The Work Was Always the Point
I didn’t aim to be a “woman in leadership.” I didn’t care about fitting that label. What I cared about was doing the work right.
I saw the problems early. I built systems that held up. I had a gut instinct for where things could break and how to make them stronger. That was the draw. I wanted to fix what was messy and make things run smoother. So I did.
That’s what pulled me forward. Not a title. Not visibility. Just the work.
When Leadership Doesn’t Look the Way You Expect
There’s a version of leadership that gets all the attention. The bold voice. The polished pitch. The perfect presence in the room.
But that’s not the kind of leadership most companies actually rely on.
Real leadership is what holds things together when things are falling apart. It is the person who fixes the messy backend process no one wants to touch. It is the one who steps into a spiraling meeting and quietly gets the team back on track. Not with a speech. Not with ego. Just with calm clarity.
That work often goes unnoticed. Until it stops. Then everyone realizes how heavy it was.
The Unspoken Rules We Still Feel
Most women I know never doubted their ability to lead. But we were made to wonder if our natural style of leadership was allowed. We learned early that being direct could come across as harsh. That setting boundaries might be labeled as being difficult. Showing emotion could be seen as a weakness.
So we adapted. We cleaned up our language. We adjusted our tone. We carried ourselves with constant awareness of how we’d be perceived.
Even when we delivered results, we still questioned whether it was enough. Not because of insecurity. But because we were operating in systems that told us excellence had to come with likeability. Strategy had to come with a sacrifice. Confidence had to come without needs.
This isn’t a complaint. It is a pattern. And it’s time we pay attention.
Let the Work Stand
The leaders I respect most are not the ones who shine the brightest. They are the ones who build something strong and leave it better than they found it. They create systems that do not depend on them being there 24/7. They teach others to lead, too. That is the kind of leadership I work toward.
Yes, being a woman shapes how I lead. But it does not limit what I bring. What matters is whether the work holds.
If you walk into a room, fix what’s broken, build something better, and leave a team that works with more trust and less chaos, then you’ve done your job.
That should be enough.
What This Looks Like at StringCan
At StringCan, we work with leaders who are ready for the real thing. The kind of leadership that makes companies stronger, teams healthier, and progress sustainable. If you’re building something that needs to last, we’re here to help.
Let’s talk. Contact StringCan and let’s make it better.
