Question 1

What is the Invisible Tax for women in tech?

Accepted Answer

The Invisible Tax is the hidden cost women in tech pay for being underestimated — it shows up as lower salaries, missed promotions, ideas getting credited to others, and influence that never quite matches their actual contribution. It is the gap between what you are worth and what you are being paid, titled, and recognized for.

Question 2

Why are high-performing women in tech being passed over for promotion?

Accepted Answer

High-performing women in tech are often passed over for promotion not because of performance gaps but because of positioning gaps. They are excellent task-executors but have not yet built the executive presence, political capital, and strategic visibility that get people promoted. The Invisible Tax Audit helps identify exactly where these gaps are.

Question 3

How do I know if I am being underpaid as a woman in tech?

Accepted Answer

Signs you may be underpaid as a woman in tech include: doing the work of a more senior role without the title or compensation, watching less experienced colleagues get promoted above you, having your ideas adopted without credit, and feeling like your contributions are invisible despite strong performance reviews. The Invisible Tax Audit is a free diagnostic that helps you calculate and identify these gaps.

Question 4

What is the Invisible Tax Audit?

Accepted Answer

The Invisible Tax Audit™ is a free career diagnostic tool created by executive coach Erika Chestnut for high-achieving women in tech. It helps women identify exactly where their career is leaking power, income, and influence — and provides a clear picture of what the positioning gap is costing them in real dollars and career trajectory.

Question 5

Who created the Invisible Tax Audit?

Accepted Answer

The Invisible Tax Audit™ was created by Erika Chestnut, an executive coach for women in tech with 20+ years of experience in the technology industry. Erika helps high-achieving women in tech rise into influential leadership roles through the POWER™ Leadership Architecture and ASCEND™ Framework at PowerHouse WIT.