The Power of Her Voice: Speaking Up is the Boldest Act of Leadership
- Grace Lager
- Mar 8
- 3 min read
Every International Women’s Day, we celebrate the women who paved the way before us—the leaders, the changemakers, the disruptors. Women who spoke up when it was easier to stay silent and, in doing so, changed the world.
Guess what? Their work isn’t finished. History isn’t just about what’s been done—it’s about what we do next.
And that starts with one simple, yet powerful, act: using our voices.
The Women Who Spoke Up—And Sparked Change
Throughout history, women have faced barriers designed to keep them quiet. But they spoke anyway.
📣 Sojourner Truth stood before an all-white, mostly male audience in 1851 and asked, "Ain't I a woman?"—challenging racial and gender inequality in one unforgettable speech.
📣 Malala Yousafzai risked her life to speak about education for girls, turning her voice into a global movement.
📣 Dolly Parton, Beyoncé, and Taylor Swift may sing for a living, but they’ve also used their voices to shape conversations about workplace equality, feminism, and power.
Their voices made history.
But here’s the thing—so can yours.
Speaking Up Isn’t Always About a Stage—It’s About Showing Up
Not every moment of impact happens in a stadium or on a global stage. Some of the boldest acts of leadership happen in everyday moments:
💡 Sarah, a financial advisor, advocated for herself to her all-male supervisor team about patriarchal meeting structures limiting her ability to build sales skills as a woman in the industry.
💡 Jenna, a brilliant brand and marketing consultant, took a leap and presented her first workshop, despite never speaking in front of a group larger than three people.
💡 Alexa, a competitive gymnast, who battled debilitating performance anxiety and realized she had the power to speak up to her teammates and coach—advocating for a competition schedule that allowed her to medal in every event by managing her anxiety between meets and apparatus.
💡 Christine, the owner of a large real estate firm, who had anxiety about speaking to her own team but built confidence step by step—first in small conversations, then larger meetings, and eventually commanding a room with the support of a speaking coach.
These women aren’t in history books—they are women today, making change in small but meaningful ways.
3 Ways to Own Your Voice This International Women’s Day
Whether you’re stepping onto a stage, into a meeting, or into a conversation that feels uncomfortable, here are three ways to own your voice and lead with confidence:
1. Speak Before You Feel Ready
The biggest myth in public speaking? That confidence comes first. It doesn’t. Action builds confidence, not the other way around.
So instead of waiting until you feel ready—raise your hand, unmute yourself, and trust that your voice is worth hearing.
2. Don’t Apologize for Taking Up Space
Women are conditioned to soften their voices:
🚫 “Sorry to interrupt…”
🚫 “This might not be a good idea, but…”
🚫 “I just wanted to add…”
Your ideas don’t need disclaimers. Speak with conviction. Own your expertise. Take up space.
3. Remember—Your Audience Wants You to Win
One of the biggest fears around speaking up is judgment. The reality? Most people aren’t waiting for you to fail.
Your audience—whether it’s a room of colleagues or a packed auditorium—wants to learn from you. They are rooting for you.
This Women’s Day, Don’t Just Celebrate History—Be a Part of It
Honoring the voices of the past means stepping boldly into our own.
So today, I ask you: What’s one way you will use your voice this month?
Will you:
✅ Ask for what you want?
✅ Challenge the status quo?
✅ Say “yes” to a speaking opportunity?
Drop a comment below and let me know what action you're taking today.
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