Women in Business: Networking, Confidence and Taking Up Space

In honor of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, Captivate, North America’s leading digital out of home video network, takes another deep dive into the ever-evolving role of women in business.

When divisions feel starker than ever, it’s important to lean on those around us to help us get to where we want to go. Even after the glass ceiling is broken, climbing up is made easier when someone stays to steady the ladder.

Lean on me

Young women in particular rely on their connections in the workplace. 81% of women under 30 feel a networking relationship has helped them advance professionally, with 51% saying such contacts helped them land a job, a new Captivate Office Pulse study found.

But positive connections go beyond individual advancement; they can affect confidence in the workplace, too. The 24% of women who said they felt their ideas and perspectives were always valued at work were more likely to report feeling at ease across all professional contexts – from small talk and networking to delivering feedback and asking for a raise – than those who felt their ideas were only sometimes or never valued.

• 63% of women report feeling nervous about asking for a raise compared to just 16% of men.
• 58% of women are most comfortable networking with other women, while 68% of men are most comfortable networking with other men.

The feeling of being valued declines with time spent in the workforce: 58% of women working less than eight years said they always feel their ideas are valued, while only 19% of those working 15+ years said the same. However, just 6% of women across the board said they feel their perspectives were never valued.

In a beloved annual feature, Captivate is giving female leaders a platform to share their insights and advice, and many spoke to the importance of networking relationships and confidence on the job.

“I’ve stopped apologizing for taking up space. Whether it’s sharing a firm opinion or asking for a raise, ‘sorry’ should never be the prefix to my expertise.”

– Lindsey Lane, Senior Group Director, Communications Design, at Omnicom Media Health

Barriers to networking

While valuable, forming networking relationships isn’t always straightforward: Only 12% of women say they don’t face any barriers when trying to build professional connections. 47% say the experience “feels too phony/transactional,” 32% blame a “lack of time” and another 32% say “psychological barriers” – such as social anxiety or a fear of rejection – get in the way.

Those are among the top barriers to networking for men as well, but not nearly to the same extent. Just 20% of men say building professional connections feels phony, while “psychological barriers” (17%) and “politics/differing perspectives” (17%) round out the top three. Only 15% said time was a factor.

The COVID-19 pandemic changed the game for networking, in ways good and bad. While women’s confidence in networking stalled post-pandemic, men’s confidence ballooned. 20% of women said they feel “much” or “slightly” more comfortable networking now compared to before the pandemic, while 57% say they feel “the same.” 60% of men feel more comfortable.

Despite that trend, since 2020, the rate of women asking for raises and promotions has only gone up. 68% of women say they had asked for a raise or promotion in 2026, up from 57% in 2020. Additionally, slightly more women – 58% – now say they feel fairly compensated, up from 55% in 2020.

• Confidence in asking for a raise rises with age: 21% of women aged 45-64 said they felt ‘at ease’ requesting a raise, while just 3% of women under 30 said the same.
• Networking confidence also goes up for women as they get older. 17% of under-30s were comfortable with networking, compared to 35% of those aged 45-64.

Forming and maintaining strong connections is crucial not only to building a career you can be proud of, but to your personal growth as well. Each new person in your network means a fresh perspective, an open door, a steadying hand – and by helping forge those bonds for others, you’ll reap the rewards yourself.

“Growth isn’t measured by constantly climbing upward. Real growth happens when you surround yourself with people who believe in you, challenge you, and champion your potential.”

– Youna Kim, SVP of Digital Investment at Zenith Media