Hello Reader,
A highly competent senior scientist was there. But a junior colleague got promoted. He talked about his work in meetings (loudly and repetitively), she didn’t.
She isn’t less qualified, less talented or less experienced. It’s just that she questions every small action of hers.
Before speaking up, she questions:
1. Is this worth mentioning?
2. I don’t want to sound like I’m bragging.
3. My work should speak for itself.
I hear this from women in pharma & biotech every week.
And I want to reframe something for you: talking about your work is not bragging. It’s communicating your results and your impact.
As scientists, we are trained to give our reasons, to justify, to explain, and then maybe to say what we actually think. We lead with the data and bury the conclusion.
But in a meeting with leadership? The people making decisions about your career, they need to hear your conclusion first. Your opinion first. Then the reasoning.
And there are ways you can do this that feel authentic and like you.
There is no need to speak louder or mention it in every meeting. (Yes, well done you for emptying the dishwasher…)
It’s not about selling yourself. It’s about making sure your contribution is visible.
Because if decision-makers don’t know what you’ve done, it doesn’t matter how good the work was.
You can do it! 🙋♀️💪
Mareike
P.S. What’s one thing you achieved this year that you haven’t told anyone about? This is your sign to share it.
