Why Being Exceptional Isn’t Enough: The Invisible Rules Holding Women Back at Work

What if the real reason you’re not being chosen for bigger roles has nothing to do with your talent?

In this episode, I sit down with Laura Patterson - corporate veteran, CEO, strategist, and globally recognized expert in customer-centric leadership - to unpack the unspoken rules that shape career growth inside organizations.

Laura shares a story that hits hard: the moment her boss told her,

“You’re exceptional… but I don’t trust that you would make the same decisions I would.”

It wasn’t about capability.

It wasn’t about performance.

It was about trust, decision-making, and leadership signals women are rarely taught to navigate.

This conversation is for every woman who has ever:

• worked harder than everyone else but still felt overlooked

• been told she’s “great,” yet not seen as a leader

• wondered why others get picked while she quietly delivers

• struggled with advocating for herself without sounding demanding

• wanted more visibility, influence, and leadership opportunities

• felt unsure how to step out of the execution trap

Together, we break down:

✨ Why working harder won’t get you promoted

✨ The trust signals leaders look for

✨ How to have career conversations that actually open doors

✨ The role of decision-making in leadership credibility

✨ How to build advocates inside your organization

✨ How women unintentionally become their own biggest barrier

✨ Steps to get seen, get trusted, and get opportunities — without burning out

If you’ve ever felt stuck, undervalued, or invisible despite doing everything “right,” this episode will change how you think about your career.

You’ll walk away with clarity, confidence, and practical tools to step into real leadership.

🎧 Press play and learn the invisible rules that finally change the game for women in tech.

ABOUT TODAY’S GUEST — LAURA PATTERSON

Laura Patterson is a globally recognized expert in customer-centricity, data-driven decision-making, and performance management. Her 25+ year corporate and consulting career spans sales, customer relationship management, analytics, product marketing, and strategic leadership.

👉 Book a session with Laura:

https://visionedgemarketing.com/advisory-service-growth-advice-business-questions/

• 25+ years accelerating profitable growth for 300+ companies

• Award-winning thought leader and global speaker

• Author of 4 books and hundreds of growth-centric articles

• Known for her pragmatic, no-nonsense approach

• Relatable storytelling combined with data-driven insights

• Former corporate executive turned trusted strategic advisor

• Host of the podcast What’s Your Edge?

Connect With Laura:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurapattersonvem/

Website: https://visionedgemarketing.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VisionEdgeMarketing

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/texasmarketing1/

Twitter/X: https://x.com/VisionEdgeMktg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marketingtransformation

eSpeakers: https://www.espeakers.com/marketplace/profile/40908/laura-patterson

ABOUT YOUR HOST - LIMOR BERGMAN GROSS

Limor Bergman Gross is an Executive & Team Coach, former Director of Engineering at DigitalOcean, and host of From a Woman to a Leader. She helps women in tech step into strategic influence, executive presence, and leadership roles — without burnout or people-pleasing.

Her mission is simple:

Help hidden leaders get seen, respected, and promoted.

Connect with Limor:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/limorbergman/

Substack: https://limorbergman.substack.com

Podcast Hub: https://limorbergman.com/podcast

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@limorbergman