Women are often encouraged to work hard, set goals and chase the next opportunity, but somewhere along the way, many learn to downplay what they have already accomplished.
The promotion becomes the new expectation, the successful project becomes yesterday’s news and the award gets tucked away while attention turns to the next deadline. Even major milestones can be met with a quick “thank you” before moving on to whatever comes next.
And sometimes, women feel the need to soften their ambition altogether or to make sure confidence never looks too much like pride.
Believing in HER means creating space for women to recognize their accomplishments, take pride in their work and acknowledge the value they bring to their teams, companies and communities. It also means building workplaces where women don’t have to minimize their achievements or feel the need to apologize for wanting more.
That belief can come from within, but it is often strengthened by the people around us.
- A manager who says, “You are ready for this.”
- A colleague who gives credit where it belongs.
- A mentor who makes an introduction.
- A leader who puts a woman’s name forward when she is not in the room.
These moments can change the way a woman sees herself and what she believes is possible.
Breshawn Skinner, Director of Financial Aid at Trenholm State Community College shared her thoughts on best supporting women in the workplace. “Encouragement is important, and that is often where support begins, but if we truly want to help other women move forward, we have to go beyond simply encouraging them. We have to advocate for one another, share knowledge rather than gatekeep it and help create access to opportunities,” she said.
Dr. Vivian Hamlett at Baptist Health advises women to “Be intentional about creating opportunity. Recommend her for the role, invite her into the important meeting, make the introduction or speak to her strengths when she is not in the room. A single opened door can change the trajectory of a career, turning belief into opportunity and potential into progress.”
GIVE HER PERMISSION TO CELEBRATE THE WIN
There will always be another goal, deadline, challenge or opportunity, but pausing to acknowledge a win is not self-indulgent. It is a way of recognizing growth and reminding yourself that the work you are doing has value.
For the women featured here, that belief in one another has often taken the form of encouragement, advocacy, mentorship and simply making sure another woman’s accomplishments are seen.
Cindy Scott, Chief Marketing Officer at Jackson Thornton, understands the power of that kind of support.
“Be an advocate for someone you believe in. Be honest with her and help her grow in the areas she needs more help,” Scott said. “It is one of the most gratifying things ever to watch someone go and do great things and know you had a small part in their success.”
That mindset creates a ripple effect. When women celebrate one another instead of competing, success becomes something that can be shared.
Skinner shared how empowering women, in turn, empowers you. “Supporting other women does not take anything away from your own success. If anything, there is something powerful about being able to look around and know that as you have moved forward, you have helped other women move forward with you.”
STOP MOVING THE GOALPOST
For women, celebrating success can require something deceptively difficult: stopping.
Stop long enough to acknowledge what you accomplished.
Stop long enough to accept the compliment without explaining it away.
Stop long enough to recognize how much you have learned.
Stop long enough to let yourself be proud.
That does not mean losing sight of the next goal. It means refusing to let the next goal overtake the significance of what you have already achieved.
NAME THE WIN
At the end of the quarter, take five minutes to answer:
- What am I proud of accomplishing?
- What challenge did I handle well?
- What did I learn?
- Who helped me get here?
- What strength did I use that I sometimes overlook?
- What is one accomplishment I want to stop minimizing?
Then celebrate it. Not because you are finished, but because you made progress.
WHEN WOMEN BELIEVE IN WOMEN
Creating a culture that celebrates women starts with individual confidence, but it doesn’t stop there. The people around us have tremendous influence over whether success is acknowledged or overlooked.
Marcia Johnson, SVP and Director of Marketing & Communications at River Bank & Trust, remembers being a teenager working as a cashier at Winn-Dixie when a woman executive from a local community bank came through her checkout line. Johnson mentioned that she was interested in banking, and the woman invited her to interview for a position.
“That opportunity changed the course of my life and career,” Johnson said. “It also taught me to recognize potential in others, regardless of their age or experience.”
Decades later, Johnson carries that lesson forward by encouraging women to actively advocate for one another.
“Put her name forward,” Johnson said. “If you know a woman who would be good for an opportunity, say so. A personal recommendation from someone who knows your work can carry a lot of weight.”
Sometimes believing in HER means seeing something in someone before they do.
THE VALUE OF CONSISTENT SUPPORT
Supporting another woman does not require having the same career path, experience or background.
Ashanti Owens, Graphic Designer & Visual Communication at Montgomery Regional Airport, credits her mother with being one of the biggest people who believed in her and consistently reminded her that she was capable.
“Having someone constantly reminding me that I was capable gave me the confidence to take opportunities, try new things and keep going even when I did not have everything figured out,” Owens said.
That same kind of encouragement has continued in her professional life. Owens’ manager, Brittney Jones-Dabney, helped her grow by giving her opportunities, introducing her to people and putting her name in rooms where new possibilities could emerge. Having someone who trusts your abilities and is willing to advocate for you can make a huge difference in your career.
