7 Pillars of Career Success for Women: Where Do You Stand?

Over the years, I’ve coached many women through their leadership journeys. These women are smart, capable, and deeply committed to their growth. Despite their differences in background and industry, I’ve noticed the same core pillars that determine how fulfilled and successful they feel in their careers.

I’ve summarized these seven pillars here and created a quick self-assessment to help you measure where you are right now. Think of it not as a test, but as a mirror, a way to see what’s working well and what might need more attention.

Rate yourself for each pillar:

1️⃣ = Needs your attention | 2️⃣ = Making progress | 3️⃣ = Thriving

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1. Define Your Own Success Plan

• 1️⃣: You’re chasing what others expect of you, not what truly fulfills you.
• 2️⃣: You have some direction, but your path feels fuzzy or reactive.
• 3️⃣: You know what success means to you and intentionally align your work and growth around it.

2. Visibility & Self-Advocacy

• 1️⃣: You do excellent work but rarely talk about it. You hope it speaks for itself.
• 2️⃣: You share results occasionally but not strategically.
• 3️⃣: You consistently communicate your impact and let key people see your passion and strengths.

3. Networking & Support System

• 1️⃣: You avoid networking or only reach out when you need help.
• 2️⃣: You stay in touch with a few people but rarely invest in deeper connections.
• 3️⃣: You actively build a strong circle of mentors, sponsors, and allies who support one another’s growth.

4. Prioritization & Boundaries

• 1️⃣: You say yes to almost everything and often feel overwhelmed or resentful.
• 2️⃣: You’ve started setting limits but still struggle to protect your focus.
• 3️⃣: You’re clear about what matters, say no with confidence, and create space for meaningful work.

5. Time & Energy Management

• 1️⃣: You’re constantly busy, reactive, and running on empty.
• 2️⃣: You manage your tasks but often feel drained or scattered.
• 3️⃣: You design your days intentionally, matching energy to priorities and building in rest and renewal.

6. Confidence & Self-Belief

• 1️⃣: You often second-guess yourself or hold back from opportunities.
• 2️⃣: You push through fear but still question whether you’re “ready.”
• 3️⃣: You trust your experience, own your strengths, and take bold action from self-belief.

7. Authentic Leadership

• 1️⃣: You try to lead the “right” way, how others expect you to.
• 2️⃣: You’re partly authentic but still worry about being judged.
• 3️⃣: You lead from your values and strengths, creating trust, clarity, and genuine connection.

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Scoring

Add up your points (minimum 7, maximum 21):

17–21: 🌟 You’re Thriving.
You lead with purpose and confidence. Keep growing, and share your wisdom with others.

13–16: 🌿 You’re Growing Strong.

You’ve built a great foundation! With a few focused shifts, you’ll feel unstoppable.

9–12: 🪴 You’re Ready for a Reset.

You’re doing many things right but may feel stretched or unfulfilled. It’s time to realign with what truly matters.

7–8: 🌱 You’re at a Turning Point.

You’ve outgrown your current way of working. Start small: one new boundary, one bold conversation, one act of self-belief. Small shift can spark big change.

Final Thought

Success isn’t a straight line. It’s an ongoing alignment between who you are and what you do.

The more your career reflects your values, energy, and authentic self, the more natural your confidence and impact become.

Take note of your lowest-scoring pillar. That’s not a weakness, it’s your next opportunity for growth.

If this reflection resonated with you and you’re ready to go deeper, join me and a group of accomplished women in the Women Leaders Club where we turn awareness into action and help you create the career and life you truly want.

Resume Tips for a Successful Career Change

Are you making a career change? Maybe from one industry to another, or from one function to another. You’re probably excited, but at the same time, that little voice creeps in: How do I make my resume make sense to someone in a completely different world?

I’ve been there. In 2008, I was trying to break into industry from academia, right in the middle of a global financial crisis. I went to every job fair, handed out resumes to every recruiter I could find, but all I heard was:

“Well… you don’t have industry experience.”

Although it was true that I didn’t have direct industry experience, looking back, one of the biggest reasons I heard that response was because of my resume.

A resume is your message to introduce who you are and why you might be exactly the candidate they’ve been looking for, especially to someone who has never met you. It should make them feel you’re the right person for the role. Back then, I didn’t understand that at all. Instead, I handed out a seven-page CV crammed with everything I had ever done: my full education history, a long publication list, exhaustive skill inventories, every conference talk I’d ever given.

