The skill most women overlook (but senior leaders expect you to have)

If you’re like many ambitious mid-level women, you’ve spent years honing your expertise, managing teams, and refining your leadership presence. You’re good at what you do. Yet, as you look ahead to senior roles, you can’t help but wonder—what’s the missing piece?

You’ve seen the confident ones—the people who speak up in meetings, effortlessly contribute to high-level discussions, and seem to get what senior leaders care about. You know you bring value, but you don’t always feel as influential as you’d like.

Here’s the secret: the women who rise faster and have more impact aren’t just great at their jobs. They understand the commercial game. And that means financial acumen.

Why financial acumen is a career game-changer

When promotions feel harder to get and feedback is scarce, knowing how to position yourself as a strategic leader is key. The women who get ahead aren’t just doing great work—they’re connecting their contributions to the bigger business picture.

Think about it: Senior leaders don’t just want high performers. They want people who understand how the business runs—who can make decisions that drive revenue, manage costs, and influence long-term success. That’s what makes someone a trusted voice at the table.

The good news? Financial acumen isn’t about spreadsheets and profit margins. It’s about understanding the story behind the numbers—and using that to shape decisions that matter.

Here’s what financially savvy leaders do differently:

• They speak the language of business—connecting their work to growth, revenue, and results.
• They navigate tricky conversations with confidence—knowing how to balance investment, risk, and commercial trade-offs.
• They get noticed by senior stakeholders—because they bring insights, not just execution.

For many women, this is the missing link between being seen as capable and being seen as essential.

Are you in the right conversations?

Women are often coached on confidence, communication, and networking—but rarely on the commercial skills that move careers forward. Susan Colantuono, founder of Be Business Savvy and well-known for her TED Talk, The Career Advice You Probably Didn’t Get, highlights this gap.

Her research shows that while men are typically mentored on financial and strategic thinking, women are more likely to receive advice on communication and leadership presence. The result? Many women reach mid to senior roles only to realise that financial literacy is what truly sets leaders apart.

Leadership isn’t just about being great with people—it’s about being great with business.

So ask yourself:

• Are you actively engaging in financial and strategic discussions at work?
• Can you translate numbers into insights that matter to decision-makers?
• Do you feel comfortable speaking in commercial terms—or do you avoid it?

If any of these make you pause, you’re not alone. But the women who master this skill don’t just feel more confident—they open doors to bigger opportunities.

Ready to step up?

You don’t need to be a CFO to be financially savvy—but you do need to understand how financial decisions impact the business. That’s what sets the next generation of leaders apart.

If you’re serious about strengthening your leadership and securing your next career move, write to me to enquire about my executive coaching programs. I work with a select group of women each year, providing tailored coaching that sharpens strategic thinking, elevates leadership influence, and positions them for senior roles.

Because when you can speak the language of leadership, everything changes.