Hi {{ Name | there }},
“I went from being in quicksand to gaining the confidence and the tools to raise my hand for a leadership opportunity (and I got it!) within 7 weeks.” – Ashley, Sales Strategy Manager at Salesforce
That’s what happens inside Career Mama – through coaching, proven systems, and a vetted village of high-performing moms from Google, Salesforce, Uber & more, you’ll excel at work while being present with your kids
📣Applications for Career Mama are now open.
Join us if you want to:
Be promoted or gain leadership recognition
Increase your visibility and influence at work
Build stronger connections with your kids
Now onto today’s topic (a sneak peek of the skills we develop in Career Mama)
I was taught that influence at work comes from:
Having the right title
Outworking, outlasting, outperforming everyone else
Being the reliable fixer
But is that influence?
No. That’s “invisibility” dressed up as loyalty.
I’ve learned the hard way that influence isn’t about doing more. It’s about what stays behind when you’re no longer in the room.
Real influence lingers.
It makes people remember. It makes them repeat. It makes them rally behind your ideas.
A few years ago, I sat in a leadership meeting with 12 senior stakeholders. I was the only woman in the room.
I had done the prep.
I had the data.
I knew my recommendation was right for the business.
But when it was my turn to speak, I watched the idea float in the air… and just disappear.
I got a few nods, but no traction.
Weeks’ worth of effort… poof!
Moments later, someone else reframed the same idea and suddenly, everyone was on board.
It infuriated me.
But it also woke me up.
I knew I had to unlearn everything I knew about influence.
I stopped chasing it like it was something to be given and started building my playbook for it.
The women inside Career Mama (apply here) is opening soon) have used this playbook to:
Shift from being the midnight “fixer” to being asked to lead a $10M product launch.
Have their frameworks be quoted in meetings by their VP.
Turn down a draining “stretch assignment” and still be tapped for a promotion because their value was undeniable.
Now, it’s yours.
#1 Build allies, not audiences
Influence is about being trusted by the right stakeholders. These are your allies.
And true allies aren’t built through small talk or networking events. They’re built through trust and co-ownership.
That means:
Bringing people in before your idea is shiny.
Asking: “What would make this a win for you?”
Listening (really listening) and showing them how their input shaped the outcome.
The shift? People stop feeling like you’re pitching your idea. They start believing they’re pushing forward our idea.
#2 Story is your sharpest weapon
Here’s what I mean:
When I wanted approval for a product feature, I didn’t start with the budget slide.
I started with a story about a customer - a woman who had been using a clunky workaround because our product didn’t solve her core pain.
I described how frustrated she felt, how much time she wasted, and how her team lost trust in the tool.
Then I showed the numbers.
The room leaned in. Suddenly, this wasn’t “my idea.” It was our customer’s voice.
So, wrap your data points and facts inside a narrative people can feel.
That’s how an idea shifts from a good point to a shared priority.
💚 This week’s move: For your next presentation, start with a story (customer, team, or market). Anchor it with data. Then connect what’s required to make it a win.
#3 Protect your influence
Every time you say yes to what drains you, you dilute your power to lead where it matters.
High-performing women are often trained to be “the reliable fixer.”
But influence isn’t built by being everywhere. It’s built by being unforgettable in the right places.
That requires boundaries.
Say no with clarity: “I’d love to, but here’s where I can create the most impact right now.”
Raise your hand for projects that align with your brand adjectives.
Protect your recovery time. Presence requires energy, not burnout.
Your credibility grows not when you take on more, but when you show discernment about where your voice belongs.
This playbook can turn everyday moments into influence moments.
Do you already have an ally at work? Do reply and tell me more about how they’ve helped? I read every response.
See you next week.
Cheers,
Shivani
P.S. Influence, promotions, thriving kids, and a sane schedule - you deserve all of it. That’s why I created Career Mama: a program for high-performing moms to grow their careers while showing up for themselves and their families.
Applications are open. If you’d like to join (or explore if this is right for you), book your application call with me now.
Limited spots available in our virtual program. If accepted, spots are first come, first serve.