Power Up Summary

Instead of seeing challenges as limitations, see them as opportunities to discover your strength and unique path forward.

1. Mistakes Are Stepping Stones to Growth

Making mistakes can feel disheartening, but they often pave the way for stronger capabilities and wiser decisions. In the fast-paced New Economy, adapting after errors is essential for career advancement and resilience.

For example, Magdalena Yesil declined a job at Apple in its budding stage, based on ill-informed advice. Instead of dwelling on this missed opportunity, she learned the importance of thorough research. That experience empowered her to make thoughtful decisions later in her career.

Another instance came during her first engineering role when her chip design faced sharp criticism. Instead of internalizing the negativity, she embraced the feedback to refine her skills. Her openness built a reputation for innovation and reliability, making her a stronger professional.

Lastly, Salesforce co-founder Marc Benioff took a significant personal and financial risk, leaving a stable position at Oracle for a smaller, uncertain venture. His confidence in his decision-making led to Salesforce’s monumental growth, proving that bold steps often yield great outcomes.

Examples

• Yesil redirecting her plans after not joining Apple.
• Learning from criticism during her engineering tenure.
• Benioff’s leap of faith into Salesforce’s early days.

2. Use Corporate Jobs to Build Robust Skills

Jumping directly into entrepreneurship can be alluring, but working for an established organization first can provide vital skills and experience. Corporate environments offer stability alongside lessons in leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving.

Julie Wainwright, for instance, worked at Clorox and Software Publishing Corporation before founding The RealReal. These roles taught her brand strategy, international distribution, and business planning – all integral to her success.

Wells Fargo's Debra Rossi approached her work as an intrapreneur, which led her to support revolutionary ventures like eBay. Through intrapreneurship, she learned to gauge risk while managing innovation within a structured environment.

For those aiming to work for themselves one day, a corporate job offers both practical training and networking opportunities. These experiences cultivate the expertise needed to turn ideas into marketable successes.

Examples

• Julie Wainwright mastering skills at Clorox and Software Publishing.
• Debra Rossi supporting eBay through a corporate role.
• Structured stability fostering entrepreneurial growth.

3. Advocate for Your Own Achievements

Excellence may not always translate to recognition unless you ensure your work is seen and valued. Passively waiting for a promotion or raise can leave you overlooked.

Take the female tech executive who initially missed out on a promotion because her management successes weren’t backed with measurable metrics. Once she outlined her impact through hard data, she secured the leadership role.

Email testimonials are another effective tool. Yesil suggests requesting feedback after key presentations or projects. These records provide concrete evidence of your contributions, ready to support future evaluations.

Speaking up about your accomplishments not only helps you climb the ladder but also builds confidence. Making your impact visible ensures your efforts align with the opportunities you pursue.

Examples

• A tech executive securing promotion after demonstrating impact.
• Using email feedback to track career progress.
• Actively showcasing results during performance reviews.

4. Gravitas Is Your Armor Against Workplace Challenges

Presenting yourself with seriousness and confidence – or gravitas – can help you handle tricky or inappropriate workplace situations effectively. It starts with body language, posture, and even wardrobe choices that make you feel empowered.

Yesil advises handling inappropriate comments directly: ask the person to clarify their meaning, set firm boundaries, or use humor to diffuse the tension while making your stance clear. Such strategies place control back in your hands.

Lara Druyan faced being disregarded during a presentation in a male-dominated workplace but stood her ground. By asking for the same respect given to others, she ensured her voice was heard, even if taking a stand risked being labeled as "difficult."

Examples

• Practicing assertive body language.
• Directly confronting inappropriate remarks with composure.
• Lara Druyan confronting inequality in real-time.

5. Build Connections With Both Women and Men

Career growth depends on building a reliable network. A mix of allies, including men and women, can offer both emotional and practical support when navigating challenges.

Heidi Zak, ThirdLove founder, credits her mentor Lisa for advice on balancing major career changes, such as starting her company while becoming a mother. Their reciprocal relationship strengthened both their careers.

Male allies also help bridge gender gaps. A woman in tech described how a male colleague offering inclusive social invitations might have eased her outsider feelings among a male-dominated team.

Networking across diverse spaces creates a more comprehensive safety net to navigate opportunities and setbacks wisely.

Examples

• Heidi Zak’s relationship with mentor Lisa.
• Male peer inclusion fostering team harmony.
• Supportive networks easing career transitions.

6. Empowerment at Work Enhances Family Life

“Mommy guilt” weighs heavily on many working parents, but feeling empowered in your career can positively influence your family relationships. Success at work can be a beacon of inspiration at home.

Yesil shares her mother Selma’s story: a late embrace of employment at age 63 boosted not only her self-esteem but also her grandchildren’s admiration. Her work ethic became a family-wide inspiration.

Parental leave policies can be used to stay connected with work while maintaining flexibility for family needs. Proactive planning and small goals during your leave keep you engaged with your workplace on your terms.

Examples

• Selma’s late-career boost inspiring her grandchildren.
• Carefully balancing parental leave and team updates.
• Finding empowerment fueling both career and parenting.

7. Bouncing Back After Career Setbacks

Getting fired or deciding to leave a job can be a turning point. Rather than reacting emotionally, approach the situation as an opportunity to evaluate and recharge.

Julie Wainwright took a decade-long break after a failed business and personal difficulties. She focused on self-care and reconnected with her creative pursuits, which eventually inspired her successful business idea, The RealReal.

Breaks can also offer time to strengthen skills or reconnect with professional networks. Seeing setbacks as a chance to reset your priorities helps prepare for future success.

Examples

• Julie Wainwright rebuilding after professional and personal lows.
• Stepping back to recharge and build skills.
• Leaning on networks for perspective during career shifts.

8. Seek Out Inclusive Workplaces

When job hunting, evaluating a company’s culture ensures it aligns with your goals. Look for their commitment to diversity, parental leave policies, and performance assessments that reward fairness.

For example, Stanford University helped GoDaddy reform its evaluation process, promoting gender-neutral assessments and reducing pay gaps.

Ask direct questions during interviews, and connect with current employees (especially women) to learn about their experiences. Inclusive companies tend to reap higher financial and employee engagement rewards.

Examples

• Questions during interviews to assess workplace culture.
• GoDaddy reforming its evaluation process.
• High-performing diverse teams recognizing employees fairly.

9. Diversity Drives Financial and Team Success

Supporting diversity isn’t just ethical; it’s financially smart. Diverse teams bring varied perspectives that lead to innovation and stronger results.

Etsy’s use of a coding school program enabled hiring more women engineers, showing that investment in development can create both talent and inclusion.

As a leader, broaden recruitment sources and train promising candidates, ensuring hiring practices give employees opportunities to shine – never hiring solely for numbers but for lasting impact.

Examples

• Etsy’s training to attract women engineers.
• Financial benefits of inclusive policies.
• Teach and nurture promising diverse candidates for roles.

Takeaways

1. Regularly articulate and document your contributions at work to ensure recognition and opportunities.
2. Proactively build a diverse network of mentors and peers, mixing genders and career levels.
3. Embrace recharging as a way to reflect, regain confidence, and find inspiration after career setbacks.