Who Are You Beyond Your Job Title? Redefining Your Career Identity (YGT??#68)
Katharina Engelhardt ??
Career & Leadership Coaching for Women ?? Realise your potential for more success, more joy, more money ?? Senior Director Strategy @ adidas
Hello and happy Sunday,
Welcome to another. YOU GOT THIS! Newsletter.
The challenge isn’t just climbing the ladder, it’s being seen and supported along the way."
Every year around this time, the McKinsey and Lean In organizations release their "Women in the Workplace" report, a comprehensive analysis of the progress and challenges women face in their careers. This year, the results have hit me hard. Despite some gains, we’re seeing a worrying decline in the promotion of women into their first leadership roles—dropping from 87 women for every 100 men last year to just 81 this year.
As someone committed to empowering women in their careers, this report reminds me why I continue to push for change. I’ve seen this firsthand, where women, despite their qualifications and hard work, hesitate to advocate for themselves or believe they’re "not ready." This mindset needs to shift. Promotions are not about more time, they’re about smarter work and building the confidence to step into your next role.
I know this from my own experience. In my first role, I worked hard but wasn’t promoted. It wasn’t until my manager told me to "work smart, not hard" that I realized I needed to own my career. I couldn’t wait to be picked—I had to take control of my trajectory.
So, to all the women facing that "broken rung" today: It’s time to stop waiting and start acting. Begin by creating a vision for yourself and take the steps to turn it into reality. In my coaching program, Amazing Career, I help women unlock their potential by focusing on their career success stories and breaking through the mindset barriers holding them back
In today’s edition of my newsletter, I′ll write about these three topics:
?? My latest learning: Who Are You When the Job Title Fades?
?? Career Inspiration: Know yourself
?? Female Leadership: The Art of Navigating Leadership Dilemmas
The end of the year is just around the corner, and if there’s ever been a perfect time to refocus and take action, it’s now. Whether you’re aiming for a career change, looking to improve your leadership skills, or just want to feel more fulfilled in your role, now is the time to act.
I am always happy to receive feedback, suggestions for improvement, and ideas for new newsletters. What would you like to read about here?
Stay courageous!
Best Regards, Katharina
?? My latest learning: Who Are You When the Job Title Fades?
Facing the Future:
When I first started thinking about life after my corporate career, my initial thought was, Wow, I’ll finally have the time to do what I really want. But then came the tougher question: What is it that I really want to do?
This thought triggered a deeper reflection about who I am beyond my corporate title. I’ve spent decades in leadership roles, but I realized that when the title fades, the question becomes, What value do I bring without the brand backing me up?
I remember attending events, and representing my company, and people would line up to talk to me because of the title I carried. But what happens when the brand isn’t the magnet? Who was I without it? It hit me that my reputation and work wouldn’t carry me forward automatically once I stepped away from the corporate world. This realization was a turning point.
That’s when I leaned into coaching. I knew that to build my presence beyond the corporate identity, I needed to start focusing on my personal brand. I began showing up on LinkedIn, not just as someone from a big brand, but as someone passionate about making women stronger, with my own unique voice. It wasn’t always easy—allowing myself to step out from under the company umbrella and claim my personal mission took time. But over time, I’ve become clear in my messaging, adding my coaching side business to my CV, and aligning with my purpose.
This shift has been empowering. I’m energized and have a clear vision of where I want to go. I know that in the years to come, I want to study psychology, continue helping women achieve their potential, and build a life that aligns with who I truly am.
Does this resonate with you? What steps are you taking to build your reputation and network beyond your current role? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
?? Career Inspiration: Know yourself
"Beauty begins the moment you decide to be yourself." – Coco Chanel
For a long time, I thought I had to separate my business self from my personal life. Early in my career, I believed that to be taken seriously, I needed to act in a way that fit into the corporate mold. When I became a mother, I felt the pressure to stay professional, not wanting anyone to know that I had to leave the office early to pick up my child from kindergarten. But over time, I realized that being truly authentic—allowing my personal life and my career to coexist—was what helped me thrive.
It’s not about perfection or fitting into someone else’s idea of who we should be. True beauty and strength come from embracing who we are, our imperfections included and letting that authenticity shine through.
