Leading Women in Tech Podcast

286: Executive Presence for Women in Tech

Feb 3, 2026
Clear breakdown of what executive presence actually means for senior women in tech. Why strong performance alone does not earn strategic trust. How leaders evaluate judgment, framing, and decision ownership. Practical moves like recommending decisions, elevating only strategic issues, and protecting energy and boundaries. How bias changes feedback and support for women and ways to design how leaders experience you.
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INSIGHT

Mimicry Often Undermines Credibility

  • Mimicking men backfires because authenticity is noticed and penalized.
  • What reads as confidence in men often looks inauthentic or off-putting for women.
INSIGHT

Presence Trumps Performance At Senior Levels

  • Senior leaders evaluate leadership presence, not just output or competence.
  • Executive presence is how a senior leader experiences you, especially around judgment and framing.
ANECDOTE

Invisible Pillars Leave Only Aftermath

  • Toni describes women who are indispensable yet invisible until they leave.
  • Companies often fail to recognize crucial contributors because they keep heads down.
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