A Woman's Guide to Career Growth: 13 Smart (and Slightly Sassy) Moves to Get Ahead
Let's face it — the career ladder sometimes feels more like a climbing wall greased with hand sanitizer. You've got talent, ambition, and a to-do list that could frighten a project manager, but you also need strategy. Whether you're building your confidence, growing your influence, or aiming for that well-deserved promotion, this guide is for you.
As a manager and mentor for 30+ years, I can attest to the frustration of working hard, making a difference, and yet being overlooked. I've seen this happen to myself and some of my mentees. (Ah, yes, I remember the time I presented a 7-year project to top management, only to find out that while I was working day and night and traveling the world with the client team, someone else was back at the office taking credit for it).
“Research Shows Women Need More Confidence To Aim Higher”
Here are my tips on how to get ahead — practically, powerfully, and with a bit of humor to keep you sane.
1. Get a Mentor (Your Career GPS)
A good mentor can be your personal shortcut to wisdom, perspective, and the occasional "Don't do that, I've already faceplanted there" warning. Mentorship gives you access to someone who's been where you want to go — and who can help you skip the rookie mistakes. Do you find mentoring scary? Get started here.
📌Top Tip: Don't just ask someone to "be your mentor." Instead, start with a specific question or project you'd love their advice on. People say yes more often when it's clear, short-term, and action-based. Then build from there.
2. Build Your Experience (Before You're Asked For It)
If you wait for permission to take on big projects, you'll be waiting while someone else gets promoted. Experience doesn't only come from titles — it comes from action. Volunteer for cross-functional work, say yes to projects that scare you (in a good way), and learn visibly.
📌Top Tip: Treat your career like a buffet — taste a little of everything early on. Later, you can go back for seconds on what you love (and what pays best).
3. Track Your Wins (Receipts, Please!)
You know that thing where women say "we" when they mean "I"? Stop doing that. Track your results. Numbers, impact, recognition — all of it. When it's promotion time, you don't want to rely on anyone's memory but your own. So show the data that supports your performance.
📌Top Tip: Keep a "Brag File" — a secret document where you record every success, compliment, and "amazing job" email. You'll thank yourself during performance reviews (and on those occasional low-confidence days).
4. Make Yourself Listable (Be Easy to Find, Hard to Ignore)
You're brilliant — but can people find you? Update your LinkedIn profile, appear on industry platforms, and ensure your online presence aligns with your ambitions. When someone searches for "women leaders in [your field]," your name should pop up faster than a cat meme.
📌Top Tip: Google yourself (set to incognito). Seriously. What shows up? If it's mostly vacation pics and old college tweets, it's time for a refresh. Add articles, presentations, and accomplishments that reflect who you are now.
5. Network Often, Everywhere (Yes, Even When You Don't Feel Like It)
Networking isn't fake — it's your professional ecosystem. Think of it as collecting interesting humans who might help (or be helped by) your goals. Opportunities don't knock; they DM, email, and "let's grab coffee" their way into your life. Remember, networking is a skill that can be developed.
📌Top Tip: Replace "I hate networking" with "I love learning about people." Suddenly, it feels less like schmoozing and more like connecting. Bonus: talk 70% about them, 30% about you.
6. Develop Your Sponsors (They Talk About You When You're Not in the Room)
Mentors give advice. Sponsors give opportunities. They mention your name in meetings, recommend you for projects, and advocate on your behalf when decisions are made behind closed doors.
📌Top Tip: Earn sponsors by delivering results — then let them see those results. Make sure key sponsors know your elevator pitch (who you are, what you do, and what you want). Share your wins (confidently, not cockily). Visibility builds sponsorship.
7. Find Your Cohort (Career Growth Is a Team Sport)
Success feels better when you have a cheering section: a strong cohort — your tribe of ambitious, kind, supportive women. Peer Mentoring helps you stay accountable, celebrate wins, and survive tough days without burning out.
📌Top Tip: Form a "Growth Squad." Meet monthly, share goals, wins, and career blockers. It's part accountability group, part therapy, part hype circle. And remember to cheer on those around you and invite them in - your friends need your help, too.
8. Invest in Your Personal Brand (and Voice)
Women often get told to "find their voice" — but the truth is, you already have it. The key is using it strategically. Your personal brand (how people describe you when you're not in the room) can open doors faster than credentials alone.
📌Top Tip: Write one-liners that summarize your value. For example: "I turn chaos into clarity for teams in transition." Use that in LinkedIn introductions and bios. Consistent messaging builds authority.
9. Keep Learning (Relentlessly)
The world changes fast. Upskilling, certifications, and cross-training are secret power moves that make you harder to overlook. A growth mindset makes you stand out in any room. Too busy to learn? Try doing it on the job.
📌Top Tip: Pick one "future skill" per year — like data storytelling, AI literacy, or negotiation — and learn it deeply. It signals adaptability and ambition.
10. Negotiate Early (and Often)
Most women wait too long to negotiate for raises, promotions, projects, or boundaries. Negotiation isn't confrontation; it's communication about value. The earlier you practice it, the easier it becomes when it really counts. Understand how each raise improves your lifetime earnings so you can take steps to make each dollar count.
📌Top Tip: Before every conversation, practice this line: "What flexibility do we have here?" It's polite, powerful, and opens the door to better outcomes.
11. Guard Your Energy (Like a CEO)
Ambition without boundaries often leads to burnout, rather than brilliance. Managing your energy (not just your time) helps you stay effective, not exhausted.
📌Top Tip: Each week, list your top three "energy givers" and "energy drainers." Do more of the first, less of the second. Protect your calendar as if it were your paycheck — because it is.
12. Lean into Your (Personal) Leadership Style
Executive presence is built through clarity, calm, and confidence. Learn to be yourself - just the executive version of you. How do you engage, inspire, and involve others in your vision? Lean into your leadership style as your personal superpower when meeting with others (including the C-level snobs).
📌Top Tip: When presenting ideas, use the "So what?" test. State your point in one sentence, then explain why it matters. Short. Sharp. Strategic.
13. Lift As You Climb (Pay it Forward)
Mentoring others reinforces your own confidence and builds a reputation as a leader who empowers. Plus, generosity is magnetic — people want to work with (and promote) those who grow others. You understand the challenge. Now, help pay it forward: be a mentor, sponsor, cheerleader, and advocate.
📌Top Tip: Once a month, make one "lift" move — recommend a colleague, endorse someone on LinkedIn, or offer a quick mentoring chat. It's a two-way career booster.
Getting ahead isn't just about working harder — it's about being seen, supported, and strategic. So build your bench: mentors, sponsors, and peers who lift you higher. Because when women rise, we all do.
Thanks to the members of the Women in Projects Network for raising the question, and my circle of ‘girlpower’ friends for sharing list ideas.
