Why Women Feel Like They Have to Be Perfect to Lead

Women at Work: Career, Leadership & Modern Work · Aug 9, 2026 · 8m

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the pressure women face to be flawless before they step into leadership. They dig into research on perfectionism in women leaders and how it often becomes an extra barrier to promotion. Using the case of a senior product manager who delayed her director application for a year because she didn't feel 'ready enough', they unpack the inner critic, the 'impostor perfectionism' loop, and practical ways to break the cycle. Lucas shares a striking stat: women are 20 percent less likely than men to apply for a role unless they meet 100 percent of the criteria…