07/13/2022
The question is what does having a seat at a table really mean?
Unfortunately and often, the "seat" is really not "at the table" but at quite a distance from it.
There use to be a time when I was at the table but my voice wasn’t heard. It wasn’t up to the CEO to include me but it was my responsibility to ensure they understood my worth and how vital I was to the organization.
Once I figured it out, it changed the game for me but for some, it makes the role unattractive because it’s uncomfortable.
Despite receiving invitations to sit at the table from CEOs, some women are apathetic and unenthusiastic about the “opportunities." Because they are being asked to play small.
My advice to all the women out there who resonate:
Know Your Worth!! The only permission you need in order to stop playing small is your own. And hence, when the opportunity is small, ask for it to become big! .
Stay engaged, persistent and navigate the barriers. You should never feel like you must “earn" a seat if you are at the right position level and expertise. The seat belongs to you just as much as it belongs to your peer.
