The Confidence Equation: Advocacy, Authenticity + Advancement
This month our Women in Energy community explored The Confidence Equation: Advocacy, Authenticity + Advancement with 40+ women across Roundtables in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.
Huge thanks to Sibylle Krieger, Advisory Board Member - Law Squared, Ivana Kovacevic, Consultation Board Member - Practical Law Australia, Freya Berwick, Director - Sense of Self, Nicky Long, CEO - Guide Dogs Victoria, Mel Storey, Founder & Career Bis in Chief - Counsel Media, Sandra McCullagh, Non Executive Director - Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service, for their generous insights and practical advice to show up, back yourself and move your career forward.
1) Confidence = self-advocacy (and it’s not about being the loudest)
Confidence isn’t a personality type; it’s a practice. It looks like backing yourself in the small moments: stating your view, asking for context, clarifying scope and naming the value you bring.
Try this: ditch “just” from your vocabulary (“i’m just the…”), it shrinks authority you’ve already earned.
2) Authenticity beats performance
Real confidence is knowing who you are, owning your story and showing up consistently. It’s not always speaking first or pushing hardest. It’s aligning actions with values, even when that means pausing, asking better questions, or saying “not yet”.
Tip: do a quick values check: What do i care about? What do i want to be known for? If your week doesn’t reflect that balance, tweak one commitment.
3) Growth lives just beyond discomfort
Everyone from graduates to CEOs have the odd wobbly moment. The difference is how quickly we move through them. Step into stretch assignments, but separate self from role: a project outcome isn’t a verdict on your worth.
Micro-moves to push through:
Mindset swap: from “What if i fail?” to “What will i learn?”
The four cups: Relationships, Work, Health, Joy. They won’t all be full at once. Notice which cup needs topping up this week.
Seasonal awareness: hormones, life phases (including menopause and caregiving) change capacity. Plan high-stakes work for your higher-energy windows; protect recovery in lower-energy ones.
4) Find your confidence circle
Confidence compounds in community. Curate 4 - 6 people from your peers, mentors, a sponsor, and one truth-teller outside your industry. Use them to pressure-test decisions, sense check opportunities and hold you accountable to your goals.
Cadence idea: schedule quarterly check-ins with one of your confidence circle on your key challenge; you bring the brief, they interrogate and advise.
5) Champion others (confidence is contagious)
Leaders create confidence by design, not by accident. Take the time to understand what motivates each person in your team (recognition? autonomy? learning? financial gains?). Stay close to the frontline teams, invite contributions early, and co-design whenever you can. Afterall, people support what they help create.
Manager moves:
Ask, “How do you like to feel connected to the team?”
Share credit publicly and give constructive feedback privately and specifically.
Offer opportunities that match strengths and stretch
6) Make your personal brand work for you
Your personal brand is simply how people experience you online and in-person. Start with six questions:
What do i care about?
What are my values?
What do i want to be known for?
Where can i influence?
What makes me different?
How do i create value for others?
Keep it consistent: a clear LinkedIn headline, a short expertise tagline, and one practical post or share each month that reflects your point of view.
Confidence isn’t a finish line, it’s a habit. Practised together, advocacy + authenticity drive advancement. Thanks again to our speakers and to everyone who showed up with honesty, warmth and wisdom. Let’s keep talking about the things that matter - and build workplaces where more women can rise, thrive and lead.
Stay connected
We’ll be hosting more Women in Energy events and creating more opportunities for connection, learning, and growth. Want to be on the invite list for the next event?
Drop us a line here and we’ll make sure you’re included.