What Does it Take for Women to Become Influential Leaders? Perspectives from Executive Coaching

Developing strong leadership skills in women involves mastering personal branding, effective communication, networking, strategic thinking, confidence, countering gender bias, defining leadership style, emotional intelligence, self-care, and continuous learning. Executive coaching plays a crucial role in these areas, providing strategies, insights, and support to navigate challenges, optimize strengths, and inspire impactful leadership.

Developing strong leadership skills in women involves mastering personal branding, effective communication, networking, strategic thinking, confidence, countering gender bias, defining leadership style, emotional intelligence, self-care, and continuous learning. Executive coaching plays a crucial role in these areas, providing strategies, insights, and support to navigate challenges, optimize strengths, and inspire impactful leadership.

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Anna Radulovski
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Rux Dariescu
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Building a Strong Personal Brand

To become influential leaders, women need to focus on developing a recognizable and respected personal brand. This involves understanding and leveraging their unique strengths, values, and experiences to stand out in their fields. Executive coaching can play a pivotal role in helping women identify these elements and communicate them effectively to establish credibility and authority.

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Anna Radulovski
CEO at WomenTech Network

To become influential leaders, women should focus on building a strong personal brand. This involves: Defining Your Identity: Clearly articulate your values, expertise, and what sets you apart. Consistency Across Platforms: Ensure your message is cohesive, whether on social media, professional networks, or in-person interactions. Authentic Engagement: Connect genuinely with your community, sharing insights and learning from others. Showcasing Achievements: Highlight your successes and challenges overcome, demonstrating your leadership and resilience. A well-crafted personal brand not only distinguishes you as a thought leader but also opens doors to opportunities and platforms for advocacy. It's about being true to yourself while strategically positioning your expertise to inspire and lead effectively.

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Daniela Silveira
CEO Sisluxe | TV Host | International Family Law Attorney at Sisluxe

In my work mentoring women through transitions, whether returning from career breaks, navigating personal reinvention, or rebuilding after emotional setbacks, I’ve found that building a strong personal brand is not about visibility first. It’s about coherence. Before asking “How do I stand out?”, the real question is “Does my external presence reflect the woman I’ve become internally?” A powerful personal brand begins with embracing the version of yourself that emerged after the rupture. It’s not about going back to who you were. It’s about showing up now, with truth, strength, and intentionality. Executive coaching plays a vital role in this process. It helps uncover what we often overlook in ourselves: our consistent patterns of excellence, our core values, our non-negotiables. When these elements are named and integrated, they form the foundation of a brand that is not only recognized, but deeply respected. Personal branding isn’t a performance. It’s a declaration of who you’ve chosen to be, consistently.

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Yashu Kapila
CEO at BugRaptors

To flourish as influential leaders, women must emphasize building a strong personal brand that highlights their own strengths, values, and experiences. It is crucial that they communicate their expertise effectively and develop trust in their respective industries.

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Zainab Hyderi
Strategy and Business Operations Program Lead/Philanthrophy Advocate

Agree with Anna on building a strong brand. Its also important to always find the right mentor and a sponsor. Someone who speaks for you in boardrooms you are not a part of.

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Effective Communication Skills

Influential leadership for women often hinges on mastering the art of communication. This includes not only public speaking and presentation skills but also the ability to listen actively and empathize with others. Executive coaching can provide strategies and practice in articulating ideas clearly, persuasively, and authentically, essential for inspiring and leading teams.

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Rux Dariescu
CEO and Executive Coach at Coaching Reimagined

The words we choose and how we deliver them shape the environment, our interactions, and whether those listening truly hear us. Effective communication, especially at leadership levels, is not merely about what you say but how you say it. Continuous refinement of our communication skills is necessary to become the speaker people want to listen to. Know your objective and audience before you utter a word, sentence, or entire speech. Be clear. What message do you want to convey? How do you want it to be received? Do you announce something? Do you want to create a dialogue now or later? Do you want to learn something from your audience? Do you ask the audience? Organize your thoughts and use simple, meaningful language, clearly focusing on the connection between the words that touch on the logical brain of the audience, the tone used that touches on the emotional level and the posture you present. Everything matters. Why is the entire “communication package” needed? Words have power. They can create wars and generate misunderstandings, as well as bring peace and love. They can also make us feel something. Because the way we feel is coded in each one of us's DNA, how we relate to the words we hear or express is unique and very personal. Become aware of the components of effective communication, and what you want to say will become simple. Next time you think about effective communication, take a moment to check the level of clarity to know exactly how you feel and what kind of reaction you want to generate. And always be yourself!

