You can work hard, mean well, and be excellent at what you do—and people can still walk away with a perception of you that's quietly shaping your opportunities. In this episode, Felicia tackles one of her favorite (and most uncomfortable) topics: the gap between your intentions and your impact.

Because here's the hard truth in leadership: people don't respond to your intentions. They respond to how they experience you. And for women of color navigating spaces where our leadership is evaluated differently, perception isn't always fair, accurate, or true—but it influences trust, credibility, sponsorship, and opportunity all the same.

Felicia opens up about the feedback that held her back early in her career (the "work, work, work" robot who never stopped at the water cooler), unpacks the dangerous perception gap between how you see yourself and how others experience you, and makes the case that real growth requires introspection—the willingness to ask, "What role am I playing in this?"

In this episode, we cover:

• Why your intentions don't equal your impact—and why that's not a failure
• The "perception gap": collaborative vs. indecisive, direct vs. harsh, humble vs. unconfident
• Your "hallway file" (aka leadership brand) and why peers shape it just as much as leadership
• The myths that keep women stuck: "My work speaks for itself," "They know my heart," "If it's not true, it doesn't matter"
• How introspection helps you separate what's bias and projection from what's actually yours to own

Three shifts to manage perception with intention:

1. Stop asking what you're sending—start asking what's being received. Communication isn't complete when you speak; it's complete when understanding happens.
2. Audit your leadership brand. Ask three people you trust: "When you think of me, what are the first three words that come to mind?"—and be brave enough to listen.
3. Be intentional about your narrative. If you don't tell your story, someone else will.

Your Reflection Challenge: Before the next episode, ask three people one simple question: "What is it like to work with me?" Don't defend it. Don't explain it. Just listen. Because awareness is where growth begins.

You can't control every perception—but you can be intentional about the one you're creating.

If this resonated, share it with a woman who's wrestling with perception at work, and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen.

Remember: we're not just climbing careers. We're building ladders for the sisters coming behind us.

🔗 Connect with The Climb

The Climb is a leadership and professional development organization dedicated to helping women of color navigate the workplace, increase visibility, build confidence, and grow into leadership and managerial roles.

Through leadership development programs, community, coaching, and honest conversations, we help women move from executing work to influencing outcomes.

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