For centuries, women have been the backbone of society—nurturing, supporting, and building from behind the scenes. While these roles were vital, they were also limiting.

Over the past few decades, we've started claiming our rightful seats at the leadership table. Yet the numbers tell a sobering story: while we've made progress in middle management, only 10.4% of Fortune 500 CEOs are women, with just 30.4% of board positions held by women as of 2022.

The business case for women leaders is undeniable:

• Companies with more women in leadership positions are 25% more likely to achieve superior financial performance

• Decades of research confirms we boost productivity, enhance collaboration, inspire organizational dedication, and excel during crises

The external barriers are real—gender bias, discrimination, and institutional obstacles continue to hinder our advancement. But here's where our power lies: we can transform our relationship with the internal barriers that hold us back.

These internal barriers—the doubts, the imposter syndrome, the perfectionism—often stem from deeply ingrained societal expectations and unconscious biases that limit our opportunities, confidence, and self-perception.

I'm curious to hear from my network:

• How have external barriers impacted your career journey?

• In what ways have you unknowingly limited yourself professionally?

• What strategies have helped you overcome these limitations?

Let's create a conversation about breaking through both external and internal barriers. When we share our stories, we build the path forward for ourselves and the next generation of women leaders.