For a long time, leadership and womanhood were viewed as mutually exclusive. As most leadership roles were historically reserved for men, qualities often associated with masculinity — aggressiveness, callousness, unapologetic conviction — became the ones tied to effective leadership.
It wasn’t just my clothing choice that I took a stand on. Instead of trying to mask my nerves — to “man up” when talking to my team and investors — I also kept things candid and vulnerable. While preparing for a desperately needed Series A funding round, I candidly shared my excitement and fears with the team. The result was the most open and connected meeting I’ve ever had. Not only that, multiple people approached me afterward to tell me how meaningful it was to see my authentic emotions.
1. Cut your judgment of femininity. Women leaders can be in positions of power and still be biased against femininity. Keep an eye out for moments when you berate yourself — either out loud or in your head — for being too empathetic, nice, or “soft.” The less you fight yourself, the more space you’ll create for yourself — and other women — to lead authentically.