Dana Moore, Vice President and Commercial Relationship Manager at Valley Bank explains that you don’t have to have everything figured out to support and guide another woman in their career. “Effective mentorship does not require having all the answers. Sometimes it simply means being present, listening well, providing perspective or offering encouragement at the right moment,” she said. “The most impactful mentors are not those who create followers, but those who help others discover their own strengths and potential.”
That is what believing in HER looks like in practice. It is not simply saying, “You can do it.” It is helping her by recognizing her work, sharing the opportunity, giving her visibility, and when she succeeds, celebrating her success without reservation.
What Women Say Support Looks Like
MARCIA JOHNSON, RIVER BANK & TRUST “Being willing to use your own experience and connections to help someone else move forward.”
CINDY SCOTT, JACKSON THORNTON “Advocating for a woman’s promotion in rooms she’s not in and pushing back when her contributions get attributed to someone else.”
ASHANTI OWENS, MONTGOMERY REGIONAL AIRPORT “Being genuinely happy to see another woman succeed, giving credit where it is deserved, and being willing to help when you can.”
DANA MOORE, VALLEY BANK “Being willing to provide honest, constructive feedback. Encouragement is important, but growth often comes from the difficult conversations that challenge us to improve, think differently or stretch beyond our comfort zones.”
BRESHAWN SKINNER, TRENHOLM STATE “Creating spaces where women feel empowered to use their voices, take chances and pursue opportunities. When you have reached a place where you have knowledge, resources or access that could benefit another woman, you should be willing to share it.”
DR. VIVIAN HAMLETT, BAPTIST HEALTH “Recognizing that many women carry a mental load outside of work. Sometimes, the most meaningful help is simply listening and lightening that burden in a practical way.”
SURROUND YOURSELF WITH WOMEN YOU ADMIRE
Sometimes believing in yourself becomes easier when you spend time around women who already believe in what is possible.
Mentors do more than offer advice. They show us how to navigate challenges, lead with confidence, build relationships and handle the moments when the path forward is not obvious. Just as importantly, surrounding yourself with strong, successful women can remind you that there is more than one way to build a meaningful career.
For Johnson, those relationships have shaped both her perspective and her leadership style. “I’ve learned a lot from watching women I respect and seeing how they lead and handle challenges,” she said. “I also value having women I can talk things through with and learn from. Those relationships have given me perspective and helped shape the way I lead today.”
Scott has found similar value in watching women navigate the relationships that come with a career. “Watching strong, successful women model healthy work relationships has taught me how to strike the delicate balance between being a friend and being a colleague,” Scott said. “It’s not easy to be both, but when you get it right, those women will always have your back.”
These women can help you
- See strengths you may overlook in yourself
- Learn from someone else’s experience
- Navigate challenges with greater perspective
- Build confidence when taking on something new
- Develop your own leadership style
- Expand your professional network
- Recognize opportunities you may not have considered
The goal is not to become exactly like the women you admire. It is to learn from them, identify the qualities that resonate with you and use those lessons to become more fully yourself.
BELIEVING IN HER STARTS WITH BELIEVING IN YOURSELF
Women shouldn’t wait until they have reached some imaginary finish line before they are allowed to celebrate. There is no requirement to be perfect before being proud. There is no rule that says ambition must be accompanied by an apology.
Most importantly, there is no shortage of room for women to succeed, celebrate one another and create opportunities for the women coming behind them.
Cindy Scott encourages women to learn from those they admire, paying attention to how successful women navigate relationships, leadership, feedback and work-life balance.
Ashanti Owens encourages women to listen, give honest advice, share opportunities and recognize one another’s work.
Marcia Johnson believes in taking a genuine interest in the people around you and recognizing opportunities that fit their strengths and goals.
Together, their advice points to a simple truth:
Believing in HER means helping her see what she has accomplished, encouraging her to believe in what she can accomplish next and making sure she never feels she has to apologize for either one.
So, celebrate the promotion, take pride in the project, accept the compliment, tell someone about the award, give yourself credit for how much you have grown, and then, when you are ready, go after the next thing.
Not because what you just accomplished was not enough, but because success is allowed to be both something you celebrate and something you build upon.
WAYS TO CELEBRATE HER
For employers and leaders, creating a culture where women can own their success is more than a feel-good initiative. It is about recognition, opportunity and making sure talented people understand that their contributions matter. That starts with everyday actions.
- Make recognition specific. Instead of “Great job,” explain what she did and why it mattered.
- Celebrate progress. Not every accomplishment has to be a promotion or major award. Growth, initiative, leadership and courage count, too.
- Give credit publicly. When a woman’s work contributes to a success, make sure her contribution is visible.
- Ask what comes next. Rather than assuming what she wants, ask what opportunities she would like to pursue.
- Recommend her. If she is ready for the next opportunity, use your influence to help open the door.
- Let her own the accomplishment. When you compliment her work, don’t rush past it. Give her room to accept the recognition.
