The glass ceiling isn’t the only thing that needs breaking.

Sometimes, what holds women back isn’t up above, it’s all around us.

During a recent townhall, a colleague, while answering a question mentioned something that’s stayed with me “Psychological safety.”

It wasn’t the main topic of conversation, but that phrase… it lingered.

And over the last few weeks, through conversations and quiet reflections, it’s grown louder in my mind.

Because while we often talk about building inclusive environments and advancing women in the workplace,

we don’t talk enough about what happens between women;

the silent dynamics that can either lift each other up or quietly weigh each other down.

Here’s the uncomfortable truth, the elephant in the room… sometimes, the resistance to a woman’s growth comes from another woman.

Not with loud declarations, but in the subtle, daily interactions that go unchecked.

Not always with intention, but still with impact.

There are biases that exist not just in systems, but in us especially in how we treat other women:

Affinity Bias, where we gravitate toward women who mirror our own lives or choices, unintentionally excluding those who don’t.

Scarcity Bias, where we feel there’s limited room for women at the top, and so we compete instead of support.

Internalized Misogyny, when we carry the same outdated beliefs about women’s competence, emotion, or ambition and reflect them onto each other.

These patterns don’t always show up in big, obvious ways.

Sometimes it’s a cold shoulder. A passive-aggressive tone. A whisper behind someone’s back when they leave the room.

But the result? Another woman leaves the room feeling unseen, unheard or worse, unsafe.

We spend 40 to 50 hours a week together. That time should feel safe ~ not sharp.

Many of us are carrying more than what shows on our calendars. Parenting. Caregiving. Grief. Guilt. Expectations. The mental load is heavy.

And still, we show up, every day.

What we shouldn’t have to do is show up guarded. Or second-guess whether our ideas are welcome. Or worry that we’ll be met with judgment, especially from each other.

We talk a lot about empowerment and participation.

But real empowerment starts in the space between us - How we support, include, and protect one another.

And while this reflection is rooted in the workplace, the truth is, these patterns often follow us into our friendships, families, even sisterhoods. The silence. The judgment. The quiet measuring-up.

If we can change how we show up for each other at work, maybe we start changing how we show up for each other everywhere.

I’ve been lucky.

Truly.

I’ve had women around me who’ve lifted me up when life knocked me down. Who’ve been sounding boards, safety nets, and sources of strength when I needed them most. 

That kind of support has shaped me and stayed with me.

It’s also shown me what’s possible when women rise together, not despite each other.

So here’s a gentle nudge for all of us… especially those of us who’ve had to fight hard for our seat at the table:

Let’s not make another woman feel like she has to armour up to sit beside us.

Let’s be her safe space, her steady voice, her silent champion.

“When we stop seeing each other as competition and seeing each other as allies, that’s when the real glass starts to shatter.”

#womenepowerment #collaboration #success