Sisterhood & Mentorship at Work

The power of amplification

One of the most famous strategies from the Obama administration’s female staffers was dubbed “amplification”: whenever a woman made a key point in a meeting, other women in the room would immediately repeat it, credit her by name, and build upon it. This prevented others from talking over her or claiming the idea as their own.

You can practise this everyday solidarity in any workplace:

• “I want to echo Priya’s observation regarding the Q3 targets - her data makes a compelling case.”
• “Before we move to the next agenda item, Maya had a great question about the timeline that we didn’t finish answering.”

Finding mentors without the pressure

Mentorship does not require an intimidating formal contract. It begins with curious connection:

1. Identify someone whose poise, technical expertise, or communication style you genuinely respect.
2. Ask for a brief, specific conversation: “I loved how you facilitated yesterday’s executive review. Would you be open to a 15-minute coffee next week? I’d love to ask about how you structure your preparation.”
3. Come prepared with 2–3 thoughtful questions, take notes, and send a prompt thank-you note highlighting what you implemented.

When women build each other up in professional settings, everyone rises with greater confidence and grace.