Why Are We Still Cutting Down Our Tall Poppies? Cost of Success for Women

Why Are We Still Cutting Down Our Tall Poppies? Cost of Success for Women

Success should spark high-fives, not knives in the back. In India's buzzing offices—from Mumbai's corporate towers to Bangalore's tech dens—high-achieving women face a silent saboteur: Tall Poppy Syndrome. It's the act of chopping down those who dare to stand out, and it hits women hardest. Many of you must have seen this beast up close, and it’s time to talk about it—crisp, no fluff.

Preeti, a Delhi fintech star, saving her firm millions with a digital overhaul. Her reward? A promotion followed by whispers: "Too aggressive," "She got lucky." Peers froze her out, and her ideas were suddenly "team efforts." She dimmed her shine to survive. Or take Lakshmi, a Bangalore IT exec, whose global award for AI innovation triggered micromanaging from her own boss—a woman—and gossip that clipped her confidence. She quit for a startup. These aren’t one-offs. #TheBrink2028 found 77% of Indian women hide their wins to avoid backlash, and 66% see their credit stolen. Globally, 86.8% face this, with Indian women hit hard by exclusion, bullying, or stolen credit..

Why talk about. it now?

India’s economy is sprinting—aiming to climb up—and women are its fuel, driving startups and tech. Post-Great Resignation, many returned, but the promotion gap festers: only 18% of senior roles are women’s and just 30% of women feel they’ve got a fair shot at climbing. This syndrome isn’t just personal—it tanks productivity, spikes turnover, and fuels burnout. With AI reshaping jobs, we can’t afford to lose talent to petty resentment.

Is this your office?

That chill when a woman’s pitch kills it, only to be met with eye-rolls? I’ve seen brilliant employees shrink, and it’s not just their loss—it’s ours. The fix? Celebrate wins, don’t curse them. Men, call out the cutters;

Women, don’t hide your light.

Document your work, find allies, and reframe jealousy as proof you’re killing it. Success isn’t a zero-sum game. When we let tall poppies bloom, India’s future shines brighter.

Stop the scythe—let’s grow together.

Your awareness is the first step—by simply engaging with truths many fear to face, you're already part of TheBrink movement.

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