, Bağlama Büyüsü gibi çalışmaları sizlerde yaptırabilirsiniz.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Yung Feinstein
January 10, 2024
Thanks a lot for the helpful write-up. It is also my belief that mesothelioma cancer has an particularly long latency time, which means that warning signs of the disease may not emerge till 30 to 50 years after the primary exposure to asbestos. Pleural mesothelioma, which can be the most common sort and impacts the area within the lungs, could potentially cause shortness of breath, breasts pains, as well as a persistent cough, which may lead to coughing up blood vessels.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Köln Medyum
January 10, 2024
Köln medyum haluk hocayı sizlerde tanıyın, Köln medyumu ile iletişim kurabilirsiniz,
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Berlin Medyum Hoca
January 06, 2024
Avrupanın en iyi medyumlarının hakkında bilinmeyenler neler sizler için araştırdık ve karar verdik.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
situs bokep
January 05, 2024
It?s truly a nice and useful piece of information. I am satisfied that you just shared this helpful information with us. Please stay us up to date like this. Thank you for sharing.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
medyum hoca
January 05, 2024
Gerçek Medyumlar hakkında bilinmeyenler neler sizler için araştırdık ve karar verdik.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
porn movie
January 04, 2024
I really like your wordpress design, where would you down load it from?
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
medyum
December 29, 2023
Tütsüler hakkında bilinmeyen ne varsa sizlerle en güzel yorumları tütsü çeşitleri sizlerle.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Get More Information
December 28, 2023
You made some decent points there. I appeared on the web for the difficulty and located most people will go together with with your website.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
https://ahsaboys.yoo7.com/t974-topic#1201
December 25, 2023
It?s actually a cool and helpful piece of info. I?m glad that you shared this helpful information with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Medyum Hoca
December 25, 2023
Avrupa’nın en güvenilir medyum hocalarından medyum haluk yıldız hocamız siz değerli kardeşlerimize yardım eli uzatıyor.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Medyum Hoca
December 24, 2023
Avrupa’nın en güvenilir medyum hocalarından medyum haluk yıldız hocamız siz değerli kardeşlerimize yardım eli uzatıyor.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
start a credit card processing business
December 23, 2023
Thanks for giving your ideas. I might also like to express that video games have been ever evolving. Today’s technology and innovative developments have aided create genuine and active games. These kind of entertainment games were not that sensible when the actual concept was first being attempted. Just like other designs of know-how, video games too have had to grow by many years. This itself is testimony to the fast growth of video games.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
almanya medyum haluk hoca
December 19, 2023
En iyi medyumu arıyorsanız hiç çekinmeden medyum hocamızı ziyaret edebilir ve kendisinden bizzat destek alabilirsiniz.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
almanya medyumlar
December 19, 2023
Güvenilir bir medyum için bizi tercih ediniz, medyum haluk hocamız sizler için elinden geleni yapıyor.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
KNIGHTSBRIDGE ESCORTS
December 14, 2023
I can’t express how much I appreciate the effort the author has put into producing this remarkable piece of content. The clarity of the writing, the depth of analysis, and the plethora of information presented are simply remarkable. His zeal for the subject is evident, and it has undoubtedly struck a chord with me. Thank you, author, for providing your insights and enriching our lives with this incredible article!
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
피망 머니상
December 14, 2023
Yet another issue is that video gaming became one of the all-time main forms of entertainment for people of nearly every age. Kids enjoy video games, and adults do, too. The actual XBox 360 is just about the favorite games systems for those who love to have hundreds of activities available to them, and also who like to relax and play live with other people all over the world. Thank you for sharing your opinions.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
How do I become a bank ISO
December 10, 2023
Wonderful post however , I was wanting to know if you could write a litte more on this subject? I’d be very grateful if you could elaborate a little bit more. Appreciate it!
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
credit card processing agent
December 08, 2023
Heya i am for the first time here. I found this board and I find It really useful & it helped me out much. I hope to give something back and help others like you aided me.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
haidie electric
December 06, 2023
The subsequent time I read a blog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as much as this one. I mean, I know it was my option to learn, however I really thought youd have one thing attention-grabbing to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something that you would fix if you happen to werent too busy looking for attention.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
board manufacturing| PCB assembly| PCB| PCBA}
December 04, 2023
Can I just say what a aid to seek out somebody who truly knows what theyre talking about on the internet. You positively know tips on how to carry an issue to gentle and make it important. More folks need to read this and perceive this facet of the story. I cant believe youre not more widespread since you positively have the gift.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
graliontorile
August 10, 2023
I am always thought about this, thanks for putting up.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Caden Whittaker
August 08, 2023
It’s hard to find experienced people on this subject, however, you seem like you know what you’re talking about! Thanks
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Gabriel Tait
August 08, 2023
Rumalaya sildenafil citrate canadian pharmacy
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
graliontorile
May 12, 2023
Real clear web site, regards for this post.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
driving instructors
April 09, 2023
Thanks so much for the post.Much thanks again. Cool.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
zoritoler imol
March 09, 2023
You made various good points there. I did a search on the issue and found nearly all folks will consent with your blog.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
vorbelutr ioperbir
March 08, 2023
Some really excellent info , Gladiolus I found this. “If you haven’t forgiven yourself something, how can you forgive others” by Dolores Huerta.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
zoritoler imol
January 29, 2023
Pretty! This was a really wonderful post. Thank you for your provided information.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
vorbelutrioperbir
January 29, 2023
The next time I read a blog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as much as this one. I mean, I know it was my choice to read, but I actually thought youd have something interesting to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something that you could fix if you werent too busy looking for attention.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
zoritoler imol
January 02, 2023
I got good info from your blog
Your comment is awaiting moderation.