Bragging about yourself violates norms of modesty and politeness - and if you were really competent, your work would speak for itself.

By admitting your inadequacies, you show that you're self-aware enough to know your areas for improvement - and secure enough to be open about them.

If an organization values innovation, you can assume it's safe to speak up with new ideas, leaders will listen, and your voice matters.

As more women 'lean in' and we collectively continue to fight sexism, there's another barrier to progress that hasn't been addressed: Many men who would like to see more women leaders are afraid to speak up about it.

Rather than looking outward in an attempt to predict the outcome, you turn inward to your identity. You base the decision on who you are--or who you want to be.

The mark of higher education isn't the knowledge you accumulate in your head. It's the skills you gain about how to learn.