The Career Limiter No One Warns You About

By Jessica Schubert, Founder of Intact Teams

Here’s something I’ve observed across years of coaching executive women: the highest performers are often the most invisible.

Not because they aren’t delivering. Because they were taught, often from early in their careers, that results would speak for themselves. The problem is, results don’t advocate for you in a room you’re not in.

Visibility is not vanity. It’s a strategic leadership skill, and it’s one most women were never taught.

I worked with a senior leader in financial services who had been passed over for a Director role twice. She was talented, a consistent top performer, deeply trusted by her team. The feedback she received? “Not quite ready.” When we started working together, we uncovered what was actually missing: she was doing all the right things inside her team but was virtually unknown beyond it. Her manager’s manager had no sense of who she was or what she was capable of.

Within six months of deliberately building her stakeholder map and stepping into higher-profile opportunities, the perception shifted. She went from invisible to noticed, without changing a single thing about the quality of her work.

Think of it this way. Most high-performing women are operating like icebergs, with the vast majority of their capability, contribution, and potential below the waterline.

Organisations promote what they can see.

Three places to start:

1. Get clear on what you want to be known for
2. Map who, beyond your immediate manager, knows your work and your ambitions
3. Speak up consistently in the rooms you’re already in

Visibility creates options. And it’s entirely within reach.

About Jessica Schubert

Jessica Schubert is the Founder of Intact Teams and a leadership coach and facilitator with more than two decades of corporate and consulting experience across Australia and internationally. Holding ICF PCC accreditation and faculty status at the Institute of Executive Coaching and Leadership, Jessica works with professional and executive women to build the visibility, influence, and leadership presence to advance into the roles they’re ready for. She is the author of Lead the Future and can be found at intactteams.com or reached at jessica@intactteams.com.

Jessica is co-facilitating the Inner Edge Leadership Accelerator with Lyn Hawkins and Business Women Australia, running September to November 2026. Learn more and register here. https://businesswomenaustralia.com.au/inner-edge-leadership-accelerator/

About Business Women Australia

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