Professional Development: Women Supporting Women - An Interview with Kathleen Calabro

In this enlightening conversation, Ann Green sits down with her colleague Kathleen Calabro to discuss their exciting new project, "Professional Development: Women Supporting Women." This interview offers valuable insights into the challenges women face in the workplace and the importance of creating supportive environments for women to grow and actively shape their career paths.

Ann Green: Kathleen, I'm thrilled to introduce you to my readers and share our "Professional Development: Women Supporting Women" project. I'd like to give our readers a sense of our work together and how our relationship is evolving. Since we've started working together and meeting with women who work in corporate and professional settings, I've noticed that I can sometimes feel intimidated. The power of all the women in the room is impressive, but it can also be daunting at times.

Kathleen Calabro: Thank you for bringing this up, Ann. We've been working with women who have shared feelings of not belonging, being in over their heads, and fearing they'll be found out as “fakes.”  We call it "imposter syndrome," which seems to be what you're describing. Your experience is actually yet another example of what we're addressing with the women we're working with. Interestingly, I've never thought of you as separate from the "corporate women" in the group. In fact, I've felt my own intimidation working with you! Your expertise and experience seem far beyond what I feel I could master, and you have a level of confidence in certain settings that I sometimes struggle to match.

Ann: That's fascinating, Kathleen, seems that we both experience our own versions of imposter syndrome. I have the same experience with you and am often in awe of your level of confidence. I think what you're experiencing in me has developed over many years as a builder of social therapeutic environments. These environments have nourished my natural curiosity, my passion for helping people and making this a better world, and my willingness to take risks by speaking my mind.

Kathleen: Absolutely. Your ability to take risks is something I admire, as it goes against my natural inclinations.

Ann: I think it goes against many women's natural inclination to say what's on their minds because they fear insulting others or hurting feelings. Over the years, I've learned that speaking up is crucial for creating honest and open relationships. Social therapeutics has helped me find ways to express myself authentically in ways that build relationships rather than damage them. It's so much better than repressing our thoughts and feelings. I'm very passionate about creating environments for growth where we can say what we think and feel in ways that build relationships rather than harm them.

Kathleen: That's a powerful skill, Ann. It's something I'm passionate about too – helping women do this in all aspects of their lives, including professional settings.

Ann: Now, I'd love to hear more about your passion for this project.

Kathleen: My interest stems from my own struggles navigating the complexities of the workforce, especially after stepping into leadership roles. As I searched for support, I found that many groups meant to empower women in the workplace often avoid difficult conversations, shying away from challenges that are too provocative to address openly.

I've grown frustrated with discussions around women's empowerment that focus on navigating environments designed by men. Instead, I want to explore how we can account for the differences in style, history, and challenges naturally faced by women and create a new culture that combines the styles, histories, and challenges of both men and women in the workplace.

I was excited to work with you because I found that the groups you lead don't stay at a superficial level, which I appreciate. I'm not interested in discussing how women should dress or navigate dinner conversations about sports. Having experienced personal growth with you through social therapeutic settings, I saw an opportunity to deepen our conversations focused on growth, development, community building, and empowerment.

Ann: That's powerful, Kathleen. How do you see our project helping women navigate these issues?

Kathleen: We're creating an environment where women can work on issues, including their own internalized feelings that hold them back, related to their jobs and careers. These are things they would want to open up about outside their work environment, as they might not feel comfortable sharing with peers or bosses, or they would want fresh perspectives on.

Let me go back to one of the biggest challenges we've been encountering: imposter syndrome. What often gets expressed along with this is a lack of confidence, particularly since women face added scrutiny and are evaluated more harshly than their male peers. They're also uncomfortable when performing outside their expected traditional roles.

Ann: And what about the emotional challenges women face when performing outside those expectations?

Kathleen: Women are often socialized to please others and struggle to say no. They tend to take on tasks they don't want to do out of fear of disappointing others or facing repercussions. We can help women set boundaries and advocate for themselves while still being respectful of their job responsibilities and corporate structure.

Ann: Many women look at others who've achieved leadership roles in their careers and believe those women accomplished that because they are strong and have courage that they themselves don't possess.

Kathleen: That's a great misconception! No one changes conventional cultures as an "inner warrior" alone. No woman I know made it entirely on her own. I've never been able to take risks in my career without knowing I had support behind me. And I also discovered that the more you do it, the easier it becomes, but you need that support system to get started and to take on new challenges along the way.

Ann: Lastly, can you talk more about the "inner warrior" concept? I find many women beat themselves up for lacking strength or courage, especially in competitive environments.

Kathleen: The inner warrior concept focuses on self-development and self-confidence, which is great, but it doesn't always account for external factors. You can't control how others respond to your confidence, and sometimes people won't react well. It's important to be aware of this and adjust strategies when necessary.

Our "Women Supporting Women" project aims to create a safe, supportive environment where women can address these challenges head-on. By combining social therapeutic practices with honest discussions about workplace dynamics, we hope to empower women to navigate their careers with confidence, resilience, and authenticity.

At Psych Options NYC in Manhattan, Ann Green, NP, uses her more than 35 years of experience as a psychiatric nurse practitioner, social therapist and life development coach to provide individual and group therapy.

Contact us to set up a virtual or in-person consultation at our private practice located in Chelsea/Flatiron district, New York City.