Episode #64
Stop Waiting for Permission to Take Your Seat with Zhenia Klevitsky
When you’re the only woman in the room, do you focus on the bias, or make your preparation so undeniable that the conversation shifts from who you are to what you bring? For women who have been labeled difficult for being direct or overlooked before they speak, that question carries real weight. Tiffany Benitez sits down with Zhenia Klevitsky, Chief Growth Officer at ITC Federal and a leader with more than 25 years in government contracting. Zhenia’s perspective was shaped long before the C-suite. She arrived in the United States as a young refugee, lived in refugee camps and Section Eight housing, and watched her parents rebuild their professional lives from the ground up. That history informs a leadership style built on blunt honesty, deep preparation, and the willingness to say, “I was wrong.” Zhenia explains why defensiveness can make people afraid to challenge a leader and why being underestimated can sometimes become a position of power. But the harder question is what happens when ambition, motherhood, bias, and responsibility all demand attention at once. One useful idea is clear: balance is not about splitting yourself in half. It is about being fully present for what is in front of you and intentionally building support around your priorities. The episode also raises harder questions about why boundaries fail, who belongs in the inner circle you call before a major presentation, and what happens when you stop waiting for belonging to be granted. As Zhenia puts it, “Belonging is not something that gets granted to you. You decide it.” Here are the key takeaways: (2:43) How starting over shaped a 25-year career (5:15) Authenticity without performing for the room (7:11) When blunt leadership builds trust (10:00) A better way to process difficult feedback (11:11) What happens when your team proves you wrong (14:07) Turning underestimation into a position of power (15:27) Preparation shifts the focus to capability (19:58) Refusing to choose between family and career (22:45) Why standardized work-life balance fails (24:56) What children notice about working parents (28:05) Building an inner circle that tells the truth (31:06) The legacy of earning and widening the room If you’ve ever entered a meeting knowing you may be underestimated, struggled to protect both your ambition and your family, or wondered who gets to decide whether you belong, watch this episode. It may change what you prepare for, what you tolerate, and how confidently you claim the seat you’ve already worked to earn. About Zhenia Klevitsky Zhenia Klevitsky is Chief Growth Officer at ITC Federal, where she leads corporate growth strategy across business development, capture, and marketing in the federal market. She brings more than 25 years of government contracting experience, with leadership roles at cBEYONData, Sev1Tech, ASRC Federal, Guidehouse, and Booz Allen Hamilton. She is a recognized voice on federal technology modernization and AI adoption in government. Zhenia has also served on the board of Women in Technology and held leadership roles with the American Council for Technology Industry Advisory Council and the Washington Homeland Security Roundtable. She holds degrees from Bloomsburg University and American University, plus an executive certificate from MIT Sloan. Connect with Zhenia: LinkedIn About Tiffany Benitez Tiffany Benitez leads Data Governance at Compass Group USA, ensuring data quality, integrity, and compliance across all business units. She is passionate about driving data excellence and advancing women in tech and STEM. Connect with Host: Tiffany’s LinkedIn Disclaimer This podcast is for informational purposes only. The content should be considered other than professional advice. Listeners are encouraged to consult with professionals regarding specific situations or concerns.
