At seven months in the womb, you could already hear your mother’s voice—the one that taught you how to communicate. So why is that same voice often judged as less “leaderly” on the world stage? Let’s take a closer look.Read More

One shout from the audience changed the tone of the entire panel discussion. That’s Agency Gifting — using your influence to lift someone else’s voice.Read More

The Lowdown on Uptalk: What it is, when it hurts, and how it can actually boost your conversational influence. From time to time, I hear someone say, “I can’t STAND it when women use uptalk!” (SIGH. 🙂 Newsflash: it’s not just women.) Let’s dive into this vocal affect that drives some people crazy. What is...Read More

Years ago, a neighbor put up a road sign: “Slow Down, Karen!” And I thought…Karen who? Later I learned “Karen” was the new putdown for an intolerable woman. (In this case, one who drove intolerably fast!) I tried to imagine how I’d feel if my name became shorthand for someone characterized as entitled, obnoxious, or...Read More

“Women don’t like being told what to do.” That’s what I heard from a young man in a recent workshop when we discussed the high expectations women face regarding likability in the workplace.  I wondered: Is he referring to the result of mansplaining? Mansplaining: a term describing a person, most often a man, who offers...Read More

Ever had your story interrupted and hijacked? Not fun, right? 😭 This happens when there's a lack of Voice Equity (VoiceEQ)—a mindset that values all voices in the room. VoiceEQ can be challenging because, let’s face it, we all love the sound of our own voices! But it’s essential for fostering trust, inclusion, and diverse...Read More