The Broken Rung: Visibility and Support for Women in STEM - 045

Adaeze Iloeje-Udeogalanya explores the systemic barriers that prevent women in STEM from advancing into leadership roles. Citing the 2025 McKinsey Women in the Workplace report, she highlights the "broken rung", a critical missed first step to management where only 93% of women (and 74% of women of color) are promoted for every 100 men. Adaeze actively disputes the report's suggestion of an "ambition gap," arguing instead that the root cause of this disparity is a lack of sponsorship and equal support. She also explains how women often carry an "invisible tax"—performing unrewarded, non-KPI-aligned work to hold teams together. To overcome these hurdles, she encourages listeners to stop relying on performance alone and instead focus on strategic visibility, finding sponsors, and building strong professional networks.Who is this for? This content is designed for women in STEM—especially those who feel stuck in their careers, are repeatedly passed over for promotions, or feel their hard work goes unrecognized. It is also highly relevant for anyone looking to build leadership visibility, secure career sponsorship, and take proactive control of their professional advancement.Key Moments & TimestampsThe Visibility Problem: Adaeze opens with an anecdote about a high-performing client who was repeatedly denied promotions due to a vague lack of "executive presence" and "visibility".The Data & The Broken Rung: She breaks down the 2025 McKinsey report, showing that women are underrepresented at every pipeline level because they are left behind at the very first managerial promotion.The Ambition Myth: Adaeze refutes the idea that women lack ambition, noting that when women receive equal sponsorship, the promotion gap completely disappears.The Invisible Tax: She details how women do unrecognized team-building and inclusion work that doesn't factor into official performance reviews.The Differentiator: Shifting the focus from just "doing excellent work" to ensuring the right decision-makers know your name and your impact.FAQsWhat is the "broken rung"? It refers to the missed first promotion to manager, which sets women behind early and causes the career gap to compound and widen over time.What is the difference between a mentor and a sponsor? A mentor gives you advice and talks to you, whereas a sponsor talks about you, using their political capital to advocate for your name in rooms where decisions are made.Why isn't hard work enough to get promoted? Your job isn't just doing the work; it is connecting your impact to the organization's priorities and ensuring the right people know about it. Leaders are differentiated by who knows them and advocates for them, not strictly by their performance.Action Steps for ListenersAudit your network: Honestly assess your current situation to see if you have at least two actual sponsors with the influence to create real opportunities for you.Make your impact visible: Frame your significant deliverables around outcomes leadership cares about, such as increased revenue or reduced expenses.Share your wins: Send brief accomplishment updates to senior leaders or make well-positioned, intentional comments in meetings to actively associate your name with your impact.Resources⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leadership Edge Diagnostic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Book a Strategy Call with ⁠⁠Adaeze Iloeje-Udeogalanya⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Adaeze Iloeje-Udeogalanya on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow African Women in STEM on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow African Women in STEM on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the African Women in STEM Membership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit the African Women in STEM Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch Adaeze Iloeje-Udeogalanya's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TEDX Talk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