Kate Gibbs may have been the youngest panelist at the recent BINJE’s Best: Top Women in Business event — but that didn’t stop her from offering veteran advice.
Gibbs, the deputy director at Engineers Labor Employer Cooperative ELEC‑Local 825, told the audience that simply having access to opportunity is not enough. Advancement, she said, requires action.
“You can open a door for someone,” Gibbs said, “but they have to have the goods and the hustle to walk through it and keep going.”
Gibbs said hesitation can undo progress.
“You can’t politely step back when someone gives you an opportunity,” she said. “You have to go after it and have that hustle.”
That message framed a wide‑ranging panel discussion where Gibbs was joined by Karen Kessler, founder of Kessler PR, and Lori Roth, CEO of Prager Metis. The panel was moderated by Linda Lindner, managing editor of BINJE, and Michelle Siekerka, CEO of the New Jersey Business & Industry Association.
While the panelists acknowledged that the workplace has evolved, they were united in one conclusion — the fundamentals of career advancement have not.
Effort still matters. Presence still matters.
“Just because you show up with the right intentions doesn’t mean you get picked,” Kessler said. “You have to ask for what you want.”
And as for remote work, well, opportunity favors people who are intentional about showing up, the panelists said.
Being away from shared spaces can quietly reduce exposure to informal conversations, new assignments and relationship‑building moments, they said.
“Look at where the boss is,” Kessler said. “That’s where things happen.”
The speakers rejected the notion that visibility is synonymous with empty face time. Instead, they described presence as an opportunity for professional growth — one that speeds learning, trust and opportunity, particularly early in a career. Being physically present allows professionals to absorb not just information, they said, but also how leaders think, decide and respond under pressure.
“Some of the most valuable learning happens just by being there and listening,” Gibbs said. “You absorb how people think and how they process decisions.”
The discussion unfolded as part of BINJE’s annual celebration of New Jersey’s top women in business, supported by eight gold‑level sponsors: RWJBarnabas Health, PSEG, DEVCO‑Helix, United Airlines, ELEC 825, Prudential Financial, Prager Metis and Spectrum Works.
Together, the speakers offered a message that balanced realism with optimism: access matters — but action matters more.
“If you know where you want to go, the best thing you can do is say it out loud,” Kessler said. “That’s how people can help you find the way.”
Here are 10 more things we learned from the panel
10. Mentorship doesn’t have to be formal
Roth said many of her most important lessons came from observing others, not structured mentorship programs. Watching how leaders handle mistakes, decisions and pressure often teaches more than scheduled advice sessions.
9. Actions teach more than words
Panelists agreed that behavior is the most powerful form of leadership. Colleagues learn standards, priorities and values by watching what leaders do — especially when things go wrong.
8. Asking is a skill women still need to practice
Kessler stressed that women often wait to be recognized instead of asking directly for feedback or advancement. Asking clarifies expectations and accelerates progress when paired with listening.
7. Clarity about goals invites support
When people articulate where they want to go, others know how to help them. Ambition doesn’t repel support, the panelists said — vagueness does.
6. Authenticity builds stronger networks
Networking works best when it’s grounded in genuine relationships (not just gathering business cards). Being less guarded and more human fosters trust, loyalty and long‑term professional support.
5. You build a support system by giving
Roth emphasized that helping others — solving problems, offering guidance — naturally builds reciprocity. Support tends to return when generosity isn’t transactional.
4. Women supporting women is more common than people think
Gibbs pushed back on outdated stereotypes, describing a professional ecosystem where women actively root for and advocate for one another.
3. Representation changes ambition early
Seeing women in leadership roles reshapes what feels possible. Exposure matters long before someone’s first promotion opportunity.
2. Learning by observation is irreplaceable
Some of the most valuable career lessons come from listening and watching, not speaking. Those moments are harder to replicate fully in virtual environments.
1. Relationships matter most — before you need them
Strong professional relationships aren’t built in moments of urgency. The panel emphasized investing in people early, long before making an ask.
Kessler and Roth, women have worked their way to the top, were very clear on this.
“Your network is sharing,” Kessler said. “They’ll be in your corner when you need them — and you’ll be in theirs, more to the point.”
Roth stressed how you need others to climb.
“If you’re supportive to other people, other people are supportive to you,” she said. “What you put out there comes back to you.”
A special thank you goes to the gold‑level sponsors of the event celebrating the BINJE’s Best: Top Women in Business: RWJBarnabas Health, PSEG, DEVCO‑Helix, United Airlines, ELEC 825, Prudential Financial, Prager Metis and Spectrum Works.
