As my company was getting used to this new work-from-home reality, I noticed that some people on the team – and it was usually women – were opting not to show their faces. And it got me to wondering, why do we put so much pressure on women in the workplace to look a certain way? I wrote about it in a LinkedIn post, and I hit on something that people wanted to talk about. My guest today, Loren Shumate, commented right away, “I had this exact realization this week. I honestly think it is more how women feel about themselves. It’s a need to be perfect that many women struggle to overcome. Understanding this about women is critical to inclusion strategies.” And so I asked her to share her insight as a professional woman in the workplace. Loren referenced several books in the show: How Women Rise by Sally Helgeson Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg What Got You Here Won’t Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith Dare to Lead and The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown.  The Donald Thompson Podcast is hosted by Walk West CEO, mentor, investor, and Diversity and Inclusion Consultant Donald Thompson. Music for this episode provided by Jensen Reed from his song, “You Can’t Stop Me”. The Donald Thompson Podcast is edited and produced by Earfluence. For more on the Earfluence Podcast Network, visit @EarfluenceMedia on any social media platform. High Octane Leadership is hosted by The Diversity Movement CEO and executive coach Donald Thompson and is a production of Earfluence. Order UNDERESTIMATED: A CEO’S UNLIKELY PATH TO SUCCESS, by Donald Thompson.