Inside The Daily Acts Of Courage That Define Women Leaders

Confidence is often treated like a personality trait: you either have or you don’t. In practice, the most trusted women leaders build confidence the same way they build teams or strategy: through consistent, courageous action. The routine decisions to ask for clarity, set a boundary, take the first step, or name an elephant in the room create a track record, ultimately leading to increased confidence.

Here are eight insights from powerful women who spotlight those everyday acts of courage.

“I think some days that courage looks simply like showing up. Just being present and staying open can be so difficult, especially when we’re depleted or running on empty. Taking the care and effort to hold space for others — to be fully there — can make a massive impact.

“Managing this is tricky, so I like to take a breath before responding (so you’re thoughtful and not reactive), before naming the hard truth in a meeting, of just staying open when I’d rather avoid. I find that courage and confidence aren’t about perfection; it’s about staying true to ourselves and showing up even when stuff is messy. This is the heart of growth, of building trust and of building confidence over time.”

– Shoshanna Hecht, Executive and Personal Coach, Host of Your New Life Blend Podcast, Speaker

“Leadership is action, and inspiring others to action. Sometimes that’s more like corralling, cajoling, negotiating, and prodding. A lot of leadership is about people trusting you, and a lot is about giving them a good reason to trust you again. This means being a great collaborator, giving credit where it’s due, and making people want to work with you as you get there and feel proud when you do. Success is slow, and it’s rarely a solo game. Great leaders tap out and let other leaders take over. Show me a leader who thinks they know everything, and I’ll show you someone I’d rather not follow off a cliff.”

– Rachel Sklar, Founder, Inner Circle & Host of the “Hi, Smart Friend!” Podcast

“As the co-founder of Roots To Results, a digital-based relational-organizing firm, showing up every day requires courage. We win elections by meeting voters where they are. And, if you show up without feeling confident about yourself and about how you can help each voter use their individual voice, you won’t make the impact you are hoping for. So, what do I do to stay confident? I remember the time that I was between jobs and worried about finding a new gig when a male friend asked me, ‘Can you read?’ When I responded, ‘Yes, of course I can read,’ he then said, ‘Well, then you can do anything you want.’ That insight into how the average, middle-aged, white, American-man thinks about himself, the world, his skills — it recalibrated everything. Whenever I get nervous, I ask myself, ‘Can you read?!’ laugh at myself, and then keep going.”

– Laura Mirande-Brown, Co-Founder of Roots to Results

“One way to lead with courage is to admit to your team when things are hard for you. For example, if everyone else is struggling with a particular project you’re all working on, you may think the best way to lead is to present as though you’re not struggling at all. But this can leave everyone else feeling like there’s something wrong with them. So, be vulnerable and commiserate – within reason – about the challenges you’re facing, too. It takes courage to appear weak in any way, but it can be a good way to lead when times are tough.”

– Andrea Wasserman, Founder of The Executive Express, Fortune 500 Executive, Mentor-for-Hire

“Courage as a leader is about challenging the status quo. As an elected official and co-founder of Roots to Results, a digital-based relational-organizing firm, I’m committed to revolutionizing the way we win elections and ensuring that all voices are represented in our democracy. That comes with its share of adversity. But to me, showing up with confidence means creating professional opportunities for people from historically marginalized communities, and championing candidates and policies that protect and advance their rights. That’s what it means to be courageous.

— Sarah Virgo, Co-Founder of Roots to Results

“In my work, I help companies support and retain employees who are caregivers — moms, dads, anyone doing eldercare — all with the goal of propelling gender equality. Often, that means I’m hired to coach new moms as they try to make it through all of the priority shifts and identity shifts of coming back to work after maternity leave. I tell them that when they ask for something in this specific moment, it’s an investment in their ability to keep going, to be able to stay and grow in their careers and still be at it a year from now.

I tell them that when they make a need visible, they’re helping not just themselves and their baby, but also their employer. The economic case for supporting caregiving employees is real. And they’re helping anyone around them who, for one reason or another, can’t risk speaking up. Often, these needs feel like individual problems to be solved, but they’re actually broken systems that need visibility and fixing. And, yes, one mom, just by speaking up, can be a catalyst for change.”

— Lauren Brody, CEO of The Fifth Trimester

“Courage means using my authentic voice, even when my perspective is unpopular. It’s offering honest feedback with compassion, acknowledging what I don’t know, and staying grounded in the face of uncertainty. It’s acting with integrity and trusting my values, especially when the outcome is unclear.

“I’ve learned that true confidence is built through these everyday acts, like strengthening a muscle, one repetition at a time. It’s not about having all the answers but about moving through discomfort without losing my humanity. Courage keeps me aligned with what matters, open to my own growth, and committed to supporting others in theirs.”

— Cathie Levine, Leadership and Executive Coach

“Courage shows up for me on a daily basis in the simple act of saying ‘no.’ ‘No, I will not undervalue my work, no I will not take on additional tasks that are going to keep me away from the deep work of running a company, no I will not attend a meeting where I am not needed.’ When I set boundaries that show my team and my clients that I value my talent and my time, I can show up with confidence and do my best work where and when it matters most.”

— Melanie Hopkins, Founder and CEO of The Finance Friend