Be Strategic About Your Visibility

Early in my Fortune 500 career,I delivered what I thought was a flawless quarterly presentation. The data wassolid. The recommendations were sound. My manager nodded approvingly. Then Iwatched a male colleague present the same caliber of work the following month excepthe walked decision-makers through his contributions before and after themeeting, secured a sponsor to advocate for his promotion, and landed the seniorrole I had been quietly hoping would come my way.

That moment changed everythingfor me. It taught me a lesson that would prove true across my decades incorporate leadership and international business experience spanning multiplecontinents: excellence alone does not create advancement. Strategicvisibility does.

For professional womennavigating corporate leadership in 2026, intentionality about careeradvancement is no longer optional. The women who rise are not simply the mosttalented, they are the most strategically positioned.

The Real Cost of Being Overlooked

Being overlooked rarelyannounces itself. It shows up in subtle moments: your idea gains traction onlyafter a colleague restates it. You are labeled "reliable" while he islabeled "leadership material." Stretch assignments go to people withless experience but more visibility.

During my time leadinginternational teams, I watched countless accomplished women internalize thesepatterns, assuming they needed to work harder or wait longer. The real issuewas never competence. It was positioning.

When women do not intentionallycommunicate their value, others fill in the gaps with assumptions, and thoseassumptions rarely serve us.

Strategic Visibility Is a Leadership Skill

One of the biggest myths aboutexecutive presence and career advancement is that some people are"naturally" strategic. Intentionality is not a personality trait. Itis a skill that can be developed, practiced, and mastered.

Over the course of my Fortune500 career, I learned to document my wins and connect them to organizationalpriorities before every performance conversation. I built what I call a"personal board of directors" sponsors who advocated for me in roomsI was not in. These were not personality changes. They were strategicpractices.

Strategic visibility startswith clarity: What do you want to be known for? What roles align with yourstrengths and ambitions? Without this clarity, it becomes easy to drift intoresponsibilities that keep you busy but do not advance your career.

Once clarity is established,intentional action follows. This means speaking up in meetings even when yourvoice shakes. It means having direct conversations with leadership about yourgrowth trajectory rather than waiting for annual reviews. It means asking forcredit where it is due and aligning your contributions with what theorganization values most.

Visibility Is Currency in Today's Workplace

In 2026, hybrid and remote workenvironments have fundamentally changed how influence is built. Ifdecision-makers do not know what you are working on, what you have achieved,and what you are capable of, opportunities will go elsewhere.

This is not aboutself-promotion without substance. It is about confidently communicating yourcontributions, building relationships with mentors and sponsors who advocatefor you, and ensuring your work connects to strategic priorities.

Women are often taught to bemodest and collaborative. These are valuable traits. But collaboration shouldnever come at the expense of recognition. You can uplift others while stillhonoring your own impact.

Redefining Confidence for Women Executives

Confidence for women inleadership looks different than what corporate culture has traditionallyrewarded. It is not about having all the answers. It is about trusting yourselfto figure things out, to adapt, and to lead through uncertainty.

Advocating for yourself is not selfish.When women advocate for themselves, they normalize the behavior for others andhelp dismantle the outdated expectations that have long rewarded silence overstrength.

This is the core message of mybook, Don't Abdicate the Throne: stop waiting for permission to claimwhat you have already earned. Your seat at the table exists. The question iswhether you will take it.

Your Career Is Not Something That Happens to You

The most powerful decision youcan make is to choose yourself, repeatedly. To believe that your goals matter.To resist shrinking in spaces that need your brilliance. To walk away fromenvironments that consistently undervalue you.

As we move through 2026, womenhave more tools, platforms, and opportunities than ever before. But opportunitystill favors those who are prepared and visible.

Your career is not somethingthat happens to you. It is something you shape. Be seen on purpose.

Ready to master the strategies that drive real careeradvancement for women leaders? Join me at MASTERY SUMMIT 2026 in WinterPark, Florida, where 300 accomplished professional women will spend threeintensive days learning the Fortune 500 strategies that actually work for us.This is not inspiration—this is transformation.
Visit Mastery-Summit.com to secure your seat.

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