{"id":13335,"date":"2026-03-09T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-08T23:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/?p=13335"},"modified":"2026-06-23T07:55:32","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T23:55:32","slug":"thriving-quietly-how-introverted-women-can-succeed-in-a-world-built-for-extroverts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/2026\/03\/09\/thriving-quietly-how-introverted-women-can-succeed-in-a-world-built-for-extroverts\/","title":{"rendered":"Thriving Quietly: How Introverted Women Can Succeed in a World Built for Extroverts"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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After graduating from university, Ms Serena Low (Law \u201993) spent the first 11 years of her career practising law in Singapore\u2019s Public Service. It was a stable and respected path\u2014one she never questioned\u2014until a single moment in her mid-30s prompted deep reflection. Asked by a senior what lay ahead if she continued on the same trajectory, Ms Low found her thoughts drifting decades into the future.<\/p>

\u201cI imagined myself at retirement age, looking back\u2014and realising I had never considered any other life beyond law,\u201d she recalled.<\/p>

That moment marked the beginning of what she describes as a series of \u201cscenic detours\u201d: leaving legal practice, migrating to Australia while pregnant with her second child, and stepping away from work to focus on family. Years later, when her younger child was about to start school, Ms Low began asking a familiar question again: what was the next chapter?<\/p>

Her search led her to coaching, which she initially embarked on for her own personal development and later for people navigating mid-career transitions. Over time, a clear pattern emerged. Many of the women she worked with were high-achieving, thoughtful and capable\u2014but quietly struggling in environments that rewarded visibility and vocal presence. That was when her work shifted towards supporting introverted women.<\/p>

THE INVISIBLE PRESSURE TO “BE MORE”\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>

From Ms Low\u2019s experience, one of the most common challenges introverted women face is the belief that they are the problem.<\/p>

\u201cWhen something goes wrong\u2014when they don\u2019t get promoted or are overlooked\u2014they tend to think, \u2018I wasn\u2019t outspoken enough. I didn\u2019t do enough. I\u2019m not enough,\u2019\u201d she said.<\/p>

This mindset can be particularly pronounced among women navigating career transitions or relocating to countries with more outspoken workplace cultures. Ms Low works closely with professional migrant women who were once senior experts in their home countries, only to find themselves struggling in new environments where self-promotion and constant visibility are expected.<\/p>

Rather than encouraging them to \u201cfake it\u201d or perform extroversion, Ms Low takes a different approach. \u201cThese are highly intelligent, high-functioning women,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s not about changing who they are. It\u2019s about communicating their strengths in ways that fit the environment.\u201d<\/p>

QUIET STRENGTHS, VISIBLE IMPACT<\/strong><\/p>

According to Ms Low, introversion comes with its own powerful skill set: deep listening, careful observation, analytical thinking and the ability to synthesise ideas into thoughtful outcomes.<\/p>

In client-facing roles, these strengths can be especially valuable. By paying close attention\u2014remembering small details, listening beyond surface-level requests, and responding with tailored solutions\u2014introverted women often build strong trust and credibility.<\/p>

In meetings, being heard does not always mean speaking the most. Ms Low suggests alternative ways of contributing meaningfully: summarising discussions, clarifying key points, guiding conversations back on track, or following up thoughtfully after the meeting.<\/p>

NAVIGATING CHAOS WITHOUT LOSING YOURSELF\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>

Contrary to common assumptions, Ms Low believes introverts often perform well in chaotic situations. Their natural tendency to pause and reflect allows them to provide steadiness when things feel rushed or unclear.<\/p>

Her advice for introverts is simple but practical: ask for time. Requesting 10 or 30 minutes to gather thoughts or data is not a sign of avoidance\u2014it is a way of ensuring quality thinking. \u201cIntroverts think slowly and deeply,\u201d she explained. \u201cTheir output depends on having that space.\u201d<\/p>

This approach is especially helpful when working with more vocal managers or teams that move quickly. Clear communication about how and why time is needed helps bridge different working styles.<\/p>

RETHINKING NETWORKING AND LEADERSHIP\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>

In terms of attending networking events, traditional networking events, as Ms Low observed, are often heavily biased towards extroverts: large groups, constant movement, background noise and rapid self-introductions. For many introverted women, this leads to exhaustion rather than connection.<\/p>

Her suggestion? Redefine the goal. Set time limits. Focus on two or three meaningful conversations during the networking event and leave when your \u201csocial battery\u201d runs low.<\/p>

If existing networks don\u2019t fit, Ms Low offers another option: create your own. In Melbourne, she now runs small, curated gatherings for introverted men and women\u2014spaces designed for depth and meaningful connection instead of small talk.<\/p>

Leadership, too, deserves reframing, said Ms Low. \u00a0Research and experience alike show that many effective leaders are introverts\u2014people who listen, think carefully and lead with presence rather than ego.<\/p>

\u201cIn times of crisis, what people need is not hysteria. Instead, they need someone calm and one who can gather others and give direction,\u201d said Ms Low.<\/p>

A FINAL TAKEAWAY FOR WOMEN AT EVERY CAREER STAGE\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>

Whether you are a woman starting out, changing careers or adapting to a new country, Ms Low\u2019s core message is clear: being quiet is not a weakness\u2014it is a strength.<\/p>

\u201cYou don\u2019t need a formal title to lead,\u201d she said. \u201cYou can lead conversations, relationships and change in small but meaningful ways.\u201d<\/p>

For introverted women navigating transition or cultural change, success does not require becoming louder. It requires deeper self-trust, clarity about one\u2019s strengths, and the confidence to show up\u2014quietly, thoughtfully, and authentically.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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CAREER ADVICE FOR INTROVERTED WOMEN<\/strong><\/p>

  • Prepare for meetings\u2014but don\u2019t pressure yourself to speak constantly<\/li>
  • Use follow-ups, summaries and one-on-one conversations to be visible<\/li>
  • Document your achievements as you go; don\u2019t rely on memory<\/li>
  • Set boundaries in social and networking situations<\/li>
  • Recognise when challenges are systemic\u2014not personal<\/li>
  • Lead with listening, clarity and consistency<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    In many workplaces, success seems to favour those who speak the loudest. But according to introvert coach and former lawyer Ms Serena Low (Law \u201993), quiet strength\u2014when understood and used well\u2014can be just as powerful. In honour of International Women\u2019s Day, she shares practical advice for introverted women navigating career growth, transitions and new cultural environments.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":13336,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_theme","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13335","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-leadership"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13335","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13335"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13335\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14585,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13335\/revisions\/14585"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13336"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13335"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13335"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13335"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}