In this solo episode, I talk about one of the most underrated career moves for women leaders: getting in the room where decisions are made. Whether it’s executive meetings, board discussions, leadership retreats, or high-level masterminds, being present in these spaces can completely change how you think, lead, and grow. I share lessons from leading a billion-dollar business and from a recent retreat in Nashville where I intentionally surrounded myself with entrepreneurs who were further along than I was.

In those moments, it’s easy to feel intimidated or like you’re the least experienced person in the room—but I’ve learned that feeling doesn’t mean you don’t belong; it means you’re expanding. Too often, women wait to be invited into these spaces, when the real barrier is a permission gap, not a skills gap. In this episode, I explore how advocating for your seat can expand your thinking, strengthen relationships, increase visibility, and ultimately help you see yourself as the leader you’re becoming.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

The “Room” Matters More Than You Think

High-stakes decisions don’t happen everywhere—they happen in specific rooms: leadership meetings, strategy sessions, retreats, and boardrooms. Being present in these spaces exposes you to the thinking, language, and relationships that shape big outcomes.

Audience follow-up → Ask yourself: What’s the room where the decisions that impact my work or industry are actually being made?

Discomfort Is a Sign You’re Expanding

Lori shares her experience at a Nashville retreat surrounded by entrepreneurs who were further ahead in their journey. Instead of shrinking, she recognized that the discomfort meant she was in a room that could stretch her thinking.

Audience follow-up → When was the last time you intentionally put yourself in a room where you weren’t the most experienced person?

Stop Waiting for Invitations

Many women assume that if they’re meant to be in the room, someone will invite them. Lori challenges that belief and encourages leaders to advocate for themselves and ask for access to the conversations that matter.

Audience follow-up → What room could you ask to be included in right now?

The Permission Gap Is Real

The barrier for many women leaders isn’t capability—it’s permission. Too often we wait until we feel completely ready, polished, or qualified before stepping forward. Leadership requires claiming space before you feel 100% ready.

Audience follow-up → Where might you be holding yourself back by waiting for permission?

Relationships Open Doors

Being in the room isn’t just about the meeting—it’s about the connections that form around it. Proximity to decision-makers and peers expands opportunities, ideas, and collaborations.

Audience follow-up → Who in your network could introduce you to a room you want to be in?

Drop the Polished Persona

Lori emphasizes that showing up authentically—without the pressure to perform a perfectly polished version of yourself—creates stronger connections and deeper impact.

Audience follow-up → Where might authenticity help you connect more powerfully with leaders around you?

The Room Changes How You Lead

Exposure to bigger conversations expands your strategic thinking, confidence, and sense of possibility. Once you see how decisions are made, you begin to think differently about your role and your potential influence.

Audience follow-up → How might your leadership shift if you regularly participated in higher-level conversations?

🔎 Mentioned in the Episode:

1. Lori’s Nashville retreat experience with entrepreneurs further along in their journey
2. The concept of the “Permission Gap” in leadership
3. The importance of executive rooms, board discussions, and leadership offsites in shaping strategy and opportunity
4. The mindset shift from waiting for invitations to claiming your seat

✨ Reflection Prompts:

1. What is the high-stakes room you want to be in?
2. What’s one bold ask you could make this month to get closer to that room?
3. Where might comparison be showing up—and how can you reframe it as evidence of growth?

🧠 Who This Episode Is For:

1. Women leaders ready to expand their influence
2. Executives and entrepreneurs who want greater strategic visibility
3. Professionals who feel stuck outside key decision-making spaces
4. Anyone ready to stop waiting for permission and step into bigger rooms

📩 Want to Go Deeper?

Follow Lori on LinkedIn to continue the conversation

1. Book a Leadership Strategy Call with Lori: loripine.com

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