As we’ve discovered, one of the key barriers to success that women face, comes from within. In “The Confidence Gap,” recently published in The Atlantic, authors Katty Kay and Claire Shipman discuss the reasons why despite substantial gains in education and growth in the ranks of middle management, women continue to be under-represented at the highest levels. They identify the critical factor that may be holding women back and offer hope for the future. What Kay and Shipman found during their research for The Confidence Code is that for creating success, confidence matters just as much as competence and there is a big difference between men and women when it comes to self-assurance and how it is expressed. Over and over again, the research shows that women underestimate themselves and are plagued with self-doubt and worry, limiting what opportunities they seek. When women lack self-confidence, the possibilities they see for themselves are severely limited and the valuable contributions they can make in many domains may be lost. Even more important as scholars are coming to see is that confidence is an essential element of internal well-being and happiness, a necessity for a satisfying and fulfilling life.

Confidence is commonly defined as belief in oneself and one’s powers or abilities. We experience this as a calculation of our ability to create a successful outcome and also as a feeling or an emotion. So how does someone build self-confidence when it is lacking and what is the most effective way for women to build self-confidence? |

Please join us on June 20th for an engaging discussion on building self-confidence for women and to share your experiences and learn from one another.