The career advice you never knew you needed, straight to your inbox.
There's one thing I never show up to a sales meeting without: heels.
Sometimes they're pumps. Sometimes they're hidden inside a pair of boots. But they're always there. Not because my clients care, but because I do.
And it's not about the shoes. It's about who I become when I wear them. I walk into the room differently. I introduce myself first. I pitch with more conviction. I don't second-guess myself before speaking up.
I often find myself pitching a room full of men on why they should invest more in women. In those moments, confidence matters. And over the course of my career, I've learned how much it matters to invest in the things that make you feel confident, that shave minutes off your morning routine, or that keep you strong and healthy.
As someone who thinks about return on investment every day, I've started looking at my personal investments the same way. Some things simply pay for themselves, because they make every day a little easier, a little faster, or a little more confident.
These are the purchases I'd happily make all over again.
A vintage designer bag. I know this one isn't exactly budget-friendly, but I wear mine almost every day. It makes even jeans and a white T-shirt feel put together, and I'd much rather invest in one timeless piece than keep replacing cheaper bags. (My favorite place to browse is Vintage on Friday.)
A workout outfit you genuinely love wearing. Motivation comes and goes, but somehow I'm always more likely to make it to the gym when I know I'll feel good walking in. Lately I've been reaching for Tala almost every workout.
One pair of shoes that makes you stand a little taller. For me, that's heels. For you, it might be loafers or boots. The point isn't the shoe, it's finding the pair that makes you feel like the most confident version of yourself. (I've been loving Tony Bianco lately.)
Here's to spending a little more intentionally and investing in the version of yourself you're becoming.
Where FxF is popping up this summer
Investing in yourself also means investing in your network, because your next opportunity could come from one conversation. Here are the spaces we've created this summer to meet ambitious women and build connections that move your career forward.
The AI Lab Training 🇳🇱
Become the AI champion your team needs. Over two intensive days, you go from understanding what AI really is, to working with it on your own finance tasks, to leading the AI conversation inside your organisation.
You can use your L&D budget for this training.
A sculpt workout? We’re in 🇬🇧
We are partnering with BEYOND to launch their new studio to our community in London! Sculpt your body. Scale your network.
This is an intimate, curated evening exclusively for Associates and above. Because the best connections happen in the smallest rooms.
FxF Run Club - 14km 🇳🇱
We started at 5km and we’re already at 14! Welcome to The FxF Run Club: where ambitious women come together to build more than endurance.
Join our run club and get a free ticket for the NN Dam tot Damloop.
You Asked, We Answered
Being intentional about your career means asking the questions that move you forward. That's why we're answering the questions you might not feel comfortable asking anyone else. Always anonymously, always with practical advice you can use.
Q: "I've told my manager multiple times that I want to move into a client-facing role, but every time I'm told, 'Maybe next year' or 'We need you where you are right now.' I'm starting to feel like I'm going in circles.”
Our advice: The biggest career mistake we see women make is believing that one "no" means the conversation is over.
You need to remember that "No" rarely means never. More often, it means not now, not this way, or I don't yet see enough reason to make this happen. So instead of accepting the answer at face value, get curious!
Turn "no" into a roadmap. The next time you hear "not yet," ask: "What would need to be true for the answer to become yes?" Push for specifics. A skill? A project? Six more months? If they can't give you a clear answer, you're not working towards a goal, you’re just waiting around.
Don't rely on one sponsor. Your manager matters, but they're rarely the only person who influences your career. Build relationships with senior colleagues in the team you want to join. Let people know where you're headed before there's an opening.
Keep bringing it up!! Many women raise an ambition once and assume it's understood forever. It isn't. Priorities change, teams change, and managers get busy. If this matters to you, keep it on the agenda. The people who get opportunities are often the ones who consistently remind others they're ready for them.
And remember: careers aren't built through one conversation. They're built through dozens of conversations where you keep showing people where you want to go.
Got a question you'd never ask out loud? Career, salary, office politics, money, send it in. Always anonymous.
Working Smarter, Not Harder
You've probably seen it all over our socials: this summer at FxF is all about Smart Girl Summer.
A series dedicated to helping you build your career edge: not by doing more, but by learning smarter, thinking bigger, and investing in yourself. And judging by your responses, we're not the only ones thinking about it.
Over the past weeks, we've explored what it means to become a smarter investor in yourself: from learning how to take care of your body and mind with Lauren Simmons, to replacing doom scrolling with intentional content consumption.
But, one question kept coming back from our community:
How do we stop working harder and start working smarter?
And honestly, as two busy co-founders, this is something we're constantly thinking about too. Between building FxF, creating content, and growing our community, we've been exploring how AI can help us reduce repetitive tasks while creating more space for the work that actually matters.
If you missed it, here is our Smart Girl Summer episode on how AI can become your personal agent.
Because the women who build successful careers aren't necessarily the ones who work the hardest. They're the ones who learn how to work smarter, advocate for themselves, and invest their energy where it matters most.
So, before you close this newsletter, here's your Smart Girl Summer homework:
Invest in one thing that makes you feel more confident.
Have one conversation you've been avoiding.
Replace one hour of working harder with finding a smarter way.
Three small moves.
One very smart summer.
