How to avoid underplaying intelligence as a woman

We've been conditioned to believe that "good" women make themselves smaller: speak softer, apologize more, defer quicker. But being a leader isn't about shrinking to fit other people's comfort zones. It's about expanding to fill the role that your vision, expertise, and impact deserve. And yet, we still catch ourselves minimizing our contributions in meetings, hedging our statements with "I think maybe..." and literally making ourselves smaller by slouching. We've been taught to be grateful for crumbs when we should be setting the table. That's space abdication. Women: your discomfort with taking up space is someone else's comfort with you staying small. Every time you shrink, you're not just limiting yourself; you're modeling limitation for every woman watching. And trust me, they're watching. (And if you're reading this, you're watching me so I'd BETTER take up space.) Taking up space isn't about becoming aggressive or adopting masculine behaviors (though there's nothing wrong with those either, if they're authentically you). It's about showing up as the full version of yourself, with all your ideas, insights, and yes, your strong opinions intact. Here's your roadmap to claiming your rightful space: 1. Speak first in meetings. Not after you've heard everyone else's thoughts and carefully calibrated your response. Lead with your perspective, then listen and adapt. 2. Stop hedging your expertise. Replace "I'm not an expert, but..." with "In my experience..." You didn't accidentally end up in a leadership role. 3. Take up physical space. Sit forward, not back. Gesture naturally. Use your full vocal range. (I've been accused of not having an "inside voice". Oh well!) Your body language should match the size of your ideas. 4. Own your wins publicly. When someone asks how the project went, don't say "the team was amazing." Say "I'm proud of how I led the team to deliver X results." 5. Interrupt the interrupters. "Let me finish that thought" is a complete sentence. So is "I wasn't done speaking." Your leadership isn't a consolation prize or a diversity initiative. It's a business imperative. The world needs what you bring, but only if you're willing to bring all of it. #womenleaders #communication #executivepresence

There is a silent cost many women pay without noticing it. The cost of being underestimated, overlooked or quietly passed by. And very often, it begins with something subtle. Women downplaying their own strengths. I see this pattern across industries. Brilliant women framing their achievements as luck. Leaders softening their message so they do not appear too confident. Experts stepping back so others feel more comfortable. It looks polite. It feels harmless. But it has consequences. When women make themselves smaller, three things happen. 🔹First, opportunities shrink. Visibility is the currency of professional life. When you stay in the background, people assume you prefer to stay there. Talent alone is not enough. If others cannot see your contribution, they cannot support it. 🔹Second, self-trust erodes. Every time you play down your abilities, your mind receives the message that your strength is risky or unwelcome. Over time, this shapes your identity more than any external feedback. 🔹Third, the system stays the same. When capable women stay invisible, the world continues to believe that leadership, expertise and innovation look a certain way. This limits progress for everyone. Visibility is not vanity. It is responsibility. It is the moment you allow your competence to be seen so it can serve others. And it begins with small, simple choices. Speaking a little clearer. Taking ownership of your work. Allowing your presence to take up space. Women do not need to become louder. They need to become truer to the strength they already hold. What is one area of your life where you know you could show yourself off? Tania Nazzal | Elke Guhl | Christine Ohm | Lilisha Singh | Regina Paesler-Schorling | Kathrin Erasmus | Tarja Huuskonen | Dr. Hanna Poikonen | Bianca-Janina Kux | MARIA CHISHTI

As a CEO who is also a woman, I’ve had to get really good at filtering feedback (and even better at filtering my own thoughts). Those stories us leaders replay in our heads? They quietly hold us back. I'm starting to get good at recognizing a few of mine. My inner voice often says: → “I’m too direct” (when what I really am is decisive) → “I’m not good at networking” (when I actually thrive in meaningful conversations) → “I can’t say I’m great at that” (because what if someone disagrees?) As female leaders, we’re often taught to shrink our strengths just enough to make them more comfortable for everyone else. But that’s not leadership. That’s survival. Great leaders choose their thoughts and make them actionable. So here’s me, doing that work: 📝 Writing down what I’m great at. 💭 Not flinching when it feels bold. 🔁 Rewriting the soundtrack when it starts to loop. If you’ve ever caught yourself downplaying your strength because it might come across as too much, you’re not alone. But you also don’t have to stay stuck there. We get to choose better thoughts. And with them, a better direction. #WomenInLeadership #ImposterSyndrome #Confidence #WomenInBusiness

