The Career Myth That Keeps Ambitious Women Stuck
- Mary Killelea
- Jul 19
- 2 min read
There’s a lie we’re told in school, and it follows many of us deep into our careers.
It’s the “Good Student” myth.
The myth says: “Keep your head down, do excellent work, get straight A’s, and you will be rewarded.”
And for a while, it works. You become the reliable one, the go-to expert, the person who always delivers. You get positive performance reviews. Your boss loves you. You’re a high-performer, a model employee.
Then one day, the promotion you’ve been working toward goes to someone else. Someone who, you can’t help but notice, spends a lot more time talking about their work than, well, doing it.
You’ve become the company’s best-kept secret.
This is the frustrating reality for so many talented women in business and tech. We believe our work should speak for itself. The problem is, in a busy, noisy corporate world, it rarely does.
Excellent work is the baseline. It’s the price of admission. It gets you in the door, but it doesn’t get you the corner office. For that, you need something more. You need visibility.
And no, “personal brand” isn’t a dirty phrase reserved for influencers. It’s simply your professional reputation. It’s the answer to the question: “What is it like to work with her?” It’s what people say about you when you’re not in the room.
Right now, your reputation might be: “She’s great. So reliable. Does amazing work.”What you want it to be is: “She’s the go-to person for [Your Superpower]. We need her to lead this.”
Quick break. Does this feel uncomfortably familiar? If you’re tired of being a best-kept secret, you’re in the right place.
Find Your Voice. Build Your Career with a Bold Brand.
Moving from “reliable doer” to “visible leader” feels daunting. It can feel like bragging or being inauthentic. But it’s not about being someone you’re not. It’s about being intentional with who you already are.
It’s about:
Defining what you want to be known for.
Articulating your value clearly and confidently.
Showcasing your expertise in a way that attracts, not chases, opportunities.
When you passively let your work define you, you give away all your power. You’re letting others build your narrative. Taking control of your personal brand is how you take back the pen and write your own story.
It’s the difference between waiting to be discovered and building a reputation that no one can ignore.
But where do you even begin? How do you define your strengths without sounding arrogant? How do you build a brand that feels authentic?
I created “The Ultimate Personal Brand Building Playbook” to solve this exact problem. It’s a step-by-step guide to help you uncover your unique value and build a powerful, authentic brand that accelerates your career. Stop waiting to be chosen and start building your legacy. Get the playbook here.
