Okay babes, let me tell you about the time I walked into a coffee shop wearing my “CEO Energy” hoodie and overheard two women whispering: “Do you think she’s actually a founder or just cosplaying success?” 👀 First thought: Should I spill my latte or my entire business plan on their table? Second thought: Why do we still feel the need to justify our professional hunger like it’s some guilty pleasure?
Let’s get real – female ambition still tastes “too spicy” for society’s bland palate. Harvard Business Review found women receive 2.5x more feedback about being “intimidating” in performance reviews compared to men. Intimidating? Honey, my Excel skills could organize the apocalypse – that’s not intimidation, that’s competence.
Here’s my messy truth: When I launched my eco-activewear line, three male investors asked if I’d considered “partnering with an experienced male CEO.” My response? A sweet smile and: “Funny – the 2023 Boston Consulting Group report shows women-led startups deliver 2x more revenue per dollar invested. Shouldn’t YOU want MY mentorship?” 🍵
But this isn’t just about boardrooms. It’s about the micro-moments:
– That client who called my detailed proposal “cute” (I added three zeros to the invoice)
– The relative who asked when I’ll “settle down” as I scaled to seven figures (Spoiler: My company is my baby)
– The 47th time someone called me “bossy” for delegating tasks (Newsflash: That’s literally called management)
Science backs our struggle. Columbia University researchers found women subconsciously downplay achievements in mixed-gender groups, using “we” instead of “I” 63% more often. I tested this at a networking event last week – when I said “My team crushed Q3 targets,” three men immediately asked to meet my (non-existent) male co-founder. When I switched to “I increased revenue by 218%,” they called me “aggressive.” Can’t win? WRONG. We’re playing a different game.
Here’s my survival toolkit:
1. The Power Pivot 💃
When someone says “You’re so lucky your business took off,” respond: “Thanks! Though luck had less to do with it than pulling 90-hour weeks while perfecting TikTok ads between menstrual cramps.”
2. Data as Armor 📊
Memorize these:
– Companies with female execs have 50% higher profit margins (Peterson Institute)
– Women negotiate $1.5M more funding when mentioning past successes bluntly (MIT Study)
– Teams with gender diversity solve problems faster (Harvard, duh)
3. The Ambition Ambush 🎯
Next time someone implies you’re “too much,” hit them with: “Funny – research shows women underestimate their capabilities by 20% while men overestimate by 30%. Maybe my ‘too much’ is actually society’s ‘too little’?”
But let’s get spiritual for a sec 🌙 – why does this fire in our bellies scare people? History lesson: For centuries, women’s economic power threatened patriarchal systems. Our great-grandmothers couldn’t own credit cards; now we’re building empires. Of course it feels disruptive – disruption is progress.
Last month, I mentored a 22-year-old who apologized six times in 10 minutes. “Sorry, this idea might be stupid…” I made her rewrite her pitch replacing every “sorry” with “LET’S FING GO.” She landed $50K in pre-seed funding.
So here’s your permission slip:
🔥 Want the corner office? Take it.
🔥 Charge your worth plus 20%? Required.
🔥 Out-earn your partner? Normalize it.
The revolution isn’t coming, loves – we’re already leading it. Now pass the matcha and let’s burn down those outdated expectations. 💅