If I saw that kind of resume now, I’d pass. I would think, This candidate isn’t ready for industry at all. And now I understand exactly why recruiters felt that way.

It took me years to really learn what I was doing wrong and how to fix it. Here’s what I wish I had known then.

1. Speak Their Language

My first mistake was the seven-page CV. In the tech industry I was trying to enter, a one-page resume was the norm. That alone was a red flag that I didn’t understand how things worked in their world.

But it’s not just about length, it’s about language. Different fields use different words for similar work. One of my clients, who was moving from consulting to product operations, discovered that much of the actual work was the same, but the terminology was different. Once she replaced consulting jargon with product ops terminology, her resume immediately felt familiar and relevant to hiring managers.

Even if what you’ve done is exactly the same as what they do, you need to say it in their words. That choice of language signals that you understand their work and that you’ve done your homework.

2. Identify Your Transferable Skills

When you’re changing industries, it’s easy to assume your previous experience doesn’t count in the new context. But that’s rarely true. The skills you’ve built, such as problem solving, leadership, technical know-how, and communication, don’t disappear just because you’re pivoting. You just need to see them clearly.

From my physics background, here’s what I eventually realized:

• Analyzing experimental data → a strong foundation in problem-solving, statistics, and coding.
• Writing peer-reviewed journals → research, writing, and persuasive communication.
• Presenting at conferences → public speaking and technical presentation skills.
• Leading a research group → leadership, coordination, and project management.

The key is to start by mapping everything you’ve done to the core skills that matter in your new field before you even think about how to phrase them.

3. Translate Them Into Industry Keywords

Once you’ve identified your transferable skills, the next step is to express them in the language your new industry uses and in the exact keywords that will grab attention.

For example, I learned that “physics analysis” was meaningless to a hiring manager in tech, but “statistical analysis and coding in Python” was instantly recognizable.

• “Presented at international physics conferences” became “delivered technical presentations to audiences of 200+.”
• “Led a particle physics research group” became “managed cross-functional teams to deliver complex projects on tight deadlines.”

If you skip this step, you force the recruiter or hiring manager to mentally translate your background into their terms, and the truth is, most won’t take the time. Make the connection obvious.

4. Highlight Your Unique Strengths

Beyond the core skills, you bring something that most people in your target field won’t have. That unique edge often comes directly from your previous career, and it can set you apart if you present it the right way.

For example, I never knew my knowledge in hardware and Linux systems was useful in tech. It was just part of my work as an experimental physicist, so I didn’t think to include it. Those skills were rarely listed in job descriptions for data science roles, but in interviews, they became a surprising bonus.

If you’re not sure what your hidden strengths are, talk to people who understand both your current field and your target one. Informational interviews and networking can help you see yourself through the eyes of someone who knows what would stand out.

5. Show Your Passion

When I interview candidates making the jump from academia, the biggest red flag isn’t the lack of industry experience, it’s the lack of genuine excitement about the work. If your main motivation is “I want a higher-paying job,” that’s exactly what will come across. To a hiring manager, that suggests you might not truly care about the role or the company’s mission, and that you’re simply looking for a paycheck.

Hiring managers want people who are eager to contribute, curious about the challenges, and genuinely interested in the work. That enthusiasm can be the deciding factor between two equally qualified candidates.

So in your resume, and in interviews, make it clear why you’re making this pivot, what you’ve done to prepare, and what excites you about the problems you’ll get to solve.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, your resume is a message to someone who doesn’t know you at all. Picture that person sitting with your resume in hand. What do they want? What worries do they have about hiring someone from outside their industry?

Knowing that, decide what you want them to understand about you and present it in a way they can grasp immediately, without having to do any mental translation.

That’s when your resume stops being just a record of your past and becomes a bridge to your future.

Create Your Own Leadership Path: A Conversation with Kaitlin Liston

I had the pleasure of speaking with Kaitlin Liston for the Kim Coaching Group Interview Series, and I’m so excited to share her story and insights.

Kaitlin is a demand generation manager at RingCentral who has built an impressive and intentional career in tech marketing. She started at a small startup while still in college, held almost every type of marketing role you can imagine, and along the way co-founded a nonprofit and helped more than 100 students with their college applications. But what stands out most is how she consistently created leadership opportunities for herself and brought others along with her.

