Why Career Growth Today Depends on Visibility, Not Just Performance
The belief that hard work alone leads to promotion is still common, but it is increasingly outdated. In today’s fast-paced and highly networked business environment, performance is only part of the equation. The professionals who advance are not just those who deliver results. They are the ones who are seen delivering results.
Ilia Jakel, a corporate leadership expert and emotional intelligence strategist, has seen this shift firsthand. With over 20 years of experience in pharmaceuticals, healthcare, and leadership development, she now helps individuals and organizations understand a hard truth: career growth depends just as much on strategic visibility as it does on ability.
“You can be the most competent person in the room, but if no one knows what you’re doing or what you bring to the table, you’ll stay in the same place,” Jakel says. “Visibility is not about arrogance. It’s about alignment, presence, and owning your value.”
Why High Performers Get Stuck — and How to Get Unstuck
Jakel often works with professionals who feel frustrated. They meet every deadline, exceed expectations, and quietly carry the weight of their teams, yet watch others advance more quickly. The issue is not competence. It is that their efforts are going unnoticed by the people who make decisions.
“Leaders promote those they trust and remember. And memory is shaped by presence,” Jakel explains. “That means showing up, speaking up, and being visible across departments and to key stakeholders.”
She shares a common case study in her workshops: two professionals with equal technical skill. One keeps their head down, focused on doing great work. The other not only performs well but builds relationships, shares progress, and is seen contributing across the organization. When a leadership opportunity arises, it is the second person who comes to mind.
“In consulting and other high-stakes industries, performance gets you in the door, but visibility gets you the promotion,” says Ming Chang, a management consultant at EY-Parthenon who is passionate about mentoring younger professionals, “presence is a part of it, but part of it is also showcasing to leaders you can manage stakeholders and voice your opinion when it counts, all of which are critical to success in the industry”.
Jakel helps her clients reframe visibility as a leadership skill, not self-promotion. Through strategic networking, emotional awareness, and clear communication, she equips people to increase their presence without losing authenticity.
Visibility Without Ego: How to Be Seen and Respected
Many high performers hesitate to pursue visibility because they worry it will make them seem boastful. Jakel challenges this fear by teaching emotional intelligence tools that help professionals elevate their presence while maintaining humility and professionalism.
“You don’t need to broadcast your wins on a loudspeaker,” she says. “You just need to make sure the right people understand the value you’re adding.”
She coaches clients on how to create regular touchpoints with decision-makers, lead initiatives that cross departmental lines, and share their insights in meetings without dominating the room. These small moments build a reputation for leadership long before a promotion becomes available.
Jakel also helps organizations recognize and correct internal cultures that reward visibility over substance. Her training helps balance the scales by encouraging emotionally intelligent visibility — where employees are encouraged to contribute visibly and meaningfully, not just loudly.
“Visibility is not about outshining others,” she says. “It is about stepping forward with confidence, especially when your ideas can benefit the group. When done right, it builds credibility, not ego.”
Emotional Intelligence: The Secret to Sustainable Growth
Jakel believes that sustainable career growth comes from the intersection of performance, presence, and emotional intelligence. Leaders who rise through the ranks often demonstrate a blend of technical skill, strategic awareness, and the ability to build trust with others.
At the core of Jakel’s work is helping professionals understand how they are perceived, and how to shift that perception intentionally. She incorporates tools like 360 feedback reviews and real-world case discussions to help clients identify their blind spots and become more proactive in managing their image.
This is especially important in hybrid or remote environments, where being physically out of sight can easily lead to being out of mind. “If you’re not visible, people assume you’re either disengaged or replaceable,” Jakel warns. “You have to make your impact known — not by shouting, but by being consistently present and communicative.”
Her clients walk away with more than strategies. They gain the confidence to claim their space, build relationships that matter, and articulate their value in ways that are both natural and powerful.
Conclusion: Be Seen, Be Heard, Be Ready
Ilia Jakel is helping rewrite the rules of career advancement. Her work shows that high performance is not enough. To grow your career, you must also grow your presence.
Visibility, when guided by emotional intelligence, does not dilute professionalism. It strengthens it. It ensures that your skills, ideas, and contributions are part of the conversation when decisions are made.
Jakel’s message is both a challenge and an invitation. Stop waiting to be noticed. Step into your own spotlight with clarity, courage, and authenticity. Because the leaders who shape the future will not just be the best performers. They will be the ones who are seen leading the way.