Strong women rise, and stronger women raise others

THERE IS something I’ve learned over time - and honestly, I’m still learning it every single day: women need women. Not in a dramatic way and not in a social-media slogan kind of way, but in a simple, real, “I understand because I’ve been there too” way.

Life can feel heavy, and many of us had to find our strength long before we felt ready for it. But I’ve seen again and again that when a woman rises, it creates a ripple. And when a stronger woman turns back to lift someone else, she doesn’t just help that one woman - she gently shifts the path for everyone connected to her. Supporting one another isn’t about being noble; it’s about being human. It’s about acknowledging that we are all navigating things that are often unseen and rarely spoken about.

Women need to support women because we truly understand each other’s load. We might not say everything we’re carrying, but we feel the weight in one another. There is a quiet comfort in being seen without having to justify yourself. And sometimes support is simply a gentle reminder from another woman: “You’re doing okay. Keep going.”

I know what these small reminders have meant to me - how they helped me stand taller on days when confidence felt miles away. And I also know this: I am where I am because someone helped me along the way. Sometimes the support was loud and obvious, other times it was subtle and only appreciated much later. But I didn’t get here alone - none of us did. That’s why I feel so strongly about supporting other women. It feels like a way of honouring the women who helped me, whether they realised how much they were helping or not. And I’ve learned that sharing strength doesn’t weaken anyone - it multiplies it.

We were never meant to fight for scraps of space. We were meant to widen the table, hold it steady, and make room for the next woman climbing. It’s important to say this gently: women must stop judging other women. Judgement chips away at confidence. It builds walls instead of bridges. It can make the journey heavier than it needs to be. And most of the time, judgement doesn’t come from cruelty; it comes from misunderstanding, insecurity, or old ways of thinking.

When you really look at another woman, you usually see someone trying her best under circumstances you may never fully know. Replacing judgement with empathy doesn’t make us weaker -  it makes us wiser. It allows us to be human with one another instead of hard on one another. We also need to talk honestly about something many women feel but rarely admit: sometimes we struggle to coexist. Sometimes we gossip instead of connecting. Sometimes we feel unsettled when another woman rises, not because we don’t want good for her, but because we’ve been conditioned to believe that success is limited, and that her win somehow threatens ours.

It doesn’t. Compliments, not comparisons, should be our instinct. Telling another woman she looks beautiful, or that you love her dress, or that she radiates something lovely, is not a threat - it’s a gift. It softens the room. It warms the moment. It tells her, “I see you,” in a world that doesn’t always pause long enough to do so. Compliments cost us nothing, yet they hold extraordinary power. We should give them more freely and more generously.

Support doesn’t have to be grand or impressive. The smallest gestures often carry the deepest impact. Celebrating her win sincerely, mentioning her name in a room she hasn’t entered yet, showing up for her when she’s nervous, helping her believe in herself again after a tough season, or protecting her reputation when she’s not there - these are quiet acts, but they become turning points in someone’s journey.

As I’ve grown in my career, my intention has become much simpler and far more personal: I want young women entering the professional world to feel steadier than I did. I want their early years to feel supported instead of overwhelming. I want them to feel like they belong, even when they are still finding their footing. And I want them to have women they can truly trust - women who guide gently, uplift quietly, and encourage sincerely, without ego or expectation.

If I can make even one woman’s path a little lighter, then the difficult parts of my own journey hold meaning. I am still learning. I am still growing. I certainly don’t get it right every day. But I try -  genuinely try - to show up with humility, kindness, and sincerity. Because I have learned something important: a woman who lifts another woman becomes stronger in ways the world cannot measure. A woman who chooses unity over comparison becomes steadier within herself. And a woman who moves away from judgment and toward encouragement becomes powerful in a way that has nothing to do with titles and everything to do with heart.

And so I’ll end with a power-packed quote, from Indra Nooyi: “The glass ceiling will go away when women help other women break through that ceiling.”

Rubene Ramdas, with 25 years of professional experience, is passionate about women’s leadership, mentorship, and the steady, compassionate guidance young professionals need as they find their place in an ever-evolving world of work. Email [email protected]

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