“He said, ‘Well, Janet. I’ll say what I really thought of you when I first saw you. The first thing I thought is, “Oh, here’s blonde bimbo. And what is she going to say?”’ […] Then he goes, ‘You talked and I thought, Wow, Barbie has a brain.’”
In this episode, I talk about something women leaders are unfortunately no strangers to: being underestimated or stereotyped because of their appearance or simply because they are women. If you’ve ever had the experience of being pigeon-holed or underestimated because of judgments people make based on unconscious biases they may have, you’ll want to listen to this episode.
I share two stories of my own and offer some tips to navigate this type of situation when it arises.
In this episode:
- When an executive assumed I was a junior employee and not the session leader
- How I handled it and what I learned from that situation
- When a male colleague admitted that he had initially assumed that I must be a “blonde bimbo”
- How to maintain your power and presence when you cannot control the judgements of others
- How to counter being underestimated
Power Presence Academy: Practical Wisdom for Leaders is the go-to podcast for anyone who leads. Your host is Janet Ioli, leadership and human development expert, sought-after coach and advisor to global executives, and former executive with experience in four Fortune 100 companies. She helps leaders ground themselves with confidence, connection, and purpose and learn to lead with Less Ego, More Soul.
Noteworthy Quotes from This Episode
“I think that in itself is a lesson; that sometimes not saying anything and just showing who you are is the best thing to do in that moment.”
“What it made me realize is that these unconscious biases are out there. They’re real and if we let those things rule us, if we let them dictate how we show up, then it can be debilitating.”
“Can’t control how other people think about me. What I can control is what I’m putting out there and how I respond.”
“A way to counter being underestimated is through consistent excellence. If you repeatedly deliver strong results, demonstrate reliability, and build a reputation that defies stereotypes you’re not going to be underestimated.”
Resource Links:
If you want to become more grounded, confident, and aligned with your deeper values in just 21 days. Check out my book Less Ego, More Soul: A Modern Reinvention Guide for Women.
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Select “Listen in Apple Podcasts,” then choose the “Ratings & Reviews” tab to share what you think.
Connect with Janet Ioli:
Linkedin: Janet Ioli
Instagram: @janetioli
Website: janetioli.com
Janet is the founder of Power Presence Academy. She helps leaders ground themselves with confidence, connection, and purpose and lead with Less Ego, More Soul.
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Produced by Ideablossoms
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