The invisible tax women pay in business
“I didn’t think you were going to be any good when you walked in.”
Someone said this to me after a workshop. Meant it as a compliment.
What they really said: I judged you on sight because you’re a young woman.
If you’re a woman building a business, you know exactly what I’m talking about.
Hot Take 🔥
The Invisible Tax Women Pay (And Why March Isn’t Enough)
Every March, brands post about International Women’s Day. Purple graphics everywhere. Panels are organised (mostly unpaid, of course).
Then April 1st hits. Nothing changes.
Here’s what actually happens:
Graeme and I walk into networking events together. I introduce myself as the founder. He works with me.
Guess who gets the eye contact? The follow-up questions? The attention?
Not me.
This isn’t one event. Different people, same pattern.
What else:
Asked about my age, not my 7 years of experience
Told I’m “defensive” when I make a point
Inappropriate LinkedIn DMs (daily)
“You don’t want to get beaten by a girl” (said as a joke)
Media celebrates successful women, then tears them down
Most people don’t even realise they’re doing it.
The truth: Running a business while managing unwanted attention, being talked over, constantly proving your worth, and fighting for equal pay is exhausting.
This isn’t just frustrating. It’s a tax on time, energy, and mental health that men don’t pay.
We can’t keep celebrating one day in March and ignoring this the other 364 days.
Steal My Strategy 👀
It may be tough right now, but I always focus on what I can actually do to make a change, no matter how small.
Here are a few ways you can make a difference
1. Check Your Unconscious Bias
Picture a CEO. Who did you see? If it’s a man, you’re not alone.
Catch yourself:
Am I giving this woman the same attention I’d give a man?
Am I asking questions I wouldn’t ask a male founder?
Am I judging her before she speaks?
2. Open Doors Intentionally & support your friends.
This is often the most overlooked. Like your friends’ content, support them by recommending their services. Don’t just support celebrities online, support those closest to you.
Make introductions that create opportunities
Amplify women’s content publicly
Share their wins, celebrate their work
3. Call It Out (Professionally)
You don’t need to start fights. But don’t let it slide.
“Hey, you can’t say that. It’s 2026.”
“Actually, let her finish her point.”
“I noticed you’re directing questions to me, Emma’s the founder.”
Most people don’t realise they’re doing it. Point it out.
4. Support Women in Your Network This Week
Comment on 3 women’s posts meaningfully.
Share their work with your take.
Make one introduction that could open doors.
Small actions compound.
5. Have the Conversation
Talk about this with other men. Around the dinner table. In the pub. At work.
This can’t just be women talking about women’s issues.
Men need to see it, name it, and call it out, too.
Your Action This Week:
Pick ONE thing from this list and do it. You can create more change than you think.
Founder Diaries 📓
Why We’re Building the Lucky Founders Club
For seven months, Graeme and I have been having the same conversation about what it’s like building a business when the world wasn’t designed for you.
We kept coming back to one thing: Community changes everything.
Here’s what we’re building:
The Lucky Founders Club is a small, intentional community for founders who want to build personal brands that open doors.
Not a networking group. Not a course. Not another Slack you’ll mute.
What it actually looks like:
Picture this: 10-15 founders on a call. Someone shares a win, and everyone genuinely celebrates, no jealousy, just joy. Another founder admits they’ve been hiding because of imposter syndrome. Three people jump in with “me too” and practical advice that actually helps.
You’re not explaining your experience as a woman in tech or a queer founder or the only person of colour in your industry. Everyone just gets it.
Between calls, the group chat is buzzing. Someone shares a LinkedIn post draft and gets real feedback within the hour. Another founder lands a speaking gig and tags two people who should apply next. Introductions happen naturally. Opportunities are shared, not hoarded.
Monthly calls with us where we tackle real challenges together. Accountability that’s kind, not harsh. This is a community you grow with.
The vision:
A space where you’re not the only one who looks like you, thinks like you, or experiences what you experience. Where your voice is heard without fighting for it. Where your success lifts everyone up.
That’s what we’re building.
