As part of my Making Space series, I’ve talked about physical space. But today, I want to shift to a different kind of space- the space women occupy in the workplace.

I’ve been thinking a lot about women and our roles in business. And before you assume you know where I’m headed and bounce off the page… hang with me. I might surprise you.

Early in my career, the big push was about women getting a seat at the table.

But here’s my question: Why just one seat? Why can’t we occupy the whole table?

We’ve all seen the statistics: women are earning more degrees than men, female-led companies are often more profitable, and yet barriers like affordable childcare, access to education, and mobility still hold many women back. These are systemic issues, and while I advocate and vote, I’m not in policy work (yet).

What I can do is address how women support women…and sometimes, how we don’t.

Recently, I was asked at an event, “What can women do to support other women?” Before I even thought about it, the answer flew out of my mouth:

Women – if you want to support women, show up for women.

And that’s where I want to spend time today.

From Scarcity to Abundance

In the 1920s, women made up about 20% of the workforce. Today, it’s closer to 47%. A century ago, scarcity defined the landscape – limited access to education and leadership positions meant women had to protect their spot, sometimes even from other women.

Yet, despite our progress, representation is slipping. While women make up 47% of the workforce, we now hold only 30.6% of leadership roles, a decline from 42.1% in 2021.

Throughout my career, my biggest champions have often been men who believed in my drive and intuition. And my biggest obstacles? More often than not, they were women.

That scarcity mindset still lingers. But here’s the truth: we are not scarce anymore. We have influence. We hold C-suite positions. We own businesses. We sit on boards.

So why are we still thinking small, about just “one seat at the table”? We need to stop waiting in line for a single opening when we could stand shoulder-to-shoulder and claim more space.

Owning your space means showing up fully- in your values, your voice, and your worth. It’s more than presence… It’s power. And it’s time we all start using it.

How We Change the Dynamic

1. Change our mindset.

We need to shift how we think about other women and what we believe their success says about us.

  • If she wins an award, are you happy or jealous?
  • If she gets the promotion, do you celebrate or question her merit?
  • When she walks into the room confident and beautiful, do you doubt her intellect?
  • When you see a post about her achievement, do you feel pride or envy?

Every like, share, recommendation, and celebration of another woman’s success matters.

It’s not always easy to be honest with ourselves. But this is the work. We need to drop the armor and celebrate our sisters. When she achieves, we all achieve.

When she achieves, we all achieve.

2. Pull women up.

Men bring other men onto boards and leadership teams because they are friends, peers, business associates. They make space for one another. We must do the same.

We need to recommend and advocate for qualified women in our circles- for board seats, management positions, and fair salaries. We need to stop feeling threatened by the idea that there isn’t enough room for all of us.

Scarcity tells us there’s only one seat. Abundance reminds us we can build the whole room.

3. Own your seat.

We must be confident in ourselves and our capabilities.

Here’s a sobering stat: men apply for jobs when they meet only about 60% of the qualifications, while women wait until they meet at least 90% to nearly 100%.

Why are we waiting what precious time we have on this earth on perfection? Let’s stretch ourselves, trust our capabilities, and take the seat we’ve already earned.

And let’s go one step further: Don’t just take the seat- own the space around it. Redefine it. Expand it. Make it yours.

Why This Matters Now

In a world where women’s place in the workforce is still being questioned, and in some cases rolled back, we cannot afford to undermine each other.

Consider this: in the Russell 3000, the share of new female board appointees fell from 41% in 2020 to just 36% in 2024. Female representation in CEO positions is also stagnating.

This should concern everyone, not just women. Female-led businesses contribute $2.2 trillion to the U.S. economy and are proven to deliver higher returns on investment.

There is more room at the table if we allow it and demand it. But even better: let’s stop settling for the seat and start building the room.

Remember: women supporting women is not a given- it’s a gift. And when we own our space, we give other women permission to own theirs too.

Want to Go Further?

Here are a few tools and resources to help you expand the space you’re claiming:

#WomenInLeadership #WomenSupportingWomen #BeyondTheSeat #LeadershipMatters #MakingSpace

Recent Posts