Any woman in leadership faces unique challenges and opportunities that shapes her entrepreneurial journey in profound ways. When I launched Womenlines, I entered this space with determination but without the crucial insights that would have accelerated my growth and saved me from countless setbacks. These three transformative lessons have reshaped how I lead, and I wish I had embraced them from day one.
1. Vulnerability is Your Strategic Advantage, Not Your Weakness
In the early days of building Womenlines, I subscribed to an outdated leadership model—one that demanded perfection, unwavering confidence, and an armor of strength that never showed cracks. I believed that as a woman in leadership, I had to work twice as hard to prove I belonged, which meant hiding any sign of struggle or doubt.
The truth I discovered: Vulnerability isn’t a liability in leadership—it’s a superpower that distinguishes authentic leaders from mere managers.
When you lead with vulnerability, you accomplish several critical things:
- Build deeper trust with your team, clients, and community
- Create psychological safety that encourages innovation and honest feedback
- Model authenticity that gives others permission to be human
- Foster genuine connections that transcend transactional relationships
Research consistently shows that leaders who embrace vulnerability create more engaged teams and sustainable organizations. Yet many women in leadership positions still fear that showing their human side will undermine their authority.
I learned this lesson the hard way. The more I tried to project an image of flawless confidence, the more isolated I became from the people I wanted to serve. When I finally shared my struggles—the sleepless nights questioning my decisions, the financial fears, the moments of self-doubt—something remarkable happened. My community didn’t lose respect for me. They leaned in closer.
The shift: Stop hiding behind a facade of perfection. Share your journey—the stumbles and the victories—and watch how it magnetizes the right people to your mission.
2. Discomfort is the Price of Admission for Growth
One of the most damaging myths in entrepreneurship is the idea of “readiness.” I spent countless hours waiting to feel 100% prepared before launching new initiatives, expanding Womenlines, or stepping into bigger visibility. I wanted the fear to disappear, the plan to be perfect, and the outcome to be guaranteed.
Here’s what no one tells you: That moment of complete readiness never arrives. Progress doesn’t wait for comfort—it demands you act despite the discomfort.
Every significant breakthrough in my business came from moments when I felt profoundly unprepared:
- Launching our first major campaign when I felt unqualified
- Raising my rates when imposter syndrome screamed at me
- Having difficult conversations I desperately wanted to avoid
- Pivoting our strategy when the original plan wasn’t working
The discomfort never goes away—you simply develop a different relationship with it. Women in leadership who succeed aren’t fearless; they’ve learned to take action while afraid. They understand that the transformation they seek lives on the other side of the very discomfort they want to avoid.
The practical application: When you notice yourself waiting for “the right time,” ask yourself: “What would I do right now if I knew I couldn’t fail?” Then do that thing, even if your hands are shaking.
Growth happens in the gap between who you are and who you’re becoming. That gap is uncomfortable by design. Stop trying to eliminate the discomfort and start using it as a compass pointing toward your next level.
3. Your Voice Strengthens Every Time You Use It
Perhaps the most insidious challenge for women in leadership is the internal and external messaging that questions whether your voice matters. For years, I held back—overthinking every post, second-guessing every opinion, wondering if I had “earned” the right to take up space.
I waited for:
- More credentials
- More experience
- More confidence
- More permission
The revelation that changed everything: No one gives you permission to use your voice. You must claim it.
Your voice doesn’t need to be perfect, polished, or profound. It needs to be present. Every time you show up authentically and share your truth—however imperfectly—you strengthen not just your own voice but the voices of women who come after you.
I discovered that confidence isn’t a prerequisite for speaking up; it’s a byproduct of it. The more I used my voice, even when it trembled, the stronger it became. The more I shared my perspectives, even when they challenged conventional wisdom, the more I trusted my own judgment.
What using your voice actually looks like:
- Sharing your insights before they feel complete
- Disagreeing respectfully when your values are at stake
- Contributing to conversations even when you’re not the expert
- Speaking up for others who don’t have a seat at the table
- Creating content that serves your audience, not just your fear
A Woman in leadership position has a unique responsibility to make her voices heard—not because every opinion she holds is revolutionary, but because her perspectives are systematically undervalued and often missing from crucial conversations.
A Framework for Forward Movement
These three lessons form a foundation for sustainable, authentic leadership:
- Lead with vulnerability to build trust and connection
- Embrace discomfort as evidence you’re growing
- Use your voice consistently to strengthen it
None of these practices are easy. They require ongoing commitment and self-awareness. But they transform leadership from a performance into a practice—one that creates lasting impact rather than temporary success.
The Ongoing Journey
Looking back on my path with Womenlines, I see how these lessons emerged from real challenges, mistakes, and moments of reckoning. I stumbled repeatedly. I doubted myself constantly. I wanted to quit more times than I can count.
But here’s what I want every woman building something meaningful to understand: Leadership isn’t about having all the answers or being flawless. It’s about showing up authentically, courageously, and consistently—even when the outcome is uncertain.
Your journey won’t follow a straight line. You’ll face setbacks that make you question everything. You’ll encounter people who doubt your capacity. You’ll have moments when the gap between your vision and your reality feels insurmountable.
And in those moments, remember:
- Your vulnerability connects you to others
- Your discomfort signals you’re expanding
- Your voice matters more than you know
Your Turn: Continue the Conversation
Every woman in leadership has wisdom earned through experience. What leadership lesson has fundamentally transformed your journey? What insight do you wish you had known at the beginning?
Share your story in the comments below. When we learn from each other’s experiences, we accelerate not just our individual growth but the collective advancement of women in leadership everywhere.
Let’s build something remarkable together—one authentic, uncomfortable, and vocal step at a time.
Charu mehrotra
Founder Womenlines
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