Not aspiring to be humble

““There’s a lot of women out here that are not aspiring to be humble.” — Kamala Harris

Why do women still have to apologize for being bold in 2024?

I was listening to Kamala Harris on the 'Call Her Daddy' podcast this morning when she said, 'There’s a lot of women out here that are not aspiring to be humble,' and honestly, that hit different.

Being bold, direct, and unapologetic in the workplace can still be an uphill battle if you’re a woman. Confidence gets twisted into arrogance, and passion is brushed off as being 'too emotional.'

In my tech days, I saw talented women pushed aside when they didn’t fit the tech-bro culture. It broke my heart to watch them undervalued by an environment that couldn’t see their worth.

But I’ve also seen how far we’ve come.

I once worked for a CMO who rose through the ranks at Xerox during the personal computer revolution—an industry ruled by men. She thrived in that world and later hired me—from tech into higher ed. Watching her be tough as nails—but in a more nuanced way than I might have handled things—showed me the skills she honed to survive in a field where women weren’t the norm.

She helped me see that every step forward opens doors for others. It’s about paying it forward and making sure the next wave of women has an even better shot at success.

The truth is, it’s not just men reinforcing these biases—sometimes, it’s other women too. I’ve seen women undermine each other for being too assertive or ambitious, reinforcing the stereotypes we’re all fighting to dismantle.

After years in the professional world, I still get told I’m too direct, too emotional, too... you name it. A man who speaks up is seen as a leader, but a woman who does the same is labeled 'bossy,' 'abrasive,' or even 'bitchy.' It’s a double standard that’s as outdated as it is frustrating.

It’s not about being less bold or more humble. It’s about challenging a workplace that still expects us to play by rules that were never designed for us in the first place.

I know I’m not alone. So many women I know have faced similar resistance in their careers. It’s time to celebrate women who show up exactly as they are—without shrinking to fit outdated molds.

Let’s make it our mission to keep pushing forward, not just for ourselves but for those who will follow. It’s 2024, and we’re overdue for workplaces that value women for their strengths—not their ability to fit into someone else’s box.