Belonging In The Room
A Woman In a Man’s World
Date 6/10/2026
Photo Credit: Macy Alex Photography https://www.macyalexphotography.com/
Don’t Give Away Your Voice
Warning—the following content may not be reader-friendly if you are a man!
Recently, I attended a women’s networking event, and one of the leaders shared a powerful story about an executive meeting she attended. This meeting included a scheduled presentation by a woman considered an expert in her field. As the meeting leader started, he introduced everyone at the table. Except her. He did not introduce the woman who was giving a presentation. He even went so far as to start on the meeting agenda without her. That woman spoke up and reminded him, and the rest of the room, that she was prepared to speak now.
He acted as if he had simply forgotten to introduce her, and she proceeded with her presentation, which was well received by the attendees.
That woman didn’t remain silent.
She wasn’t intimidated. And she didn’t give her voice away to the man in the room.
We Have The Power … and The Floor
This was a reminder of society’s tendency to allow men to be the leaders in the room, the C-suite executives, and the ones whose voices matter. The woman in the story above reminded everyone that even though she is a woman, SHE was the expert in the room that day.
As a woman who is often advocating for myself and other advanced cancer warriors, I am often addressing men. Doctors, politicians, executives—all who may have preconceived notions of how important I really am in this fight. I don’t have advanced degrees, I don’t have years of scientific research, and I cannot speak their professional language. I can feel their pity and condescending attitudes in the tone of their voice and their expressions.
Yet, I will not be quiet and sit down!
What I do have is a story—MY story. I have earned a Ph.D. in lived experiences. Nothing has educated me faster or more impactfully than my life with metastatic breast cancer. I have learned that when I am the one talking, it’s my turn and my chance to take the floor. It’s up to me to gain their respect and attention and to listen to what I have to say.
It’s not easy, and sometimes I know the room didn’t listen to me. That’s okay … I still was heard. I still let them know that I am the expert in the room, the one living with all the things that come with metastatic breast cancer. They heard me say that the best advocate for my healthcare is me. They left knowing that my experience is not unique and that there are hundreds of thousands of women in the U.S. who are living their lives with metastatic breast cancer.
They listened to me, whether they wanted to or not. If I impacted just one person in that room, my mission was accomplished.
Weekly Challenge
This week, I want to ask the women reading this—do you give your voice away to someone else because you don’t feel qualified? Do you think you’re not as important as the man in the room with all the fancy letters after his name? If you are there at all, you matter, your voice matters, and do not dare to give away that power.
To the men reading this—how many times have you mentally checked out of a presentation because the speaker is a woman? Have you ever thought, “Well, she doesn’t have the education and experience that I do because she spent time raising a family”? It can be very subtle and deeply rooted in your subconscious. If you have ever done this, it’s not OK, and the good news is that you can change your thinking. You have the power, too!
After each of you has evaluated your power and decided to act and think differently about who is really the expert in the room, I challenge you to go forth. Be exceptional!
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