I used to downplay my expertise in interviews. I assumed my insights were “obvious.” Then I realized something... What’s obvious to me is invaluable to others. No one has... • Obsessed over what I've obsessed over • Experienced what I've experienced • Followed what I've followed • Lived what I've lived • Built what I've built This is called the Knowledge Complex. I see it ALL THE TIME. Especially in high performers and experts. You’ve been doing something for years. You're an expert. And that's when it all starts to feel like common sense. You assume everyone knows what you know. You skim over the details. You leave out the insights that make you stand out. And that’s a huge mistake. ❌ That “small” improvement you made? ↳It could be a game-changer for them. ❌ That “basic” strategy you follow? ↳It might be exactly what they need. ❌ That “obvious” lesson you learned years ago? ↳It could save them months of struggle. Your knowledge isn’t obvious—it’s valuable. Here’s how to make sure you don’t undersell yourself in interviews: ✅ Speak to your audience's level of knowledge. ↳ Don't assume they know what you know. ✅ Break it down. ↳ Explain it clearly, with no acronyms or jargon. ✅ Show your thinking. ↳ Your process is just as valuable as your results. ✅ Tell the story. ↳ Don't just list skills, share real examples of impact. Stop assuming they know what you know. Own your expertise. Share your insights. Don't hold back. Be the expert they need. Have you ever caught yourself downplaying what you know? Let’s talk 👇

Told you're "too confident" at work?  Read this👇 You can be brilliant, have the technical expertise, deliver exceptional results, communicate clearly... And still get labeled as "aggressive" or "too assertive." If you've been in my world for some time, you know that I'm big on women owning their expertise in STEM. That I advocate for speaking up in meetings and not apologizing for your intelligence. But the reality is... There's a fine line between being humble and shrinking yourself. And most early career women in STEM cross it without realizing. I've worked with hundreds of engineers, data scientists, and researchers. Every day I see brilliant women: Downplay their contributions in team meetings. Say "I might be wrong, but..." before sharing expert insights. Credit luck instead of skill for their achievements. Or maybe they do speak up confidently. But then spend the rest of the day wondering if they came across as "too much"...and dial it back the next time. The list goes on. Here's what I've learned: Humble = "I contributed to this project's success" Shrinking = "I just got lucky with the results" Humble= "I have expertise in this area" Shrinking = "I think I might know something about this" Humble = "Here's my analysis" Shrinking = "This might be wrong, but here's what I found" Humble = "I'm still learning" Shrinking = "I don't know enough to have an opinion" Your technical degree isn't an accident. Your problem-solving skills aren't luck. Your insights aren't "just thoughts." So, focus on what you can control: your confidence your voice your presence ♻️ Repost and share this message so that more women in STEM can see it

This morning, 1000s of women stood before their mirrors. They weren't fixing their hair or their outfit. They were rehearsing their presentations to sound less “aggressive”. These 6 habits are silently sabotaging your credibility at work especially when you're presenting to senior leaders. Here’s how to replace them with powerful language.👇 1/ Stop rehearsing your disclaimers What you're doing: Practicing phrases like: 🛑"I could be wrong, but..." 🛑"This might not work, but..." 🛑"Just throwing this out there..." Do this instead: Replace every disclaimer with: ✅"Based on my analysis..." ✅"My recommendation is..." ✅"The data shows..." Result: You position yourself as the expert, not the option. 2/ Stop pre-apologizing for your conclusions What you're doing: Planning to say: 🛑"Sorry, I know this is a lot..." 🛑"I hope this makes sense..." 🛑"I don't want to overwhelm you..." Do this instead: ✅"Here's what the numbers tell us..." ✅"This is what we need to do..." ✅"Let me walk you through the solution..." Result: You lead the conversation instead of apologizing for it. 3/ Stop asking permission for your own expertise What you're doing: Ending statements with: 🛑"Does that make sense?" 🛑"What do you think?" 🛑"Am I on the right track?" Do this instead: ✅"Here's the next step..." ✅"I'll send the implementation plan by Thursday..." ✅"Questions about the execution?" Result: You direct the action instead of seeking approval. 4/ Stop downplaying your preparation What you're doing: Saying things like: 🛑"I just threw this together..." 🛑"It's not perfect, but..." 🛑"I had limited time..." Do this instead: ✅"I've analyzed three scenarios..." ✅"After reviewing the data..." ✅"Based on my research..." Result: You highlight your thoroughness, not your limitations. 5/ Stop sharing credit you earned alone What you're doing: Automatically saying: 🛑"The team helped with this..." 🛑"I couldn't have done it without..." 🛑"It was really a group effort..." Do this instead: ✅"I built this framework..." ✅"My analysis shows..." ✅"I identified the key issue..." Result: You get credit for your individual contributions. 6/ Stop softening your recommendations What you're doing: Hedging with: 🛑"Maybe we could consider..." 🛑"One option might be..." 🛑"We could potentially..." Do this instead: ✅"We need to..." ✅"The solution is..." ✅"I recommend we..." Result: You sound like someone who makes decisions, not suggestions. Your immediate action plan before your next presentation: 1. Record yourself practicing - count how many times you apologize 2. Write down your 3 key points without any hedging language 3. Practice stating your recommendation as a fact, not an opinion 4. End with next steps, not questions What's the ONE phrase you're going to stop using this week? 🔄 Share this - someone on your team needs this reminder. ➕ Follow Julia Snedkova for more authority-building career tools

