• You're Not the Problem. The Loop Is.

    You've done the work. You've delivered the results. So why are you still seen as "support" instead of leadership material?

    Because you’re caught in a hidden loop — a pattern that keeps you proving yourself instead of being promoted.

  • What you’re caught in isn’t random.

    It’s a loop.

    A repeating cycle that keeps deciding who gets seen as a leader—

    independent of capability.

    You were asked where you saw yourself in five years. You gave a vague answer — because you thought you needed to prove more first. Deliver enough, and they’d see your leadership potential.

    So you kept saying yes to extra assignments. You carried the load. You solved the tough problems. You proved yourself again and again.

    But the recognition never shifted. They saw your capability, but not your capacity for leadership. By the time you felt ready to step forward, they had already boxed you in: the reliable doer, not the leader.

    This isn’t about effort. You’re already doing the work.
    It's about the loop — a cycle where your capability gets seen, but your leadership potential stays invisible.

    And once you see the loop, you can break it.

  • From Responding to Breaking the Pattern

    In my TEDx talk, I introduced ASAP™ — a tactical tool for those moments when bias hits in real time:

    – When someone takes credit for your idea.

    – When you’re interrupted again.

    – When vague feedback blocks your promotion.

    ASAP helps you respond in the moment. It stops the immediate harm.

    But stopping harm isn’t the same as changing the pattern. That’s where the Loop-to-Lead™ Method comes in — the eight strategic moves designed to disrupt the cycle itself.

  • The 6 Loops That Keep You Stuck

    No matter how much you deliver, these loops keep you seen as reliable — not leadership material.

    Here are the six most common loops that keep women stuck in corporate settings—no matter how much they deliver:

    Visibility Gap Loop

    You deliver results, but your leadership potential remains unseen.

    Quiet Exit Loop

    When your effort goes unrecognized too many times, your ambition starts to dim and you stop putting yourself forward.

    Affinity Trust Loop

    Leaders put their trust in people who feel familiar — those are the ones they open doors for. Everyone else stays excluded.

    Stereotype Confirmation Loop

    Your performance is judged through stereotypes, not results—so the feedback keeps confirming bias instead of recognizing capability.

    Meritocracy Illusion Loop

    They say promotions are about merit, but the rules aren’t applied equally — bias hides behind the word ‘fair.’

    Burnout Loop

    Proving yourself twice, changing how you speak and act to fit in, managing others’ comfort — it all drains you, leaving less energy to be visible.

    Recognizing your loop is the first step — breaking it takes a strategy.

  • 8 Moves — One Strategic Path: Transform your challenges into opportunities.

    Every loop looks different, but the way out follows the same order.

    Everyone starts with Moves 1–2 — naming the loop and revealing what’s feeding it. Then you apply the moves that disrupt your specific loop. And everyone finishes with Move 8 — building new patterns so the old cycle doesn’t reset.

    The method is sequential, but flexible: Moves 3–7 are targeted to the loop you’re in.

    We create customized systems that challenge existing biases and empower diverse leaders to thrive on their own terms. Strategic System Design What We Do Loop to Lead Strategic system design for norm-breaking professionals who want to lead on their own terms. I’m a Strategic Systems Architect specializing in influence, power dynamics, and behavioral design. My work is rooted in science and systems thinking, designed to help people who don’t fit the traditional leadership mold flip the invisible loops that hold them back — and rise without compromise. Tagline: Flip the loop. Redesign the rules. Value proposition: I teach professionals and leaders how to disrupt unconscious systems of bias and exclusion — not with mindset tips, but with actionable system design. Whether through speaking, workshops, or my signature Loop Discovery Sessions, I help people see the invisible frame that shapes who gets to lead — and how to shift it, ethically and strategically. TEDx Speaker | Workshop Facilitator | Strategic Session Guide All grounded in the LEAD Impact System™, my 8-step framework for interrupting bias and designing real visibility.

