Advancing to leadership & the things I wish I knew

I attended a Her Tech Circle event in Sydney, greeted by warm smiles, pizza, fun stickers, and someone’s heart saying you belong here. It felt less like a networking event and more like being welcomed into a room full of allies. I met Maria and Sarah, chatted about what it’s really like to work in male-dominated spaces, and left with a notebook full of golden advice. If you’re growing in tech, leadership, or just trying to be seen this one’s for you.

The panel featured four powerhouse leaders:

Sherry Wang – Director of Engineering, Immutable
Louisa Hine – Director, Squire Patton Boggs
Sarah Pern – Head of Marketing, APJ at Miro
Anna Volkova – Head of People & Culture, APJ at HiBob

What Shifted the Game

From the panelists came this recurring message: sometimes it’s not one big defining moment, but many small steps, many decisions.

Re-evaluate your goals and wants. Be okay with stepping into the unknown — you usually have three choices: leave, adapt, or work to change the environment around you.
Build your confidence incrementally. Louisa reminded us: it’s the lots of little wins and experienced people who believe in you that shift direction, more than one giant lightbulb moment.
It’s an evolution, not a race. Learn what you don’t want to do as much as what you do, make that your style.

Voices That Echoed: Key Advice From the Panel

Here are some of the richest takeaways — the kind that stick in your heart and sharpen your leadership swagger.

	What Stood Out / What They Said
	Sarah: During a transformation project, she realised: being excited, taking on big responsibilities isn’t enough. Visibility counts. When leadership failed to acknowledge her work, she reached out directly to C-suite. Feedback: “You disappear and come back but you don’t involve people.” Big decisions aren’t made in the boardroom alone — they live through relationships, inclusive communication, and making things real for everyone.
	Anna: Being seen as strategic is hard when people don’t know what you bring. She emphasised always tying innovation or proposals back to company goals. Never assume people can see your value unless you show it. Know the business deeply — so you can pivot with grace.
	Sherry: Before she was in leadership, Sherry's advice: high heels aren’t literal (though you can wear them if you want), it’s about stepping into the space. Negotiation isn’t just pushing for what you want — it’s seeing what the other side wants and finding how to meet both. Practice in small conversations.
	Louisa Tactics for reading the room, setting boundaries, getting to “yes”: first, know who you’re talking with and how they prefer to get to decisions. Tailor your approach. Value connection. And it’s okay to ask for help or bring others in when you can’t solve alone. Also, deciding your values ahead of time helps you stand firm when things go sideways.

Hidden Work: What Most Don’t Talk About

Here’s what people don’t usually put in their LinkedIn posts, but quietly shape everything:

The work behind the job description: relationships, emotional intelligence, making people feel included. It’s what gets the thing done.
Reading the unspoken cues in a company who has influence, how decisions happen behind closed doors, what success really looks like there.
Protecting your time and mental bandwidth. Because taking on everything often means burning out. One major insight: let some fires burn. Be reactive sometimes, but don’t live there. Strategic rest and reflection are leadership skills.

Underrated Skills (That Will Power You Up)

These aren’t always glamorous, but trust me they move mountains.

Relaxation & rest — knowing when to pause is vital. You’ll lead longer and smarter if you don’t run on empty.
Executive presence — calm, clear, voice that carries. Speak early in meetings; show up visibly with conviction.
Support network & mentorship — formal or organic. Someone who’s rooting for you, who you can bounce ideas off, who sometimes clears your vision.
Self-advocacy — don’t assume people will see your work. Tell them. Frame innovations in the language of business value. Ask for feedback (yes, even from folks who aren’t naturally kind).

Barriers, Surprises & How We Grow Through Them

You will fail sometimes. You won’t always get the feedback you hope for. But each “no” or “not yet” positions you for the next thing if you keep learning.
Leadership isn’t just titles it’s mindset. One of the surprises: even when you’re “in” leadership, being seen as strategic can be a challenge unless you intentionally show up in ways that reflect high impact.

Big Sis Advice: What You Can Do Now

Because I care, here are actions you can start this week to move toward being the leader you want to be:

Map out 3 people at your work or network you want to know better (especially people who see different things than you do). Invite them for coffee or a short meeting — not just when you need something, but to build connection.
Block thinking time in your calendar 1-2 hours a week. Let your mind wander, plan, dream, figure out the “why” behind what you do.
Document your wins big and small. When someone says “nothing” in response, you have a portfolio of impact you can share.
Ask for 1 feedback & 1 mentorship conversation with someone more senior. Be clear: “Here’s where I’d like to grow. Can you help me see how I might?” If they can’t, ask them to suggest someone else.
Define your values: pick 2-3 non-negotiables in how you work (e.g. transparency, psychological safety, equitable credit). Hold to them. They’ll be your compass when things get murky.

Final Thoughts: You Are Already Becoming

To borrow from what I heard: leadership isn’t a destination. It’s a practice. Every decision, every small boundary, every relationship you nurture adds up. You might feel invisible sometimes that’s okay. Use it to sharpen your voice, deepen your purpose.

You have more leadership in you than you often give yourself credit for. Stay courageous. Speak your truths. And remember: your people are watching sometimes before you even see them.

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