Why Women in Tech Must Work Twice as Hard

A lesson I'm learning time and time again. Too often, women are expected to bend their comfort to make things easier and more comfortable for others. In our careers, we see this by: - Having to work late to make sure a particular project or goal gets across the line. - Being tasked with "housekeeping tasks" like planning the teambuilding activity or ensuring the dinner plans for the team are settled. - Having to prove that what we did made some astronomical organizational impact when Brad was able to launch one project and is now VP. - Being expected to wait on a promotion due to "organizational constraints," yet those organizational constraints are nowhere to be found when Brad is up for a promo. - And more Women, particularly underrepresented women, are expected to do twice as much with half the resources and support. This is a tale as old as time. Not only does it burn us out, but it ensures nothing for us. - We're not promised career advancement. - We're not given further career development. - We're not provided with additional resources or support. So all we're doing is burning our light out for the sake of others. To that I say, "no thank you." And it manifests through boundaries, which can sound like: - "Thank you for thinking of me! Right now, I’m at capacity with my current workload. I can prioritize this if we shift or delay some other projects—let me know how you’d like to proceed." - "I want to make sure I’m focusing on the priorities aligned with my role. Could we discuss whether this fits into my responsibilities or if there’s someone else better suited to handle it?" - "Housekeeping tasks are important, but I believe it would benefit the team if we rotate or share them to ensure everyone has equal bandwidth for their primary responsibilities. Could we create a system to manage this together?" 𝗗𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗺. What are other ways you assert your boundaries at work? Drop them in the comments! 🧡 Editor's note: Nothing against Brads! Was just thinking of a more common man's name who I often see being promoted, usually of the European-American variety. _______________________________________ ♻️ Repost to support others Have you subscribed to You Belong Here yet? https://lnkd.in/gqMquD5j

"Your AI pitch is impressive... for a woman." 🤢 I heard it in investor meetings. Saw it in term sheets. Felt it in every handshake. The reality about being a woman in AI: They don't just question your company. They question your competence. What they don't tell you: ➡️ Late-night product release reviews ➡️ Explaining basic tech to men who assume you're non-technical ➡️ Being the only woman in rooms full of "visionaries" ➡️ Fighting for legitimacy while others fight for funding The price of female founders: • Double the scrutiny • Half the trust • Triple the preparation • Quarter of the funding My reality check: ❌ Being brilliant isn't enough ❌ Being technical isn't enough ❌ Being successful isn't enough You also have to be: ✅ Twice as prepared ✅ Three times as confident ✅ Four times as resilient Because when you're a woman in AI: Every pitch is a test. Every meeting is a proof point. Every success is "surprising." To every woman building in High Tech: Your battle isn't just about funding. It's about changing the game. Stay technical. Stay fierce. Stay you. Follow Eva Karnaukh for AI, Voice & Dialogue ➕ Subscribe: https://lnkd.in/ewZTxFcE

If you’ve ever done everything right—and still felt like it wasn’t enough—you’re not alone. Let’s talk about the “Good Girl” Trap. Many high-achieving women were taught from a young age that success means: ✔️ Being liked ✔️ Avoiding conflict ✔️ Outworking everyone in the room But that mindset creates a dangerous loop: 🔁 Work twice as hard to prove your worth 🏆 Achieve the goal (but downplay it) 📈 Set an even higher bar 🔥 Burn out trying to reach it Sound familiar? As a recovering good girl people-pleaser, I now see how this feeds impostor syndrome. When you’re chasing perfection, even tiny mistakes feel like proof you don’t belong. The hardest part? This trap convinces you that just a little more effort will finally make you feel worthy. But that sense of enough? It doesn’t come from achievement. It comes from within. ✨ I had to leave what initially felt like my dream job at Apple to finally understand this: You don’t need to prove your worth. You need to own it. I wrote a deeper piece on how to break free from this cycle—plus the mental fitness tools that helped me shift from self-doubt to designing a career on my own terms. Have you fallen into the “Good Girl” Trap, too? 💬 Share your experience in the comments—what helped you start owning your worth? Your story could be exactly what another woman needs to hear today. 👉 Full article in the comments. #ImpostorSyndrome #WomenInTech #MentalFitness #CareerDevelopment #AuthenticLeadership