The Invisible Wall: Working With (and Around) the C-Suite
You’re good at your job. Maybe even great. You deliver results, drive impact, and probably work twice as hard as some of the men in the room.
But at a certain level, skill isn’t enough.
You hit a wall. Not because you’re incapable, but because power dynamics take over. You’re no longer just managing projects—you’re navigating politics, egos, and invisible hierarchies that were never designed for you to win.
This is the reality of working with (and often around) the C-suite. Here’s how to survive—and more importantly, how to shape the game to your advantage.
The Unspoken Rules of Dealing With Executives (and Why Men Play the Game Differently)
By the time you start operating in C-suite circles, you realize something: executive presence isn’t about competence. It’s about power.
🚨 Here’s what no one tells you:
🔹 Decisions aren’t always based on logic – You can bring the best data, the strongest case, the most airtight strategy—and still get shut down because an executive feels differently.
🔹 The loudest voice isn’t always the smartest – Plenty of men walk into rooms with half-baked ideas but full confidence. And because confidence is often mistaken for competence, they get buy-in.
🔹 It’s not about having the best idea—it’s about who sponsors it – If an idea doesn’t come from the right person, it can be dead on arrival. Your best move? Attach your idea to someone with power—so when they repeat it in a meeting, they push it forward.
🔹 Men play offense, women are taught to play defense – Men assume they belong in the room. Women feel they have to prove it. This fundamental difference changes everything—from who speaks up first to who gets credit.
Understanding these dynamics doesn’t mean accepting them—it means learning how to move strategically within them.
⚔️ Office Politics 101: When to Fight, When to Finesse, and When to Go Around
The higher you go, the less straightforward things become. Here’s what I’ve learned:
✔️ When to fight:
When someone tries to take credit for your work.
When your name is being left out of conversations you should be in.
When the impact of staying silent is bigger than the fallout of speaking up.
✔️ When to finesse:
When egos are involved (spoiler: they always are).
When pushing too hard will make you look “difficult” (because yes, that’s still a thing).
When you need to win the long game instead of the battle.
✔️ When to go around:
When an executive isn’t giving you what you need—but someone else can.
When your boss isn’t advocating for you—so you find someone with more influence who will.
When you know a decision is happening without you in the room—so you shape the narrative before it does.
Most people wait for permission, but real power comes from shaping your own influence. If a door isn’t opening, find another one.
🔑 The One Thing That Finally Got Me Taken Seriously at the Highest Levels
I used to think delivering results was enough. That if I just worked hard and proved my value, I’d be recognized.
I was wrong.
🚨 Here’s what actually changed things for me:
✔️ I stopped waiting to be noticed. Executives are too busy, too distracted, and too focused on their own priorities to “just see” your value. You have to make it undeniable.
✔️ I started speaking in their language. The higher up you go, the less it’s about details and execution. C-suite conversations are about vision, risk, and numbers. If you want to be taken seriously, frame everything through impact and money.
✔️ I got a sponsor—not just a mentor. Mentors give advice. Sponsors use their influence to open doors for you. If you don’t have one, you’re fighting twice as hard.
✔️ I played the game—but on my own terms. Corporate politics can be frustrating, but you don’t win by opting out. You win by learning the rules and bending them in your favor.
🚀 Final Thoughts: You Don’t Have to Play by Their Rules—Just Learn How the Game Works
The C-suite wasn’t built for women—but that doesn’t mean we can’t take up space, get what we want, and reshape the system along the way.
If you’re feeling stuck, underestimated, or like you keep hitting a wall—start looking for ways around it.
Because here’s the truth: The people at the top aren’t always the smartest or the most qualified. They’re just the ones who knew how to navigate the system.
And now? So do you.
