So many women are told to “get a seat at the table.”

But what no one talks about is what happens next.

In this episode of The Climb Podcast, Felicia Smith breaks down the reality of what it means to not just be invited into the room—but to navigate, influence, and lead once you’re there.

Because the truth is…

You can know your job—and still not understand the room.

And that’s the gap no one prepares you for.

What You Will Learn

• Why being “good at your job” is not enough at leadership tables

• The difference between being present vs. being influential

• The unwritten rules that shape decision-making in leadership spaces

• Why the loudest voice is not always the most powerful

• How to read the room (what’s said—and what’s not)

• The role of relationships, context, and preparation

• How to show up with confidence and intentionality

Chapters

00:00 – The First Time I Realized I Didn’t Understand the Room

01:15 – Welcome to The Climb Podcast

02:30 – You Belong at the Table… But Now What?

05:10 – The Reality No One Teaches You About Leadership Rooms

08:45 – Feeling Unprepared (Even When You’re Qualified)

12:20 – The Truth: Every Table Has Rules

16:05 – Influence vs. Volume

20:40 – Reading the Room: What’s Not Being Said

25:10 – Why Context Matters More Than You Think

29:30 – There Is No Universal Playbook

33:00 – How to Show Up Powerfully (5 Strategies)

41:20 – Why “You Belong” Isn’t the Full Story

45:10 – Final Thoughts: Learn the Table, Then Lead

🔗 Stay Connected with The Climb

🌐 https://the-climb.org

📲 @JoinTheClimb

If This Episode Resonated

Share it with a woman who just stepped into a new room.

Because we are not just climbing careers—

we are building ladders.