Rachel Reuben Senor on Women In Leadership [Lessons in Leadership]

Carrie welcomes Rachel  for an honest conversation about gender barriers in leadership. Rachel shares a defining moment in her early career when she realized that despite her strategic contributions, she was being treated as an assistant rather than a leader. Her experience highlights the subtle and overt ways gender bias can manifest—and the importance of recognizing when it's time to move on. If you’ve ever felt undervalued in your career, this episode offers encouragement, resilience, and strategies for finding a workplace that truly sees your worth.

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Key Takeaways

• Gender Barriers Can Be Subtle or Direct – From being overlooked for promotions to being assigned administrative tasks, biases can show up in unexpected ways.
• Recognizing When It’s Time to Move On – Sometimes, the best career move is finding an environment that values and supports your leadership growth.
• Confidence is Key – Knowing your worth and having the courage to take the next step is essential for career advancement.
• Leadership Composition Matters – If leadership teams lack diversity, it can signal limited opportunities for women to advance.
• Investing in Your Future – When facing barriers, seeking further education and new opportunities can help position you for the next step in your career.

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How do gender barriers show up in leadership roles?

Rachel Senor recalls an early career experience where, despite her strategic marketing expertise, she was treated more like an administrative assistant. A university president—someone she had hoped would see her leadership potential—instead assigned her tasks like managing presentation slides while he spoke. This experience made her realize that her contributions weren’t being fully recognized, and that leadership opportunities in her current workplace were limited. Unfortunately, subtle forms of gender bias like this are common, making it critical for women to advocate for themselves and their career growth.

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When do you know it’s time to move on from a workplace?

As Rachel set her sights on leadership advancement, she looked around and saw a lack of representation among the organization’s top decision-makers. This realization made it clear that her upward trajectory would be limited unless she took control of her next steps. While leaving a job isn’t always easy, recognizing when a workplace isn’t the right fit is an important part of career growth. Rachel decided to invest in herself—pursuing a master’s degree and seeking opportunities in environments that would value her leadership.

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How can women build confidence in their career decisions?

Carrie and Rachel discuss the importance of knowing your worth and having the confidence to make career moves that align with your goals. While not everyone can leave a job immediately, building an exit strategy—whether through further education, networking, or gaining new skills—can help position you for future opportunities. Women leaders must not only recognize when they’re being undervalued but also have the courage to seek workplaces that champion their expertise.

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Make sure to check out the full Lessons In Leadership Playlists today.

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‍About The Enrollify Podcast Network: Lessons In Leadership is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!  

Some of our favorites include Generation AI and Confessions of a Higher Education Social Media Manager.

Enrollify is produced by Element451 —  the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.

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