Discover strategic approaches for women to demonstrate executive-level capabilities without obvious self-promotion, building the right visibility and influence to secure advancement within a year.

Starting in a new job. Want to make a good impression and show capability while still upskilling. Goal is to be promoted in a years time. My manager likes subtle ways to be promoted doesn’t like people self advocacy and too obvious with their motivations. As a woman how can I do this subtly and communicate I’m working at an executive directors level?


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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco

**Lena:** Hey there, welcome to Career Elevation! I'm Lena, and I'm joined by my colleague Nia. Today we're tackling something I think many of us can relate to – starting a new job and wanting to make your mark without coming across as too aggressive about your ambitions.
**Nia:** Absolutely, Lena. And it's particularly tricky when you're dealing with a manager who doesn't appreciate obvious self-promotion. There's this fascinating study from HiBob that found women face unique challenges in this area – only 22% of women reported receiving promotions in 2024 compared to 34% of men.
**Lena:** Wow, that's quite a gap! And I imagine it's even harder when you're trying to be subtle about your ambitions, right? Especially as a woman trying to demonstrate executive director capabilities without coming across as pushy.
**Nia:** Exactly. It's this delicate balance between visibility and subtlety. What's interesting is that research shows women often prioritize the visibility of their day-to-day work when they go into the office, while men focus more on visibility to leadership. That small difference in approach can have huge implications for career advancement.
**Lena:** That makes so much sense! I've definitely been guilty of thinking "if I just do great work, someone will notice" rather than strategically making sure the right people see my contributions. So for someone in a new role wanting to get promoted within a year, what's the first step?
**Nia:** Well, the first step is actually understanding the bigger picture of your organization. According to Harvard Business Review, successful transitions require building a strategic network right from the start. Let's break down exactly how to do that while maintaining the subtlety your manager prefers...