Linda successfully managed marketing for a small to medium-sized online retail business: her team contributed to achieving six consecutive quarters of growth and she was praised for sales, strong collaboration, and performance. Linda was also a member of the company's customer service board and was respected by the CEO and other executives.

However, she got stuck there and couldn't move higher. Her ideas for more innovation were politely heard at executive meetings but never progressed. "Interesting idea, Linda, but it's too imaginative for now." She asked to be assigned bigger projects within the company but always lost opportunities to external, more experienced partners. She wanted to leave her mark and, from time to time, considered opportunities outside the company. However, when recruiters called her, she was unable to present herself in a way that would allow her to seize the new job and have a successful career in it.

Linda was disappointed in her pursuit to take on a more significant role and also experienced moments of confusion and insecurity: "Does one need some mystical transformation to become a leader? Do I have to become a Sheryl Sandberg to fulfill my professional dreams?"