“Sorry, I Was Speaking…” — How Young Women in Tech Can Assert Their Ideas with Confidence

Let’s talk about a word that looks like a compliment — but sometimes feels like a quiet burden: Reliable. You’re the one who never drops the ball. The go-to person. The backup. The “can you just…” in every meeting. And don’t get me wrong — being reliable is a
“Looping in leadership.” “Marking this as urgent.” “Raising this to the next level.” These phrases are meant to solve problems. But when they become the norm — not the exception — they point to a deeper issue: A culture where escalation is used as a shortcut for alignment, clarity, or courage. Welcome
Small is sustainable. Small is powerful. Small is how big things start. I used to think big changes needed big moves. New job. New routine. New year. New version of me. But I’ve learned something quieter — and truer — over time: It’s not the big moments that change us.
There’s always that one person on the team. The one who remembers the details. Who jumps in when others drop the ball. Who calms the chaos before it turns into fire. Who doesn’t complain. Just gets it done. Maybe that person is you. You’re not loud. You