Stephanie McMahon is the WWE Chief Brand Officer, a professional wrestler, and an American business woman. In celebration of Women’s History Month throughout March, and we got the chance to be a part of a media conference featuring female journalists all around the world.
Let’s get into what Stephanie McMahon had to say…
Cosmo ME: In the male dominated industry that you are in, have you ever felt like your voice was of lesser importance than your male counterparts? If yes, how do you ensure that your voice is heard?
Stephanie McMahon: Definitely. I have been the only woman in very large groups of male dominated meetings. Growing up in this business, I have the advantage of being the boss’s daughter but there have certainly been times where I have felt like my voice didn’t matter as much. And in those situations, you just have to speak louder. You have to grab the moment because you cannot let it intimidate you. If you have a point that you want to make, make it. Call it out when you’re not being listened to.
I have a colleague in a media industry board. She was the only woman in the board. And they were all having conversations about what to do about gender inequality and not one of them asked her. She sat back and let it happen for 10 minutes and finally raised her hand and asked, ‘Hey guys, don’t you think it is a problem that we’re having a conversation about gender inequality and you’re not talking to me?’ And they were all shocked. They weren’t even aware that they were doing this.
It is a tough spot, but you need to have the confidence to use your voice and call it out.”
C: Why do you think many women struggle with self-esteem?
SM: The shocking thing about self-esteem is that we are not born that way. I have three little girls and through them I have understood that most of us are born full of ourselves. We are born with big, loud personalities but as we start to get older, there is a shift in our personality where we second guess ourselves. I can be terribly insecure and second-guess everything to a point where it is detrimental. But I realized that it’s not the best way for me.
C: What do you consider to be your biggest challenge when you broke into WWE at such a young age?
SM: I grew up in WWE, so my perspective and my struggles are quite different from other women. My biggest challenge was facing Ronda Rousey at Wrestle Mania. She was so amazing that I had to really train to even showcase her. She was the first woman champion in UFC, so she was tough. I had to train three times a day for three months. I had to do all of this on top of being an executive and a mom. It was a lot of pressure on me, but I learnt so much about myself and what I was capable of. That opportunity was a privilege which I chose to go for. That was one of my biggest challenges ever.
C: What does self-love mean to you and what little self-love practices do you do for yourself every day?
SM: I have struggled with my self-love and it came to my attention a few years ago. A coach told me that I needed to work on loving myself and I said, ‘Of course I love myself. I have no problem with that.’ And then as I started doing the deep work, I realized that loving myself should not be this hard.
The first step to me is being proud of myself and my achievements. Instead of always thinking about what more I could do, I give myself credit for how far I have come.
One of the things I do daily is working out. If I can get some type of physical exercise every day, that is a form of self-love for me.
C: You are one of the best villains to ever grace television. Is there anyone you have modeled your persona on?
SM: I have always gravitated towards the villains in any story. I find them to be deeper, more interesting characters. The persona I had created was an outlet for me. I have always drawn from people around me. I tend to be trusting and respectful because of which I’ve been taken advantage of all my life. I’ve had a lot of times when I have been undermined, so I draw from those people and I put that lens on. And it has been so fun to portray that character because ultimately, the bad guy never really wins. So, to be able to give that back to the audience is amazing. I love to be able to give the hero that moment because the bigger the villain, the more powerful is the hero that vanquishes the villain.
C: Lastly, what message do you have for the women in the world?
SM: Everyday is a fight for equality. I believe in standing up for what you believe in. It’s important to have a voice and to use your voice. We need to be proud and confident about who we are. I want every woman to know that they belong no matter what anyone tells them. Never back down and never give up.