Beyond the Polished Profile

By Tricia Scott.

As we were putting the final touches on issue 63 recently, I was chatting with several women in our community about the art of asking questions.

As women in business, we often feel like we have to walk into every room with a mental encyclopaedia, a five-year colour-coded plan, and an answer for every possible situation and outcome. We feel that somehow, having all of the answers makes us the standout star of every show; the one everyone looks up to like some sort of LinkedIn Stepford Wife.

The truth is, we’ve been conditioned to think that saying "I don’t know" is a sign of weakness or, god forbid, a crack in our professional armour. Cue dramatic Hollywood-esque faint.

And you know what is really messed up about all of this? It is that while we’re over here becoming that woman, we’re not only living in a constant state of anxiety-ridden imposter syndrome (because we clearly cannot and do not know it all), but we also pile an extra helping of pressure on our already overloaded shoulders because now everyone and their granny comes to us for all of the answers!

Haven't we suffered enough?

When we were talking, I was reminded of a love letter I wrote a few years back, called "You Are Not Supposed to Know It All," where I talked about the "happy hazard of looking stupid." My stance hasn't changed. In fact, I’m more convinced than ever that the most successful women aren't the ones with all the answers; they’re the ones with the best questions.

Because I want this community to be a place where curiosity beats out the fear of judgment, I have decided to bring something extra special your way. Starting in Q2, we’re launching a brand-new column hosted by two absolutely incredible women you will already recognise from The Female CEO Magazine: Martine and Sarah.

If you haven’t yet caught up with their story (you can read more about The Lonely Tomato here), then you will know they are The Anti-Stepfords. They are on-the-ground mentors who have been right in the trenches and are ready to help you navigate yours.

This column is for you. No gatekeeping or jargon, just real, direct answers to the things that keep you up at night. You can ask them anything.

What’s that one thing you’re "supposed" to know but don't? What’s the hurdle you’re too embarrassed to ask your peers about? We want it all.

• Where to send them: Drop an email to tricia@thefemaleceo.com
• The Best Part: You can be completely anonymous if you wish. We want your questions, not your identity (unless you want to share it!).

Whether it is about scaling, difficult conversations, business finances, or just how to keep your sanity while building that empire, send it over.

It’s time we stop pretending we have it all figured out and start figuring it out together. I mean, that's kind of the entire point, right?

👉🏼If you want to receive a Biz Love Letter directly to your inbox every week in 2026, I email our Hello CEO mailing list every Monday. To join, head to The Homepage and sign up! 

 Tricia Scott is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Female CEO — a global platform, magazine, and community dedicated to helping women build confident, aligned, powerful businesses.

A startup mentor and multi-company director, she’s spent the past decade helping women move from overwhelmed and isolated to empowered and intentional.

Most days, she’s juggling her MacBook, her next big idea, and a very necessary caffeine supply. Connect with her at thefemaleceo.com.