Women Who Risk: The New Glass Ceiling and the Men Who Hold the Keys

For decades, the glass ceiling has been a symbol of the barriers we, as women, face in the workplace. But today, a new and more insidious ceiling is emerging—one that’s all about risk. At Women Who Risk, we’ve been talking about this for years: risk for women is the new glass ceiling. And now, recent data is backing this up.

A report by management software company Textio, highlighted by Fortune’s Emma Burleigh , reveals a stark reality: 76% of high-performing women receive negative feedback, compared to only 2% of men. What’s most telling is that this critique is rarely about the work itself. More often, it’s about personality—a not-so-subtle attempt to keep us from taking the risks that lead to growth and success.

But here’s where we at Women Who Risk flip the script: we see these challenges as opportunities. The very risks that others use to hold us back are the keys to unlocking our true potential. It’s time for us to embrace these risks with joy and confidence, knowing that they are not barriers but stepping stones to a future where we are no longer held back by outdated biases.

This month, I’m calling on the men who work alongside us to take a risk of their own.

It’s time to challenge the status quo and recognize the unconscious biases that contribute to this unfair treatment. I invite you to join us in taking the courageous step of examining your own feedback processes. Ask yourself: Are you judging women on their work or their personalities? Are you providing constructive, actionable feedback, or are you reinforcing outdated stereotypes?

By taking this risk—by choosing to change—you have the power to help break this new glass ceiling. Together, we can create a workplace where everyone, regardless of gender, is judged by the quality of their work, not by the expectations of their demeanor. This isn’t just about fairness; it’s about unleashing the full potential of your teams, your colleagues, and yourself.

Let’s make the choice to change, to take risks, and to support women in doing the same. Because when women risk, the whole world wins.

#WomenWhoRisk #JoyfulRisk #AbrasivenessTrap #GenderBias #WorkplaceEquality #Leadership #MenAndWomenTogether #BreakingBarriers

With an impressive 26-year track record, Teri Bybee is dedicated to empowering women to conquer self-doubt, importer syndrome, and perfectionism. In her role as the visionary behind Women Who Risk, she has introduced "Unlocking Your Inner Courageous Leader" – a powerful, complimentary resource leveraging energy psychology to transform mindsets for leadership and empowerment. Access this invaluable tool at https://www.womenwhorisk.com/unlock