Proven Strategies for Women in STEM to Get Promoted

Photo by Raquel Moss on Unsplash

I’m getting a bit tired of hearing stories of women in STEM being passed over for promotion — or ‘inadvertently’ demoted. It happened in my own network just recently.

Two stories in as many months. Women who had been working hard and getting results, building relationships, making things happen. Only to have someone new enter the business, above them, which left them stuck in place, their path blocked.

These stories aren’t unusual. And sometimes, they’re completely outside of our control.

So what is within our control? How can we leverage our own resources — and our network — to stay as secure as possible and shape the career path we want (and deserve)?

Here are my top tips and resources;

1. Identify and Overcome Career Roadblocks

You can be doing everything “right” and still feel stuck. Sometimes it’s external — a lack of recognition, unclear expectations, or being passed over for projects. Sometimes it’s internal — hesitating to speak up, doubting your impact, or just not knowing what you want next.

• What’s made the biggest difference for you in moments like that?

• Where have you seen progress come from — and where has it stalled?

• What are the narratives you've been telling yourself? Are you able to overcome your limiting beliefs and thing about what else it could be? Read my other blog on this topic - Do I just suck at my job?

2. Develop a Personalized Career Growth Strategy

Generic advice doesn’t always cut it, especially in complex, fast-moving roles. What’s more useful is having a simple, clear plan that aligns with your strengths, ambitions, and the reality of your working environment.

That might look like setting short-term goals that feel motivating, making your work more visible to the right people, or asking for feedback that actually helps.

• What kind of support or structure has helped you stay focused in your career growth?

• What do you wish you’d known five years ago?

• What have others done that has helped? Read my blog about when I was stuck in a rut for my own career.

  
  

3. Master the Art of Self-Advocacy

Plenty of brilliant people struggle to talk about their own strengths — especially when it comes to pay, promotions, or recognition. But self-advocacy is a skill like any other. You can learn how to make a clear case, speak with confidence, and ask for what you need.

If you’ve ever looked back and thought, “I should have asked,” you’re not alone.

• What helps you find the right words in high-stakes conversations?

• What advice would you give someone who’s feeling unsure how to start?

  
  

4. Build Confidence and Leadership Skills

Leadership isn’t about titles. It’s about mindset, clarity, and the ability to navigate challenges with intention. The confidence to lead often shows up after we take a step — not before.

Whether you’re managing a team or not, you can lead through how you show up, how you communicate, and how you make decisions.

• Where have you seen your confidence grow over the years?

• What helped you make that shift?

• What are the best tools to build confidence at life and at work? Here is my confidence booster shot to flip the narrative and get clearer of what is in your control within one hour, using tried and tested tools in self compassion, reflective practice and positive psychology.

5. Support and Advocate for Each Other

Mary Ann Sieghart, in The Authority Gap, writes about how women are still systematically underestimated — how our ideas are more likely to be questioned, our authority more easily dismissed.

One of the most powerful ways to push back is by actively supporting each other. Speak up when someone’s being talked over. Credit the ideas of the women around you. Recommend and refer.

There’s room at the top for more of us. We’re not in competition. We’re allies — and we rise faster when we lift together. Join communities, find mentors, leverage those you admire and ask yourself questions;

• When have you felt truly backed by someone at work?

• Who do you most admire and how did they get there?

• What’s one small way we can show up better for each other day-to-day?

Women in STEM: Where do we go from here?

None of this is easy. The obstacles are real — and they’re not always fair. But we’re not powerless. We can support each other, share what we’ve learned, and speak up when things don’t feel right.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, sidelined, or unsure what comes next, know you’re not alone. Your individuality is your ally, and your experience matters.

I’d love to hear what’s showing up for you as you read this.

What’s helped you navigate tough transitions or blocked paths? Drop a comment below to support others who are facing what you have before.