Ambition has long been linked to relentless advancement, power suits, and corner offices. For many professional women, that image doesn’t just feel outdated—it feels like it was never ours to begin with. In my book Find your Inner Red Shoe, (Penguin, 2013) I focused on helping women redefine ambition to fit their own definition of success.
Thankfully, today, a growing number of women are redefining what ambition means. They are realizing that ambition is less about chasing traditional markers of success and more about crafting lives and careers that align with personal values, purpose, and well-being.
According to McKinsey’s 2023 Women in the Workplace report, women—especially younger generations—are leaving roles that don’t align with their values, and actively seeking careers that prioritize flexibility, impact, and authenticity over rigid ladders or burnout-inducing expectations.
What Ambition Used to Look Like—and Why It’s Shifting
Traditional ambition emphasized:
- Long hours = dedication
- Promotions = progress
- Prestige = success
But women’s careers have never followed straight lines. Whether due to caregiving, bias, life pivots, or entrepreneurship, our ambition has always taken more creative shapes.
Today’s shift is driven by multiple forces:
- The pandemic cracked open outdated notions of productivity
- Burnout and mental health crises demanded new boundaries
- Purpose-driven work has become a top priority, especially for Gen Z and Millennials
Now, reclaiming ambition means choosing how and why we succeed.
Reframing Ambition as Personal Agency
Ambition doesn’t have to mean climbing someone else’s ladder. It can mean:
- Building a portfolio career on your terms
- Prioritizing mental health without sacrificing excellence
- Becoming a thought leader instead of chasing a title
- Starting a nonprofit, launching a business, or mentoring the next generation
A 2023 Deloitte survey of women in the workplace found that “flexibility without penalty” is one of the top indicators of career satisfaction and perceived success.
In other words, the new ambition allows for wholeness.
3 Steps to Define What Ambition Means for You
1. Audit Your Definition of Success
Ask yourself:
- Whose version of success am I chasing?
- What parts of my career feel mostme?
- What tradeoffs am I unwilling to make?
This kind of self-inquiry helps differentiate internal motivation from external pressure.
2. Identify Your Non-Negotiables
Ambition that works for you includes:
- Flexibility
- Health
- Work that aligns with your values and thus is meaningful
- Financial security
- Time for caregiving or passion projects
Name your top 3. Then use them as filters before saying yes to new roles or responsibilities.
3. Define Your Metrics
Move beyond “title” and “salary.” Consider:
- Am I developing skills that excite me?
- Am I working with people who value my voice and whose voice I value?
- Do I feel energized at work?
Success can mean peace. It can mean purpose. It can even mean doing less.
What Leaders and Organizations Can Do
For companies and mentors to support this redefinition of ambition, they must:
- Celebrate different kinds of success stories (not just “up or out” models)
- Design roles with customization and life transitions in mind
- Move away from penalizing flexible arrangements
- Acknowledge impact, influence, and innovation as leadership markers—not just headcount or budgets
Keep in Mind
Ambition isn’t dead. It’s evolving. Reclaiming it means rewriting its rules in your own voice—and creating space for others to do the same.
It’s not about shrinking your goals. It’s about expanding what counts as success.
And if you’re ready to build your power skills and your self- confidence, join our Step Up Women year-long leadership program today or reach out to to me to schedule a one-on-one session.
