Dana Beck, CEO of Drink Nutrient

Women have been pushing through and breaking down boundaries for years in the workplace, and 2020 will be no exception. If the trends continue as they have, there will be more women in C-suite positions than ever before.

As CEO of Drink Nutrient, I am just one of the women pushing those boundaries, which I can attribute to having unwavering confidence in myself and our company’s mission, making my voice heard, and never apologizing for it.

Early in my career, I was more focused  on meeting a deadline and pleasing everyone around me than on creating and delivering something amazing. Where I used to get intimidated and apologize, I now know from experience that people will wait for something if you believe in it and prove that it’s worth it.

Here’s how I believe women in the c-suite can set themselves up for success in 2020 (and beyond):

1. When you have a vision and know you can make something incredible, do whatever you can to make it happen and don’t back down. When you are confident in your own work and proud of what you put out, others will see that and be confident in your work as well.  How you present yourself and how you project your voice can change how others perceive and receive what you do.

2. Offer solutions instead of excuses! It’s a better habit to instill in yourself, both in and out of the workplace. There’s no need to apologize for things that are out of your hands or aren’t your fault. Of course, if you are in the wrong, apologize and take responsibility for your mistake and make it right. But if you are saying sorry as a knee-jerk response for something that doesn’t require an apology, you are negating all of the hard work that you have already done. When you give your all on something, it deserves to be recognized and praised appropriately. Don’t cast a shadow over it, making it seem less important or worthy.

3. If you believe that something is wrong, speak up. Whether it is how something is worded, how someone is being treated, or simply a gut instinct. Make sure that your voice is heard, loud and clear. Never apologize for voicing your opinion — even if it isn’t a popular one. Your opinions and work are valid and deserve to be treated as such.

4. Women help themselves —and each other— by owning their voice and making room for the voices of others, so use your voice to lift others up! The more confident you are in expressing what you believe and the more generous you are in helping your employees do the same, the higher your team will rise together. In that same vein, ensure comments, ideas and strategies of others — both men and women — are attributed to them. At the end of the day, everyone wants to feel heard and acknowledged.

About the Author: Dana Beck, CEO of Drink Nutrient, believes that nutrition is the foundational building block for real wellness in body and mind. She brings her incisive, research-oriented thinking, experience in publishing and passion for befriending our bodies rather than punishing them to her work, where she has pioneered ideas like full-spectrum nutrient-dense hydration to help people get active and stay in good health—preferably without medication. When Dana isn’t developing new products or acting as a functional drink advocate, she enjoys hot yoga and freediving.