#26 “His response was ‘what are you going to do as an L6 at such a young age? You should go have fun or get a boyfriend.’”

“When I was in my early 20s and within a year or so, my manager wanted to put me up for a promotion to a post-MBA level (L6). I would have been one of the youngest people at that level but I was proud of it because I had spent a lot of time the year before dedicating myself to my career and the team. My skip level, however, was against it. His response was ‘what are you going to do as an L6 at such a young age? You should go have fun or get a boyfriend.’ That response changed how I approached my career altogether. I spent the next couple years building up all the skills and education I would need to never be messed around with like that again. I’ve been questioned several times as to why I want the promo. I wonder if other genders or races are questioned the same way. Why do I want the promo? So I can get up high and stop these kinds of inanes roadblocks.”