4 Things You Can Do Today to Break Career Barriers

Career barriers are obstacles that keep many professionals from reaching the highest levels of leadership in their careers. These barriers exist even when they have the skills, experience, and ambition needed to succeed. In this article, we’ll dig deeper into what these career barriers are, why they matter, and most importantly, how we can break through them.

What Are Career Barriers?

Career barriers are often unseen but very real obstacles that prevent underrepresented groups from reaching top leadership roles. It’s not about a lack of effort or ability—it’s about biases and structures that favor men, especially in leadership. For women, especially those from the diaspora or who have migrated to live abroad, these challenges are even greater, as they face multiple layers of barriers.

These career barriers aren't just about individual experiences but systemic problems rooted in organizational cultures and societal norms. For example, many women, despite their talents and qualifications, hit a limit in their careers. It’s as if they can see higher positions—like looking through glass—but can’t quite break through [1].

How Did These Career Barriers Come About?

The term "glass ceiling" gained popularity in the 1980s, when it became clear that despite more women entering the workforce, their progress in reaching senior positions was stunted. The idea of an invisible ceiling helped explain why qualified women and other underrepresented groups were stuck in lower roles, even as they could see higher opportunities that seemed just out of reach.

Today, progress is still slow. Women make up only 22% of C-suite roles, according to recent studies [1]. This is more than just a personal challenge—it’s a missed opportunity for organizations. Research has consistently shown that companies with diverse leadership teams perform better. By excluding women from the top, companies are limiting their potential for innovation and success. [2,3]

How Do Career Barriers Affect Us?

Career barriers affect everyone, not just individual women. When organizations prevent diversity from reaching leadership positions, they lose out on different perspectives and better decision-making [1]. Diverse leadership teams are proven to be more effective and innovative, and companies with more women in leadership often outperform their competitors.

For women, especially those who are part of the diaspora or have migrated to live abroad, breaking career barriers comes with extra challenges. These women face biases related to their gender, culture, language, and background, making their path to leadership even more complicated.

How to Break Career Barriers

The good news is that career barriers can be broken. Here are some practical steps to start making real changes:

1. Build Your Support Network

No one breaks barriers alone. Find mentors, allies, and peers who believe in your growth and will help you push through obstacles. Whether it's within your company or through professional groups, having a support system makes a huge difference. Professionals from the diaspora may also find unique value in connecting with others who share similar experiences of migration and cultural adaptation [4].

I’ve explored this idea further on my podcast, Building Connection, where my guests share their personal stories of overcoming barriers and building powerful support networks. One of our recent guests, Jasmine, spoke about how her journey as an entrepreneur was transformed by the mentors she found along the way. Hearing stories like Jasmine’s can help us understand the real power of community in breaking career barriers.

2. Speak Up for Yourself

Self-advocacy is key. Talk about your skills, achievements, and the value you bring. This is where personal branding comes in—it’s about making sure people know who you are and what you’re capable of. Take on visible projects, share your expertise in meetings, and engage online to build your professional presence [5].

We delve deeper into personal branding and its impact on breaking barriers in our upcoming issue of Represented Insights. This issue expands on the research on how visibility and self-advocacy can help dismantle career barriers. If you're interested in a more detailed, research-based perspective, be sure to check it out.

3. Choose the Right Environment

Some workplaces are more supportive of diversity than others. Seek out organizations that value and promote gender equality. Look for those that offer mentorship, flexible work options, and transparent career advancement opportunities. Finding the right environment can be a game-changer for your career growth [6].

4. Focus on Skills and Resilience

Keep learning and developing your skills. Leadership training, communication skills, and resilience-building are all critical. Resilience is about bouncing back from setbacks and not giving up, even when the path forward is challenging. For professionals facing multiple barriers, resilience is an essential quality for breaking through career obstacles [7].

Moving Forward

Career barriers are real, but they’re not unbreakable. By recognizing these invisible obstacles and taking practical steps, we can create meaningful change. Whether you're striving to advance your own career or help others do the same, every effort counts.

It's time to break the silence, recognize the barriers, and take action. Together, we can push beyond these limits and build workplaces that truly value every voice—no matter where we come from or the path we've taken to get here.

To hear more inspiring stories of professionals breaking barriers, tune in to the Building Connection podcast. For a deeper dive into the research and insights on this topic, explore Represented Insights where we provide a thorough, research-informed perspective on leadership, diversity, and career growth.

For hands-on help in breaking your barriers and developing as a leader, visit Represented.site for more resources. Join our Accelerate Your Growth in 90-day coaching program designed for executive women to help them advance in their careers. To empower your organization, invite us to speak at your next leadership event.

1. Vinnicombe S, Mavin S. Reflections on women’s progress into leadership in the UK and suggested areas for future research. Gender in Management: An International Journal. 2023 Mar 22;38(2):248-54.
2. Field E, Krivkovich A, Kügele S, Robinson N, Yee L. Women in the workplace 2023. McKinsey & Company; 2023.
3. Catalyst. The Bottom Line: Corporate Performance and Women's Representation on Boards [Internet]. 2023.
4. Rajendran D, Ng ES, Sears G, Ayub N. Determinants of migrant career success: A study of recent skilled migrants in Australia. International Migration. 2020 Apr;58(2):30-51.
5. Thompson-Whiteside H. Sisters are doing it for themselves: An exploration of the self-promotional work women undertake as they seek professional advancement (Doctoral dissertation, University of Portsmouth).
6. Dover TL, Kaiser CR, Major B. Mixed signals: The unintended effects of diversity initiatives. Social Issues and Policy Review. 2020 Jan;14(1):152-81.