--- title: We’ve Cracked the Code for Career Success! description: Our research on The 9 Critical Differentiators™ for Career Success has cracked the code on what women need to succeed––and we want to share it with you now! image: https://www.leadingnow.biz/hubfs/iStock%20Photos/where-the-plan-finally-came-together.jpg_s=1024x1024%26w=is%26k=20%26c=a2I5pHGeX24oU28kLJtuWJ770XoIY2WStb9oSYMDDhk=%20(1).jpg --- [![LN-Logo-2021](https://www.leadingnow.biz/hs-fs/hubfs/ADMIN%20-%20All%20Brands/LN/LN-Logo-2021.png?width=147&height=80&name=LN-Logo-2021.png "LN-Logo-2021")](https://www.leadingnow.biz/) # We’ve Cracked the Code for Career Success! 1 min read | [Diane Coffey Chaput](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/author/diane-coffey-chaput) - Share: - [Facebook ](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/9-critical-differentiators?utm_medium=social&utm_source=) - [LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?url=https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/9-critical-differentiators?utm_medium=social&utm_source=&title=We%E2%80%99ve+Cracked+the+Code+for+Career+Success%21) - [Twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/9-critical-differentiators?utm_medium=social&utm_source=&url=https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/9-critical-differentiators?utm_medium=social&utm_source=&source=tweetbutton&text=We%E2%80%99ve+Cracked+the+Code+for+Career+Success%21) - [Email ](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/9-critical-differentiators?utm_medium=social&utm_source=%20&body=Check%20out%20https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/9-critical-differentiators?utm_medium=social&utm_source=) ![where-the-plan-finally-came-together.jpg_s=1024x1024&w=is&k=20&c=a2I5pHGeX24oU28kLJtuWJ770XoIY2WStb9oSYMDDhk= (1)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/hs-fs/hubfs/iStock%20Photos/where-the-plan-finally-came-together.jpg_s=1024x1024%26w=is%26k=20%26c=a2I5pHGeX24oU28kLJtuWJ770XoIY2WStb9oSYMDDhk=%20(1).jpg?width=857&height=429&name=where-the-plan-finally-came-together.jpg_s=1024x1024%26w=is%26k=20%26c=a2I5pHGeX24oU28kLJtuWJ770XoIY2WStb9oSYMDDhk=%20(1).jpg) Have you ever wondered why women tend to stall at mid-level in their career? We did, too. And we discovered the biggest reason is really quite simple…most managers don’t actually know what skills and competencies they need to develop in order to be seen as future leaders––and reach VP and senior executive-level roles.  Our research on [The 9 Critical Differentiators™](https://www.leadingnow.biz/research-research-the-9-critical-differentiators) for Career Success has cracked the code on what women need to succeed––and we want to share it with you now! ## The 9 Critical Differentiators™ you MUST know are: 1. Business Acumen 2. Financial Acumen 3. Strategic Acumen 4. Successfully Leading Inclusive Teams 5. Mentoring Relationships 6. Develop Strategic Industry Relationships 7. Communication Skills 8. Expert-level Knowledge of Business 9. Executive Presence The research also explores and identifies what organizations must do to develop talent deeper within the talent pipeline in order to engage & retain women at every level in their career journey.  This research is truly eye-opening and we’ve made an Executive Summary available to you so you can see for yourself why women need to master these skills and competencies.  We aren’t kidding when we say these are the “critical” differentiators! Leading NOW has even developed an entire suite of workshops that can be delivered in-person or virtually, to help you hone them! ### Want to learn more?  You can request an Executive Summary of the The 9 Critical Differentiators™ for Career Success for Women research [here](https://www.leadingnow.biz/research-research-the-9-critical-differentiators). [![DOWNLOAD The 9 Critical Differentiators™  New Research from Leading NOW’s Gender Dynamics Institute has identified The 9 Critical Differentiators™ women in the workplace must have to reach Executive Level roles  ](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/292089/interactive-181022388591.png) ](https://www.leadingnow.biz/hs/cta/wi/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLI6nyeZJqxTmW1oe44CC%2FR%2Bg7j5wj5M46TFR8HdwtEF%2Brdc4%2BuAEENXpgSoZWAz3P6LTkgL8PZBJz%2F8TH%2BBYLpD%2FAcGrXLxhchxNx2MbbtYQkFloscOBnZeDPA1oYzFeE089D89hkdRPSAJUi70ZmVFI2vIG2C5oz0tth2J510qHHUKxL1Zzypt92GZbQKogLAlgMabbfvx521EgOBqROgl2nSuN1RiBblBS%2FxW&webInteractiveContentId=181022388591&portalId=292089) And while you’re at it, don’t forget to check out our [leadership development](https://www.leadingnow.biz/leadership-talent-development) page to see what all of our programs have to offer!    [Talent Development](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/talent-development) [The Missing 33%®](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/the-missing-33) [Leadership](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/leadership) [Women's Leadership Development](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/womens-leadership-development) [Leading NOW](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/leading-now) This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. ### Subscribe #### Interested in seeing the latest insights on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion?   Stay up to date by subscribing to our blog. [Subscribe](http://leadingwomen.us10.