Too many talented women wait. They wait for their work to be noticed. They wait for someone else to point out their value. They wait for permission to step forward into opportunities they are already qualified for. But waiting has a cost. While you’re waiting, others are moving. While you’re holding back, doors are quietly closing. And when the moment passes, it doesn’t matter how qualified or capable you were; you weren’t visible, and your leadership went unseen.
One of the most important shifts for women in leadership is learning to become your own champion. No one else can advocate for you the way you can. It is tempting to believe that recognition naturally follows hard work. You put your head down, deliver excellent results, and assume someone will notice. But leadership is not about waiting for acknowledgment; it is about honoring the gifts, voice, and vision God has entrusted to you. When you advocate for yourself, you are not bragging, you are living out what has already been placed inside you. That is what it looks like to lead in a way that is true to who you are.
Many women of faith struggle with this balance. They don’t want to appear arrogant or self-promoting. They worry that speaking up for themselves will make others uncomfortable. But self-advocacy is not arrogance; it is courage. It is saying, “I believe in the work I’m doing. I trust the skills I’ve been given. I refuse to hold myself back from opportunities because of fear or doubt.” True humility is not hiding your light. True humility acknowledges that your gifts come from God, and using them boldly is one of the ways you honor Him.
Fear often doesn’t show up as panic or paralysis. It shows up quietly. It looks like staying silent in a meeting, waiting for the “right” time to share your idea. It looks like overpreparing for conversations because you’re afraid of how you’ll be perceived. It looks like softening your boundaries to avoid being labeled as “difficult.” It looks like downplaying your achievements because you don’t want to be seen as prideful. And yet, each of these small choices chips away at your confidence and keeps you responding to circumstances instead of leading with intention.
Scripture offers us clarity here. Galatians 1:10 asks, “Am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God?” The more weight you give to the opinions of others, the shakier your leadership becomes. But when your identity is anchored in God’s calling, you lead with strength. That’s when you stop waiting for approval and begin stepping forward with the confidence that reflects the gifts you carry.
The truth is that when you begin to champion yourself, everything shifts. You stop waiting to be invited and instead step into spaces with intention. You walk into meetings differently. You carry yourself with clarity and conviction. People notice the difference not because you’re louder, but because you’re rooted. That is what strong leadership looks like: steady, confident, and unshakable, even when the world around you is full of change.
So how do you begin championing yourself in a practical way? It doesn’t require grand gestures. It begins with small, consistent steps. Maybe it’s speaking up once in your next meeting instead of holding back. Maybe it’s receiving praise without brushing it off, saying instead, “Thank you, I’m proud of how I handled that project.” Maybe it’s being clear with your manager about one thing you need in order to thrive in your role. Maybe it’s setting aside ten minutes at the end of your day to name and celebrate the two or three big and small wins you accomplished, instead of rushing into tomorrow’s demands. Each of these choices reinforces the truth that you are capable, you are equipped, and you don’t need permission to lead with confidence.
This kind of courage is especially vital in our current season of disruption. The rise of AI, digital transformation, and workplace upheaval means that the leaders who thrive are not the ones chasing every new trend, but the ones who remain grounded in their values and faith. Strong leadership in times of change requires clarity and conviction. When your foundation is steady, you can adapt without losing yourself. As Isaiah 41:10 reminds us: “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Strong leaders don’t crumble when the winds of change blow. They bend, they adjust, but they stay grounded in who they are and what they believe. And when women choose to advocate for themselves, they show others what it looks like to lead with both courage and humility. They remind us that it’s possible to stand tall without losing grace and to shine without apology.
Take a moment to reflect. Where in your life are you still waiting for someone else to validate you? What opportunities are you holding back on because you’re waiting for permission? The invitation is to take one step this week toward becoming your own champion. Speak up in the room where your voice has been quiet. Clarify your needs in a relationship where you’ve been silently adjusting. Celebrate a win without minimizing it.
You don’t need to wait for someone else to tell you that you are ready. You don’t need to hold yourself back until someone notices you. You were created to lead, to steward your gifts, and to walk boldly in the calling placed on your life. Becoming your own champion is not just about advancing your career. It’s about leading with faith, honoring the light within you, and creating a future you choose instead of simply reacting to what comes your way.
No one else can advocate for you the way you can. And when you do, you not only move your own life forward, you give others permission to do the same. When you step up, you inspire others to rise, too. That’s the ripple effect of courageous leadership — it empowers, it multiplies, and it leaves a legacy of strength and faith that cannot be shaken.
If you’re ready to stop waiting for permission and start building the future you choose, I’d love to walk alongside you. My PATHs Transformation Journey coaching program was created to help women like you lead with clarity, confidence, and courage.
Let’s schedule a Discovery call and explore what this could look like for your journey.
Please note that I don’t make any guarantees about the results of the information provided. I share educational and informational resources that are intended to help you succeed in the coaching program. You nevertheless need to know that your ultimate success or failure will be the result of your own efforts, your particular situation, and innumerable other circumstances beyond my knowledge and control. I am not a licensed psychologist or specialist healthcare professional. My services do not replace the care of psychologists or other healthcare professionals. I can’t take any responsibility for the results of your actions and any harm or damage you suffer as a result of the use, or non-use of the information provided.