Here are some of the key takeaways from our conversation, in Kaitlin’s own words, with reflections and examples you can use right away.

Rethink What Leadership Means

“Being a leader is more leading by example… All of the best leaders that I’ve worked under have enabled us to be our best selves. It’s more of a collaboration, allowing for an environment where everyone feels like they have the abilities to do their best.”

Kaitlin grew up playing sports and described how the best team captains were the ones who led by how they showed up, not by barking orders. That same approach shaped her view of leadership at work. She’s not waiting to be given authority, she shows up with it.

We talked about how people often tune out during all-hands meetings or skip team calls because they feel too busy. But leadership means showing up anyway, asking questions, and treating those meetings like they matter, because they do. That’s where you get context, build trust, and show you care about more than just your own tasks.

Decide What Kind of Leader You Want to Be

“I love this quote that you are the sum of the five people closest to you. I started thinking about the kind of people I wanted around me and the kind of leader I wanted to be to them.”

Kaitlin discovered her leadership style by observing others. Some made people feel empowered. Some didn’t. That helped her reflect on what kind of leader she didn’t want to be and she built her own version from there.

You don’t have to pick from the leadership styles already out there. You get to define your own. Kaitlin leads by building trust, giving credit, and making people feel like they belong. That’s what people remember and follow.

Ask yourself: who are the people you admire most in your life and work? What do they do that makes you feel seen and supported? Start modeling those behaviors.

Build a Real Network, Not Just a List of Contacts

“Your network is your net worth.”

Kaitlin believes in building meaningful relationships that go beyond LinkedIn connections. When she joins a new company, she asks her manager to introduce her to 10 people across the org. She reaches out to new hires. She gets curious about what people do and who they are.

We talked about how real networking isn’t about keeping score, it’s about being generous. When you offer help without expecting anything back, you build reputation and trust. And over time, those people remember what you’re great at and want to work with you again.

If you’re wondering how to start, Kaitlin’s advice is simple: send a message that shows genuine interest. Tell someone what you admire about their work, ask one thoughtful question, and offer something specific you can help with.

Create the Opportunities You Want to See

“I didn’t wait for a promotion. I started leading book clubs, organizing events, and building community.”

At RingCentral, Kaitlin helped launch WISE, the Women in SaaS Empowerment group. She began by volunteering to run small programs like book clubs and lunch-and-learns. Eventually, she became the event chair, helping others grow their skills and confidence too.

Outside of work, she co-founded a nonprofit during the pandemic and continues to support students through college counseling. All of this started with small decisions to raise her hand.

We talked about how creating leadership opportunities doesn’t have to be big. You can volunteer to lead a 30-minute discussion. You can offer to review someone’s document. You can step in on something that fits your time and energy, and still have an impact.

Leadership grows with every action. Start where you are.

Think Like a Leader Before Anyone Calls You One

“When something doesn’t feel right, I don’t just let it go, I try to be part of the solution.”

Kaitlin once noticed something in the marketing org that didn’t sit right with her. She was a manager at the time, and it wasn’t her responsibility to weigh in on org-wide strategy, but she cared deeply about where the team was headed. So she sent a thoughtful Slack message to her VP, sharing her perspective.

Leadership often starts like this, not with a formal role, but with a mindset. Leaders treat everything like it’s their problem. When you care enough to speak up, offer ideas, or take initiative, even when it’s not in your job description, you’re already leading.

What’s something that’s been bothering you at work? Instead of venting about it, what would it look like to take action? You don’t have to fix everything. But you can start the conversation.

What’s One Thing You’ll Try?

Kaitlin’s story is full of small, intentional actions that added up to real leadership. She didn’t wait to be chosen. She chose herself.

What’s one thing from her story that you’ll try this month?

Pick something simple. Reach out to someone new. Offer to help. Show up differently.

And if you’re ready to take your leadership to the next level, check out the Women Leaders Club. We go deep into topics like these and support each other through every stretch and leap.

How to Build a Resilient, Abundant Career in Uncertain Times

I worked really hard to get here. I studied well, went to good schools. I gave everything—often without allowing myself to rest or enjoy life. I got the job I wanted. Things were finally starting to click. I could see the finish line. And then the economy shifted. Suddenly, the path I had been following started to disappear.

