“It brought up what, at core, is an equity and diversity issue, without alienating anyone in attendance or making the disenfranchised group feel responsible for the emotions of those with more ‘voice power.’”
“It brought up what, at core, is an equity and diversity issue, without alienating anyone in attendance or making the disenfranchised group feel responsible for the emotions of those with more ‘voice power.’”
What Great Leaders Know About Voice—
and What It’s Costing Their Best People
A seat at the leadership table means nothing without a voice at the table. A voice others are willing to hear. A voice that sends the right signal at the right time.
But here’s what most leaders don’t know: before you finish your first sentence, your voice has already made a case for your credibility, confidence, and authority. Listeners form these judgments in under 100 milliseconds — not from your words, but from your vocal signals. And the people you lead are sending signals too. Signals that may be quietly costing them the promotions, opportunities, and influence they’ve earned.
In this interactive session, explore Sonic Leadership™, a practical framework for understanding the signals voices send, why we judge them the way we do, and how to coach others to close the gap between the voice they have and the leader they already are.
Grounded in evolution, brain science, and real-world case studies, this session moves from self-awareness to systemic change. You’ll examine where vocal bias comes from, how it shapes decisions about who gets hired, promoted, and followed — and what a leader with the right tools can do about it.
“Your voice session was fantastic! I used what I learned to introduce the afternoon speaker in a non-pitchy way. I have never felt so confident and empowered! Thank you.”
~ Deidre Bealey, SHRM-SCP, SPHR
Titles look impressive on paper. But in real life? Sometimes the assistant to the assistant is the one everyone listens to—because status speaks louder than titles. Influence isn’t about titles or power: it’s about your status, how others experience you. In this keynote, Rebecca P. Murray uses the metaphor of bridges to explore the structural components of status: how we connect with people, strengthen relationships, and mend those in need of repair.
Blending personal stories, humor, and interactive moments, Rebecca helps women navigate the balance of assertiveness and warmth—building on Alison Fragale’s research exploring how women face a higher bar for workplace success.
Paying specific attention to voice and the acoustic signals we send as we speak, participants walk away with practical strategies to elevate their status, expand their influence, and claim not only a seat at the table, but a voice that gets heard.
Key Takeaways
Strengthen relationships by intentionally blending assertiveness with approachability.
Recognize that you are neither “too much” nor “not enough,” and learn how to build on what comes naturally.
Listen to what a ‘high-status voice’ sounds like when giving feedback, greeting others, and repairing strained relationships.
Keynote Promise: Participants will leave with insight into how status rises and falls, along with practical tools to shape how their voice is heard, trusted, and taken seriously.
Lance Calloway, AGC of Western Washington: Rebecca was invited to keynote and emcee our Celebration of Women In Construction event. She provided valuable insights to our committee as we were organizing the run of show in advance of the event. I loved how Rebecca brought in her past construction safety experience into her keynote speech to over 200 construction attendees which made her speech even more impactful. The connection and feedback were tremendous!
Julie Millage, KBA Inc. Construction: Rebecca seamlessly integrated her insights into a powerful keynote address that resonated deeply with the audience. She went beyond simply sharing an empowering message—she facilitated an interactive panel discussion and elevated the female voice in a typically male-dominated field.
Nate Wolfe, CEO, TRICO Construction: What a great program you hosted last night! I appreciate your work in speaking at these incredibly empowering events.
In a world where women’s voices are often talked over or undervalued, owning your voice means more than just being heard—it shapes how others perceive your confidence, competence, and authority. This session combines insights from evolutionary science, female anatomy, and voice samples from historical icons like Shirley Chisholm and Margaret Thatcher. You’ll master vocal qualities such as pitch, pace, and volume to break through biases and inspire trust and respect. Walk away empowered to elevate your voice and amplify your impact.
Be inspired to:
What Great Leaders Know About Voice—
and What It’s Costing Their Best People
A seat at the leadership table means nothing without a voice at the table. A voice others are willing to hear. A voice that sends the right signal at the right time.
But here’s what most leaders don’t know: before you finish your first sentence, your voice has already made a case for your credibility, confidence, and authority. Listeners form these judgments in under 100 milliseconds — not from your words, but from your vocal signals. And the people you lead are sending signals too. Signals that may be quietly costing them the promotions, opportunities, and influence they’ve earned.
In this interactive session, explore Sonic Leadership™ — a practical framework for understanding the signals voices send, why we judge them the way we do, and how to coach others to close the gap between the voice they have and the leader they already are.
