I Lack Good Career Advice & Sponsorship
Without doubt, women are having a very different experience to men every day in the workplace.
Systemic bias is real.
It refers to embedded – often unintentional – policies, procedures and cultural norms that have been long established. Bias unfairly benefits certain privileged groups – while disadvantaging or devaluing women and other minority groups.
Systemic bias shows up in hiring practices, promotions, decision making and in the unfair distribution of career opportunities.
In addition to this, women face an untold number of invisible micro-aggressions every day at work, due to unconscious bias.
How Does Unconscious Bias at Work Impact Women?
If you have been on the receiving end of unconscious bias, you might have complaints like:
- I am always being talked over in meetings
- People keep presenting my ideas and work as their own
- My less-qualified peer just got promoted over me
- I’m told I am too old, or too young, for a promotion
- My competence has nothing to do with my gender
Unconscious bias: a panel, hiring for a leadership role, unconsciously favours male candidates assuming that men are more capable (McKinsey’s Women in the Workplace 2025 report.
If you:
- Aren’t naturally regarded as the first pick for new, stretching opportunities…
- Feel alone and is if you’re getting poor career advice…
- Lack mentorship and/or influential sponsorship in your organisation…
It is likely having an impact of how you’re viewing yourself and your opportunities.
But despite these systemic challenges, women are bouncing back and finding different ways to tackle these issues.
And you don’t have to do it alone either.
You could seek out a leadership coach, like me, to help you take that step back and define your strategy to show up as ready for your next role
You could seek out mentors who want to share their experience with you
You could seek out a career sponsor – someone of influence, who will advocate for you when you’re not in the room
Doing it alone can be really tough.
And if you’re keen to understand the steps you can start taking right away to build your profile and credibility – I’m here to help.
Book a call with me and let’s change your strategy.
Other resources you might like:
From the blog:
8 Ways to be An Effective Career Sponsor
Want a Promotion? 5 Important Factors That Are Missing From Your Career Strategy
From the podcast:
3 Ways to be an Exceptional Career Sponsor
5 Reasons Organisations Lose Talented Women Mid-Career
How to Find the Right Mentor in 3 Steps
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