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

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