It may surprise you to learn that women make up only 21% of Fortune 500 CEOs. What do you know? For now, don’t worry about that. Let’s make this more accessible. With over 26% of adult females engaged in entrepreneurial activities, Sub-Saharan Africa has the largest percentage of female entrepreneurs worldwide.

Even so, studies have shown that African women are more susceptible to extreme poverty than men are because they bear a disproportionate amount of unpaid work, have fewer assets and productive resources than men, earn less than men, work in industries with lower average incomes, and are more likely to work part-time due to the burden of unpaid work.

The commercial world is expanding rapidly, and innovation is happening at light speed. Nonetheless, there is still work to be done in terms of women leading the charge.

Why do we keep getting caught up in this never-ending cycle? Even though a whole month is devoted to empowering women and every March 8th is packed with webinars, seminars, and panel discussions, advancements seem to be moving slowly.

Empirical evidence supports the advantages of inclusive leadership, as businesses led by strong female CEOs consistently outperform their rivals. Even still, as more women climb the corporate ladder or leave it, the glass ceilings are beginning to look more and more like broken rungs. Overt prejudice is giving way to more subdued types of bias, such as slick words and little action.

If women are adept at anything, it’s raising themselves up by their own bootstraps and persevering without waiting for approval from others. For this reason, I set aside March of each year to celebrate women’s empowerment rather than just dispensing meaningless clichés that vanish as quickly as the month-long frenzy of festivities.

There are practical methods for overcoming obstacles at work and achieving more success in business. Are you prepared to use your power and work more intelligently now? Now let’s get started.

1. Take a Stance! Take Pride in Your Accomplishments and Voice:

We frequently undervalue the contributions we make. Speak up and reject the imposter syndrome! During meetings, performance evaluations, and networking events, clearly state your points of view. When the time is right, finish your assignments, and don’t be scared to ask for a raise, a promotion, or any other chance for advancement within the company. It is worthy of your voice to be heard!

2. Assemble Your Group:

In the realm of business, particularly, no woman is an island. Create a robust network of industry contacts, mentors, and coworkers. Participate in mentoring programs, networking events, and pertinent conferences. Use LinkedIn to find like-minded individuals. These relationships may be very helpful in providing opportunities, knowledge, and support.

3. Take Advice From Seasoned Executives:

It can really transform things to have a mentor who “gets it.” Look for a leader whose career path you find inspiring and whose position you would like to take after. An excellent mentor may offer direction and insightful advice on overcoming obstacles at work. Just be sure to approach mentors only once you have a clear idea of your goals and how you can contribute to the connection.

4. Become The Hype Lady You Are! Advertise Oneself (smartly):

This is how self-advocacy is “done.” The days of hoping for recognition to appear out of nowhere are long gone. Record your successes and estimate the value of your input. Promote yourself without fear, but make sure to do it professionally and with a dash of humility.

5. Make an Investment In YOU

The secrets to being competitive in today’s society are lifelong learning and skill enhancement. To improve your abilities and broaden your knowledge, take advantage of professional development options such as conferences, workshops, and online courses. Keep up with developments, trends, and best practices in the business; social media may be a very useful tool for this. Put money into yourself. Turn into THAT lady. This will not only increase your value as an asset but also show everyone around you how committed and self-motivated you are.

6. Establish Your Identity:

In the modern digital age, having a strong online presence can be rather advantageous. Create a polished LinkedIn profile that emphasizes your qualifications. Participate in industry conversations on your field’s key social media channels. You may establish yourself as a thought leader and become more visible in your business by exhibiting your skills online. Who knows who might be looking?

7. Develop Boundaries and Self-care:

In order to preserve equilibrium and wellbeing, acknowledge the significance of work-life balance and give self-care first priority. Learn to set boundaries between your personal and professional lives without feeling guilty about it. Allocate specific time for leisure, interests, and loved ones. Remember that getting rest is beneficial! Strike deals for flexible work schedules whenever you can. Take what you can when you can, but it won’t always be possible.

Achieving equality is only one aspect of women in leadership; another is utilizing varied viewpoints to spur creativity and produce outcomes. Are you prepared to alter YOUR story now? Then begin right now.

Select one item. Forward that email asking for that long-overdue promotion. Plan that coffee conversation with the motivating leader in your network. Enroll in any mentoring program you’ve been hesitant to join right now. Go onto LinkedIn and create a compelling post that highlights your areas of expertise.

Take whatever action is necessary. Since you are the first to change. You genuinely care about living a successful life, and you have the ability to contribute to a process of change that genuinely dismantles obstacles and glass ceilings in order to establish a society in which everyone’s voice is heard and every opportunity is within grasp.