During busy careers and full lives, staying authentic and appreciating yourself is key. For me, simple routines like keeping a gratitude journal, having family dinners, and going for evening walks help me stay grounded and aligned with who I am.
At the core of it all, leading ourselves—nurturing our careers, while also caring for our well-being—makes us strong, confident, and yes, truly beautiful. My game-changer was a mindful high-performance coaching and amazing career coaching certification that changed my approach. If I can do it, you can do it. if you want to learn more, reach out to me for a discovery call. ????Here is a link to book a FREE 30-minute clarity session with me, and let’s start creating a perspective for your life.
?? Female Leadership: The Art of Navigating Leadership Dilemmas
A little bit longer today, it is super important content!
You’ve been going in circles for months.
You have a great employee in mind for a promotion, but as you assess the situation, it becomes clear—they’re just not ready. You hesitate and stall, unsure how to proceed.
Then there’s the high performer who’s key to a critical area of your business. They deliver results but create tension within the team. You’re caught between loyalty and professionalism, between maintaining high performance and fostering team spirit.
You need to make a decision, but something’s holding you back. Every day, the situation gets worse.
This is the dilemma that many leaders face. It’s that constant tug-of-war between two seemingly opposing options. It feels impossible to choose, and often, the decision weighs heavily on both practical and ethical levels. Should you prioritize loyalty or push for the next level of performance?
As a leader, facing such dilemmas is part of the job. But recognizing when you're stuck and learning how to resolve these challenges is key to moving forward with clarity and confidence.
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Recognizing the Dilemma
The first step is acknowledging that you’re facing a dilemma. Here are the signs that signal you’re stuck:
When you notice these signs, it’s time to hit pause. Stalling in a dilemma not only drains your energy, but it also impacts your credibility as a leader.
Gaining Clarity
Before you can make a clear decision, you need inner clarity. Dilemmas often arise because of conflicting voices within your mind. This is what psychologists call your "inner team." To sort out the chaos, you need to identify those voices and understand what each one is telling you.
For example, when I was faced with promoting a colleague, I could hear different voices pulling me in opposite directions:
Once you’ve identified these voices, it’s time to understand what drives them—whether it’s fear, loyalty, or ambition—and figure out how to address each one in your decision-making.
Communicating Clearly
Once you have clarity, it’s time to communicate your decision. Approach the conversation from a place of empathy. Ask yourself: How is the other person experiencing this situation? How would I want to be treated in their shoes?
In most cases, your team members are feeling the same discomfort. They, too, are caught in their own version of the dilemma. More often than not, they’ll be relieved to have an open, respectful conversation about the issue.
When I finally spoke with my colleague, it was a weight off both our shoulders. I acknowledged her work and potential, but I was honest about the fact that she wasn’t ready for the role. Together, we developed a plan for her growth, and we were both able to move forward with clarity.
Key Takeaways
Dilemmas are an inevitable part of leadership, but they don’t have to keep you stuck. Here’s how to move forward:
What’s a difficult decision you’ve been avoiding? Identify the inner voices, gain clarity, and have that crucial conversation. Leadership isn’t just about making decisions—it’s about making them with confidence and respect.
Let’s talk about how I can help you get there! ????Here is a link to book a discovery session with me.
??Change starts with you
Nothing will change unless you change something! It's up to you!
The alternative: Keep doing what you're doing...
I wish you a great week; enjoy life, and remember to SHOW UP!
If you say what you want, you increase the chance of being heard! ??
Have a great day, and remember, it is the one who gives up and does not reach success.
And now I wish you all the best and talk soon!
Best Regards, Katharina
??How you can work with me:
Leadership Training: In my course MOVE UP! You can recognize and strengthen your leadership. Join the course ??here .
Amazing Career Coaching: Join the 16-week 1:1 AMAZING CAREER coaching program. Please reply to this mail that you want to join or book a call with me ?? here to learn more.
Need help getting anywhere on your own? Then why not book a free virtual coffee break ?? with me, and we'll find out whether and how I can help you further? ???? Here is a link to book a discovery session with me
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PS: This newsletter is written by a human. English is not my native language. So,?I'll make mistakes. And tech bugs ?? crawl in?once in a while.?So, if you see any of these, please let me know. I′m always happy to improve!