Shattering Glass Screens: A Female Leader's Guide
Breaking Barriers, Building Futures: Insights for Women Leading in Male-Dominated Fields
Leadership isn’t just about shattering glass ceilings; it’s about rebuilding the entire room. For women in male-dominated industries, every victory dismantles outdated systems, clears paths for others, and creates opportunities for real change. This guide takes you through my personal journey, lessons learned, and strategies to lead authentically, overcome systemic biases, and shape a leadership future that’s truly inclusive.
The World Through a Female Lens
“You’re too poised to be technical.” - Chief Disillusioned Officer
That comment, intended as a compliment, sums up a significant part of my career. Early on, I realized women aren’t just navigating barriers in male-dominated industries—we’re redefining how success looks.
My passion for tech began in the mid-80s with a PET computer and a turtle cursor drawing geometric patterns. From there, I dove into a world of discovery, building, and solving. But my professional journey didn’t take a straight path. Like many women, it was a climb filled with detours and roadblocks.
In my first corporate role, the gender imbalance was stark. While my leadership instincts were apparent, technical advancement seemed out of reach. Microsoft certifications were a requirement I couldn’t pursue while juggling work and family. Later, even after becoming a subject-matter expert at a midsize SaaS company, my dream of moving into software engineering was thwarted. Perceptions of how a “technical” person should look or act worked against me.
But here’s what I’ve learned: When you don’t fit the mold, you don’t break it alone. You rebuild it for others. My leadership roles, founding a nonprofit, and eventually thriving in Site Reliability Engineering weren’t just personal wins—they were opportunities to reshape narratives.
Women across industries—tech, finance, manufacturing, and beyond—face similar challenges. These shared struggles connect us and underscore the power of community. Together, we’re not just breaking barriers; we’re building bridges.
Challenges and Triumphs
Navigating a male-dominated industry is like playing a game where the rules weren’t made for you. For women, especially women of color, every success requires strategy, resilience, and adaptability.
Take the tech industry: the stereotypes about women’s technical abilities, the assumptions about balancing work and family, and the constant need to prove competency. These aren’t just my stories—they’re universal truths echoed across boardrooms, factory floors, and trading desks.
Yet challenges breed innovation. My tenure at Salesforce marked a turning point, showing that inclusive leadership isn’t a buzzword—it’s a competitive advantage. Founding a nonprofit to help others from nontraditional backgrounds enter tech reminded me that impact is exponential. One woman’s breakthrough can be another woman’s foundation.
Success doesn’t mean the absence of struggle. It means perseverance despite it. - klowewilliams
And it’s a reminder that our victories—big and small—are steps toward a more inclusive future.
Empowerment
Empowerment isn’t a buzzword; it’s a mindset. It starts with one realization: You deserve to be here.
Too often, women shrink their voices, defer decisions, or internalize doubts because the system wasn’t built with them in mind. But empowerment comes from stepping into discomfort and claiming space.
For me, empowerment wasn’t about waiting for recognition—it was about creating opportunities. Whether it was amplifying an underrepresented voice in a meeting or challenging biases in hiring processes, I learned that small, intentional actions lead to seismic shifts.
Empowerment also means building a network. Allyship—whether through mentors, peers, or sponsors—amplifies impact. Together, we’re stronger, bolder, and better equipped to dismantle the barriers ahead.
Navigating Career Growth in a Male-Dominated Industries
Career growth in male-dominated industries often feels like scaling a wall without a ladder. The trick? Build your own.
Early in my career, I waited for recognition that didn’t come. Once I started advocating for myself—negotiating raises, asking for stretch roles, and naming my aspirations—opportunities began to appear.
But self-advocacy isn’t the only strategy. Identifying sponsors (people with influence who champion you behind closed doors) is just as critical. Carla Harris’ Ted Talk on sponsorship eloquently expands on this critical strategy. Check out her insights here. In my career, finding sponsors who championed my work behind closed doors was a game changer, echoing the insights Carla Harris shares.
Male-dominated industries thrive on networks, and breaking into those circles can mean the difference between staying stagnant and moving forward.
Remember: The ladder isn’t just for you. As you climb, pave the way for others. True success is about lifting while you lead.
The Future Trends and Opportunities
The future is ripe for women ready to challenge the status quo. Industries are waking up to the value of diverse leadership and inclusive workplaces, creating new opportunities to drive change.
Emerging trends, like the growing focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), aren’t just about representation—they’re about revolutionizing how industries operate. Roles that prioritize emotional intelligence, adaptability, and creative problem-solving are increasingly in demand, positioning women to lead in ways that reshape industries.
But progress requires vigilance. Change doesn’t happen by accident—it’s driven by those willing to challenge norms, demand better, and create sustainable pathways for others.
A Call to Action
The future doesn’t need leaders who imitate the past—it needs leaders who redefine it.
As women, we’re uniquely positioned to lead with empathy, collaboration, and vision. These aren’t weaknesses—they’re superpowers. Leadership isn’t about fitting into outdated molds; it’s about shattering them.
Whether you’re in tech, manufacturing, or finance, your perspective is a strength. Use it to inspire others, challenge stereotypes, and build systems that work for everyone.
The future of leadership is diverse, inclusive, and unapologetically authentic. It’s time to shatter not just glass ceilings, but glass screens, walls, and windows.
Will you rise to the challenge?