In the business world, decisions are rarely made based on facts alone. Whether you’re negotiating a high-stakes deal, securing buy-in from stakeholders, motivating your team, or selling to clients, success often depends on your ability to tell a compelling story.
Storytelling is more than just a creative skill—it’s a strategic tool that builds trust, creates alignment, and inspires action. Research from Stanford University found that stories are 22 times more memorable than facts alone. This is because humans are wired for narratives; they engage emotions, simplify complex ideas, and make messages stick.
Women remain significantly underrepresented in C-level positions, where they held only 6.6% of CEO roles in Fortune 500 companies in 2021, while their representation in executive officer positions other than CEO was around 21.2%, with the underrepresentation particularly pronounced among women of color.
Women's representation in male-dominated industries varies by sector and role. In the US, women represent approximately 28% of the overall STEM workforce, 29% in senior management in finance and banking, 10% in construction and engineering, 24% in aerospace, and 25% in IT. Women represent around 20% of the oil and gas sector and 37% in the legal profession. In the film industry, they account for about 31% of speaking characters in top-grossing films.
Here are my top career strategies….
There’s a pattern I’ve seen too often in fast-growing companies—especially small to midsize firms scaling quickly.
A team doubles in size. Revenues climb. The pressure to execute is intense. In the middle of all this momentum, high-performing employees get promoted. It makes sense. Reward performance. Recognize drive. Put people in charge.
And it works—on paper.
But soon enough, cracks begin to show.
In the intricate web of corporate hierarchies, it's not just technical prowess that propels individuals up the ladder of success. It's a blend of power, influence, and an astute understanding of political dynamics that truly sets the stage for career advancement. In this blog post, we delve into the world of political skill and its significance in organizational growth, leadership, and the art of negotiation.
In today's fast-paced professional landscape, the gender impact on various aspects of the workplace isn't just a talking point; it's a call to action. Research consistently sheds light on disparities experienced by men and women, from leadership roles and pay gaps to confidence levels and mentorship opportunities. But here's the exciting part: it's not just about recognizing these inequalities; it's about empowering women to reshape their internal self-models, boost their confidence, and boldly navigate their career paths.
Women remain significantly underrepresented in C-level positions, where they held only 6.6% of CEO roles in Fortune 500 companies in 2021, while their representation in executive officer positions other than CEO was around 21.2%, with the underrepresentation particularly pronounced among women of color.
Women's representation in male-dominated industries varies by sector and role. In the US, women represent approximately 28% of the overall STEM workforce, 29% in senior management in finance and banking, 10% in construction and engineering, 24% in aerospace, and 25% in IT. Women represent around 20% of the oil and gas sector and 37% in the legal profession. In the film industry, they account for about 31% of speaking characters in top-grossing films.
Here are my top career strategies….
This week I’ve been having many conversations about asking for your worth in Negotiations, and I wanted to share some thoughts of encouragement for people struggling in this area. The main problem is not that people aren’t giving you what you are worth; it’s that you don’t understand what you are worth enough to ask confidently! It is essential to realise that this is a common fear, especially among women and minorities (people in ‘lower’ power positions in society). In knowing that this is a common fear, don’t take it personally. There is nothing wrong with you that you experience self-doubt. But, feeling the doubt is not the way out of it…. So let’s talk about how to minimise self-doubt by becoming more critical regarding of the voices that you allow to impact your actions.
Finding resources for helping women succeed in their professional lives can be difficult as strategies that men use do not always translate well to women. Consider that in 2018 the Global Gender Gap Report by the World Economic Forum estimates that we still have 108 years to close the global economic gender gap, while research continues to find systematic gender bias in the way that individuals interpret female behaviours at work.
