Execs don’t push back on your presentation because they disagree with you. They push back because they’re deciding. For a lot of women, that pushback feels like confirmation of what they’ve been quietly afraid of… That they don’t belong in the room. It’s not. Executives aren’t testing your preparation. They’re testing your judgment. Every hard question, every challenge to your numbers, every “walk me through that again”... That’s an executive building enough confidence to say yes. Your job is to help them do it. The moment you stop defending and start helping them decide, everything shifts. Your posture. Your answers. The way you’re seen as a leader. 📌Pro tip: Shift your focus away from “me” vs. “them” which can feel combative, and move towards “us” vs. “the problem, challenge or opportunity.” This shows you have high agency and act as a problem-solver working with them towards the ideal outcome. Once they see you as an ally supporting priorities that matter most to the b...