I was scared. What about all those years of effort? Was it all falling apart? I remember thinking, No, not now, not here. I felt so close. I couldn’t believe this was how things might end.

I blamed the economy. I blamed the job market. I worked even harder to stand out, to survive. But nothing seemed to improve. I started to question myself. Maybe I’m not as good as I thought. Maybe I was just lucky. Maybe I was dreaming too big.

Have you felt like this before? If so, you’re definitely not alone. This was me during the 2008 financial crisis, trying to transition from academia to industry.

And I hear similar stories now. Over and over again.

If I could say one thing to my younger self, it would be: It’s okay. It’s going to work out. Just maybe not in the way you imagined.

What if your dream is still guaranteed, but the path looks different than you expected?

Here are some ideas that helped me back then, and might help you now:

1. Build Internal Abundance

This is about strengthening your inner foundation so that you make decisions from clarity, not fear. It's not just about mindset. It's about tangible, everyday practices that restore your energy and reinforce your self-trust.

Invest in yourself
Don't just wait for your company to offer a course. Choose a skill you're curious about, or say yes to an experience that stretches you. Whether it's joining a leadership cohort, working with a coach, or giving yourself permission to attend a conference, treat your development like the strategic investment it is.

Build a savings buffer
Having six to twelve months of runway, without depending on a job, can be life-changing. It gives you freedom. You can say no to bad fits, explore bigger opportunities, and hold boundaries that protect your energy. You think more clearly when you're not operating from fear.

Rest regularly and move your body daily
Some of your best ideas won't come while you're grinding at your desk. They’ll come when you’re walking, dancing, stretching, or even doing nothing. Movement clears emotional static. Rest creates the space for insights to land.

Track your wins
Imposter syndrome doesn’t vanish just because you achieve more. Keep a "brag document" to log your impact, the praise you’ve received, and the moments you felt proud. It’s not vanity. It’s evidence. Especially when you’re in a culture that may not always see your value.

2. Step Into Your Power

This is about how you carry yourself and how you talk about your work. It’s about claiming your seat at the table, and realizing it was never about waiting to be invited.

Learn from masters
Seek people who’ve done what you dream of. People who’ve walked through rooms where they were the only one, asked for more when it felt risky, and built careers with staying power. Learn from them. Ask questions. Be inspired. Grow your power.

Assume you belong
Stop looking for proof you deserve to be there. Walk in knowing your presence adds value, because it does. Your perspective, intelligence, and experience matter. When you believe that, others start to as well.

Show up with peer energy
This isn’t arrogance. It’s grounded confidence. Walk into meetings not trying to prove yourself, but ready to contribute. You're not there to earn your seat. You're there to use it.

Celebrate the 'no'
We often hold back, afraid of hearing "no." So we don’t ask for what we need: a promotion, a raise, a stretch role, a pause. But every time we don’t ask, we reinforce limits. A "no" isn’t the end. It just means not this way or not right now. Shift what you ask. Ask again later. Keep asking. You don’t get to the big "yes" without hearing some "no" along the way.

3. Design an Abundant Career

The goal isn’t just survival. It’s about creating a career that’s spacious, evolving, and aligned with who you are. That means being proactive, not reactive.

Join a room full of bold women
Find people who stretch you. People who normalize ambition, challenge your ideas, and cheer for you when you doubt yourself. Network with intention. Build your personal support system. Join industry groups or programs like the Women Leaders Club, spaces where growth is shared and support is built-in. You don’t have to figure this out alone.

Diversify your opportunities
One job title shouldn’t define your value or your future. Learn about other roles. Speak. Advise. Write. Take on side projects. Start small, but start. Creating multiple ways to express your talents gives you more stability and more room to grow.

Turn your insights into assets
If you’ve figured something out that others are still struggling with, don’t keep it to yourself. Document it. Share it. Make it a talk, a blog post, a framework. When your ideas live beyond you, they amplify your visibility and your impact.

Own your edge
Our roles are changing. Traditional paths are dissolving, and new ones are being created every day. Don’t focus only on fitting into what exists. Start shaping what doesn’t yet. Your background, personality, and perspective are your strengths. Use them. That’s how you stand out.

You don’t have to wait for the world to calm down before you move forward. You just need to start where you are, with clarity, courage, and a few intentional steps.