Why Women Get Stuck After Getting Hired

What this episode covers

In this episode of Gaining the Technology Leadership Edge, Mike sits down with Tracy Hill, founder and CEO of A Woman Up, to unpack the realities women still face in technology—and what actually helps move careers forward. Tracy draws on more than two decades in tech staffing, recruiting, and HR leadership to explain how bias has evolved but not disappeared. She shares candid stories from her early career, including having to remove identifying information from resumes and even hiring a “face of the office” to get clients in the door. While progress has been made, Tracy explains why advancement—not hiring—is where many women still get stuck. The conversation focuses on actionable strategies women can use to amplify their voice, strengthen credibility, and navigate complex, matrixed organizations. Tracy breaks down how to quantify impact, align experience directly to job requirements, ask for promotions, and approach career growth as a value exchange rather than a personal judgment. She also challenges companies and managers to look inward—developing and promoting existing talent instead of defaulting to external hires. From interview strategy to internal mobility, this episode is a practical guide to understanding how power, perception, and process intersect in the workplace. This is a direct, no-nonsense conversation about self-advocacy, organizational blind spots, and how women can—and must—claim ownership of their career trajectory. Key takeaways: Why women struggle to advance after getting hired How to quantify and market your impact Navigating promotions and internal mobility Removing emotion from career negotiations What companies can do to better retain women

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