Season 3 - Episode 5
Why Introverted Migrants Get Overlooked at Work (And What to Do About It)
If you've ever sat in a meeting with something valuable to say and talked yourself out of saying it, this post is for you.
In a recent episode of Chinwag Tuesdays, I spoke with Serena Low, a Melbourne-based trauma-informed coach, podcast host, and author who works with introverts and quiet achievers. The conversation covered a lot of ground, from energy management to belonging to what it actually means to be a quiet warrior. But the thread running through all of it was something I see in my own work every day at Aussie English with Amanda: smart, capable people holding back because the environment they're in doesn't seem to make space for them.
So I wanted to pull the key ideas from that conversation together in one place, because I think they're worth sitting with.
Why introverts often get overlooked at work
Serena put it clearly: workplaces tend to reward loudness. The faster you speak up in a meeting, the more visible you are. The more you contribute verbally, the more you're perceived as competent and ready to lead. These aren't new ideas, but they've been around long enough to become the default assumption about what good performance looks like.
The problem is that this leaves quiet achievers in a difficult position. Introverts often do their best thinking internally. They process deeply, weigh the options carefully, and by the time they're ready to speak, someone else has already jumped in. Their input gets lost, and the impression they leave behind can be 'quiet' or 'passive', even when the substance of what they'd contribute is genuinely strong.
For migrants, this gets layered with something extra. If you're also adjusting to a new workplace culture, navigating a new accent, or working through the mental load of processing everything in a second language, the timing challenge in a fast-moving meeting becomes even harder.
The energy management issue most advice ignores
A lot of advice for introverts still boils down to: show up more, speak up more, go to the networking events. Serena's take is that this advice misses the fundamental point about how introverts experience social interaction.
For extroverts, interacting with people generates energy. For introverts, it uses it up. That's true even when the conversation is enjoyable, the topic is interesting, and the people are good company. The social battery drains regardless.
So by mid-afternoon in a corporate environment, where an introvert has been in back-to-back meetings, answered emails, navigated small talk at lunch, and handled a dozen low-level interactions, they can be running on empty. A coffee won't fix it because the depletion is internal.
Serena's suggestion is to build in small recovery moments throughout the day, even five minutes away from your desk, a short walk, or a moment of stillness at lunch instead of eating while answering messages. These aren't luxuries. For an introvert, they're maintenance.
How to contribute in competitive meetings
One of the most practical parts of our conversation was about what to do when you're in a large or competitive meeting and you can't find the right moment to speak.
Serena offered a few alternatives to the standard advice of 'just jump in'. Contributing early, before the energy in the room picks up, is one option. Summarising or recapping what others have said is another, and a genuinely useful one because it brings order to a conversation that's gone in multiple directions, and it creates a natural moment to add your own perspective.
If you still can't find your moment during the meeting itself, following up in writing afterwards, whether that's an email to the facilitator or a message to a key stakeholder, is a legitimate way to contribute. Serena's point is that introverts are often strong written communicators, and that's a real advantage worth using.
Myths about introversion that hold people back
Serena named one in particular: the idea that you have to be loud to be seen as confident. She pointed out that volume doesn't always correlate with quality. Some of the most articulate, well-considered contributions in any meeting come from the people who've been quiet for most of it.
The goal, as Serena framed it, isn't to change who you are but to shift the story you're telling yourself about your style. Listening carefully, bringing calm to a chaotic discussion, and synthesising what others have said are all leadership qualities. They just don't always get recognised as such in environments that prioritise speed.
What it means to be a quiet warrior as a migrant
This was one of my favourite parts of the conversation. Serena said something that I think a lot of migrants need to hear: you are already demonstrating a kind of courage by being here.
Moving to a new country means starting from scratch without the context of shared culture, shared humour, or the shorthand that comes from years of living somewhere. You're navigating a new workplace, often a new language, and a new social landscape, all at the same time. Serena's point is that this takes a form of resilience that people who haven't done it often underestimate, yourself included.
Being a quiet warrior isn't about performing strength. It's about continuing on the path even when it's uncertain, taking the small steps, building the connections, putting yourself forward. That's already happening, even if it doesn't feel like enough.
Building belonging: practical starting points
We talked about the Meetup app as a genuinely useful tool for building a social life in a new city, because it removes one of the hardest parts of socialising: not knowing what to talk about. When you join a group around a shared interest, the conversation starts there.
Serena herself created a Meetup group for introverts in Melbourne when she couldn't find one that worked for her, and it's been running for over five years. A student of mine from Hong Kong joins two different board game groups, one where he connects in his mother tongue and one where he uses English with people from all different backgrounds. My own mum moved to Brisbane in her sixties after a major life change and built a new friendship group through Meetup. She's still friends with those people.
The common thread in all of these examples is that it started with one decision and one shared interest. Belonging doesn't arrive fully formed. It gets built, step by step.
How to contact Serena
FAQ
Can introverts be good leaders?
Yes. Leadership is not the same thing as loudness. Qualities like listening carefully, building trust, staying calm under pressure, and synthesising complex information are all leadership skills that introverts often bring naturally. The problem isn't that introverts can't lead. It's that many workplaces have a narrow idea of what leadership looks like.
How can migrants build friendships in Australia?
Finding community around shared interests is one of the most practical starting points. The Meetup app connects people locally by interest, whether that's walking groups, board games, Friday social clubs, or specific hobby communities. You don't need to walk into a situation where you know no one and have nothing to talk about. A shared interest gives you a starting point.
How do I speak up in meetings if I'm introverted?
A few options worth trying: contribute early, before the discussion picks up speed. Offer a recap or summary of what others have said, which brings the group back on track and gives you a natural moment to add your own view. If neither works, follow up in writing after the meeting. Introverts are often strong written communicators, and a thoughtful email to the facilitator or a key stakeholder is a genuine contribution.
How does accent affect confidence in the workplace?
For many skilled migrants, the challenge at work isn't knowledge or ability. It's being understood clearly enough for those abilities to be visible. When you're spending cognitive energy on pronunciation and processing speed, there's less left for the actual conversation. Improving your pronunciation and connected speech patterns can reduce that load significantly. At Aussie English with Amanda, that's exactly what we work on.
Key takeaways
• Workplaces often reward speed and volume over depth, which puts introverts and migrants at a structural disadvantage in meetings.
• Energy management is fundamental for introverts. Building in small recovery moments across the day, not just at the end of it, makes a real difference.
• Introverts can contribute effectively in competitive meetings by speaking early, recapping discussions, or following up in writing.
• The story you tell yourself about your style matters. Listening, calm, and synthesis are leadership qualities, even when they're underrecognised.
• Migrants already demonstrate significant resilience and courage. Recognising that is part of building a stable sense of identity in a new country.
• Belonging is built through consistent small steps, often around shared interests, rather than through forced socialising.
Ready to be heard more clearly at work?
If you're a skilled migrant in Australia and you're ready to communicate with more clarity and confidence, The Australian Pronunciation Studio might be the right next step. It's a six-month coaching program specifically designed for professionals who want structured, measurable progress with their Australian English pronunciation.