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=7e3e1db45054d8de3a2c5ae49&id=bd74d50aef&submissionGuid=ded46f3f-9886-42d6-b256-424d635d3098) ### Latest Posts ### Posts by Category - [#ConferenceInABox (8)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/conferenceinabox) - [Accountability (2)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/accountability) - [Allies (4)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/allies) - [Assessments (4)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/assessments) - [Belonging (2)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/belonging) - [Breakthrough Leadership (10)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/breakthrough-leadership) - [Business Imperative (6)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/business-imperative) - [Career (38)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/career) - [CEO Advice (7)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/ceo-advice) - [Change (9)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/change) - [Closing the Gender Gap (52)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/closing-the-gender-gap) - [Cultural Dynamics (8)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/cultural-dynamics) - [DE&I (4)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/dei) - [Diversity & Inclusion (26)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/diversity-inclusion) - [Gender Bias (8)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/gender-bias) - [Gender Diversity (5)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/gender-diversity) - [Gender Dynamics (48)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/gender-dynamics) - [In Case You Missed It (8)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/in-case-you-missed-it) - [IWD (8)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/iwd) - [IWiN (7)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/iwin) - [lbgtq+ (4)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/lbgtq) - [Leadership (53)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/leadership) - [Leading NOW (64)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/leading-now) - [Making the Business Case (8)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/making-the-business-case) - [Managers Mindsets (31)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/managers-mindsets) - [Media Release (30)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/media-release) - [Mentoring (12)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/mentoring) - [Millennials (6)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/millennials) - [Motherhood Penalty (3)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/motherhood-penalty) - [Networking (3)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/networking) - [Psychological Safety (3)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/psychological-safety) - [Reverse Mentoring (2)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/reverse-mentoring) - [STEM (1)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/stem) - [Strategic Relationships (4)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/strategic-relationships) - [Talent Development (54)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/talent-development) - [TED (4)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/ted) - [The Missing 33%® (33)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/the-missing-33) - [Tools/Resources (12)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/toolsresources) - [Training (2)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/training) - [Unconscious Bias (5)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/unconscious-bias) - [Virtual Programs (5)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/virtual-programs) - [Women of Color (9)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/women-of-color) - [Women's Leadership Development (22)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/womens-leadership-development) - [Work From Home (1)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/work-from-home) [See all](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/9-critical-differentiators#) ### Posts by Author - [Alison Lazenby (2)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/author/alison-lazenby) - [Diane Coffey Chaput (52)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/author/diane-coffey-chaput) - [Erin Defoyd (7)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/author/erin-defoyd) - [Gretchen Sussman (3)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/author/gretchen-sussman) - [Guest Blogger (4)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/author/guest-blogger) - [Kelly Primus (34)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/author/kelly-primus) - [Michelle Redfern (5)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/author/michelle-redfern) - [Samantha Furbush Taraskiewicz (46)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/author/samantha-furbush-taraskiewicz) - [Susan Colantuono (74)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/author/susan-colantuono) - [Tim Kemp (2)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/author/tim-kemp) - [Vanessa Phipps (1)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/author/vanessa-phipps) [See all](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/9-critical-differentiators#) ### Follow Us - [LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/leading-now-llc) - [Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/LeadingNOWLLC) - [Twitter ](https://twitter.com/LeadingNOWLLC) - [Instagram ](https://www.instagram.com/leadingnowllc/) ![WOSB Certification Logo](https://www.leadingnow.biz/hubfs/WOSB%20Certification%20Logo.png "WOSB Certification Logo") [![LW_WebFooter](https://www.leadingnow.biz/hs-fs/hubfs/ADMIN%20-%20All%20Brands/LW_WebFooter.png?width=150&name=LW_WebFooter.png)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/leading-women)  [![GDI_WebFooter](https://www.leadingnow.biz/hs-fs/hubfs/ADMIN%20-%20All%20Brands/GDI_WebFooter.png?width=150&name=GDI_WebFooter.png)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/gender-dynamics-institute)  [![CDI_WebFooter](https://www.leadingnow.biz/hs-fs/hubfs/ADMIN%20-%20All%20Brands/CDI_WebFooter.png?width=175&name=CDI_WebFooter.png)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/center-for-diversity-and-inclusion)  [![LeadFor-FINAL_RGB_2022Jul](https://www.leadingnow.biz/hs-fs/hubfs/ADMIN%20-%20All%20Brands/LF/LeadFor-FINAL_RGB_2022Jul.png?width=120&name=LeadFor-FINAL_RGB_2022Jul.png)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/leading-foward)   ©2013-2025 Leading NOW, LLC. | All Rights Reserved | [Privacy Policy](https://www.leadingnow.biz/privacy-policy)       ![hrtech](https://www.leadingnow.biz/hs-fs/hubfs/hrtech.png?width=130&height=124&name=hrtech.png "hrtech")