Mariceli:
I think women especially try to do so much, and they want everything to go perfectly. Even when we know perfection is not what we should be striving for, we don’t want our families or our life outside work to be affected by the fact that we’re growing. I have found that creating a support system is critical and has afforded me the balance to fulfill my responsibilities without creating too much guilt and chaos in my life.
The other advice for women who want to be in a leadership position is about believing in their talents and abilities, and not doubting or setting limits. Confidence is tricky, and for many of us, there is a cultural component. We were socialized in a manner that confidence was neither necessary nor rewarded, so we get into patterns of apologizing and hesitating, which takes power away from us. We must consciously work on this.
Tsipin:
I think what is essential here is not to change who we are, our essence. And for this to happen, we have to give ourselves time for reflection and internal listening.
On the other hand, I think that when things don’t work out well and you receive difficult feedback, don’t take it personally. Focus on what you can learn and see it as an opportunity for improvement. This requires work, but when you do, it’s wonderful.
Melissa:
I think you grow in confidence as you mature and have more experiences behind you. You always hear about that gap between men and women with respect to confidence and competence. Men often are perceived as more confident and sometimes women who are more competent don’t possess the same amount of confidence, so they miss opportunities.
My advice is, don’t underestimate your ability. There’s a saying, “You’re stronger than you know. You’re braver than you believe. And you’re smarter than you think.” I think that applies to life in general, and I also think it applies to aspiring leaders, so don’t underestimate what you’re capable of.