Reputation Management for Women: Complete Career Strategy Guide | WLS 150

Podcast Episode: Women's Leadership Success with Award-Winning Reputation Expert Lida Citroën Your reputation isn't just what people say about you when you leave the room—it's the invisible currency that determines your promotions, your earning potential, and your influence as a leader. For women executives, managers, directors, VPs, and C-Suite leaders, mastering reputation management for women isn't optional. It's essential. In this comprehensive guide from the Women's Leadership Success podcast, host Sabrina Braham, MA, PCC—an expert in executive leadership development and reputation management—interviews award-winning reputation expert Lida Citroën, whose latest book The New Rules of Influence just won the NYC Big Book Award 2025 in the Business Motivational category. Together, they reveal proven strategies to take control of your professional narrative and accelerate your leadership success. Why Reputation Management for Women Matters More Than Ever in 2025 The leadership landscape for women is shifting—but not fast enough. According to recent McKinsey research, women hold just 29% of C-suite positions, and at the current pace, it would take 48 years to achieve true gender parity in senior leadership. With only 9.2% of Fortune 1000 CEOs being women, standing out isn't just about working harder—it's about strategically managing how you're perceived. The stakes are high: 75% of female executives experience imposter syndrome at some point in their careers, yet 82% of women believe networking with female leaders will help them advance. Reputation management for women becomes the bridge between your capabilities and your career opportunities. The Financial Impact of Your Reputation Research shows that companies with female executives are 30% more likely to outperform their competitors. Yet women continue to face unique challenges in reputation management compared to their male counterparts. Your reputation directly impacts: Promotion decisions and leadership opportunities Salary negotiations and earning potential New business development and client relationships Board appointments and speaking engagements Team influence and organizational impact Industry recognition and thought leadership positioning Understanding Reputation Management for Women Leaders What Is Reputation Management for Women? According to Lida Citroën, author of the award-winning book Control the Narrative: The Executive's Guide to Building, Pivoting and Repairing Your Reputation and the newly released The New Rules of Influence (NYC Big Book Award Winner 2025 - Business Motivational), "Everyone has a personal brand, by design or default. Your reputation is one of the most critical determinants of your career success." Lida Citroën In her latest book, Lida explains that influence isn't about titles, rank, or being loud—it's about showing up authentically, communicating your value, and inspiring others to take action. This is the foundation of effective reputation management for women. As podcast host Sabrina Braham, an executive coach and leadership development expert, emphasizes: "Reputation management for women requires intentional strategy. You can't afford to leave your professional reputation to chance when you're navigating unique gender-specific challenges in the workplace." Reputation management for women is the strategic process of: Monitoring how others perceive you professionally Influencing public perception through intentional actions Measuring and tracking your brand effectiveness Repairing damage when reputation challenges arise Building systems that protect and enhance your good name Think of it as the difference between letting popular opinion define you versus strategically driving your reputation toward your leadership goals. The Unique Challenges Women Face in Reputation Management Do Women Have More Difficulty with Reputation Management Than Men? The research is clear: women face distinct barriers in building and maintaining their professional reputations. A 2025 Women in Workplace study found that only 28% of women today recognize microaggressions against other women—comments and actions that undermine their credibility and leadership skills. During the podcast interview, Sabrina Braham and Lida Citroën discuss how reputation management for women requires addressing challenges that male executives rarely encounter: Key challenges for women leaders include: The Double Bind: Being perceived as too aggressive or too soft in leadership Visibility Gaps: Women's contributions are often overlooked or attributed to others The Broken Rung: Women are 41% less likely to be promoted to manager than men Age Discrimination: Many female wellness and business leaders report encountering age bias as they advance Cultural Expectations: Societal norms that encourage women to prioritize others over self-promotion Imposter Syndrome: 75% of female executives battle feelings of inadequacy despite proven success 2025 Trends Shaping Reputation Management for Women AI and reputation management have converged in unprecedented ways. With AI-powered search results, generative AI summaries, and 24/7 social monitoring, your digital footprint matters more than ever. According to recent reputation management research: 92% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations 91.8% of all search queries are long-tail keywords related to specific people and companies AI platforms like ChatGPT, Google's AI Overviews, and Perplexity are now rival storytellers shaping your reputation Real-time monitoring is essential—information spreads faster than ever, especially polarizing opinions Essential Questions Every Woman Leader Must Ask About Her Reputation Before you can strategically manage your reputation, you need honest self-assessment. Sabrina Braham guides her executive coaching clients through these critical questions: Critical Self-Assessment Questions Have you ever done something that negatively impacted your reputation? Everyone makes mistakes. The key is recognizing them early and responding strategically. Do you know what your reputation at work actually is? Not what you hope it is, but what others genuinely say about you when you're not present? Can you articulate your unique value proposition? What makes you distinctly valuable as a leader? Do you know how to repair your reputation if something goes wrong? Or better yet, do you know how to proactively control and build your reputation? Are you leaving your reputation to chance or managing it strategically? Your brand exists whether you actively manage it or not—the question is whether you're in control. Proven Strategies for Reputation Management for Women Step 1: Define Your Leadership Legacy Strategically Start with the end in mind. What do you want people to say about you at your retirement party? When you leave a leadership role? When you're being considered for a board position? Lida Citroën and Sabrina Braham both emphasize that reputation management for women begins with clarity about your desired legacy. Action Items: Write your ideal obituary or legacy statement Identify the three words you want to be known for professionally Define specific career milestones aligned with your reputation goals Create a vision board that represents your leadership aspirations Step 2: Discover Your Current Reputation Baseline You can't improve what you don't measure. Use performance evaluations and strategic conversations to uncover others' honest perceptions of you. How to Gather Authentic Feedback: Review Performance Evaluations Systematically Look for patterns across multiple reviews Identify recurring themes in both positive and constructive feedback Note what's missing—areas where you're not being recognized Conduct Reputation Research Conversations Ask 5-10 trusted colleagues, mentors, and leaders: "What three words would you use to describe my leadership style?" Request specific examples that illustrate their perception Listen without defending—this is data collection, not debate Google Yourself Regularly Search your name monthly to monitor your digital footprint Set up Google Alerts for your name and your company Review your social media presence through the eyes of a recruiter or board member Analyze Your Professional Presence What shows up on the first page of search results? Does your LinkedIn profile reflect your current brand goals? Are your professional photos consistent and current? Step 3: Evaluate Feedback Strategically and Decide What to Act On Not all feedback deserves equal weight. Both Lida Citroën and Sabrina Braham emphasize the importance of evaluating the source, context, and consistency of feedback before taking action. Framework for Evaluating Feedback: Consider the source: Does this person have your best interests at heart? Do they understand your goals? Are they a trusted advisor or a passing critic? Look for patterns: One person's opinion is data. Three people saying the same thing is a trend. Five or more is your reality—whether you like it or not. Assess alignment with your goals: Does this feedback help you move toward your leadership legacy? If someone's perception doesn't serve your goals, can you afford to ignore it? Distinguish between personality and performance: Some feedback attacks who you are; other feedback addresses what you do. One may require boundary-setting; the other may require behavior change. Step 4: Create Your Strategic Reputation Action Plan Your brand is all about emotions. Lida Citroën reminds us that people make decisions based on how you make them feel, not just your resume credentials. Your action plan should address both the rational and emotional aspects of your brand. Sabrina Braham's approach to reputation management for women includes creating a comprehensive action plan that addresses: Components of an Effective Reputation Plan: Your Brand Statement