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Daniela Silveira
CEO Sisluxe | TV Host | International Family Law Attorney at Sisluxe

In executive environments, communication is often mistaken for articulation. But clarity without emotional presence can feel like noise. What I’ve observed in mentoring women leaders, especially those returning to positions of influence after personal or professional disruption, is that the most powerful communicators are not always the most eloquent, but the most aligned. When your message is an extension of who you are, your values, your lived experience, your intentional vision, people don’t just hear you. They remember you. Executive coaching can sharpen technique, but true communication mastery begins with internal congruence. It’s about embodying the message before delivering it. For women navigating complex transitions, this means reclaiming their voice with truth and clarity, not volume. And in many cases, the most influential communication happens not when we speak — but when we listen from a place of presence and respect. Influence doesn’t come from speaking louder. It comes from speaking truer.

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Hala M. Saab
Customer Care/ Internationally Accredited Trainer|Certified Intercultural Communication Trainer|Facilitator|L&D|Accredited Practitioner Coach |Certified Youth Coach|NLP|ISO|

Here are some key factors that can help women become influential leaders: 1- Build confidence and assertiveness: Women are often socialized to be overly modest about their abilities. Building genuine self-confidence and learning to assert themselves effectively is crucial for female leaders. 2-Develop an authentic leadership style: Influential women leaders embrace their authentic selves and lead in a way that aligns with their values and strengths. 3-Cultivate strong support networks: Having sponsors, mentors, and peer networks that advocate for them and provide guidance is invaluable for aspiring women leaders. Strong networks help counter systemic biases. 4-Integrate leadership and life demands: Influential women leaders find ways to harmonize work-life integration successfully. 5-Continuously learn and adapt: In rapidly changing environments, openness to continued growth, skill development, and the ability to pivot leadership styles as needed are vital assets. Ultimately, influential women leaders find ways to showcase their talents, leverage their authentic strengths, and resiliently overcome systemic obstacles on their path to positions of impact.

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Daniela Silveira
CEO Sisluxe | TV Host | International Family Law Attorney at Sisluxe

In executive environments, communication is often mistaken for articulation. But clarity without emotional presence can feel like noise. What I’ve observed in mentoring women leaders, especially those returning to positions of influence after personal or professional disruption, is that the most powerful communicators are not always the most eloquent, but the most aligned. When your message is an extension of who you are, your values, your lived experience, your intentional vision, people don’t just hear you. They remember you. Executive coaching can sharpen technique, but true communication mastery begins with internal congruence. It’s about embodying the message before delivering it. For women navigating complex transitions, this means reclaiming their voice with truth and clarity, not volume. And in many cases, the most influential communication happens not when we speak — but when we listen from a place of presence and respect. Influence doesn’t come from speaking louder. It comes from speaking truer.

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Networking and Relationship Building

Creating and nurturing a robust professional network is crucial for women aiming to become influential leaders. Executive coaches can offer guidance on strategies for effective networking, mentorship, and sponsorship. Building these relationships provides support, opportunities for collaboration, and access to diverse perspectives critical for leadership growth.

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Puspanjali Sarma
Engineering Leader - AI at ServiceNow

Networking and relationship building are crucial for women in leadership roles for several reasons: - Access to Opportunities: Networking can open doors to new opportunities, such as job offers, partnerships, and collaborations. For women in leadership, having a strong network means they are more likely to hear about and be considered for high-profile projects and positions. - Mentorship and Support: Building relationships with other leaders can provide valuable mentorship and support. Experienced mentors can offer guidance, share insights, and help navigate challenges, which is particularly beneficial in industries where women are underrepresented. - Knowledge Sharing: Engaging with a diverse network allows women leaders to stay updated with the latest industry trends, best practices, and innovations. This exchange of knowledge can drive personal and organizational growth and keep them at the forefront of their field. - Enhanced Influence and Advocacy: A strong network amplifies a leader’s influence and ability to advocate for important issues, such as diversity and inclusion. Building relationships with key stakeholders can help women leaders champion causes and initiatives that benefit their organizations and the broader community. - Emotional and Professional Support: Leadership can be isolating, and having a network of peers provides a vital support system. Colleagues and friends within the industry can offer encouragement, share experiences, and provide a sense of camaraderie, helping women leaders navigate the pressures and demands of their roles with greater resilience.

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Daniela Silveira
CEO Sisluxe | TV Host | International Family Law Attorney at Sisluxe

True leadership is never built in isolation. Throughout my career, I have seen that women with extraordinary potential often hesitate to activate their networks. Not out of insecurity, but out of a deep-rooted belief that asking is burdening, or that visibility must be earned in silence. Executive coaching helps reframe that narrative. Strategic networking is not self-promotion. It is stewardship of your purpose through connection. When you understand your voice as valuable, every relationship becomes an exchange of power, not a transaction. Mentorship, sponsorship, and collaborative networks are not just support systems. They are ecosystems of expansion. In my own work leading cross-cultural initiatives between Brazil and Portugal, I have witnessed how intentional relationship-building opens doors that talent alone cannot. Influence grows when we stop waiting to be discovered and start curating who we walk with. The most transformative leaders are not those who know everyone. They are the ones who know how to be known for what truly matters.

