It’s Time We Stop Erasing Our Progress
Women’s History Month is one of my favorite months, and it brings me joy to celebrate the immense power, brilliance, and resilience of women. But let’s be real, as much as I’d love this to feel like a victory lap, it feels like we’re still fighting for equity. We’ve shattered ceilings, built empires, and rewritten the rules yet here we are, progress stalling and rights being taken away.
My journey has been anything but linear, more like a wild, unpredictable ride with moments of pure exhilaration and some gut-wrenching lows. And I share it because I know so many women are standing at that same crossroads, asking, Do I stay where it’s safe… or do I leap? Do I become a mother and take a step back in my career? Do I stand up or stay quiet?
Here’s what I know: I worked my *ss off. I got into top universities for a BBA and MBA, landed dream roles at Microsoft and Gartner, and felt deeply grateful for every opportunity. But deep down? I knew I was destined for more. I was checking all the boxes, playing the game, and still carrying this heavy, nagging feeling—Is this it? There were so many days I’d sit with that weight, torn between ambition and guilt, success and something deeper calling me forward. How could I, someone who had “made it,” still feel like something was missing?
Owning My Power in Business and Beyond
Leaving corporate wasn’t just a career move, it was a full-body, soul-shaking decision to bet on myself. I had climbed the ranks, done “everything right,” yet felt like I wasn’t bringing my full authentic self into my career and home. Walking away from my corporate job wasn’t easy, but it was necessary to own my power and future.
Along the way, I met Joshua B. Lee , my husband, my business partner, and the dad to our beautifully blended family of five. His 2 decades as an entrepreneur, founder and business owner, gave me the courage to think beyond employee life and imagine a world in which I created my destiny. With his support and my family’s, I took a leap of faith and became a fempreneur and biz owner. Trusting yourself is the real power move.
So, four years ago, I wrote my first WERK Your Brand newsletter about this exact moment. And let me be clear, entrepreneurship didn’t magically solve everything overnight. But it gave me something employee life never could: freedom. The ability to create my own path, share my voice and serve as my most authentic self. Freedom comes with responsibility.
There were late nights, big risks, and moments of doubt where I questioned if I had made the right call. No paycheck security, no corporate safety net, just me, my vision, and the willingness to bet on myself. And that’s the lesson: no one hands you success, and no company, no title, no salary can define your worth. You do. The second I stopped looking for permission and started fully owning my expertise, opportunities showed up in ways I never imagined.
✨ Here’s the truth that no one teaches in school or outlines in employee handbooks: choosing yourself is hard. It’s uncomfortable. It’s the opposite of what we’ve been conditioned to do. But it’s also where the magic happens. If you’re standing at that edge, wondering if charting your own path is worth it, I’m here to tell you, it is.
Motherhood and Career: Step Forward or Step Back?
In this decision to own your own power, many of us face a difficult decision on when/ if you should have a family. For some, there’s no interest in parenthood, and I completely get it. Do you always! For others, becoming a mother is an important part of our life’s goals. The challenge is that being a mother and having a career are very difficult. I don’t know any mother that hasn’t had to take a step back in their career to create a family.
Now don’t get me wrong, nothing is wrong with a career slowing down and we always will rise stronger with our children, but our society (at least in the US) doesn’t give enough support to career driven mothers. But we don’t let that stop us because motherhood is worth everything.
Ava B Lee changed me in ways I never could have learned in a job, at school, or some coaching program. She’s my daily reminder of the kind of leader, mother, and woman I want to be, not just for her, but for every woman who feels stuck, unseen, or afraid to take the leap.
Becoming a mother wasn’t easy. My IVF journey was one of the hardest battles I’ve ever fought, filled with uncertainty, resilience, and an unshakable belief that what’s meant for us will find its way. And when Ava finally arrived, she didn’t just make me a mom, she made me even more fearless in owning my power.
Our little light and one of our Why’s.
Leaving the security of corporate wasn’t easy. It was messy, uncertain, and full of moments where I questioned everything. But it was the right move for me. Women are still underrepresented in leadership. DEI efforts are being challenged. And some days, it feels like progress is stalling. But here’s what I know, we are not done, and you are not alone. Not even close. If there’s one thing my journey has taught me, it’s that no one hands you a seat at the table. You claim it. You build it. You own it.
So, this is for every woman (and every ally) who refuses to shrink, who knows they deserve more, and who is DONE waiting for permission. Let’s go get it.
Stop Playing Small: 3 Steps to Owning Your Power and Influence
Being a woman in business and tech is both exhilarating and exhausting. I’ve sat at tables where I was the only woman and fought to have my ideas heard. I’ve navigated a career path with a lot of privilege – more than most – and I’ve had incredible male and female managers and mentors, but I’m frustrated. about how many women are still underrepresented in leadership. DEI efforts are under attack. Major companies like McDonald’s, Walmart, and John Deere have recently reduced their DEI initiatives, citing political and legal pressures. This trend threatens to reverse progress made toward workplace equality.
And if you think companies will just “do the right thing” without pressure? I’m not so confident.
