Dedication: Ruth Bader Ginsburg I think she (Ginsburg) taught me how important it is to not be scared to speak publicly …and to be fearless…. I’ve found public speaking difficult in the past, despite being an actor. That’s something I’ve had to work incredibly hard at. And it was playing Ruth when I finally thought, “Right, … Read More

Happy Holidays to my Blog followers and Women Seen and Heard Facebook friends! WE ARE WOKE! As you know, this has been a time when society is waking up to the power of women’s voices. The #METOO and #TIMESUP phenomena highlighted sexist challenges that women face in the workplace and gathered millions of followers. When women … Read More

Did you listen to or watch Dr. Christine Ford’s testimony in the Senate hearings for Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court? We all know how that turned out, but do men in power realize what a galvanizing moment that was, even for the most complacent suburban woman? Time Magazine described it well: …for ordinary women … Read More

Let’s get serious about humor. Being funny is empowering. When women do comedy, they are in charge. But the same holds true for anyone delivering a presentation. Getting your audience to laugh means they are relaxed and open, which isn’t easy during times of great uncertainty when your listeners might well feel overwhelmed and distracted. Once they’re laughing, you … Read More

Did you see the video of teacher Kristen Mink that went viral? She confronted EPA Director Scott Pruitt in a café, telling him the reasons why she thought he should resign. Two days later, he did. But did she go too far? If you saw the recording of her reading her prepared notes, you likely lost … Read More

If you are asked to introduce the speaker or a panel for a meeting or event, you may not realize what an important role you have. The purpose of the introduction is to create a personal connection between the speaker and the listeners. You want people to feel privileged to hear the speaker and clearly understand … Read More

The actress Jennifer Lawrence recently wrote about a disheartening experience she had expressing an opinion to a man who worked for her (versus the other way around). She wrote: “A few weeks ago at work, I spoke my mind and gave my opinion in a clear and no-[BS] way; no aggression, just blunt. The man…said, ‘Whoa! … Read More

Without feedback, we live in our own bubble, unaware of how people see us. Consider this: You’re the same person at the podium that you are at the breakfast table, so whatever you learn from helpful feedback will transfer into everyday life. Think of yourself walking around a dark room bumping into furniture. Similarly, you want … Read More

In the book Lean In, Sheryl Sandberg asks, “What would you do if you weren’t afraid?” addressing the self-doubts that hold many women back. Unfortunately, at this moment Sheryl seems very afraid. How ironic that the “mother” of the Lean In movement has chosen to remain silent during Facebook’s present crisis. Sandberg’s silence is surprising because … Read More

If you’ve ever attended a retreat with icebreakers, you might have enjoyed a game of Rock, Paper, Scissors which is a hand game usually played between two people. At the count of three, the players simultaneously form one of three possible shapes with an outstretched hand. Each shape represents either a “rock,” “paper,” or “scissors.” It might seem … Read More