Flow T&T executive urges women to stop “playing small” in the workplace

Women looking to move up in their careers need to rethink how they approach opportunities and stop holding back.

That message came from Simone Martin-Sulgan, Vice President and General Manager of Flow Trinidad and Tobago, as she addressed close to 700 attendees at the American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad and Tobago’s 12th Women’s Leadership Conference.

The event, held under the theme #GiveToGain, featured a panel discussion on negotiation and power dynamics in the workplace. The session focused on how cultural expectations and unconscious bias continue to shape how women are treated on the job and how they can push back.

Martin-Sulgan spoke about a moment early in her career when she realised that simply working hard was not enough.

“Not really advocating for yourself,” she said, reflecting on her approach at the time.

She told the audience that negotiation goes far beyond asking for a higher salary.

“Negotiation is not just about pay. It is about the resources you need to do your work effectively. It is about the decisions you are making every day.”

As a wife and mother of two, she also spoke about the reality many women face trying to balance work and family, and the need to be clear about priorities when making career moves.

She encouraged women to shift how they think about job offers and interviews.

“Anytime you are negotiating, and somebody wants something from you, ask them, ‘How much is this worth to you? Sometimes we become so focused on the fact that we have been chosen that we lose sight of everything else.”

Her comments come as studies continue to show a gap in outcomes between men and women, even as more women negotiate for better pay and promotions. Research indicates that men who switch jobs often secure higher salary increases than women.

The panel also included University of the West Indies St Augustine Campus Principal Rose-Marie Belle Antoine, Rosco Procom Finance Director and Company Secretary Vanita Balroop-Kublalsingh, Scotiabank’s Stacey Dhanessar, and Shell Trinidad and Tobago’s Roslan Schofield.

During the discussion, questions were raised about workplace culture, including situations where women may not always support each other in senior roles. Martin-Sulgan acknowledged those challenges but urged attendees to stay focused on their own growth.

She closed by encouraging women to build confidence and be clear about what they want before entering any negotiation.