'THIS IS A man's world...

But it don't mean nothing, without a woman or a girl,' says the old song. Here, business expert Ester Moya shares how she has learned to stand out in a male-dominated industry

- Ester Moya

I went into the room with my best suit, a well-rehearsed pitch, a biomedical degree, and 10 years of experience on my back. Yet, every time I introduced myself to any potential client, I got the same question: 'Are you a student?' And it wasn't just new people who seemed to undervalue me. Over time, I noticed that I had to deliver something extraordinary to receive the same respect my male peers received just by showing up.

Have you ever been in this position? Have you ever felt you had to change your essence and become more masculine to get a promotion, or a salary raise? How can we overcome other people's cognitive bias, and use who we are to our advantage?

Build confidence

Before asking yourself how others perceive you, notice how you perceive yourself. This tendency often stems from the need for external validation and a lack of confidence.

I started looking for confidence in my wardrobe. I looked in the mirror and saw a cheerful woman dressed like she was going to a funeral in a boring black suit. It was a surprise to look down and not see a codpiece! I knew this was not the real me, and I felt like a clown.

Your structured suit is not the only value you bring to the table. What is the return on investment companies get from your contributions? Find ways to quantify your value and obtain proof of your impact, whether that be in cost-savings, new leads, more clients, happy clients, productive employees, higher sales... When you know your worth, you will have greater authority and credibility, and you will be much more able to block any self-doubt you feel while having discussions.

Use your uniqueness to your advantage