By: Melissa Fredette, Greenheart International Board Member
In 2023, women held only 10% of leadership roles in the U.S. Fortune 500. Yet the data is unequivocal: companies perform better when women lead. Research shows that organizations with 30% or more women in leadership are 12 times more likely to rank in the top 20% for financial performance. Teams also collaborate more effectively under female leaders, and decades of studies show women more frequently demonstrate transformational leadership—rooted in values, inspiration, and long-term vision.
From business outcomes to employee engagement, everyone benefits when more women rise.
But enabling women to advance requires more than addressing structural barriers, though those certainly exist. It also requires empowering women to fully step into their own potential. After rising into senior leadership roles myself and working with countless women on their career growth, I’ve seen a pattern: many highly capable women hide in plain sight. They do exceptional work but hesitate to claim visibility, to ask for more, or to advocate for their future.
Gender bias still plays a role, but self-limiting behaviors can create an additional barrier. Men, in general, tend to place fewer internal limits on themselves. We don’t need to “act like men,” but we can adopt habits that make it easier for others to see us as the leaders we already have the capacity to become.
My hope is that women fully embrace their strengths and seize opportunity with confidence.
Here are five practices that consistently help women accelerate their careers:
1. Be direct about what you want.
Don’t wait for your work to speak for itself. Regularly talk with your manager about your career goals and what skills or experiences you need to reach the next level. Share your accomplishments along the way, not just at review time, and ask for specific feedback. Advancement becomes far more attainable when leaders know you’re aiming for it.
2. Seek mentorship … don’t wait to be assigned one.
The most meaningful mentoring relationships are rarely formal. Reach out to people you admire and initiate the connection yourself. Ask for advice, follow up, and keep the conversation going. Making it easy for someone to mentor you leads to deeper, more lasting guidance.
3. Speak up in rooms where decisions are made.
Visibility matters. Many women hesitate to contribute in meetings unless they feel they have the perfect insight. But presence, and voice, shape perception. Share your thoughts, ask questions, and let others see your thinking. If you don’t speak, you can’t be considered.
4. Lead with your strengths.
Confidence grows when you use what you’re already great at. Volunteer for projects that align with your expertise. Offer to support or mentor newer colleagues. Demonstrating competence signals leadership potential.
5. Don’t fear “fake it till you make it.”
Everyone experiences self-doubt. Confidence often follows action, not the other way around. Tell yourself that, “I’ve got this,” step forward, and you’ll almost always rise to the challenge.
Women have the ability, talent, and perspective organizations urgently need. By embracing our strengths, and choosing visibility over hesitation, we open the door not only for ourselves, but for the women who will follow.
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