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Strategic Thinking and Decision Making

Women leaders need to excel in making strategic decisions that drive their organizations forward. Executive coaching can help in honing these skills by offering tools and frameworks for analytical thinking, problem-solving, and innovative planning. Learning to anticipate challenges, evaluate alternatives, and implement solutions confidently is key to influential leadership.

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Daniela Silveira
CEO Sisluxe | TV Host | International Family Law Attorney at Sisluxe

Strategy is not a plan. It is a pattern of thought. In complex environments, where variables shift and certainty is rare, women leaders must learn to expand sua visão beyond the operational and into the structural. Strategic thinking is not about solving problems quickly. It is about asking better questions, understanding the broader context, and choosing with consequence. Executive coaching accelerates this maturity. It equips leaders with frameworks that clarify priorities, highlight blind spots, and remove emotion from high-stakes decisions without losing empathy. Throughout my work across international markets, I have seen that bold decisions rarely come from more information. They come from deeper alignment. When a leader knows where she is going and why it matters, her thinking becomes precise, and her impact becomes exponential. Influential leadership is the result of vision anchored in courage and executed with intention.

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Confidence and Self-Promotion

One of the significant challenges for many women is asserting themselves and confidently promoting their achievements. Executive coaching can be instrumental in overcoming impostor syndrome and building self-assurance. Coaches work with women leaders to embrace their value, articulate their success, and claim their deserved space in leadership roles.

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Rupali Patil
Director of Product Management at Lincoln Technology Solutions

Confidence and self-promotion are key to women becoming influential leaders. When I started my career 20 years ago, I wasn’t a confident employee. I was hardworking, sincere, and passionate, but when it came to speaking up or expressing my opinions, I would often feel overwhelmed with doubt—questioning if I was even right or worrying about what others might think of me. At the time, I also saw self-promotion as something desperate or boastful. It wasn’t until later in my career that I truly learned the importance of both confidence and self-promotion, realizing they are essential for growth and leadership. Women often hesitate to self-promote, fearing it may come across as boastful, but in reality, it’s essential to showcase your successes and highlight your unique contributions. For example, if you led a successful AI product launch, don’t wait for others to recognize your efforts—share the outcome and the impact you’ve made. Executive coaching often encourages women to step into their power by practicing self-promotion in a way that feels authentic, like sharing your accomplishments in meetings, adding measurable results to your resume, or even creating a personal brand on LinkedIn. Confidence in your value and the ability to articulate it will help you stand out and inspire others to do the same.

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Daniela Silveira
CEO Sisluxe | TV Host | International Family Law Attorney at Sisluxe

Confidence is not a personality trait. It is a conscious construction. Throughout my career, I have met highly competent women who hesitate to speak about their achievements, not because they lack merit but because they fear being perceived as arrogant. The hesitation is rarely about ability. It is about granting themselves permission to be seen and heard with strength and precision. Self-promotion is not exaggeration. It is clarity. It means naming your contribution accurately so others can recognize the value you deliver. Executive coaching provides both a mirror and a method. It helps women challenge internalized beliefs, reframe their personal narrative, and communicate results without minimizing or overexplaining. In my own leadership path, I have learned that humility and confidence are not opposites. They coexist when your voice is grounded in purpose. You are not speaking for attention. You are speaking for impact. The shift begins when you stop waiting for permission and start leading with conviction.

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Navigating Gender Bias and Stereotypes

Despite progress, women leaders often face gender bias and stereotypes. Executive coaching can provide strategies for effectively navigating and challenging these barriers. By focusing on developing resilience, advocating for inclusivity, and demonstrating leadership excellence, women can shift perceptions and pave the way for others.

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Daniela Silveira
CEO Sisluxe | TV Host | International Family Law Attorney at Sisluxe

Gender bias is rarely explicit. It hides in expectations, tones, and silences. For many women leaders, it is not about proving they can lead. It is about navigating a landscape where their competence is questioned before it is seen. Executive coaching plays a critical role in helping women recognize these invisible dynamics and respond with strategy rather than reaction. The first step is awareness without internalization. Not every resistance is personal, but every response can be intentional. Through coaching, women can strengthen their resilience without hardening their presence. They learn how to advocate for themselves and others in ways that shift the narrative from defense to influence. Leadership is not about fighting stereotypes. It is about rising beyond them, setting new standards, and making space for more voices at the table. Bias cannot always be avoided. But it can be outgrown.

