A personal story

I learned to stand my ground as a woman early in my professional life. It started with my first job in the industry in a truly male-dominated company, especially in the executive ranks.

Highly motivated and committed, I was determined to show that I was the right person for the upcoming project. My boss at the time asked me to present the project in a presentation to the exclusively male management.

Days before, I prepared carefully, rehearsing the presentation the morning before the appointment. My ‘performance’ came, all male eyes on me, the presentation went well until the moment when the marketing director, a man in his prime with a lot of power and influence in the company, decided to deem the topic irrelevant and crashed my presentation with full force. There was silence for a few moments, I felt completely overwhelmed and was speechless. It got even worse because none of the other listeners came to my aid, not even my boss. I felt small, stupid and somehow helpless. Not nice feelings, you can believe me.

I have experienced such situations again and again in the course of my career, and many women have told me about their similar experiences with men in the work environment.

My mission is to support women in the male-dominated working world to go their way calmly and confidently and to be present in their competence.