The Career Ladder is a Lie - Here’s What to Do Now to Build Your Own Path

It’s January, and you’re likely setting goals for the year ahead. Promotions, pay raises, bigger projects—they’re probably on your list. And they should be. But before we go any further, let’s have a moment of straight talk - the traditional career ladder isn’t built for women like us.

"I just kept my head down, worked hard and I was promoted." That’s what I was told, time and time again, by well-meaning leaders throughout my career.

It sounded so simple—so fair.

Yet, after pouring everything into my work, delivering results, and going above and beyond, I would receive a pat on the back, a steak dinner, a $30 bottle of wine...AND more goals and objectives.

Promotions didn’t materialize. Recognition was a never-ending mirage, always just slightly out of reach.

And I’ve seen this frustration play out over and over again with other high-achieving women of color navigating corporate spaces. These environments weren’t designed with us in mind. They weren’t built to reward our ambition, our talent, or our unique contributions.

That linear climb—the myth of the career ladder—is outdated at best. At worst, it’s a trap. A system that keeps us working harder and harder, only to realize the next rung doesn’t exist for us.

Waiting for someone to notice your work, to give you permission to advance, or to offer you a seat at the table is a recipe for frustration, stagnation, and—if you’re not careful—burnout.

But there is good news!

You don’t need to climb a ladder. You can build your own path—and January is the perfect time to start.

What to Do Now

Forget resolutions that rely solely on self-improvement.

Seriously, how many more leadership books, personal development courses, or extra degrees do we need before we’re “ready”? The truth is, we don’t need to be better. We’re already doing the work, delivering the results, and outperforming expectations.

What we do need is a smarter strategy—one that doesn’t depend on waiting for someone else to notice us.

The smartest move you can make this year isn’t perfecting yourself.

It’s about leveraging relationships. Deep networking—not the surface-level LinkedIn likes or endless coffee chats—is the real key to creating career opportunities on your terms.

But please remember - there’s an art and a science to doing it the right way. To make your connections work for you, you have to be intentional. The smartest networkers don’t just collect contacts—they forge relationships. They follow a formula.

Don’t worry, I’m about to share it with you and have included a free checklist you can download!

Here’s how to do it:

1. Audit Your Current Network

Think about the last 10 people you’ve interacted with professionally. Are they decision-makers? Mentors? Connectors who can introduce you to opportunities?

If your network feels stagnant or narrow, it’s time to broaden it. Prioritize people who align with your career aspirations.

Step out of Your Comfort Zone to Connect

• Identify one person you admire but haven’t spoken to yet. Reach out. Share a thoughtful note about their work or a recent accomplishment you admired.
• Don’t just ask for help; offer value. Can you share an article, insight, or connection that might be helpful to them?

Reignite Dormant Relationships

The start of the year is an ideal time to reach out to former colleagues, mentors, or clients. A simple message like, “I was thinking about our work on [project] and wanted to catch up” can open doors.

Shift from Ladder Thinking to Ecosystem Building

Instead of chasing a title or promotion, think about creating an ecosystem where opportunities naturally flow to you. This includes mentorship, cross-departmental relationships, and visibility with senior leaders.

Breaking the Myth of Linear Growth

Linear progression assumes one path fits all, but your career is too dynamic for that. Here are a few moves to inspire your path-building:

• Pivot Industries: Transition to a field that excites you, even if it feels risky. The cross-pollination of your skills might make you an in-demand candidate.
• Build Your Personal Board of Directors: This is not new advice but still very relevant. Surround yourself with advocates who will challenge, support, and open doors for you.
• Start that side consulting business: A purpose and a growth avenue - Starting a side consulting business doesn’t have to be about making more money (though that’s often a nice bonus). It can be about so much more—exploring a passion, sharing your unique skills, and making a difference in ways that truly matter to you. For me, it was about empowering women of color in corporate spaces. I wanted to create a space where women like me could feel seen, supported, and equipped to navigate the challenges of environments not designed for them.

When I posted my first piece of advice, I wasn’t expecting much. But then the messages started coming in.

• “I needed this today.”
• “Thank you for saying what I’ve been feeling.”
• “You just put words to what I couldn’t articulate myself.”

These messages gave me the energy to take the next step, and the next!

Your Move This January

This is about creating your goals sure—but more importantly it’s about recalibrating how you achieve them. Deep networking will fast-track your career in ways the traditional ladder never will.

I am including this Free Networking Checklist for High-Achieving Women to get you started. It’s contains step-by-step formulas to build the career ecosystem you deserve.

Let’s make this the year you stop waiting for a seat at the table and start building your own.

What bold move will you make first?

Share it in the comments—I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Dorothy Mashburn is on a mission to empower women of color (and allies!) to steer their career journey and confidently negotiate their value. She can be reached here.

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