Glass ceiling, broken rung, mommy track, glass cliff, invisible labor.
There’s a slew of terms coined to define and describe the setbacks women still face while working up to leadership positions. Despite the sexism, racism, and other unconscious biases that perpetually prevent women from a smooth ascension to the positions they’ve earned at the top, many have broken through these barriers and excelled with resounding wisdom and resilience.
We wanted to hear from those women. We asked trailblazing women in leadership two questions: “To which people, opportunities, or skills do you attribute your success?” and “What is the best piece of career advice you have ever received?”
Here’s what 20 women in leadership have to say about charting your own path, forging through setbacks, believing in your own abilities, and staying inspired through it all. Hopefully through their lessons, you, too, can follow in their footsteps.
Read more: 49 Short Inspirational Quotes to Motivate You & Elevate Your Authentic Self
To which people, opportunities, or skills do you attribute your success?
Never giving up despite challenges
“Becoming a teen mom made me focus on paving a successful path for my daughter. I pursued better opportunities, earned my Class A CDL at Allstate, and eventually applied to Port Authority, despite not knowing anyone there. When I was hired as a driver in 2018, I faced setbacks but didn't give up. With encouragement from workplace mentors, I successfully became a dispatcher and now a route foreman. My journey shows that despite challenges, I never gave up.” —Rachel Jackson, Route Foreman, Pittsburgh Regional Transit
Working under leaders who acted as mentors
“I’ve been extremely fortunate to work under amazing leaders that took their time to mentor and develop me. It is for this reason that my best professional advice to anyone is—if your leader doesn’t take time to develop you, then you need to find a new leader.” —Lisa Susko, Director, Talent Transformation and Implementation, Delaware North
Finding a mentor that built my confidence and encouraged me to move up
“I owe my success to my former center director, Sue Turrise. Her amazing leadership and coaching helped me become the current center director at Marcey Street Kindercare. I joined the Marcey Street KinderCare Family in 2015 as an infant teacher. Teaching and nurturing my infants and creating a home-like environment in the classroom was very rewarding. Becoming a center director never crossed my mind. My director helped build my confidence and encouraged me to move up first as a program specialist, then as assistant director, and now as a center director!” —Emmarie Cintrón, Center Director, KinderCare Learning Centers
Deeply understanding and building empathy toward customers
“An incredibly important attribute that has led to my success as Chief Marketing Officer at Procore is connecting closely with our customers. I’ve served this industry for nearly 20 years and am constantly inspired by the incredible work the people do. It’s critical to visit job sites to deeply understand and build empathy toward our customers, as that inspires me to deliver innovative marketing programs. I feel fortunate that in my role I get to help our customers grow alongside us, while embracing our vision of improving the lives of everyone in construction.” —Sarah Hodges, Chief Marketing Officer, Procore Technologies
Embracing new challenges that excite me
“Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to encounter numerous opportunities, thanks to the exceptional leadership I’ve been guided by. The most impactful of these opportunities have included system development, new property openings, international programs, process improvement, and training development. Beyond my regular responsibilities in talent acquisition, these opportunities have expanded my thinking and pushed the boundaries of what’s possible. Embracing new challenges excites me, as they foster my growth, enhance my learning, and allow me to further hone my skills.” —Adrienne Carrera, Talent Acquisition Manager, Delaware North
Being driven by a genuine passion for work
“My professional journey has been shaped by several factors. While dedication, commitment to quality, and resilience play important roles, inspiration is key. I am driven by a genuine passion for my work, the desire to make meaningful contributions, and a commitment to continuous learning. At Taulia, I am privileged to work with brilliant colleagues who inspire me every day with their vision.” —Arina Litvin, Corporate Controller, Taulia
Understanding tasks are an opportunity to grow and learn new skills
“Many have heard the phrase, ‘It takes a village.’ For me, this couldn’t be truer. My journey has been shaped by the incredible people and opportunities in my life. My village starts with my parents. From a young age, they instilled values in me like honesty, integrity, humility, discipline, and organization. These principles laid the foundation for my achievements, enabling me to pursue and accomplish virtually anything I put my mind to. Another contributor has been my willingness to start from the bottom and work my way up. I’ve never considered any task too menial. Each task is an opportunity to grow and learn new skills. Gaining experience in various areas has provided me with valuable perspective. And last, but certainly not least, my husband. To say he is my biggest champion is an understatement. He constantly challenges me to be the best version of myself and encourages me to step out of my comfort zone.” —Jaclyn Goree, Sales Manager, Industrial Accounts, Hitachi Energy
Exceeding expectations when someone took a chance on me
“My 25-year career in sales and leadership within the workers' compensation industry has been shaped by the support of many, but Tim Fargo, founder and president of SocialJukebox, played a pivotal role. Fresh out of college with a degree in Criminology and English, I transitioned from a private investigator role to sales, despite a personality test suggesting I'd be better suited for the arts. Tim was hesitant, but I was determined. He took a chance on me, and over seven years, I became the top salesperson for five of them.” —Julie Neil, Senior Director Sales, P&C, Gradient AI
What is the best piece of career advice you have ever received?
