Are you too bold or not bold enough?

Part of the reason why women are not promoted to Full Professor as often as men is because they less frequently put themselves forward for it. (Insert imposter syndrome, among other things). Imagine my dismay when I last thought of applying for promotion, and another academic said “being bold is good, but perhaps you are being too bold” (another woman, no less). We can write as many articles as we like about women needing to step up and put themselves out there, but the messages trying to crush our confidence and worthiness aren’t actually coming from inside. Push back when the voices around you are telling you to stay in your box.