---
title: "From Success to Significance: What Women Really Learn About Self- Confidence On Stage"
description: Top coach Jamie McKinney helps women build confidence and authentic leadership in male-dominated workplaces with practical tools and supportive communities
author: Dr Marina Nani (Editor-in-Chief)
date: 2025-09-10T14:41:43.000Z
updated: 2026-09-24T22:52:04.034Z
canonical: https://richwoman.co/article/from-success-to-significance-what-women-really-learn-about-self-confidence-on-stage
image: https://cdn.nanimediahouse.com/drpnww-oeok.jpg
categories: Female leadership
content_type: Profile
region: Global
publication: Rich Woman Magazine
---

You know that moment when you’re sitting in a meeting, heart racing, with something important to say but somehow the words just won’t come? Or when you’ve been thinking about [asking for a raise](https://richwoman.co/article/the-sink-or-swim-mentality-how-schools-are-helping-new-teachers-thrive-with-a-little-tech-boo) for months, but every time you approach your manager’s office, you find an excuse to walk past? You’re not alone. For many women, especially those in male-dominated workplaces, these moments feel like daily battles against an invisible force that keeps them quiet when they need to be heard.

Jamie McKinney understands these struggles intimately. She’s just been named 2025’s Top Empowerment Coach of the Year by the International Association of Top Professionals, but what really sets her apart isn’t the accolades – it’s how she helps women navigate those nerve-wracking moments when speaking up feels impossible.

## The Woman Behind the Confidence Revolution

McKinney, author of ‘Speak Up, Sister!’ and founder of the 3 Pillars of Leadership Course, has built her reputation on something surprisingly simple: helping women find [their voice](https://richwoman.co/article/staying-curious-and-sharing-knowledge-how-to-says-yes-to-something-new) without losing themselves in the process. Her clients talk about her differently than they might describe other business coaches. They mention feeling understood, not judged. They describe learning to speak up not through aggressive tactics, but through authentic confidence building.

Her track record is impressive. Over 80% of McKinney’s clients receive promotions or expanded responsibilities within a year of completing her programmes. This year alone, women participating in her coaching have collectively increased their compensation by more than half a million dollars. But the real testament to her approach? A 100% corporate client retention rate, with companies like Owens Corning, Liberty Energy and Xcel Energy repeatedly choosing her services.

Research from [McKinsey’s Women in the Workplace 2024 report](https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/diversity-and-inclusion/women-in-the-workplace) backs up what McKinney sees daily: women face significant confidence challenges speaking up at work, particularly in male-dominated industries. They experience interruptions, being talked over and having their expertise questioned – all of which undermines leadership presence.

## The Philosophy That Actually Works

‘It’s a privilege and a rush to help women unlock their confidence, step into their power, and achieve the careers they’ve always envisioned,’ McKinney explains. ‘Watching my clients thrive and lead with authenticity, especially in male-dominated industries, excites me every day.’

Her approach is different because she treats confidence building like a skill rather than a personality trait. Her signature programmes – the 3 Pillars of Leadership and Speak UP to Level UP – focus on practical techniques women can use in real workplace situations. Instead of telling women to ‘just be confident’, she teaches them how to build confidence through small, manageable actions.

This approach aligns with [research from Harvard’s professional development programmes](https://professional.dce.harvard.edu/programs/women-in-leadership-online-program-for-emerging-leaders/), which shows that interactive exercises and real-world challenges are more effective than theoretical training for building workplace confidence.

McKinney’s coaching has reached over 30,000 professionals globally, spanning six continents. Her clients work everywhere from the oil and gas sector to tech startups, sharing a common thread: they’re ambitious women who feel ready to step up but need practical tools to do so effectively. Many face the same challenges explored in our recent piece on [what CEO women want to make it in a man’s world](https://richwoman.co/article/the-corner-office-mindset-what-ceo-women-want-to-make-it-in-a-man-s-world).

## Why Her Methods Stick

The difference between McKinney’s approach and traditional leadership training becomes clear when you look at how her clients describe the experience. Brandi Zak, an Operations Area Manager at Amazon, credits McKinney with creating a supportive environment that genuinely boosted her confidence and leadership skills. Her testimonials consistently mention feeling ‘valued and understood’ rather than pushed into a one-size-fits-all leadership mould.

