It’s not you, it’s the system.

Twenty years ago, I was appointed Coordinator of the Litigation Team, a fancy title, at a very important institution. That same day, I found out that my salary was half of my predecessor’s.

I thought there had to be a mistake. The authorities explained that the salary was correct and that the difference was because my predecessor also worked on the Auditing Committee in the same institution.

The explanation made sense. He was doing two jobs.

Guess what? So was I.

I was also a member of the Auditing Committee. When I went back to the authorities with this new information, they did not even bother to answer. It was a take it or leave it situation.

And as a single mother, I took it. For a year.

The year I needed to move to another job.

So the next time your confidence drops because you see male colleagues, earning more and being promoted while you remain at the same desk, remember this:

It’s not you, it’s the system. And when you’re ready, do something about it, all you need is strategy and determination.