The One Thing You Need to Find Success In Corporate Culture

Spoiler alert: you already have it.

As I continue to explore my personal brand, I’ve realized that something has been missing: the personal part. In the past, I have focused on what kind of work I did, what kind of goals I had, and what I thought being a successful professional woman looked like.

I wanted to ensure that the image I was presenting and the words I was using were representative of someone who would be taken seriously in the corporate world.

Someone who was capable, credible, and confident.

But what if there was more to it?

What if I had more to offer?

Corporate culture can offer a lot of good things: from volunteer and give back programs, to fully stocked lunch rooms — some even let you take your dog to work! But it can also swallow you whole if you aren’t careful.

When I started working in the corporate world almost 10 years ago, I was eager and excited to make an impact. Right out of the gate I worked hard to demonstrate confidence as a means to build rapport with teammates and earn trust with my manager.

It wasn’t until half way through my career I realized somewhere along the way I had left part of myself behind.

Without realizing it, I had allowed somebody else’s perception of a successful corporate sales person take priority over who I was.

When I was told I wasn’t confident in front of customers, I tried to adapt and adopt the language of my male colleagues.

When I was scheduled to meet with an executive and was advised that it may be in my best interest to dress more conservatively, I rushed home to take off my red lipstick and change into pants.

When I started a new job and the culture’s dress code seemed to omit business from business casual, I was shopping for jeans for the first time in years.

After all, it’s always easier to fit in than to stand out.

I wanted to avoid judgement because as far as I was concerned, I placed enough on myself already.

But was compromising my values including a need for self expression making me a better, more effective employee? By being like everyone else, was I more successful at my job? If I held myself back, was I ever going to feel happy or fulfilled at work?

What I learned was that by being true to myself, I could be the confident and powerful business woman I’d been searching for all along.

After all this time, I realized that I already had everything I needed to be successful at work and to feel fulfilled. By connecting with my authentic self, I could focus on what really mattered to me and not what everyone else thought of me.

I could enjoy the parts of corporate culture that served me, and do without the rest.

So I have added a very important component to my brand:

I guide women how to thrive in the corporate world while staying true to themselves.

No one said it would be easy, but each day is an opportunity to check in, reflect, and remember who you are — because that’s all you need to be.

Kirsten Schmidtke is a professional coach, speaker, and lover of lake life. She works with leaders, creators, and entrepreneurs to help them up-level their careers, businesses, and lives. Are you ready to explore what’s possible for you? Contact Kirsten to start the conversation!