About this quote

Owning who you are makes the practical work of getting heard easier. Notice the moments you change your tone, clothes, or opinion to fit the room and stop doing that. Keep your voice, your look, and your choices intact — they matter as much as anyone else's resume. Try one small test: state your view first at the next meeting and watch what shifts.

When to use it

• At my first board presentation where I was the only woman, I whispered the line to steady myself before I started.
• When my father cut me off at dinner, I remembered the quote and said, 'Let me finish,' instead of stepping back.
• Before a conservative client dinner, I picked the outfit that felt like me and thought of that line to keep my confidence.
• Running for the neighborhood committee, I used the quote as a reminder to bring my perspective to meetings filled with men.