By Brett Farmiloe

While there are more women executives today in business leadership roles than in the past, women still face plenty of discrimination and barriers as they try to advance their careers. To find out how women can break the glass ceiling in business to reach the upper levels of leadership, we asked 10 successful women in business to share their best advice.

Strategies for women aspiring to break the glass ceiling

1. Seek mentors and foster professional relationships

“Fostering professional relationships inside and outside of your organization is crucial for women looking to break through the glass ceiling and reach executive positions. Seek mentors who are in the types of roles you aspire to have. Learn about what they do on a daily basis, and how they got to where they are. Through your mentors, identify your strengths and focus on them to prepare yourself for executive roles.

“Building a strong network by attending industry conferences and networking events is also beneficial. This is where you can meet new people who may have opportunities for you and where you can build your brand and promote your achievements.”

—Mary Krull, Southern New Hampshire University

2. Assemble a personal board of directors

“It’s essential for you to have a board of directors for your career. These trusted individuals will help you in your journey to becoming an executive. You should have a sponsor, a mentor, and a coach. All three have different roles in your growth, and all three are very important.”

—Tavon Barnswell, Thumbtack

3. Develop strategic thinking and leadership skills

“Senior positions in any organization require a different skill set and a different mindset. For women aiming for executive roles, proving that you are good, or even excellent, at your current job will not be enough to advance up the corporate ladder. Top executives focus on strategy. How can you make a process more efficient? Are there new business opportunities your company is missing out on? What are the risks of pursuing said opportunities and how do you measure the results? Top performers also have great project and people-management skills.

“Take any opportunity to learn. There are a myriad of industry-specific resources, courses, and books that can help you develop these skills. If you can find a mentor within your organization who will champion your application, this will also be invaluable. Then do what you can to demonstrate strategic thinking and leadership. This will prove you have the skills you need to succeed at a higher level.”

—Allison Carmichael, Indigoextra Ltd

4. Learn more, develop real skills, and network effectively

“For women aiming to break through the glass ceiling and reach executive positions, my advice, based on my experience as a female executive in both a public company and a startup, is threefold:

Learn continuously: Always seek to learn from mentors, peers, or even from experiences and courses. The more you know, the more prepared you’ll be to handle diverse challenges.

Develop real skills: Equip yourself with practical, hands-on skills. Recognizing when and whom to hire is crucial as responsibilities and budgets expand. Balancing personal execution with strategic delegation is key in leadership.

Network effectively: Networking is crucial for support, opportunities, and insights. Build strong connections within your company and industry, going beyond introductions to nurture and maintain relationships over time.

“Prioritize these areas to position yourself effectively for corporate advancement and entry into executive roles.”

—Yumi Willems, LEAD

5. Approach negotiations with confidence

“When negotiating, practice and refine your pitch until you feel comfortable and confident delivering it. Visualize the successful outcome you desire by picturing yourself in the position you seek, earning the desired salary, and fulfilling your responsibilities. Approach negotiations with the right emotional state: empowered, confident, and poised. Remember, weakness can be perceived, so project an aura of strength and self-assurance.

“Women often struggle with feelings of inferiority, but it’s time to let go of those outdated perceptions. Men may fear the capabilities of women, but they also recognize women’s strength. Embrace your power, including your femininity, and follow these guidelines to achieve your well-deserved success.”

—Cristina Imre, Quantum Wins

6. Build relationships and demonstrate competence

“Relationships are invaluable in the business world; those who have significant connections often find doors open more readily. Invest in mentorships and sponsorships—seek out leaders whose career paths resonate with you and ask for guidance. Sponsorships are especially powerful, and having someone in a high place advocating for you can be a game changer.

Simultaneously, it’s important to be viewed as an expert in your field. This can be done by driving projects and volunteering for high-visibility roles that showcase your leadership and strategic thinking. And while demonstrating competence is key, showing confidence is also crucial. It’s important to speak up, share your ideas, and own your successes. Finally, it helps to develop a personal narrative that clearly communicates your leadership journey.”

—Andrea J. Miller, ACC, SHRM-SCP, LeadWell Company

7. Be yourself

“I have one piece of advice for women looking to break through the glass ceiling and reach executive positions in their organization: be yourself. By that, I mean don’t try to play a role or follow someone else’s rules. Be true to who you are, because no matter how much experience you have or how many degrees you’ve earned, if you’re not being authentic, then nothing will ever change.”

—Vinika Garg, Webomaze

8. Position yourself as a thought leader and change agent

“I firmly believe that for women to break through the glass ceiling and reach executive positions, traditional advice often falls short, and we need to embrace more radical and less conventional strategies.

“One of the most effective yet underutilized approaches is mastering the art of strategic visibility. It’s about making sure the right people notice your work. Women should actively seek high-impact projects and roles that align closely with the company’s core goals. This visibility often leads to recognition and advancement opportunities. I also think it’s crucial to challenge the status quo by being a vocal advocate for change within the organization. This means not just excelling in your role, but also speaking out on policies and practices that may inadvertently hold women back.

“By positioning yourself as a thought leader and change agent, you not only carve a niche for yourself but also contribute to creating a more equitable workplace.”

—Shirley Borg, EnergyCasino

9. Exhibit emotional intelligence and strengthen leadership

“Empathy, emotion, and vulnerability are no longer the verboten qualities they once were. Great leaders should exhibit emotional intelligence and authenticity without equating it to weakness. Focus on strengthening your coaching and leadership skills to build successful teams and to become effective at managing up.”

—Ali Aguilar, Envisionit

10. Be purposeful and not reactive

“Be purposeful, not reactive: Go beyond the typical and expected. Shift from seeking recognition and executive presence to taking inclusive executive action. Own your image and interactions. Avoid unintentionally projecting a victim mentality. Develop profound self-awareness and positively challenge the status quo.

“Expand success: Include personal growth, growing your team, and surpassing company expectations. In every scenario, explore additional opportunities, and consider who else can benefit or should be included.

“Foster perspective. Begin with a strategic perspective, then delve into tactical planning. Understand upper leadership and stakeholder needs as well as your team’s needs. Understand others’ fears and goals as insight for collaboration and support.

“Finally, actively seek to make others successful and make it easy for people to do business with you, regardless of rank, department, or immediate value. Whether ally or challenger, treat all as valued customers.”

—Cheryle Hays, InPower Strategists

About the Author

Post by: Brett Farmiloe

Brett Farmiloe is the founder and CEO of Featured, a platform where business leaders can answer questions related to their expertise and get published in articles featuring their insights.