How To Become The CEO Of Your Own Career

Forbes

17-06-2025

Portrait of a confident young businesswoman working in a modern office
Lorraine K. Lee, global keynote speaker and bestselling author, remembers the excitement of landing her first promotion to 'news editor' at LinkedIn, after just one year at the company. In her new role, she worked on high-visibility projects, was well-liked by her peers, and earned a reputation as a go-to teammate. But despite all that, her career plateaued.
She'd done everything 'right,' so why did she feel stuck? She had said yes to every opportunity and delivered on major initiatives, but a promotion never had been on the table.
After some honest reflection, the answer became clear: Lee had been reactive, not strategic. Her 'let-the-work-speak-for-itself' mindset wasn't enough to push her career forward. She hadn't been thoughtful about her professional presence—i.e. how and where she was seen.
This is a common realization for many early- and mid-career professionals, who often believe that hard work alone will lead to success. In the summer of 2021, Dr. Kate Lister, a British author, tweeted, 'How old were you when you realized your original plan of being really nice, working really hard, and taking on more than you should, hoping you'd be automatically rewarded, was totally flawed?' The tweet resonated— over 400,000 people liked or retweeted it.
For Lee, this moment of clarity changed everything. After moving to a new company, she shifted her approach. She got clear on what leaders were looking for, made her wins visible, and communicated her goals openly. Within a year, she was promoted again— this time to director— and knew she had truly earned it.
Lorraine K. Lee holding a copy of her book, Unforgettable Presence, and smiling
Lee's experiences inspired her new book, Unforgettable Presence, (an Amazon #1 bestseller and #1 Amazon new release). Through her work, she helps others shift their mindset at work so that they can go from overlooked to unforgettable. Here's how she reframed her beliefs to take ownership of her career:
Before: Hard work alone will pay off.
After: If no one sees my work, it will be like I didn't do it. I need to actively share my accomplishments.
Before: My network will grow naturally.
After: I need to make sure I'm actively building relationships, not just when I need something.
Before: Feedback comes during annual reviews.
After: Feedback should be continuous if I want to grow faster.
Before: Promotions and raises happen with enough time.
After: I need to advocate for myself at every opportunity.
Lee takes these new mindsets a step further: She believes that every person should be the CEO of their own career.
According to Lee, 'Bringing the outlook of a CEO to my career changed how I interact with people on a day-to-day basis. It made me proactive, rather than passively letting things happen to me. It made me think more strategically about my career by being more vocal about my goals and intentional with building relationships. I began examining company metrics and considering how my work contributed to the bottom line. It boosted my confidence, allowing me to feel more in control, and ultimately put me in the driver's seat of my career.'
So, how can you become the CEO of your own career?
In order to figure out how you want to be seen, you first need to understand how your colleagues currently perceive you. If you're unsure, 360 reviews can help you gather feedback about your performance and reputation from different levels of colleagues and managers. You can then use this information to help you understand what others think about you.
What's the gap between how your colleagues see you now and how you want them to see you in the future? Once you're aware of that gap, you can figure out the steps to move from where you are today to where you want to be.
Lee recommends dividing a piece of paper into two columns: on the left, write adjectives for how your colleagues currently describe you, and on the right, list adjectives that represent how you actually want to be seen.
'Self-reflection can sometimes be a challenge,' Lee says, 'but going through the steps can help you become more aware of your brand and identify what others might not see.'
Once you've defined your brand, you need a way to communicate it effectively. That's where your unique, powerful introduction (UPI) comes in. 'Introductions are one of the most important situations to create a strong impression, but so many people miss this opportunity,' says Lee.
She suggests crafting a UPI that includes any of the following:
Lee's UPI from her time at Prezi evolved from: 'Hi, I'm Lorraine. I lead the editorial team,' to: 'Hi, I'm Lorraine, and I lead the editorial team. We collaborate with business leaders to create content that educates and inspires millions of users.' This new phrasing not only clarified her role and what she did but also added credibility by showcasing the scope and impact of her work.
Your UPI should help you stand out, and can change depending on where you're using it, too. For example, if you were to use it in your LinkedIn headline or in a LinkedIn post, it can open the door for opportunities like media interviews or speaking engagements, Lee says. When your UPI transcends company walls, 'It's free brand awareness for your company and amazing visibility for you.'
Once you've clearly defined your professional brand, focus on nurturing your network. Lee recommends checking in with key and new connections every few months, even if it's just to share something helpful you've learned that you think will benefit them in their role. Another option is to create a networking tracker to stay organized and ensure you're regularly maintaining important relationships.
'Just like setting aside time for family and friends, you have to create time to nurture your professional relationships,' Lee says. 'There's nothing inauthentic about doing a good job at keeping in touch.'
Nurturing your network means staying in touch and fostering genuine, long-term relationships. It's not just about being there when you need something— it's about ensuring those connections are strong and mutually supportive.
Being intentional with how you communicate is crucial for your professional presence. Lee suggests that minor adjustments to your phrasing can make a significant impact on how you're perceived. Instead of saying, 'I'll try to get it done next week,' say, 'I will get this done by Tuesday' to come across more confident and on top of things.
Removing your use of minimizing language like 'just' or 'sorry' can help you avoid sounding unsure of your point (and yourself). Lee also emphasizes that avoiding upspeak—where your voice rises at the end of sentences as if you're asking a question—can make you sound more confident and authoritative.
The way you phrase your requests and communicate can reshape how others perceive your authority and leadership, putting you in greater control of your career, according to Lee.
By applying these steps, along with many others outlined in her book, Lee was able to raise her profile both internally and externally, strengthening her brand within and outside her organization. In her new book, Unforgettable Presence, Lee teaches readers how to take control of their career trajectory and build a professional presence that leaves a lasting impact.