    1. Name the Loop

    See the pattern keeping you stuck

    Engage in immersive sessions that reveal the hidden structures influencing leadership dynamics and explore ways to shift them. Loop Discovery Sessions What We Do Loop to Lead Strategic system design for norm-breaking professionals who want to lead on their own terms. I’m a Strategic Systems Architect specializing in influence, power dynamics, and behavioral design. My work is rooted in science and systems thinking, designed to help people who don’t fit the traditional leadership mold flip the invisible loops that hold them back — and rise without compromise. Tagline: Flip the loop. Redesign the rules. Value proposition: I teach professionals and leaders how to disrupt unconscious systems of bias and exclusion — not with mindset tips, but with actionable system design. Whether through speaking, workshops, or my signature Loop Discovery Sessions, I help people see the invisible frame that shapes who gets to lead — and how to shift it, ethically and strategically. TEDx Speaker | Workshop Facilitator | Strategic Session Guide All grounded in the LEAD Impact System™, my 8-step framework for interrupting bias and designing real visibility.

    2. Reveal the Bias

    Understand what's feeding it

    Participate in transformative workshops or attend talks that inspire action towards inclusive leadership and systemic change. Workshops and Speaking Engagements What We Do Loop to Lead Strategic system design for norm-breaking professionals who want to lead on their own terms. I’m a Strategic Systems Architect specializing in influence, power dynamics, and behavioral design. My work is rooted in science and systems thinking, designed to help people who don’t fit the traditional leadership mold flip the invisible loops that hold them back — and rise without compromise. Tagline: Flip the loop. Redesign the rules. Value proposition: I teach professionals and leaders how to disrupt unconscious systems of bias and exclusion — not with mindset tips, but with actionable system design. Whether through speaking, workshops, or my signature Loop Discovery Sessions, I help people see the invisible frame that shapes who gets to lead — and how to shift it, ethically and strategically. TEDx Speaker | Workshop Facilitator | Strategic Session Guide All grounded in the LEAD Impact System™, my 8-step framework for interrupting bias and designing real visibility.

    3. Flip the Visibility Gap

    Make your impact visible

    Participate in transformative workshops or attend talks that inspire action towards inclusive leadership and systemic change. Workshops and Speaking Engagements What We Do Loop to Lead Strategic system design for norm-breaking professionals who want to lead on their own terms. I’m a Strategic Systems Architect specializing in influence, power dynamics, and behavioral design. My work is rooted in science and systems thinking, designed to help people who don’t fit the traditional leadership mold flip the invisible loops that hold them back — and rise without compromise. Tagline: Flip the loop. Redesign the rules. Value proposition: I teach professionals and leaders how to disrupt unconscious systems of bias and exclusion — not with mindset tips, but with actionable system design. Whether through speaking, workshops, or my signature Loop Discovery Sessions, I help people see the invisible frame that shapes who gets to lead — and how to shift it, ethically and strategically. TEDx Speaker | Workshop Facilitator | Strategic Session Guide All grounded in the LEAD Impact System™, my 8-step framework for interrupting bias and designing real visibility.

    4. Shift the Trust Flow

    Build real sponsorship

    Participate in transformative workshops or attend talks that inspire action towards inclusive leadership and systemic change. Workshops and Speaking Engagements What We Do Loop to Lead Strategic system design for norm-breaking professionals who want to lead on their own terms. I’m a Strategic Systems Architect specializing in influence, power dynamics, and behavioral design. My work is rooted in science and systems thinking, designed to help people who don’t fit the traditional leadership mold flip the invisible loops that hold them back — and rise without compromise. Tagline: Flip the loop. Redesign the rules. Value proposition: I teach professionals and leaders how to disrupt unconscious systems of bias and exclusion — not with mindset tips, but with actionable system design. Whether through speaking, workshops, or my signature Loop Discovery Sessions, I help people see the invisible frame that shapes who gets to lead — and how to shift it, ethically and strategically. TEDx Speaker | Workshop Facilitator | Strategic Session Guide All grounded in the LEAD Impact System™, my 8-step framework for interrupting bias and designing real visibility.

    5. Reframe the Feedback

    Redirect to your results

    Participate in transformative workshops or attend talks that inspire action towards inclusive leadership and systemic change. Workshops and Speaking Engagements What We Do Loop to Lead Strategic system design for norm-breaking professionals who want to lead on their own terms. I’m a Strategic Systems Architect specializing in influence, power dynamics, and behavioral design. My work is rooted in science and systems thinking, designed to help people who don’t fit the traditional leadership mold flip the invisible loops that hold them back — and rise without compromise. Tagline: Flip the loop. Redesign the rules. Value proposition: I teach professionals and leaders how to disrupt unconscious systems of bias and exclusion — not with mindset tips, but with actionable system design. Whether through speaking, workshops, or my signature Loop Discovery Sessions, I help people see the invisible frame that shapes who gets to lead — and how to shift it, ethically and strategically. TEDx Speaker | Workshop Facilitator | Strategic Session Guide All grounded in the LEAD Impact System™, my 8-step framework for interrupting bias and designing real visibility.

