More Women Promoted

More Women Promoted

You're Visible, But for the Wrong Things!

Jun 15, 2026 · 24 min · 10 segments

Being visible isn't the same as being visible for the right things. If your name comes up but you're known as "so reliable" or "the fixer," you have a visibility problem. Join my strategic visibility…

Being visible isn't the same as being visible for the right things. If your name comes up but you're known as "so reliable" or "the fixer," you have a visibility problem. Join my strategic visibility workshop on June 23: morewomenpromoted.com/workshop Have you been told you're "so reliable"? Or that "we couldn't do this without you"? Those compliments feel great, but they may be exactly what's keeping you stuck at director. Here's the truth about visibility most leaders won't tell you: you can be very visible and still not get promoted. The leadership team can know your name, your kids' names, your hobbies, and still not picture you at the next level. Because visibility without strategic positioning just means they know you as a person. It doesn't mean they're thinking of you for what's next. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN - The 3 visibility traps that quietly keep smart, high-performing women stuck at director level - Why being the most reliable executor on the team is a ceiling, not a ladder - What strategic visibility actually looks like, and the 4 specific moves to start making this month - How to shift your visibility from being known for your doing to being known for your thinking - The reframe that takes you from "great team manager" to "business leader" in how leadership perceives you RESOURCES MENTIONED - Visibility Workshop, June 23: morewomenpromoted.com/workshop - Connect with Katy on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/katy-mcfee-3880b4a - Weekly newsletter: insightstoactioncc.com/newsletter If you're ready to stop flying under the radar and start getting the visibility and recognition you've earned, join me for my live **Visibility & Recognition Workshop on June 23rd**. This is a hands-on workshop — not a webinar — where you'll walk away with real frameworks and next steps you can use right away. It's just $37. Save your seat at morewomenpromoted.com/workshop Not sure if you're ready for VP? Take the free assessment and find out at insightstoactioncc.com/quiz Remember, there's room for all of us at the table.

Being visible isn't the same as being visible for the right things. If your name comes up but you're known as "so reliable" or "the fixer," you have a visibility problem. Join my strategic visibility…

Setting the Stage: Visibility vs. Recognition0:00 – 2:30

0:00

When I bring up the topic of visibility, a lot of the women I speak with don't think it's a problem.

0:07

They will tell me that they're visible because they've been at their organization for years, and they know the leadership team and their cross-functional colleagues really well.

0:16

They know that their boss's boss likes them because they've had great conversations about hobbies and their kids.

0:22

But when we dig into it, it doesn't take long to see that, yes, these individuals are known, but they aren't visible for the right things.

0:33

They aren't what I'll call strategically visible.

0:36

This was exactly my case when I was in my director role, because I knew the CEO really well.

0:41

I'd known him since I was 25 and in my first job.

0:45

And I knew the rest of the leadership team well, where we'd spent real time together.

0:49

I knew about their lives.

0:50

We'd had all kinds of conversations about all kinds of things.

0:53

And because of this, I'm gonna say I was a little bit lazy about intentionally creating the right type of visibility for myself, and I didn't even realize it.

1:04

And I've seen this play out with many people I've known who maybe have been in their organization for a long time, so they have maybe a lot of history with the founders.

1:14

They know a lot of people, and so in that sense, they're visible.

1:19

The problem is they haven't leveled up in terms of the way they're demonstrating the things to get to the next level.

1:27

So although these people feel like they know leadership really well, they're still not seeing advancement in their careers.

1:34

And this is exactly what I want to dig into today because I'm guessing a lot of you listening are visible.

1:41

People know you.

1:42

Your name comes up in rooms.

1:44

But the question is, what comes up when your name comes up? And if the answer is, "She's so reliable," or, "She works so hard," or, "Give it to her, she'll get it done," or, "She's super fun to have around," we have a problem, right? You have visibility, but you aren't getting the recognition to go along with it.

2:07

Welcome to More Women Promoted with me, Katie McFee, former exec turned leadership coach.

2:13

I believe you can be a successful exec without getting an MBA and create a career and life that you love without burning out.

2:21

Think of this podcast as a mix of girl talk, plus what you wish they'd taught you in business school.

2:26

I'll always give it to you straight, so if you're ready for some real talk, let's do this.

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Setting the Stage: Visibility vs. Recognition0:00 – 2:30

0:00

When I bring up the topic of visibility, a lot of the women I speak with don't think it's a problem.

0:07

They will tell me that they're visible because they've been at their organization for years, and they know the leadership team and their cross-functional colleagues really well.

0:16

They know that their boss's boss likes them because they've had great conversations about hobbies and their kids.

0:22

But when we dig into it, it doesn't take long to see that, yes, these individuals are known, but they aren't visible for the right things.

0:33

They aren't what I'll call strategically visible.

0:36

This was exactly my case when I was in my director role, because I knew the CEO really well.

0:41

I'd known him since I was 25 and in my first job.

0:45

And I knew the rest of the leadership team well, where we'd spent real time together.

0:49

I knew about their lives.

0:50

We'd had all kinds of conversations about all kinds of things.

0:53

And because of this, I'm gonna say I was a little bit lazy about intentionally creating the right type of visibility for myself, and I didn't even realize it.

1:04

And I've seen this play out with many people I've known who maybe have been in their organization for a long time, so they have maybe a lot of history with the founders.

1:14

They know a lot of people, and so in that sense, they're visible.

1:19

The problem is they haven't leveled up in terms of the way they're demonstrating the things to get to the next level.

1:27

So although these people feel like they know leadership really well, they're still not seeing advancement in their careers.

1:34

And this is exactly what I want to dig into today because I'm guessing a lot of you listening are visible.

1:41

People know you.

1:42

Your name comes up in rooms.

1:44

But the question is, what comes up when your name comes up? And if the answer is, "She's so reliable," or, "She works so hard," or, "Give it to her, she'll get it done," or, "She's super fun to have around," we have a problem, right? You have visibility, but you aren't getting the recognition to go along with it.

2:07

Welcome to More Women Promoted with me, Katie McFee, former exec turned leadership coach.

2:13

I believe you can be a successful exec without getting an MBA and create a career and life that you love without burning out.

2:21

Think of this podcast as a mix of girl talk, plus what you wish they'd taught you in business school.

2:26

I'll always give it to you straight, so if you're ready for some real talk, let's do this.