Quiet Introverted Woman and Progression

[IcelandicWarriors]

Are there any quiet introverted female role models you can point me to?

I had my performance review. STEM area with lack of women. Went very well and they want me to go to the next level but I need to be more demonstrative and assertive.

I am quiet and introverted but feel confident and assertive. I think this is missed above other egos. They said my section was the most well run. They also said they don't want me to be someone I am not.

So thinking about this tonight, I see extroverted males and introverted males in more senior positions. And a few extroverted females (none above me in my area, in my organisation). But no quiet introverted females and I would like to see how another quiet female managed to progress.

Head of Ofsted?
www.theguardian.com/education/2018/feb/06/ofsted-chief-inspector-amanda-spielman-hijab
Film Director?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Campion
arie Curie
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Curie

Marie Curie popped into my head immediately.

Very interesting.
15 yrs ago but also in STEM but with better sex mix in the industry (although def male heavy at top end) I found being an introvert a massive disadvantage in one company but no problem in another. The company it was a problem in was nearly all extroverts no one could understand why i didnt want to go for drinks together after an all day meeting with company dinner to follow, i was seen as odd for not going out of my way (literally - a further away airport) in order to travel with colleagues. In the other company there was a far better mix of introverts & extroverts including seemingly introverted women in very high positions.

I am in a similar industry and have had similar feedback to you...the past year I worked hard on addressing it, much more than developing new technical skills and this was acknowledged in this year’s feedback. you can’t be someone you’re not as you’ll burnout eventually trying to be an extrovert when you need to introvert.
I read up a lot about personality types, introversion, began to understand that introverted doesn’t have to mean quiet/shy, have to gravitas, executive presence, how different personalities interact etc.
There are lots of books/articles/podcasts/videos on these topics at the minute.
Some practical things I did- more planning in advance of meetings about what I wanted to say, what my opinion is, thought about ways I might find it hard to speak up with a particular group and what I could do about it. I made sure I raised my point early, rather than waiting too long for someone else to say it for example.
I also got a mentor and joined a women in tech group, which gave me opportunities to practice what I needed to and think more thoroughly about these topics.