    6. Protect the Aspiration

    Keep ambition alive

    Participate in transformative workshops or attend talks that inspire action towards inclusive leadership and systemic change. Workshops and Speaking Engagements What We Do Loop to Lead Strategic system design for norm-breaking professionals who want to lead on their own terms. I’m a Strategic Systems Architect specializing in influence, power dynamics, and behavioral design. My work is rooted in science and systems thinking, designed to help people who don’t fit the traditional leadership mold flip the invisible loops that hold them back — and rise without compromise. Tagline: Flip the loop. Redesign the rules. Value proposition: I teach professionals and leaders how to disrupt unconscious systems of bias and exclusion — not with mindset tips, but with actionable system design. Whether through speaking, workshops, or my signature Loop Discovery Sessions, I help people see the invisible frame that shapes who gets to lead — and how to shift it, ethically and strategically. TEDx Speaker | Workshop Facilitator | Strategic Session Guide All grounded in the LEAD Impact System™, my 8-step framework for interrupting bias and designing real visibility.

    7. Guard your Energy

    Stop the drain

    Participate in transformative workshops or attend talks that inspire action towards inclusive leadership and systemic change. Workshops and Speaking Engagements What We Do Loop to Lead Strategic system design for norm-breaking professionals who want to lead on their own terms. I’m a Strategic Systems Architect specializing in influence, power dynamics, and behavioral design. My work is rooted in science and systems thinking, designed to help people who don’t fit the traditional leadership mold flip the invisible loops that hold them back — and rise without compromise. Tagline: Flip the loop. Redesign the rules. Value proposition: I teach professionals and leaders how to disrupt unconscious systems of bias and exclusion — not with mindset tips, but with actionable system design. Whether through speaking, workshops, or my signature Loop Discovery Sessions, I help people see the invisible frame that shapes who gets to lead — and how to shift it, ethically and strategically. TEDx Speaker | Workshop Facilitator | Strategic Session Guide All grounded in the LEAD Impact System™, my 8-step framework for interrupting bias and designing real visibility.

    8. Build a Better Loop

    Create new patterns

    You don’t need all 8 moves at once. You need the right ones for your loop — starting with seeing your loop, naming it clearly, and breaking it strategically. That’s exactly what we’ll do together in a Loop-to-Lead Session™.

  • Ready to See Your Loop — and Flip It?

    A 45-minute Loop-to-Lead Session™ gives you a clear map of your loop — and the first strategic moves to break it.

    Here’s what happens:

    • We start with the loop you’re stuck in. Maybe it showed up in the quiz. Maybe you already know which pattern keeps repeating.
    • We map it — not just the obvious parts, but the reasons it keeps happening.
    • Then we design your Loop Flip Plan™ — three to five strategic moves tailored to your situation. Not generic advice. Not what worked for someone else. What works for you, in your context, with your loop.

    You’ll walk away with:

    • A visual map of your loop
    • A clear plan to disrupt it
    • A recording of the session, so you can revisit the strategy whenever you need it

    Who this is for:
    Women in corporate or professional settings who deliver excellent results—but are consistently seen as 'support' instead of leadership material. This work is especially powerful for women of color.

    Investment:
    €247

  • For Organizations: Stop Losing Your Strongest Women

    Your high-performing women deliver strong results — but too often leave before they reach their potential.

    It's not a pipeline problem. It's a pattern problem.

    Black women and women of color are especially at risk. They face invisible workplace loops that slow advancement no matter how capable they are.

    I help organizations identify and interrupt these loops before talent walks away.

    How I Help

    Manager Development — Train leaders to recognize and interrupt subtle bias patterns that quietly push women out (the “not ready yet” loop, the visibility gap, the affinity trust trap).

