Can I say something gently, the way I would if we were sitting across from each other with an almond milk latte? If you’ve ever walked out of a meeting thinking, “Dang it. I should have said that,” you’re not alone.

There’s a pattern in corporate leadership that most people don’t talk about. When a company is in trouble—facing financial downturns, scandals, or leadership failures—women are more likely to be promoted into senior leadership roles.