3 biggest lessons I’ve learned as a woman CEO

According to Forbes Magazine in 2023 “for the first time—after years of being stuck at the 8% mark—over 10% of Fortune 500 CEOs are women.”

Pretty sad that we are celebrating a 2% increase, right? 

We're five times away from equal representation still.

The bright side is that although these are small victories, they do matter. They are paving the future and showing us how to make it possible.

So, how do we make it possible? 

Though /slantis is not there YET of being a Fortune 500 company 😜, I’m sharing here some insights of what I’ve learned being a woman CEO that can help others break ground to being one. 

Here they are:

1. Self-advocacy is crucial: As a woman CEO, it's important to support yourself and your ideas. Prioritize self-respect over respect from others. Be confident in your abilities and don't be afraid to speak up when necessary. It's important to communicate clearly and assertively, especially when dealing with difficult situations. Also, use your self-advocacy as an empowerment tool for your team members. This superpower allowed me to create high-performing teams and achieve greater levels of success. 

2. Building a strong support network: Unless you try to be the best, you won’t even be good. A huge part of becoming the best is the people you surround yourself with. Encircling yourself with a strong support network of mentors, peers, and advisors is critical to success. Seek out those who have experience and can provide guidance, especially during challenging times. Never take no for an answer. If you are sure that you are approaching the right person able to help you and generate impact for you, and your company in a positive, bigger way, persevere. 

3. Balancing work and personal life: As a woman CEO, and mum x2, it can be challenging to balance work and personal life. It's important to prioritize self-care and make time for things that bring joy and fulfillment outside of work. This will ultimately end up pumping up your work-life too. Also, it can help you stay focused, energized, and productive in both your personal and professional life. Finally, the 80/20 rule exists everywhere. To become a top performer I continuously try to find myself doing the 20% that matters.

Through my journey, I needed to face a lot of challenges, obstacles, often faced discrimination and bias and probably had to work harder than my male counterparts to prove myself, but NEVER QUITTED. 

If we have more women in leadership roles, it helps dismantle the very stereotypes that hold women back.

And while we may not have broken the glass ceiling yet, thanks to grit, powerful energy and decades-long grinds up the corporate ladder, we sure have raised it.

Let’s keep it up ladies AND gentlemen! 

About me: I'm a passionate entrepreneur, writer and women in leadership advocate. Co-founder of slantis. Speaker at Harvard University Graduate School of Design and Practice of Architecture. Wife 1x, Mom x2, Entrepreneur 1000x. Follow me to learn how we grow our awesome company!