This matters because [research from Harvard Business Review](https://hbr.org/1995/09/the-power-of-talk-who-gets-heard-and-why) shows that women face a ‘double bind’ when it comes to workplace confidence – they’re penalised for being too assertive but overlooked for being too quiet. McKinney’s programmes address this by teaching women how to balance confidence with authenticity, helping them find their own leadership style rather than copying someone else’s.

A [2023 study on women in male-dominated sectors](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/gwao.13019) found that organisational policies alone aren’t enough to help women progress – they need individual empowerment combined with inclusive workplace behaviours. McKinney’s high success rates suggest she’s cracked this code, helping women build resilience while working with companies to create more supportive environments. Her focus on [authentic leadership and building communities of confidence](https://richwoman.co/article/the-ripple-effect-of-authentic-leadership-how-one-woman-s-vision-sparked-the-path-to-self-mas) reflects this understanding.

## The Leadership Laboratory: Where Confidence Gets Tested

This autumn, McKinney is launching something new: The Leadership Laboratory. Rather than another online course, it’s designed as a community where women can experiment with their leadership style in a safe environment. Think of it as a practice space where you can try out difficult conversations, test new approaches and get feedback from peers who understand the challenges.

The concept addresses a gap many women face: knowing what to do in theory but struggling to apply it in high-pressure situations. The Leadership Laboratory provides what McKinney calls [‘a hands-on, interactive space to refine their leadership style, build a promotion-ready plan, and access an empowering community of peers and mentors.’](https://richwoman.co/article/it-s-personal-judy-crowell-on-talking-about-hair-loss-finding-solutions-and-feeling-like-your)

This approach reflects [research from The Atlantic](https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2018/09/women-workplace-confidence-gap/570772/) showing that women succeed when they combine confidence with prosocial orientation – appearing both assertive and collaborative. The community element allows women to practice this balance before taking it into their workplaces, much like the [entrepreneurs who master self-confidence](https://richwoman.co/article/from-invisible-to-authority-why-entrepreneurs-master-self-confidence) through authentic business identities.

McKinney’s own journey reflects the challenges many of her clients face. Drawing from her experience in male-dominated fields like automotive and oil and gas, she understands firsthand what it’s like to be the only woman in the room. Her approach to coaching comes from this authentic understanding rather than theoretical knowledge.

She credits her success to [‘values-based leadership, a passion for empowerment, and the mentors who shaped her path.’](https://richwoman.co/article/sisterhood-anchored-in-grace-a-catalyst-for-success-beyond-business) This December, she’ll be honoured at the International Association of Top Professionals’ annual awards gala at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas – recognition that feels particularly meaningful given her focus on helping other women step into the spotlight.

The timing is significant. [Recent research from Catalyst](https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/03/45percent-of-women-business-leaders-say-its-difficult-for-women-to-speak-up-in-virtual-meetings.html) shows that 45% of women business leaders find it difficult to speak up in virtual meetings, with many feeling overlooked during video calls. The challenges McKinney addresses haven’t disappeared – they’ve simply evolved. Her work connects to broader conversations about [how authentic storytelling is reshaping professional speaking](https://richwoman.co/article/why-authentic-storytelling-is-transforming-professional-speaking).

McKinney’s mission remains focused on [helping women ‘silence self-doubt, speak up confidently, and build the careers they deserve.’](https://richwoman.co/article/social-stigma-why-so-many-women-feel-alone-when-they-need-help) Her success suggests that confidence isn’t about a single lightbulb moment of self-discovery. Instead, it’s built through small experiments, supportive communities and practical tools that women can actually use when the stakes are high.

For many women, that’s exactly what they need: not a complete personality overhaul, but practical ways to [find their voice](https://richwoman.co/article/in-conversation-with-dame-neslyn-watson-druee-leading-with-purpose-coaching-with-courage) in rooms where they’ve been quiet for too long. As we’ve seen with professional women rejecting old playbooks, there’s a growing recognition that traditional approaches don’t work. [Research shows](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9838290/) that persistent interruptions and condescending explanations negatively impact women’s confidence, but McKinney’s approach offers something different – a way to build resilience from the inside out while working to change the conversation from the outside in.