The Gendered Gap in Visibility: Why Women in Innovation Must Own Their Narrative

Walk into any lab, lecture hall, or innovation hub, and you’ll find women doing groundbreaking work—publishing research, leading projects, mentoring teams. Yet when it comes to recognition, leadership titles, or public visibility, women can often be conspicuously absent. This isn’t because the brilliance isn’t there. It’s because visibility gaps persist. And in today’s university innovation ecosystems, invisibility is more than an individual problem—it’s ecosystem-wide.

Why Visibility Matters More Than Ever

Universities themselves are competing as brands. They’re not just judged on rankings or research output—they’re judged on the faces and voices representing them. Increasingly more attention is being placed on institutions for their enterprise and innovation capabilities. There is more opportunity than ever for more women to unlock their ambitions.

Personal Branding as a Disruptor

Here’s the powerful truth: a strong personal brand disrupts the visibility gap. When you define and amplify your narrative—what you stand for, the impact you’re making, and how you show up—you ensure that your name travels further than your academic job title. You transform from “someone who does great work” into “someone known for making an impact.”

Here Three Ways to Kick-Start Your Personal

1. Your university staff profile - Is your profile doing you justice? Your staff profile is a shop-window to your world professional credibility and ambitions. Make a point of updating it regularly to reflect what you are currently working on.

2. Share the project journey, not just the outcomes. Visibility isn’t only about accolades—it’s about authenticity. Show the messy middle. It's about taking audiences on the journey with you as you develop your idea, innovation or project.

3. Take action everyday.  Doing the work is only one part of your role - it's also about taking steps everyday to build your personal brand. Why? Because it brings more ease to your everyday - think of more opportunities being sent to you, more people connecting and reaching out because you have been clear on communicating who you are and what you do.

   
   

Closing the Gap Together

The gendered gap in visibility is systemic—but it’s also addressable. Every time a woman claims her narrative and shows up, she shifts the innovation and knowledge exchange ecosystem toward equity. And remember—when you amplify your voice, you’re not just elevating yourself. You’re opening the door wider for the women who follow.

We are on a mission to support more women in academia who are seeking to accelerate their innovation ambitions with personal branding-led coaching, workshops and consulting. Learn more here:

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