Why Self‑Aware Women CEOs Outperform the Rest
In boardrooms, on stages, and behind scaling brands, women entrepreneurs and executives are showing up as confident, emotionally intelligent leaders. But even the most accomplished among us know there’s always another level of personal power waiting to be unlocked. That level is rooted in one of the most underestimated leadership skills: self-awareness.
In the whirlwind of metrics, market share, and managing people, women leaders are often encouraged to focus outward. But the real edge? It comes from within.
Why Self-Awareness is Your Most Valuable Business Asset
Research confirms what many women instinctively know: leaders with high emotional intelligence (EQ) consistently outperform those without it. And at the heart of EQ lies self-awareness — the ability to understand your emotions, triggers, values, and behavior patterns, and how these impact those around you.
According to the World Economic Forum, emotional intelligence is ranked among the top 10 job skills for the future of work. Yet, in a gender-biased business culture, women are still pressured to code-switch, shape-shift, and shrink to fit into outdated norms of leadership.
Self-awareness flips that script.
It empowers women to make bold moves, own the room, and stay rooted in purpose rather than performance. It also leads to:
- Better decision-making
- Higher resilience under stress
- Healthier relationships with teams and partners
- Increased innovation and creative problem-solving
The Framework: Savvy, Sassy, and Self-Aware
Through my consulting and coaching work, I help women reclaim their voice and lead from the inside out. I teach a framework called Savvy, Sassy, and Self-Aware, which combines brain science, emotional intelligence, and what the Enneagram unveils for each leader, to help women stop shape-shifting and start showing up.
Savvy women lead like they can see the whole chessboard. They don’t rush; they move with intuition and intention. They value that feeling in the gut. Savvy women listen to that still small voice. They don’t panic when the current move seems to go awry because they see they can and will win in move three or four. Savvy women see the forest for the trees.
Sassy women own the room. They’re bold, fearless, and too self-aware to shrink. Sassy women show up unapologetically, own their brilliance, and refuse to shrink to make others comfortable. They walk in rooms like they belong before they’re invited. One reason women don’t show up sassy is because they are prone to shrink from comparison, neglecting their unique gifts that are poised to make an impact.
Self-aware women understand what motivates them, how they react under stress, and how to shift from self-doubt to grounded confidence. Self-aware women are both savvy and sassy.
Practical Tools to Build Self-Awareness
Here are three actionable tools for business owners and executives who want to deepen their leadership presence:
- The "Shrink or Shine" Audit Think of one recent situation where you:
- Softened your opinion to be more "palatable"
- Avoided using your voice in a room that needed your perspective
- Adjusted your presence to avoid being labeled "too much"
Now rewrite that moment from your boldest, most self-aware self. How would she move, speak, or decide?
2. Emotional Intelligence in Action EQ isn’t fluff — it’s functional. Use this 5-domain framework from Mygrow to self-reflect:
- Self-perception: Do I know my value? Can I name my feelings? Do I have self-compassion?
- Self-expression: Am I courageously and humbly honest and assertive without aggression?
- Stress management: How do I regulate myself when I’m overwhelmed? Do I feel hopeful? Can I adapt readily?
- Decision making: Do I check reality before reacting? What are my go-to problem solving steps? How is my impulsivity in check?
- Interpersonal: Do I build real relationships based on empathy? Do I stop to consider my social responsibility?
3. Identify Your Enneagram Type The Enneagram reveals your core motivation and fear. For example:
- Type 3: Wants to feel valuable; fears being seen as a failure.
- Type 2: Wants to be loved; fears being unwanted.
- Type 8: Wants control and truth; fears betrayal or vulnerability.
Self-awareness includes using psychosocial tools like the Enneagram to know yourself. Knowing your type helps you lead from your essence, not your defenses.
Your Leadership is Too Valuable to Shrink
Whether you’re scaling a business, leading a team, or mentoring the next generation, your power multiplies when you choose not to shrink.
Being savvy doesn’t mean doing more. It means trusting your inner wisdom and moving strategically.
Being sassy isn’t about being loud. It’s about being unapologetically you and getting your expertise in the room (and yes, you have expertise).
And being self-aware? That’s the key to showing up fully alive, aligned, and on fire for your mission.
The most important thing about you — as the children's book by Margaret Wise Brown says — is that you are YOU.
So own the room. Run the game. And lead with a self-awareness that is too powerful to shrink.
More about Dawn
I bring a rich background in nursing, international development, and education into the consulting and coaching space, where I specialize in helping businesses create workplaces where high-impact women stay, grow, and lead. With a Master’s in Education and certifications from the International Coaching Federation, the Society for Process Consulting, and as an Integrative Enneagram Practitioner, I work closely with senior women leaders and executive teams to transform workplace culture from the inside out.
As a KNOW woman, you’re already a force. But even powerful cultures can unintentionally overlook the specific needs of the women who help drive your success. Without intention, burnout, invisibility, or lack of sponsorship can quietly push women out—sometimes straight into launching their own ventures. Even as women founders, we are all navigating the pull of systems that weren’t originally built with us in mind.
I partner with leaders and teams to design workplaces where women thrive—and where well-meaning men learn how to show up as true allies and sponsors. Whether you’re growing a small business or leading a larger team, I would love to help you identify how your women are really experiencing your culture and equip you with clear, actionable strategies to keep your top talent engaged and rising.
💡 Retention Pulse Kits begin at just $197, offering an accessible starting point for understanding your team’s lived experience. From there, I offer 30-day to 12-month consulting partnerships, culture workshops, and executive coaching packages tailored to your goals. I also speak and teach frequently on gender gap realities, effective leadership, and women’s workplace wellbeing—and would be honored to be recommended by a KNOW sister for any venue where these conversations matter.
I’m based in Sarasota, Florida, where I share life daily with my husband, adult children, grandchildren, and senior mom—all of us on the same beloved block where we raised our four kids. I thrive on pool workouts and could talk all day about Korean dramas (happy to swap favorites anytime!).
If you or someone in your circle is ready to create a more inclusive, impactful place for women to lead and stay, I’d love to connect. Let’s make your workplace the one where women never want to leave.