Undervaluing your work isn’t modesty. It’s self-sabotage. Early in my career, I believed staying humble would speak for itself. ❌ So I didn’t speak up. ❌ I stayed quiet, out of the spotlight. ❌ I avoided sharing my achievements, even when they were strong. After working closely with female leaders in my coaching practice, I’ve seen this pattern repeatedly. Women are 28% less likely to promote their work, especially in senior roles. Not because they lack ability, but because they question whether it’s “worthy” of attention. It shows up in subtle, costly ways: ↳ You downplay your success in meetings because “it’s not a big deal.” ↳ You stay silent about your wins so no one thinks you’re bragging. ↳ You pass on opportunities because you don’t feel 100% ready. The truth is, if you keep undervaluing your contributions, it doesn’t just affect your confidence. It changes how others perceive your leadership. Here’s what to do instead: ✅ Talk about your success with pride, not apology. ✅ Advocate for yourself; your work deserves recognition. ✅ Celebrate your wins; they show others what’s possible. Being humble doesn’t mean hiding. Own your work. Speak up. You deserve to be recognized for your impact. ♻️ Repost to encourage your network to take credit for their work. 🔔 Follow Fatou Seck Mathon for more on leadership.

𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀? Successful women often do this. They work hard but don’t take credit. They succeed but feel like an imposter. I used to feel the same way. Until I stopped and asked myself: “Why?” The answer isn’t surprising: ➡️ Society teaches women to be humble. ➡️ Confidence is seen as arrogance in women. ➡️ Praise feels uncomfortable, so they deflect. Over time, this turns into self-doubt. Even the most capable women question their worth. The cost? 🚫 They hesitate to ask for promotions. 🚫 They earn less than they deserve. 🚫 They miss out on leadership roles. That’s why you need to flip the script. Your success is not an accident. It’s a result of effort, skills and strategy. So don’t downplay your talents. Don’t diminish the determination and work behind your success. Instead: ✨ Acknowledge your wins without hesitation. ✨ Speak about your impact with confidence. Own your success. You earned it.

If you’ve ever said “sorry” before speaking, this is for you. To the women and more specifically women in tech: We downplay our wins. We over-apologize. We wait our turn, even when we built the solution. We lead, design, build and still question if we belong. Let me be clear: Shrinking serves no one. Not your team. Not your company. Not the next gen watching you. This week, as I speak at NY Tech Week, I’m showing up fully. Unapologetically. Here are 6 lessons I wish someone told me sooner: 1. You don’t have to shrink to lead. Be brilliant and bold. 2. Own your voice. It’s not “aggressive ➡️it’s assertive. 3. Take up space. Your presence is the disruption. 4. Authenticity is your edge. You don’t have to mirror the room to influence it. 5. Build with women. Solidarity scales. 6. You already belong. Walk in like it. No more waiting. No more small. We take up space. We lead out loud. Thanks, Amazon and Per Scholas for this invitation to share space with you. #NYTechWeek #WomenInTech #NoMoreShrinking #AuthenticLeadership #TakeUpSpace #EquityInTech #BoldLeadership #LeadWithEQ