Where Is This Career Taking You?

Written By Dana Kirchmar

When was the last time you looked up from the demands of your day and asked yourself:
“Where is this actually going?”

Not the surface-level stuff—like job titles or performance reviews.
But the deeper question:

  • Is this aligned with the leader I want to be?

  • Am I growing, or just grinding?

  • What’s keeping me here—and what might be holding me back?

Most women I work with didn’t plan to feel stuck.
They followed the rules.
They worked hard.
They earned respect.

And somehow, they’re still… not moving.

What Gets in the Way

If you’re a woman in a male-dominated field, career strategy doesn’t work the same way it does for everyone else. The obstacles are real—even if they’re rarely acknowledged.

You might be facing:

  • Unclear pathways to advancement
    Promotions seem reserved for people who are already part of the "in crowd."

  • Invisible labor and overlooked wins
    You’re managing relationships, smoothing out conflict, mentoring others—without recognition.

  • Internal hesitation
    You’re qualified, but second-guess if you’re “ready.” Or you’re afraid of seeming too ambitious, too vocal, too much.

  • The loyalty trap
    You don’t want to leave your team behind. You don’t want to seem ungrateful. So you stay. And wait.

  • The unspoken fear
    “If I take up too much space, there might not be room for me tomorrow.”

It’s not that you’re lost.
It’s that no one ever handed you a map designed for your journey.

What Strategy Actually Looks Like

Career strategy isn’t about a five-year plan in a corporate binder.
It’s about intention, clarity, and courage.

Here’s what it can look like:

  • Knowing your value and being able to communicate it—clearly and unapologetically

  • Choosing visibility on your terms—not waiting for someone to notice you

  • Identifying blockers—both external and internal—and developing a plan to navigate around them

  • Building influence and relationships that open doors, not just keep the wheels turning

  • Defining success in a way that feels right to you—not just what the org chart says

This isn’t about climbing the ladder faster.
It’s about climbing the right ladder—and knowing where it leads.

What I Hear from Women Like You

“I’m excellent at my job. I just don’t know how to get to the next level.”
“I feel like I’ve outgrown this role, but I don’t know what’s next.”
“I keep waiting to be noticed. I think it’s time I stop waiting.”

If that sounds like you—you’re not alone.
You’re not unqualified.
You’re not invisible.
You’re ready.

Your Next Move Starts Here

That’s why I created:

The Career Growth Map: Your Next 5 Moves: A Strategic Planner for Women in Male-Dominated Fields

This free guide is for women who are ready to move forward—but want to do it with strategy, not guesswork.

Inside, you’ll find:

  • A career clarity self-check

  • Common blockers and how to name them

  • Strategy prompts to define your next 5 bold, aligned moves

  • A roadmap you can adapt as your career evolves

Download Here.

This isn’t fluff.
It’s the guide I wish I’d had years ago when I realized doing the work wasn’t going to be enough.

Ready to Stop Just Surviving?

You’ve already proven you belong.
Now let’s get intentional about where you’re headed.

Schedule a free strategy call with me here.
Let’s map out the next leg of your leadership journey—together.

Dana Kirchmar
Next

To Soar