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Why Success Is Dangerous For Women Leaders
My career would have faltered if I had not paid close attention to what was going on around me when I did well. Being too successful was risky.
“This is a tough place for a woman. I’ve been put down, pushed aside, knocked out. Truth is, I have had to fight my whole life because of who I am, who I love, and where I started. But I didn’t let anything get in my way.”
These words, spoken by Sharice Davis during her successful 2018 campaign for Congress, resonated with me immediately. She spoke of her time in the political world, but she might as well have been speaking of my time in corporate America.
I have been working continuously since I was twelve years old. In that time, I have been a play leader, sales clerk, receptionist, medical assistant, laboratory assistant, engineer, senior engineer, program manager, technical manager, manufacturing manager, manufacturing engineering manager, production manager, Director, Site Leader, and Vice President. I have also been President and CEO of my company, twice.
Every time I got too comfortable in my career, compliancy bit me. It hit me hard. I took years to figure out that if I didn’t take charge of my career, no one would. I am a woman. Often, I was not taken seriously as I sought promotions.
