How to Rise from Supportive Contributor to Strategic Decision-Maker With Purpose and Power
Introduction
Have you ever felt like the one doing the heavy lifting behind the scenes—managing operations, executing ideas, holding the vision together—but somehow still excluded from key decisions?
If you’re the woman in the background role…
If you’ve ever said, “I had that idea first” but never received the credit…
If your name is rarely on the presentation, but your fingerprints are all over the results…
Then this blog is your invitation to rise.
I’m Neeti Keswani, Business Storytelling Coach, Ho’oponopono Practitioner, and host of the Luxury Unplugged Podcast, where I work with professionals and entrepreneurs to rewrite their story, step into their truth, and craft a personal brand rooted in both emotional healing and strategic presence.
Today, I’ll guide you through what it truly takes to evolve from a background player into a respected, boardroom-level influence—without betraying your values or becoming someone you’re not.
Let’s begin your shift from the background to the spotlight.
1. Understanding the Background Role Mindset
People in background roles often possess the deepest knowledge and strongest work ethic—yet remain overlooked in rooms where decisions are made.
Why?
Because being skilled does not automatically translate into being seen.
Being loyal does not guarantee recognition.
And over-delivering in silence often keeps you invisible.
In my coaching experience, what keeps people stuck in background roles is often:
- Fear of visibility
- Inherited beliefs around humility
- Lack of strategic self-positioning
- Emotional trauma related to being unheard
That’s why one of the first things we address in Luxury Unplugged coaching sessions is not your resume, but your identity.
To become influential, we need to see ourselves as leaders first—even before others do.
2. Influence Begins with Identity
Boardroom presence isn’t about title or tenure—it’s about energetic authority.
When I work with clients 1-on-1, we dive deep into identity transformation. Not by changing who you are, but by helping you remember who you’ve always been—a leader, a visionary, a contributor who deserves the seat and the say.
This identity shift involves:
- Releasing limiting beliefs about self-worth using Ho’oponopono healing
- Rewriting your personal narrative using my strategic storytelling framework
- Aligning your voice and values with your professional presence
This is exactly what I teach inside my personal brand mentorships and discuss on the Luxury Unplugged Podcast—because true influence is born within, not handed over in a title.
3. From Executor to Strategist: The Pivot That Changes Everything
When you’re in a background role, you’re often seen as a doer. But to become influential, you must reposition yourself as a strategic thinker.
This doesn’t mean you stop executing. It means you start:
- Connecting your contributions to larger outcomes
- Speaking in terms of impact, not just effort
- Sharing solutions, not just status updates
- Building a personal brand that aligns with your strategic value
I help my clients create what I call a Strategic Influence Statement—a concise story-backed pitch that clearly articulates:
- Who you are
- What you’ve done
- Why your perspective matters
This shift alone can transform how you’re perceived in leadership spaces.
4. Storytelling as Your Power Tool
The fastest way to claim influence is to tell your true story with power.
Most people speak from their accomplishments. But what moves the boardroom? What earns respect? What opens hearts and minds?
A story.
Your story isn’t just personal—it’s a strategic leadership asset.
In my Business Storytelling Coaching, I help clients:
- Craft a Signature Story Arc that turns background experience into boardroom credibility
- Share authentic, emotionally intelligent narratives that position them as visionary leaders
- Infuse storytelling into emails, presentations, bios, and interviews
When people hear your story and see themselves in it, you become more than a role—you become a voice of influence.
5. Emotional Healing is Professional Strategy
Let’s address the unspoken truth:
You can’t rise in visibility and influence if your nervous system doesn’t feel safe being seen.
I’ve had clients with 20+ years of experience, brilliant minds, and powerful ideas—who still hesitated to speak up in meetings.
Why?
Because influence is not just about speaking louder. It’s about healing the parts of you that learned your voice didn’t matter.
That’s why I integrate Ho’oponopono healing into all my coaching work. This ancient Hawaiian practice releases:
- Generational patterns
- Workplace trauma
- Visibility fears
- Internalized silence
When your emotions and energy align with your leadership, you don’t force influence—you embody it.
6. Personal Branding: Be Seen, Be Chosen, Be Respected
You cannot lead from the background if your brand is generic.
Your personal brand should reflect:
- What you stand for
- What value you deliver
- Why you’re a voice worth following
But too many professionals rely on outdated LinkedIn bios, corporate templates, or vague language. And then wonder why they aren’t invited to contribute at the highest level.
Here’s what we build together in Neeti Keswani’s Personal Brand Coaching:
- Brand Clarity: Who are you when no title defines you?
- Voice Development: How do you speak with clarity and conviction?
- Energetic Branding: Does your presence match your impact?
- Digital Presence: Is your online footprint aligned with your leadership?
Whether you’re aiming for boardrooms, keynote stages, or global influence—your brand is your launchpad.
7. From Inner Work to Outer Influence: Real Client Stories
Here are examples of women and men who made the leap:
💡 A finance expert who always prepped for others’ meetings—now sits on the board of an international nonprofit after crafting her leadership narrative and owning her space.
💡 A creative director who felt stuck under the CEO’s shadow—after our coaching work, she launched her consultancy and became a featured speaker at a global design summit.
💡 A VP-level executive who always said “I’m not a speaker”—now delivers corporate keynotes, hosts a podcast, and leads internal innovation strategy.
What changed?
Not their skills.
Not their roles.
Their stories, identities, and energetic frequency changed.
8. Luxury Unplugged Podcast: Where Thought Leaders Are Born
If you want to deepen your leadership through soul, tune in to the Luxury Unplugged Podcast.
This isn’t about external luxury. It’s about:
- The luxury of alignment
- The luxury of emotional freedom
- The luxury of being fully expressed
On the show, I share:
- Conversations with soul-driven leaders
- Tools for spiritual branding
- Storytelling strategies
- Energetic practices to reclaim visibility
Every episode is a guide to becoming a powerful voice in your field—without losing yourself.
🎧 Listen on Spotify
📺 Watch on YouTube
9. Step-by-Step Path to Boardroom Influence
Here’s a roadmap I use with clients:
- Heal the emotional charge around being seen using Ho’oponopono
- Identify your leadership story and value
- Articulate your influence with a personal brand framework
- Show up consistently online and in real life
- Lead from your truth—not performance
- Position yourself for opportunities aligned with your values
- Trust your voice and your timing
This is the framework that turns professionals into purposeful leaders.
10. Final Thoughts: The Room is Waiting for You
If you’ve been stuck in the background—waiting for the invite, the title, the moment—it’s time to realize:
The boardroom isn’t a place. It’s a mindset.
Influence isn’t something you earn. It’s something you embody.
The world is ready for leaders who lead with integrity, emotional intelligence, and authentic power.
And that leader?
She’s already in you.
Let’s bring her to the table. The boardroom awaits.
About Neeti Keswani
Neeti Keswani is a sought-after Business Storytelling Coach, certified Ho’oponopono Practitioner, and founder of Plush Ink Media. She is also the host of the Luxury Unplugged Podcast, where success meets soul and where silent professionals rise into visible, vibrant leaders.
Neeti’s work blends identity healing, narrative clarity, and brand alignment to help professionals and entrepreneurs move from background roles to powerful, boardroom-level voices.
📧 Coaching Inquiries: info@plush-ink.com
🌐 Website: www.plush-ink.com
🎧 Podcast: Luxury Unplugged on Spotify, Apple, YouTube
📘 Author of: Live Your Dreams
📸 Instagram: @luxurylifestylepodcast
🔗 All Links: smart.bio/plushink_luxuryunplugged