A Morning Truth About Corporate Culture

Not every woman in power supports women in progress. And it shows.

This morning, I woke up with clarity.

So let me start by saying this—thank you.

Thank you to the people in corporate America who pick and choose who they treat well… and who they don’t. Thank you to the ones who smile selectively, support conditionally, and empower only those who look, think, and behave like them.

Vanessa, Stephanie, Brandy, Gina, Olivia, Kim, Liz, Kaitlin.

And the list goes on.

If you’re reading that list and noticing something, you’re not wrong.They’re all women.

And here’s the uncomfortable truth: Women like this will never be the inspiration someone needs—unless you are one of them.

That’s the sad part.

These are not women who create space for others to grow. They don’t hand over power. They don’t mentor freely. Your ambition will threaten them. Your skills will be minimized. Your ideas will be ignored.

And if you have undeniable talent? They won’t even entertain your thoughts.

Let’s stop pretending this doesn’t happen.

In corporate America, your destiny is often not in your own hands—no matter how hard you work, how skilled you are, or how committed you remain. The phrase “you make your own destiny” in corporate settings is, more often than not, a comforting lie.

Because when insecure people sit in positions of authority, growth becomes permission-based.

So how do you spot these people early?

Here’s what experience teaches you:

• They support you privately but never publicly• They praise you, then block your advancement• They gather information but give none back• They promote loyalty over competence• They feel threatened by confidence instead of inspired by it• They only empower people who won’t outshine them

These individuals are not leaders.They are gatekeepers.

And the most dangerous ones? They disguise insecurity as professionalism.

Here’s the part no one tells you

You don’t beat these people by working harder.You don’t win by proving your worth.You don’t outgrow them inside systems designed to protect them.

You outgrow them by leaving, pivoting, or creating space elsewhere.

Your power is not in their approval.Your worth is not determined by their comfort level. And your growth does not need their permission.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, overlooked, or quietly pushed aside—this isn’t about you lacking something.

It’s about recognizing when you’re in a system that cannot hold who you are becoming.

And that awareness?

That’s the beginning of your freedom.