Morin Oluwole, an International Luxury Business Leader who serves on the boards of Breitling, Rituals and Biologique Recherche, and the former Global Luxury Director at Meta, discusses what it really takes to stand out at the start of a career.
“Youthquake” is often described as disruption – a surge of new voices reshaping systems, industries, and power structures. In professional life, especially for young women, this moment can feel charged with urgency: speak early, stand out fast, make an impression before someone else does. Yet, having spent years working closely with senior executives, boards, and global leadership teams, I’ve observed something counterintuitive. The women who build lasting influence rarely do so by being the loudest or the quickest. They do it by understanding how authority is actually earned, often long before they are given a title.
INFLUENCE COMES BEFORE AUTHORITY
Early in my career, I believed leadership would come with time, that it would arrive naturally once experience and titles accumulated. What I learned instead is that leadership starts much earlier, often before you realise it, in the way people feel when they work with you. In my first strategic roles, long before I was considered “senior,” I began to notice what truly stayed with decisionmakers. It wasn’t how confidently I spoke, but how clearly I helped them see a situation. They remembered who brought structure to complexity, who asked thoughtful questions, who helped move conversations forward. Over time, I understood that authority is rarely something you are given all at once. It grows quietly, through judgment, consistency, and the trust you build by showing up with intention and care.
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FIRST IMPRESSIONS ARE ABOUT SUBSTANCE, NOT PERFORMANCE
There is a misconception that early-career success requires constant visibility. In reality, senior leaders are remarkably attuned to substance. I’ve sat in countless executive discussions where, afterward, leaders referenced a junior team member – not because she spoke the most, but because she asked the one question that reframed the issue. The impression that lasts is not about confidence theatre. It’s about understanding context, arriving prepared, and demonstrating judgment beyond your role.
THE POWER OF SAYING LESS – BUT MEANING MORE
In environments where young professionals feel pressure to prove themselves, silence can feel risky. But restraint is often a strength. Speaking selectively, when you have something considered to add, builds credibility far faster than constant contribution. This doesn’t mean shrinking or self-editing. It means choosing moments intentionally. Leaders remember clarity, not volume. A single insightful observation can define how you are seen long after a meeting ends.
CURIOSITY IS AN UNDERRATED LEADERSHIP SKILL
One of the most effective ways to build influence early is through curiosity. Not curiosity as politeness, but as genuine intellectual engagement. Asking the right question can redirect a conversation, surface blind spots, or unlock better decisions. It signals that you are thinking beyond your own role and engaging with the bigger picture. Young women often feel pressure to arrive with answers. In reality, demonstrating how you think – through questions, connections, and perspective – is often more impactful than having immediate solutions.
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UNDERSTAND THE ROOM BEFORE TRYING TO CHANGE IT
Youthquake energy can sometimes push young professionals to want to disrupt immediately. But influence is built by understanding systems before challenging them. Observe how decisions are made. Notice who influences outcomes and how. Pay attention to what is rewarded – and what is quietly quietly discouraged. This awareness allows you to navigate with intelligence rather than friction. Impact doesn’t come from opposing the system outright. It comes from knowing where and how to intervene meaningfully.
CONSISTENCY BUILDS TRUST FASTER THAN BRILLIANCE
I’ve seen exceptionally talented individuals stall because they chased standout moments instead of reliability. In contrast, those who consistently delivered, who followed through, stayed steady under pressure, and handled ambiguity well – were trusted with greater responsibility over time. Trust compounds quietly. It often matters more than brilliance, especially early on.
RESIST THE RUSH
Today’s professional culture rewards speed: fast growth, fast recognition, fast visibility. But leadership is not accelerated by urgency alone. Some of the most respected leaders I work with took time to build discernment – learning when to push, when to listen, and when to wait. Learning discernment, judgment, and self-awareness takes time. So does developing a point of view that isn’t borrowed from trends or titles. Young women who allow themselves to grow deliberately, without rushing visibility or validation, often emerge with something far more powerful: credibility that lasts.
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THE REAL IMPACT OF STARTING WELL
Making an impact early doesn’t mean having all the answers. It means building trust, presence, and clarity before you have formal power. Youthquake is not about urgency for its own sake. It is about intention. The most enduring impact is made by women who understand that authority is built through judgment, consistency, and presence – not performance. Start by mastering how you think, how you listen, and how you show up when it matters. Titles will follow. Influence always comes first.
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