Recognising the Leader You Already Are

This piece shares Courtney’s reflections on leadership, shaped by her experiences working in the Salesforce ecosystem. In it, she explores what it means to lead without waiting for a title, and why so many women are already demonstrating leadership in ways they may not even recognise.

For much of my career, I didn’t think of myself as a leader because I didn’t have a title or job role that officially qualified me as one. I was waiting for someone else to validate me as a leader before allowing myself to demonstrate leadership.

More recently, I’ve realised that there are already many people I work with who come to me for advice and support, title or not. Looking back on my career, I can clearly see the ways I’ve established myself as a leader over the years. I just didn’t always call it that at the time.

Unlearn the Societal Norms We’ve Been Taught

We’re often taught that leaders are the loudest in the room, and that women are meant to be polite and not take up too much space. In reality, neither of these is true.

I’ve always struggled to speak up when lots of people are talking over each other. I’ve been in many meetings where it feels like there’s no natural gap to contribute. While others are happy to interrupt to be heard, I’ve never been comfortable doing that. Instead, I’ve found ways to subtly disrupt the flow, like using the hand-raise feature in virtual meetings, so I can make my point without adding to the chaos.

Women are also often taught that we need permission. Permission to speak. Permission to lead. Permission to think of ourselves as role models. That belief often comes from the idea that we should prioritise harmony over being respected. But no one needs to give you permission to see yourself as a leader. You can start acting like one today.

Lead by the Example You Want to See

I have a clear vision of what I want to see in female leaders. Yes, I want to see more women in leadership roles. But even more than that, I want to see more thought leadership from women. I want to see women breaking through the norms placed upon us. I want to see women being openly proud of themselves and doing innovative things.

I can wait for someone else to fulfil that vision, or I can step into it myself.

All of those things push me out of my comfort zone. Even writing this blog, I’ve had the thoughts of “who cares what I have to say?” and “will anyone actually read this?” But I know I want to hear more women’s voices. So by adding mine, I hope I’m encouraging others to add theirs too.

At Salesforce Women in Tech events, we often start with a round of self-celebration. It’s designed to get us comfortable being outwardly proud of what we’ve achieved. I’ve made it a personal goal to always share something when I attend, not just for myself, but so that colleagues who attend with me can see that it’s okay to celebrate themselves too.

Always Support and Celebrate

It’s important to learn how to celebrate ourselves. It’s just as important to celebrate each other.

We’re often encouraged to compare ourselves to other women, as though someone else’s promotion or recognition somehow takes something away from us. In reality, one woman’s success does not limit another’s. When women are recognised and rewarded for their contributions, it’s something to be proud of and celebrate.

I know I often struggle to recognise my own achievements because I downplay them as “just doing my job”. I find it incredibly helpful when the women in my network highlight what I’ve done well and remind me of the impact I’ve made. Be that network for someone else.

We also know how hard it can be to walk into a new environment, balance work with the mental load at home, or take time off when we’re unwell. Supporting each other in these moments is leadership too. Be welcoming to a new face. Be understanding when life has to come first. Encourage each other to prioritise health when it’s needed.

Leadership Is a Choice

All of these things can be done regardless of your job title, experience or seniority. So many of the women I know are already leading quietly, consistently and powerfully behind the scenes without fully realising it.

Being a female leader is a choice, not a job title.

And as we reflect on days like International Women’s Day, it’s a reminder that progress isn’t just about who holds senior titles. It’s about the everyday choices we make to show up, speak up, support each other and lead in the ways that feel authentic to us.

So make that choice with me.