How the Visibility Penalty Hurts Women Leaders

Women at Work: Career, Leadership & Modern Work · Jun 2, 2026 · 8m · transcript

In this episode of Women at Work with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna explore a hidden career trap: the visibility penalty. When women leaders take on high-stakes projects or speak up in meetings, they're often judged more harshly than their male peers. Drawing on a 2023 study from the University of Virginia, they examine how a single bold move — like volunteering for a turnaround assignment — can backfire for women, while boosting men's careers. The hosts dig into real-world examples, including the story of a female executive at a midsize tech firm who was praised privately but penalized in…