Take ownership of your career path
“‘You own your career, not me.’ I was frustrated before my manager gave me this advice. I had stopped receiving promotions for ‘good work’ after spending years diligently climbing ladders that were put in front of me, whether in work or school. This advice shifted my mindset from one of passively just doing my best with assigned tasks to owning how I spent my time at work and home. Resetting my self-conception changed everything and unlocked the career impact and advancement which followed.” —Beth Daggert, VP, Engineering, Procore Technologies
Believe in yourself first and prove people wrong
“The most impactful career advice I have received is that internal belief precedes external success. While it is challenging to cultivate, a strong conviction in one's abilities is essential for achieving career goals. Consequently, dedication, networking, and proven results are the cornerstones of professional advancement. My passion helped me take that piece of career advice far, helping me impact so many others on my journey within the company.” —Chaleeta Morris, Champions Site Director & Field Coach, KinderCare Learning Companies
Advocate for your achievements and constantly reassess your needs
“One of my first managers told me, ‘Your career path is your responsibility.’ While this was shocking at the time, it completely changed my outlook on my professional life. Taking responsibility means defining your aspirations, charting a path to achieve them, advocating for yourself, and regularly assessing whether your current situation is serving you. If it’s not, take ownership to chart a new path. Embracing this mindset leads to empowerment, freedom, and confidence beyond measure.” —Stacy Gong, VP Brand Marketing, Procore Technologies
Build a motivated team willing to grow
“A mentor once told me: Cost-cutting is finite; growth is infinite. As leaders, we succeed by understanding our role in driving business growth and by seeking opportunities for our team to make the most impact. This mindset shapes how we prioritize, build strategy, and communicate what matters. It influences who we hire—those with curiosity, drive, and a desire to make a difference. When you step back and see the big picture, you can achieve more than you imagined.” —Claire Look, Head of Data & Data Products, Boats Group
Empower your team to take initiative
“When it comes to management, you can carefully plan what to do or what to say, but it ultimately comes down to how you make people feel when they are around you. People challenge themselves to perform better when they feel good.” —Frida Roney, Regional Sales Director, Taulia
Get comfortable communicating personal boundaries
“Always make sure you are balancing what's on your plate or it will get too full. As women, I think we are often expected to ‘make it work,’ even when we are feeling stressed and overwhelmed. It's important to be realistic about what you can handle, and it's okay to tell someone where their request stands in your prioritization queue.” —Melanie Simon, Director, Revenue Operations, Fingerprint
Never make assumptions about your team’s decision-making processes
“One piece of advice from a former boss has particularly resonated with me: Never assume that your team will approach a situation in the same way you would. Being a strong leader means embracing this diversity of thought and being comfortable with it. This perspective continually influences how I lead. It drives me to communicate clearly, ensuring mutual understanding, to actively seek feedback and ideas, and to build a diverse team that challenges us to elevate our business.” —Kate Hurley, Director of Customer Success, Boats Group
Strive for an evolving harmony between your work and personal life
“Seek out an environment where you can bring the real ‘you’ to work every day. It’s in this space, where you can be your authentic self, that you can have the most impact and thrive. Your career is only one aspect of your life. Strive for a balance that nurtures and enriches all facets. That means that sometimes your career is in the driver’s seat, and sometimes it needs to be in the passenger’s seat. Never stop learning. New ideas keep you curious, fuel your innovative spirit, and foster growth.” —Hannah Winter, Vice President, People and Performance, Taulia
Listen actively and ask thoughtful questions
“The best career advice came from my father, who emphasized the importance of listening and asking questions. People enjoy sharing experiences and perspectives, and listening allows understanding of what matters to someone. When meeting someone new, if you're unfamiliar with their background or what they value, you can initiate a conversation. This opens the door to sharing stories from your life, finding common ground, and fostering connections. Meaningful connections lead to relationships that can benefit over time and offer opportunities, advice, or companionship.” —Betsy Jones, Executive VP, EBSCO Clinical Decisions
Never compare yourself to others
“As someone who joined the field at the same time I began my undergraduate degree, it was easy to develop imposter syndrome. I struggled with feeling confident in my abilities to contribute meaningful work to my first team. However, I learned to trust the knowledge and experience I brought with me. I learned to speak up when I had questions or ideas, as well as advocate for myself. Ultimately, the best piece of advice I have ever received was to focus on my individual growth and success rather than comparing my accomplishments to others.” —Geela R., Software Engineer, National Security Agency
Volunteer for challenging tasks
“The best advice I have ever received is, 'Volunteer for difficult challenges; it may fail, but applying skills, learning and researching will lead to other opportunities.'” —Dr. Karen L., Technical Director, National Security Agency
Embrace lateral opportunities to grow
“The best advice I've received while working at NSA, was from a senior mentor and supervisor. As I considered career growth opportunities, I was encouraged to “always run to, not from.” I understood that as … run to the stretch opportunities that are challenging yet rewarding that align with my career goals. And even to consider lateral opportunities as growth. Consider making career transitions in a purposeful, meaningful way and not out of dislike or discomfort of a current situation.” —Lauren H., Executive Coaching Program Manager, National Security Agency