    Strategic Interventions — 1:1 Loop-to-Lead Sessions for high-potential women who are excellent but overlooked

    Awareness Workshops — Practical, research-informed sessions for HR, L&D, and leadership teams to make invisible barriers visible and actionable.

    Where This Work Creates Change

    • Technical teams (where communication style gets misread as lack of leadership)
    • Women-in-leadership programs (where bias and sponsorship gaps block progression)
    • DEI initiatives that have focused on representation but now need deeper system change.

    Why it matters

    Replacing a mid-level manager costs 6–9 months of their salary — and every departure sends a message: “This isn’t the place...”
    Meanwhile, your competitors hire the talent you couldn’t retain.

    What Changes

    Black women and women of colour are often praised for their capability — yet recognition doesn’t always translate into leadership opportunity.
    Progress requires change on both sides: workplaces that recognise untapped leadership, and women who learn to move within these patterns without holding themselves back.

    It works alongside your current leadership and inclusion efforts — bridging the gap between awareness and everyday behaviour.

    Sessions in English or Dutch. All materials and diagnostics are in English.

    Grounded in systems thinking and behavioral science.

  • Invite Phaedra to Speak

    Phaedra Romney is a Strategic Influence Architect and TEDx speaker who gives high performers the map the organization won't hand them.

    Her talks don't push empowerment platitudes or tell people to wait for systemic change. They reveal the hidden bias loops that keep talented people stuck — and show exactly how to interrupt them without changing who you are or burning out while you wait.

    Perfect for
    ✓ ERGs & Women's Networks who want to give members strategy, not therapy
    ✓ High-potential talent navigating visibility gaps, stalled promotions, or chronic overwork
    ✓ Teams ready to play smarter, not harder

    Featured Talk

    Breaking Bias Loops: The System Won't Tell You This
    Why effort doesn't always equal advancement — and the three hidden patterns that quietly decide who gets seen, sponsored, and promoted.

    This talk shows you how to spot the loops, interrupt the cycle, and move strategically without waiting for the organization to change or pretending to be someone else.

    Also Available

    The Hidden Loops of Leadership™ — The invisible game of influence and how to play it on your terms.
    Flip the Script — Without Burning Out — Strategic moves that shift how you're seen, not who you are

    Talks available in English or Dutch. Customizable for ERG events, conferences, team offsites, or leadership development programs.

  • What’s Really Holding You Back?

    Get the free guide: See the Loop — Shift the Game™

    This isn't another leadership checklist. It's a loop-spotting tool that shows you the invisible patterns shaping how you're seen, supported, and promoted — the patterns the organization won't name.

    Inside, you'll discover:

    ✓ Two of the 6 Hidden Loops of Leadership™ that quietly decide who rises (and who stays stuck)
    ✓ Why working harder isn't the solution — and what actually moves the needle
    ✓ Simple Power Moves you can try immediately to interrupt the cycle
    ✓ A first sketch of your own loop — and how to spot your flip point

    Download it. Mark it up. Use it.

    This is your starting point — to shift the game without changing who you are.

  • Who I Am

    I’m Phaedra Romney — Strategic Influence Architect, TEDx speaker, and creator of the Loop-to-Lead Method™.
    For years, I’ve helped underestimated professionals — women, introverts, immigrants, and others who don’t match the “familiar” leadership mold — shift how they’re seen, backed, and promoted.
    I grew up in San Nicolas, Aruba — a town shaped by refinery life, legacy, and invisible boundaries. Even there, I noticed early who got seen as leadership material… and who didn’t. Later, in Dutch workplaces, I watched the same quiet loops play out — even around the most talented professionals.
    For a long time, I believed in the corporate myth: work hard, keep your head down, and merit will be rewarded. When promotions didn’t come, I blamed myself — maybe I wasn’t doing it right, maybe I just didn’t have what it takes.
    Only later did I realize: it wasn’t just me. It was the environment — and the way it shaped how I was seen, and how I started seeing myself. That’s the invisible loop: it doesn’t just change how others judge you, it changes how you show up.
    That insight became the core of my work — and my book, De Macht van Invloed. Because once you see the loop, you can shift it.
    Today, I partner with individuals and companies who want change that lasts — not just quick wins, but real shifts in how leadership pipelines work.
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    If you’ve got something else on your mind — a question, an idea, or a way we might collaborate — drop me a note. I’ll follow up personally.

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