"Women are such overachievers, and we doubt ourselves so much. It's a daily struggle"
“One of the hardest things for me has been to learn to advocate for myself,” said Elizabeth Morales, chief marketing officer of The Mortgage Office. “I always felt if I were doing a good job, someone would notice and recognize me.”
The problem with this, Morales pointed out, is that it may or may not happen. The MPA Elite Woman prompts other women to document and share their work to increase their chances of a promotion.
“The data is irrefutable,” she said in the Elite Women special report. “We need to be equally represented in every field. We need to support women coming into the workforce. I am a mentor for those who want to move up in their career and love doing so. Find a mentor and become a mentor someday.”
Read more: How female entrepreneurs can be fiercer in the new competitive era
Morales stepped into leadership around 20 years ago. But like with many accomplished female leaders, impostor syndrome was like a micromanaging boss constantly breathing down her neck.
“It’s crazy,” she shared. “Women are such overachievers, and we doubt ourselves so much. It’s a daily struggle. I have learned to reclaim myself and stand up for what I believe in.
“This can be a thesis. Men are assertive, women are bossy. Men are ambitious, women are ruthless. Women have challenges starting with the way they get described. We need to make our voices be heard and not pretend we are one of the boys. Remember, we are better, stronger. We give birth to life. We can do that in the workplace.”
Slowly but surely, Morales gained confidence by watching her staff achieve their goals with her guidance. “I have former employees who still contact me even after five, 10, 15 years of not being their boss. It’s very inspiring,” Morales said.
Read more about impostor syndrome in the full Elite Women special report here: Breaking barriers to equality.
