Why Women in STEM Are Promoted During Crisis—And What It Takes to Stay in Power

There’s a pattern in corporate leadership that most people don’t talk about. When a company is in trouble—facing financial downturns, scandals, or leadership failures—women are more likely to be promoted into senior leadership roles.

It sounds like progress, but it’s not. It’s a trap.

The Glass Cliff: When Women Are Set Up to Fail

This phenomenon is called the Glass Cliff, a term coined by researchers at the University of Exeter to describe how women are disproportionately promoted into leadership roles during crises when failure is more likely. A MarketWatch report found that female CEOs are 45% more likely to be fired than their male counterparts. While the article doesn’t directly reference the Glass Cliff, the pattern aligns with what researchers have found—women are promoted into leadership roles at high-risk moments, often without long-term security.

Women are handed leadership reins at the worst possible time, expected to fix systemic problems that were never theirs to begin with. They walk into high-pressure, high-stakes environments with limited resources, face skepticism and heightened scrutiny from boards and stakeholders, and often find themselves in a no-win situation where, if they succeed, the company stabilizes—but a man is then brought in to “lead the next phase.”

If you’ve worked twice as hard as your male peers just to prove you deserve a seat at the table, you cannot afford to let leadership be temporary. You need to understand exactly how to navigate the politics, perceptions, and power plays that decide who stays in the C-suite and who gets replaced. Confidence isn’t just an asset—it’s a survival strategy.

Women Are Leading Through Crisis—But Are They Keeping Their Power?

Women don’t just get promoted in times of crisis. They outperform. Companies with women in senior leadership roles are 25% more likely to be profitable and 20% more innovative, according to McKinsey. Boards with gender-diverse leadership drive higher returns on investment and make better business decisions.

So if the data proves that women make companies more successful, why do we still have to prove ourselves over and over again?

Because leadership isn’t just about competence. It’s about perception.

Men are assumed to be competent until proven otherwise. Women are assumed to be unqualified unless they can prove otherwise—again and again. That’s why women in leadership face more scrutiny, more skepticism, and more pressure to be perfect. And that’s why traditional confidence-building advice—just speak up more, just be more assertive, just believe in yourself—doesn’t work.

Confidence isn’t just about how you feel. It’s about how you are perceived. If you don’t establish authority, influence, and executive presence from day one, you risk being seen as temporary, replaceable, and expendable.

What Executive Presence Looks Like for Women in STEM Leadership

Executive presence isn’t just a buzzword. It’s the difference between being ignored and being heard. Between being a temporary solution and becoming a permanent leader. Between being a crisis manager and a CEO.

If you’re constantly getting talked over in meetings, struggling to assert authority, or watching your ideas get dismissed until a male colleague repeats them, you’re not lacking experience or qualifications. You’re dealing with bias and corporate power dynamics that were never built for you to succeed.

The good news? Those dynamics can be hacked.

You don’t need to work harder. You need to work strategically.

Body Language and Presence: Owning the Room Without Saying a Word

Women are more likely to shrink in high-stakes environments—crossing their arms, tucking their feet under their chairs, or subconsciously taking up less space. That hesitation isn’t random. It’s decades of social conditioning that taught women to be agreeable, non-threatening, and likable. But in leadership, power is about presence.

The way you carry yourself before you even speak determines whether people take you seriously. Stand and sit with a grounded posture. Feet planted, spine straight, shoulders open. Small, closed-off body language signals insecurity. Use purposeful, deliberate gestures. Avoid nervous fidgeting, which makes you appear uncertain. Pause before speaking. When you take a deliberate pause before making a point, people stop and listen.

One of my clients, a biotech VP, was constantly interrupted in leadership meetings. She felt invisible. The moment she started pausing before speaking and stripping “permission phrases” from her language, she found that people stopped interrupting her—and started treating her as the expert she already was.

Speaking with Authority: The CEO Voice

Most women were never taught how to use their voices for influence. They were taught to be polite, not powerful. That’s exactly why so many women in STEM struggle to be heard in meetings.

Drop the “permission” phrases. No more “I just think…” or “I’m not sure, but…” These weaken your statements before you even get to the point. Instead, say: “Here’s what we need to do next.” Slow it down. Rushing through your words makes you sound unsure. Speak at a deliberate pace, and people will take you more seriously. Own the silence. Confident leaders don’t rush to fill awkward pauses. They let their words land.

No one remembers the person who “just wanted to add something.” They remember the person who owned their voice.

Rewiring Confidence: Mindset Shifts That Change the Game

You cannot afford to wait until you “feel” confident. The people who get promoted, who get the best opportunities, who hold onto power—they don’t all feel ready. But they act like they are.

Detach from being liked. Confidence isn’t about being agreeable. It’s about being respected. Reframe your self-doubt. Instead of “I’m not ready,” say, “I’ve handled uncertainty before—I can handle this too.” Own your expertise. Your success isn’t luck. It’s earned. And you don’t need to justify why you’re in the room.

The Playbook for Keeping Your Seat at the Leadership Table

Confidence alone won’t keep you in power. You need executive presence, strategic influence, and corporate political intelligence. If you don’t actively shape the way you’re perceived, someone else will—and it won’t be in your favor.

This is where The Executive Presence Accelerator comes in. If you are done being talked over, overlooked, and underestimated, this program will teach you exactly how to:

• Command authority in every room you walk into—without shouting, over-explaining, or exhausting yourself.

• Master the science of influence—so you’re not just heard but listened to.

• Navigate corporate politics like a pro—so you never get sidelined again.

• Become indispensable—so leadership isn’t just a promotion, it’s your permanent place at the table.

Not sure if this is the right next step? Let’s find out.

Book your free Executive Edge call with me.  In a private leadership audit, we’ll uncover exactly what’s keeping you from stepping into next-level influence, recognition, and career acceleration. Walk away with immediate insights you can apply now—whether you join The Executive Presence Accelerator or not.

This isn’t a coaching session—it’s a high-impact clarity session. If the Executive Presence Accelerator is the right next step, we’ll discuss how to make that happen. If not, you’ll still leave with a clear action plan for strengthening your leadership presence.

Spots are limited—secure your call now: The Executive Presence Accelerator

Your leadership is not temporary. It’s time to make sure of that.