Why do women hold themselves back from opportunities?
What happens when you take the leap—before you feel ready?
How do you rebuild after starting over in a new country, career, or life chapter?
In our inaugural episode of The WanderWomen Podcast, I had the privilege of speaking with Aradhana Srivastava, a global business leader whose career spans India, Singapore, and the UK. Currently serving as Vice President for UK & Ireland at EZRA Coaching, she leads commercial operations, driving growth and client engagement. Previously, she pioneered EZRA’s expansion across ten APAC countries, launched a new office in Singapore, and doubled revenues year over year.
With leadership roles at LHH, Yahoo!, and Publicis Groupe, Aradhana has built and scaled multi-million-dollar businesses, balancing ambition with resilience. Beyond the boardroom, she is passionate about mentoring women navigating career transitions, drawing from her own experience of reentering the workforce after an MBA and motherhood.
In this episode, she shares a powerful insight—one we’ve all felt but rarely admit. Tune in to hear more about her journey and the wisdom she imparts.
Here’s a truth most women don’t realize until it’s too late:
🚫 You are not being overlooked because you lack talent.
🚫 You are not being underestimated because you need “more experience.”
🚫 You are not stuck because you aren’t ready.
The real reason? You’re waiting for permission.
And here’s what no one tells you: Men don’t wait.
At one point in her career, she held back from applying for a senior role because she thought she needed more time to prove herself. Then a senior woman in her company told her:
👉 “Men apply when they meet 30% of the job requirements. Women wait until they’re at 100%. Why are you waiting?”
That one moment changed everything.
What if the only thing holding you back isn’t the system, but your own belief that you’re not quite ready?
How Many Opportunities Have You Talked Yourself Out Of?
We’ve been taught to:
✔️ Work harder.
✔️ Prove ourselves.
✔️ Be overqualified before we even dare to apply.
But here’s what the data shows:
📊 Men are hired for their potential. Women are hired for their performance.
📊 Women won’t apply unless they check every box. Men check a few and go for it.
That means we’re sitting on opportunities—jobs, promotions, leadership roles—not because we can’t do them, but because we don’t think we’re ready enough.
And the truth?
🛑 "Ready" is a myth.
If you only take the leap when you feel 100% sure, you’re already behind.
Toolkit: How to Stop Undervaluing Yourself & Start Playing Bigger
If you’re waiting for the perfect moment to go after what you want, here’s what to do instead:
1️⃣ Apply Before You’re "Ready"
If you meet even half the qualifications for a role, go for it. The worst that can happen? You don’t get it. The best? You step into a game-changing opportunity.
2️⃣ Take the Compliment & the Opportunity
If someone tells you, “You should apply,” believe them. Women often dismiss positive feedback or assume they need more time to “prove” themselves. If someone sees potential in you—trust them before you talk yourself out of it.
3️⃣ Say YES Before You Have It All Figured Out
The biggest myth of success? That you need to know exactly how to do something before you start. Growth happens in motion, not in preparation.
You don’t need more time to be ready. You need more belief in yourself.
This is just the beginning.
The stories we tell ourselves shape the opportunities we take—or don’t take. And it’s time to rewrite that story.
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