Global Chief Privacy Officer, K Royal, spent much of her career working in highly technical, male-dominated environments — often as the only woman in the room, sometimes the only woman at an entire conference.
She spoke candidly about what that experience taught her.
“They only look at what are your qualifications… and miss how women approach problem-solving, crisis management, and team building.”
On paper, she always met the bar. In practice, she often saw the deeper work of leadership discounted — the work that doesn’t always announce itself loudly, but holds organizations together when things get complicated.
Many executive women recognize this tension.
You bring technical excellence and an ability to navigate ambiguity. You manage outcomes and people. You sense when something is off before it shows up in the metrics.
Those capabilities are sometimes labeled “soft.” In reality, they’re foundational — especially in moments of uncertainty and change.
What’s encouraging is this: the more complex the world becomes, the more valuable these skills are. Organizations may be slow to recognize them, but they increasingly depend on them.
If you’ve ever wondered whether this part of your leadership truly counts, the answer is yes. And over time, it’s often the differentiator that shapes what leadership looks like next.
p.s. If you are nodding along with what you read here - you might want to catch the replay of our recent event: “The Rise of Non-W2 Leadership.” Because leadership can look very differently these days…
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This email was inspired by a recent conversation with K Royal on our podcast about courage, growth, and learning to hold belief before it feels natural.
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