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Developing a Leadership Style

Every influential leader has a distinct style that resonates with their personality and values. Women, through executive coaching, can explore various leadership models and techniques to develop an approach that is both authentic and effective. Embracing one's unique style enhances relatability and engagement with team members and stakeholders.

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Rux Dariescu
CEO and Executive Coach at Coaching Reimagined

A leadership style isn't fixed—it evolves. It is shaped by experiences, values and conscious effort to grow as a leader. My leadership journey began with managing tasks and projects. Then, I led teams. As I gained experience, I embraced strategy, vision and transformation, continuously shaping both my management and my leadership styles and presence. I know I cannot have just one leadership style - my style is adapted to every situation I face. However, there is one thing that remains a constant: a set of principles that I can articulate with clarity, that represent my foundation regardless of the leadership style: integrity, doing good work, making a positive difference and always having space to breathe.

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Daniela Silveira
CEO Sisluxe | TV Host | International Family Law Attorney at Sisluxe

Leadership is not a title. It is an expression of character in action. The most influential leaders I have met do not fit into formulas. They lead with a presence that reflects who they are, what they believe, and how they move through the world. That presence is not improvised. It is designed with intention. Women in leadership are often encouraged to adapt to existing models, but the real power comes from defining a style that aligns with their values and amplifies their strengths. Executive coaching creates a space for that exploration. It allows women to test perspectives, refine their voice, and build a leadership identity that feels not only effective but true. Authenticity is not static. It evolves. But when a woman leads from a place of coherence, her influence becomes magnetic. The goal is not to imitate. It is to embody.

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Embracing Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence is a cornerstone of influential leadership, enabling women to connect with others on a deeper level. Executive coaching can assist in cultivating empathy, self-awareness, and social skills, essential for managing teams, navigating conflict, and fostering a positive organizational culture.

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Daniela Silveira
CEO Sisluxe | TV Host | International Family Law Attorney at Sisluxe

Emotional intelligence is not about being agreeable. It is about being aware, aligned, and intentional. Women leading complex teams understand that sustainable results are not achieved by technical decisions alone. They emerge from how those decisions are communicated, received, and executed across diverse human contexts. Executive coaching helps refine this sensitivity. It sharpens self-regulation, empathy, and clarity, not to avoid conflict but to navigate it with precision and presence. Emotional intelligence enables leaders to influence not by pressure but by resonance. It fosters trust-based cultures where performance and well-being can coexist. In times of change, technical skills execute strategy. Emotional intelligence sustains it.

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Prioritizing Self-Care and Wellness

Leadership demands can be overwhelming, making self-care and wellness vital for sustained success. Executive coaching can encourage women leaders to set boundaries, manage stress, and maintain a healthy work-life balance. Prioritizing well-being is critical not just for personal health but also for maintaining high performance and setting a positive example for others.

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Daniela Silveira
CEO Sisluxe | TV Host | International Family Law Attorney at Sisluxe

Burnout does not announce itself. It builds quietly in the absence of boundaries. For women in leadership, performance is often sustained by discipline and vision — but longevity requires strategy beyond output. Executive coaching reinforces the importance of protecting what fuels clarity, presence, and impact. Self-care is not indulgence. It is infrastructure. By learning to protect their energy, manage stress cycles, and say no with purpose, women leaders preserve their capacity to lead with consistency and intention. Wellness becomes not just personal, but cultural, influencing how teams operate, grow, and relate. High performance is not sustainable without well-being. Leaders who understand this lead differently and better.

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Lifelong Learning and Adaptability

The landscape of leadership is constantly evolving, and successful female leaders are those who commit to ongoing personal and professional development. Executive coaching supports women in identifying learning opportunities, adapting to change, and remaining open to feedback. Embracing a growth mindset fosters resilience and innovation, essential qualities for influential leadership.

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What else to take into account

This section is for sharing any additional examples, stories, or insights that do not fit into previous sections. Is there anything else you'd like to add?

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Amy Forsee
Senior Enterprise Architect at State of MO

Something else to consider is Career Planning. Career planning involves self-assessment, goal setting, and a great strategy plan to get there. It's about aligning your passions, skills, and opportunities to carve out a full career path. If Leadership is your goal, then a career plan can be essential to making that a reality. This can give you an insight into what learning, workshops, or further education you might need. It will show gaps in your experience that you might want to fill by seeking opportunities that align with those skill gaps. By understanding your career path, you can leverage your unique strengths and passions to become an exceptional leader and even help others become exceptional leaders in the future.

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