The Power of Paying It Forward: How One Small Act Creates a Ripple Effect
Helping just one woman can create a chain reaction.
We often think that in order to make a real difference in someone’s life, we need to offer hours of time, loads of expertise, or be in some official role. But the truth is, the things that shape us the most are often quick, simple, and surprisingly quiet.
I’ve been on both sides of that truth.
Years ago, after a panel I spoke on, a woman I barely knew came up to me. She looked me straight in the eye and said, “You belong here. Don’t let anyone make you feel small.” That was it. One sentence. No follow-up coffee. No long-term relationship. Just a moment. And yet, I’ve carried her words with me ever since.
They gave me something I didn’t even know I needed at the time. A little push. A little power. A little clarity.
And I’ve paid that moment forward more times than I can count.
Small Acts, Big Shifts
We’ve been taught to look for impact in the big things: a new job, a promotion, a deal closed. But in my experience, it’s the small acts that do the heavy lifting. The quick introduction that leads to the right connection. The “I believe in you” said at just the right time. The voice that speaks up for you when you’re not in the room.
These are the things that stick. These are the things that change trajectories.
And they don’t take much. They just take intention.
The Ripple Starts with One
What happens when you help one woman? She remembers. She grows. She gains confidence. And—here’s the magic—she turns around and helps the next.
Not out of obligation. But because she knows what it felt like to be lifted. That’s how the ripple begins. One small moment becomes ten more. A spark becomes a wave.
This is what I’ve seen again and again:
A founder who gets a second look because someone vouched for her.
A woman who goes for the raise because someone told her she’s worth it.
A leader who creates a seat at the table because someone once made room for her.
These aren’t grand gestures. They’re human ones. And they add up fast.
You Don’t Need to Be Someone Else to Make a Difference
You don’t need a title. You don’t need to have “made it.” You just need to show up.
Say the thing. Share the name. Open the door.
What you see as small might be everything to her.
We often wait—thinking we’ll have more time later. Or that someone else is better suited to help. But sometimes you are the moment she needs. And it doesn’t require a grand plan. Just a willingness to pay attention and offer what you already have: your insight, your encouragement, your voice.
This Is How We Build Something Bigger
We talk about systems needing to change—and they do. But this is how it starts. With us. With how we show up for one another. With a new kind of leadership that doesn’t hoard knowledge or gatekeep access.
Real power isn’t about holding onto it. It’s about sharing it.
So if you’ve ever been helped—really helped—by a woman who didn’t owe you a thing, you know how meaningful it is. And if you’ve never been that person before, you can be today.
You don’t have to move mountains. You just have to move one person forward.
Keep the Ripple Going
This is the culture we’re building: One where women lift each other up—without a formal title, without waiting for permission, and without expecting anything in return.
Because when we pay it forward, we don’t just shape someone’s next step. We shift what’s possible for everyone around her.
So send the note. Make the call. Say the words.
Let your small act be the start of something bigger.
