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.

January has a way of inviting performance. New goals. Clean slates. Confident declarations about what’s coming next.

I’ll never forget the day a nonprofit leader in D.C. smiled at me and my colleague, patted us on the shoulders, and said, “Best to you, ladies”…like we were little girls playing at leadership. That moment lit a fire in me.

Last week, I led a workshop series called UNIGNORABLE. A deliberately designed space, a *taste* of the Executive Presence Accelerator, to show what happens when brilliant women stop shrinking, stop overfunctioning, and start leading from their actual authority.

Let me tell you about the time I felt like a baby seal being skewered during a job interview. I was living in Colorado, interviewing for a job in the energy sector.

Let’s cut the crap. You’ve been told (directly or indirectly) that if you want to lead at the next level, you need to “work on your executive presence.”

Ever noticed how a great story can stop you mid-scroll, keep you glued to your seat, or leave you replaying it in your mind for days? Now imagine if your leadership had that kind of power. Here’s the thing: it can.

As a senior woman leader in STEM, you likely face unique challenges that test your confidence daily. You might be over-prepared for meetings or reluctant to share your ideas.

Picture this through the lens of leadership. Just try. You sit in a dark living room, the only lights coming from your TV. The black and white picture cascades shadows around the room. You rifle around in a bowl for another fistful of popcorn but miss your mouth because you can’t take your eyes off the screen.

This one is for you–a powerful woman leader in STEM. I see you sitting in your power suit around the ‘big boy’ table. I see you. But do they?

You’re more than your corner office, your role, your title. I want you to consider that for a moment. When was the last time you really took the time to think about who you are outside of your professional identity and accomplishments?

Last month’s blog post covered situational leadership and its importance. I distinguished four types — visionary, coaching, delegating, and directing.

You can't be everything to everyone—after all, you aren't a Swiss Army Knife. And if you were, well, that would be weird.