My big emcee debut at The Women in Tech Igniting Excellence Conference
At The The WIT Network Igniting Excellence Conference in Dallas, I had the honor of making my emcee debut and standing on stage with some of the most inspiring women in tech. The energy in that room was electric. Beyond the celebration, we got real about the challenges we still face.
Leaders like Christine Bongard , Miri Rodriguez, Cheryl Stookes, and Lori Borg shared the truth about gender gaps in AI, leadership, and pay equity. And the numbers don’t lie:
- Only 22% of AI professionals are women.
- Men are adopting AI 22% faster than women.
Every time DEI budgets are cut, opportunities for women shrink. But here’s the thing, we don’t wait and accept the status quo. We join communities that align with our desires and beliefs and build influence in new ways. There are incredible men and women who are taking a stand, still fighting for equity despite politics, and I’m standing right there with them.
So, what’s the move?
Step 1: Create more opportunities for Women in Leadership
This isn’t just about “doing the right thing.” It’s about business. Companies with more women in leadership see 48% higher earnings. Yet we still make up just 29% of senior management roles globally. HALF the population, and yet we’re still fighting for a third of leadership positions?
Meanwhile, companies like Meta and Amazon are rolling back DEI, but Apple is standing strong, publicly declaring their commitment to keeping diversity a non-negotiable priority. If you’re in leadership, hiring, or building a business: Let’s not wait for companies to catch up and continue to create positions for women in leadership.
Step 2: Build your personal brand and get visible online
Your personal brand isn’t just your career insurance policy, it’s your competitive edge. It’s how you command attention in the boardroom and on LinkedIn. It’s the difference between being overlooked and being the obvious choice. At The WIT Network Conference, I went deep on personal branding because let’s be real, most people are playing small. Your résumé isn’t enough. Your skills aren’t enough. You need visibility, credibility, and confidence to get where you want to go.
Here’s How You Make Personal Branding WORK for You
💜 Think Like a CEO, Even If You’re Not One (Yet) Your career is your business. Would a CEO hide in the background and hope for recognition? No. Start owning your voice like a leader today. That means posting thought leadership on LinkedIn, advocating for your ideas in meetings, and strategically networking with decision-makers.
💜 Your LinkedIn Profile = Your Digital First Impression If your LinkedIn reads like a dry résumé, you’re already losing opportunities. Your headline should make it immediately clear what you do and the impact you bring. Your summary? That’s your elevator pitch. Fill it with personality, passion, and proof of your expertise.
💜 Show Up, Even When It’s Uncomfortable Visibility creates opportunity, but I see too many women waiting for permission to lead. Here’s your wake-up call: stop waiting. Post your insights, comment on industry trends, and take up space. When I started owning my personal brand, doors opened that I didn’t even know existed.
💜 Start Small but Start NOW You don’t need to go viral or write a perfect post. You just need to start.
- Share an article with your thoughts.
- Post about a challenge you overcame in your career.
- Give kudos to a fellow woman leader.
- Speak up in the next meeting.
And if you’re wondering if this actually works? It does. One of my recent LinkedIn posts, where I spoke about the power of women changing the room, not just getting into it, hit over 3 million impressions. Why? Because I showed up as myself, shared my perspective with confidence, and led with authenticity. That’s the power of personal branding.
So, if you’re still waiting for the “perfect moment” to put yourself out there, here’s your sign: Just start. Every action adds up. Every post, conversation, and connection are building your brand. The numbers below speak for themselves.
Step 3: Stand Up, Speak Out & Stay Unapologetic
We’re living through some challenging and crazy times, but we’re also positioned to reshape the narrative. Everything from the past means nothing for the future. We’re literally on a new timeline with technology and Gen AI so let’s imagine a future we’ve never seen before. It’s time to push forward in new ways and be bolder and braver than EVER before.
It will take nearly half a century to achieve equal pay for women for doing the same job as men according to McKinsey’s Women in the Workplace 2024 report, but we can change that narrative.
If you’re still hesitating, here’s your challenge:
✅ Look at your career. Are you playing small? What’s stopping you from making a bold move?
✅ Ask yourself: Are you being paid your worth? A 2024 study showed women are asking for higher salaries more often, but getting denied more. Do your research and demand what you deserve.
✅ Advocate for other women. There’s no need for competition, there’s room for all of us at the top.
This Women’s History Month, I’m standing fully in my power, not just for me, but for my daughters, for the women I mentor, and for every woman who refuses to settle for less. It’s time to own our power. The world will thank you later.
We just have to step up and claim it. Whether this means growing your voice on LinkedIn, leaving your job, starting a company or simply being visible in rooms where you’re the only woman, I’m cheering for you. And if you want to take it a step further, DM me. I help women grow their brand, build influence, and create opportunities.
What’s the key 🔑 to creating more opportunities for women in tech & leadership? It’s not just about getting in the room, it’s about changing it.
I sat down with my amazing friend Christine Bongard President of The WIT Network, a global org of 14K+ women advancing in tech.
We had a powerful discussion on:
💜 The real shifts needed to create more opportunities
💜 Why personal branding = career control
💜 The role of AI & why women must be in the conversation
💜 Christine’s journey from tech entrepreneur to global leader
Catch the replay here! 🎥