Grounded in evolution, brain science, and real-world case studies, this session moves from self-awareness to systemic change. You’ll examine where vocal bias comes from, how it shapes decisions about who gets hired, promoted, and followed — and what a leader with the right tools can do about it.
“Your voice session was fantastic! I used what I learned to introduce the afternoon speaker in a non-pitchy way. I have never felt so confident and empowered! Thank you.”
~ Deidre Bealey, SHRM-SCP, SPHR
Titles look impressive on paper. But in real life? Sometimes the assistant to the assistant is the one everyone listens to—because status speaks louder than titles. Influence isn’t about titles or power—it’s about how others experience you. In this keynote, Rebecca P. Murray uses the metaphor of bridges to explore the structural components of status: how we connect with people, strengthen relationships, and mend those in need of repair.
Blending personal stories, humor, and interactive moments, Rebecca helps women navigate the balance of assertiveness and warmth—building on Alison Fragale’s research that shows how women face a higher bar for workplace success.
Paying specific attention to voice and the acoustic signals we send as we speak, participants walk away with practical strategies to elevate their status, expand their influence, and claim not only a seat at the table, but a voice that gets heard.
Key Takeaways
Explore the difference between influence, power, and status in the workplace.
Understand the structural components of workplace status and the ‘high bar of likability’ assigned to women.
Strengthen relationships by intentionally blending assertiveness with approachability.
Recognize that you are neither “too much” nor “not enough,” and learn how to build on what comes naturally.
Experience what a “likeable badass” looks and sounds like when giving feedback, greeting others, and repairing strained relationships.
Keynote Promise: You will be entertained, challenged, and provided with practical, applicable tactics that can be applied immediately.
Lance Calloway, AGC of Western Washington: Rebecca was invited to keynote and emcee our Celebration of Women In Construction event. She provided valuable insights to our committee as we were organizing the run of show in advance of the event. I loved how Rebecca brought in her past construction safety experience into her keynote speech to over 200 construction attendees which made her speech even more impactful. The connection and feedback were tremendous!
Julie Millage, KBA Inc. Construction: Rebecca seamlessly integrated her insights into a powerful keynote address that resonated deeply with the audience. She went beyond simply sharing an empowering message—she facilitated an interactive panel discussion and elevated the female voice in a typically male dominated field.
Nate Wolfe, CEO, TRICO Construction: What a great program you hosted last night! I appreciate your work in speaking at these incredibly empowering events.
In a world where women’s voices are often talked over or undervalued, owning your voice means more than just being heard—it shapes how others perceive your confidence, competence, and authority. This session combines insights from evolutionary science, female anatomy, and voice samples from historical icons like Shirley Chisholm and Margaret Thatcher. You’ll master vocal qualities such as pitch, pace, and volume to break through biases and inspire trust and respect. Walk away empowered to elevate your voice and amplify your impact.
Be inspired to:
Rebecca is a dynamic communication expert and vocal influence strategist, empowering women in construction, technology, and manufacturing to speak with confidence, lead with clarity, and show up with authority.
Rebecca blends her expertise in applied behavior science, technology, and theater to help professionals elevate their presence—whether on the job site, shop floor, or in the boardroom.
A fierce advocate for Voice Equity, Rebecca teaches clients how to create collaborative spaces where every voice is heard, valued, and respected—because communication is more than just what you say. It’s how you say it. And how you SOUND when you say it.
Rebecca has inspired audiences at Master Builders, AGC, NAWIC, Professional Women in Building, Women in Manufacturing, BECU, ARCH Mortgage Insurance, Project Management Institute (PMI), IMPACT WASHINGTON and more. Whether on stage or on-site, she helps professionals harness their voice as a powerful tool for leadership and career growth.
Rebecca is a dynamic communication expert and vocal influence strategist, empowering women in construction, technology, and manufacturing to speak with confidence, lead with clarity, and show up with authority.
Rebecca blends her expertise in applied behavior science, technology, and theater to help professionals elevate their presence—whether on the job site, shop floor, or in the boardroom.
A fierce advocate for Voice Equity, Rebecca teaches clients how to create collaborative spaces where every voice is heard, valued, and respected—because communication is more than just what you say. It’s how you say it. And how you SOUND when you say it.
Rebecca has inspired audiences at Master Builders, AGC, NAWIC, Professional Women in Building, Women in Manufacturing, BECU, ARCH Mortgage Insurance, Project Management Institute (PMI), IMPACT WASHINGTON and more. Whether on stage or on-site, she helps professionals harness their voice as a powerful tool for leadership and career growth.
