In a compelling Instagram post that has resonated with high-achieving women across industries, Amanda Ferguson, founder of the Feminine Woman Academy, offered a powerful message: “Polish is not the same as poise.”
Ferguson, known for mentoring women in cultivating what she calls “executive softness,” shared her thoughts in both a caption and an emotionally charged video that called on women leaders to rise beyond surface-level success.
“You’ve mastered the polish. But poise? That’s a different story,” Ferguson wrote in the post. “Poise is what shows up when things go left in the meeting. When you’re challenged, overlooked, or put on the spot.”
In the video, Ferguson challenged women to consider how they respond under pressure, not just how they perform when everything is going right.
“Looking the part is not the same as leading the part,” she said. “When the meeting goes left, do you spiral? When someone challenges your idea, do you get defensive? When your voice shakes, does your identity shake with it?”
Drawing on a biblical reference from Proverbs 24:10, Ferguson said adversity doesn’t just expose a moment—it reveals the leader behind the moment. Her message: trust, not titles or talent, is the real currency of modern leadership.
Ferguson’s Feminine Woman Academy was designed for what she describes as “high-level women ready to lead with presence, softness, and strategy.” She makes it clear this isn’t a program for beginners—it’s a “transformational experience” aimed at helping women become “the total package.”
“This is where polish meets power. And where your softness becomes your secret weapon,” Ferguson wrote.
Her approach—fusing spiritual wisdom, self-awareness, and executive presence—has earned her a devoted following of women who are looking to lead with more than just credentials and confidence.
