Authentic Leadership for Women: Turning Presence into Power

Throughout my 20-plus-year career in high-tech marketing, I often found myself as the only woman in the room. Early on, I was hesitant to speak up, especially in meetings filled with engineers and executives who, consciously or not, expected women to defer. Over time, I realized that the key to being heard was not trying to mimic the communication styles around me, but learning to own my voice and bring my full self to the table. That meant embracing my expertise, preparing thoroughly, and asserting my perspective with confidence.

Communication begins with presence. Research from the Harvard Business Review shows that women who project confidence in meetings are more likely to be perceived as competent leaders, even in male-dominated fields¹. Preparation is non-negotiable, but so is posture, tone, and body language. I learned to sit at the table, not the periphery, to speak early rather than waiting, and to frame my perspectives as valuable contributions rather than tentative suggestions. These small shifts in behavior had a large impact on how I was received. Confidence, I discovered, is not just internal - it is something you signal to others.

Redefining Leadership by Centering Authenticity

One of the biggest lessons I have learned is that leadership does not have to follow a single model. For much of my early career, I thought I had to lead like the men around me - direct, unflinching, and sometimes aggressive. But those behaviors did not feel natural to me, and trying to adopt them left me feeling inauthentic and ineffective. Eventually, I realized that leadership is not about imitation but about alignment - aligning your values, communication style, and decisions with your true self.

Studies increasingly show that authentic leadership improves team performance and employee satisfaction². By being transparent, emotionally intelligent, and consistent, leaders foster greater trust. As I began to lead from a place of authenticity - expressing empathy, listening deeply, and championing collaboration - I found that I could be both assertive and approachable. This shift was particularly powerful for younger women on my team, who saw that there was more than one way to lead effectively. Authenticity, when paired with clarity and action, is a deeply powerful communication tool.

Cultural Change: Women Reshaping Leadership Expectations

The presence of women in leadership is not just about representation - it is about reshaping the very expectations of what leadership looks and sounds like. As more women step into senior roles, especially in traditionally male-oriented sectors, they bring new models of communication that emphasize collaboration, emotional intelligence, and long-term thinking. These attributes are increasingly recognized as critical to effective leadership, particularly in complex and service-oriented organizations such as those in local government.

According to a McKinsey report, companies with more women in leadership are 25 percent more likely to outperform their peers financially³. This correlation reflects not just diversity, but the value of diverse communication styles and decision-making approaches. In my experience, teams led by women often prioritize inclusive dialogue and cross-functional problem-solving. These are not soft skills - they are strategic capabilities. As women continue to lead authentically and visibly, we are collectively shifting the narrative about what effective leadersh