Why Women Entrepreneurs need to lead through Visibility

By Carli A McVay | September 2025

From the Table to the Stage: Why Women Entrepreneurs Need to Lead Through Visibility

Here’s the thing: you can be brilliant, hardworking, and have the best damn business model in the world… but if no one knows you exist, you’re basically whispering in a hurricane.

Too many women still play small—letting their work “speak for itself” and hoping the right people magically notice. Spoiler: they won’t. Visibility isn’t ego. Visibility is impact.

Why Visibility Matters

When women step into the spotlight:

• Opportunities multiply. Clients, partners, panels, podcasts—it all finds you faster.

• We inspire the next wave. Every young woman watching sees proof of what’s possible.

• We shift the narrative. Outdated stereotypes die a little every time we take the mic.

Visibility grows more than your business. It grows movements.

The Hidden Costs of Playing Small

Hiding out feels safe, but it’s expensive. You miss revenue, miss reach, and worse—you rob the world of solutions only you can offer. Playing small is not humble. It’s withholding.

Leading Through Visibility

And no—you don’t need to do all the things to be visible. Visibility is about showing up with intention:

• Own your story. The wins, the flops, the messy middle—it’s all part of your credibility.

• Use your voice. Whether it’s a client meeting or a keynote stage, say it with confidence.

• Build a platform. Events, podcasts, newsletters—choose your lane and own it.

• Say yes to the spotlight. Speaking gigs aren’t distractions. They’re accelerators.

Coaching for Courage & Clarity

Here’s the truth: visibility is 50% tactics, 50% mindset. Coaching helps close the gap between knowing you should step up and actually doing it—without apologizing or waiting for “perfect.”

Try This Month

1. Say yes to one thing that scares you—whether it’s a stage, a mic, or just hitting “post.”

2. Invest in your presence—sharpen how you show up.

3. Surround yourself with other women who refuse to play small. Courage is contagious.

Final Word

Visibility isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room—it’s about being the most authentic one. Don’t wait for an invitation. Don’t wait for someone to “give you a seat.” Bring your own chair. Better yet, build the damn stage. Ready to step forward with visibility and confidence?

Thank-you for embracing your authenticity and that of other CEO women. Xoxo, Carli McVay