Moving Obstacles, Building Workplaces Where Women Win (and that doesn’t mean men lose)

Imagine pushing your hands out in front of you, as if against a strong force. That’s what it feels like for many women navigating systems still full of baked-in gender gaps. Pay. Leadership. Authority. Power. Funding. Wellness. Each one can feel like it’s holding women back from success.

And here’s the surprising truth: organizations where women lead are often more innovative and profitable than male-only leadership teams. That’s no accident—women bring vision, resilience, and influence that fuel lasting success.

But external forces aren’t the only challenge. Years of cultural conditioning can lead to self-doubt, over-care for others, or diminished confidence—barriers that women carry internally even as they strive to excel.

So how do we move forward? One strategy comes from Shirzad Chamine’s Positive Intelligence framework, where he coaches us to reframe obstacles. I find myself using this technique often and find it really helpful. Instead of shrinking back, we lean in with curiosity and strength. How can you apply these three steps in your own leadership role in this season?

💡 Knowledge – What can this obstacle teach us? What data does it reveal? What won’t trip us up again because we see it clearly now?

💪 Power – What strength must we grow to move this obstacle out of the way? Stronger sales skills? Financial acumen? A more supportive culture and leadership team?

🌟 Inspiration – How can this obstacle spark new ideas, creativity, or even practices of resilience that keep us moving forward?

Obstacles aren’t permanent barriers. They’re opportunities to get wiser, stronger, and more inspired.

For leaders and allies—this is the invitation. Women in your workplace already bring the gifts that fuel success. Winning here means being able to develop and use our full abilities in our role. When we win at work in this way our men colleagues win, too. The question is whether your current workplace culture moves the obstacles—or leaves them standing.