Heather Monahan

How have you learned to advocate for yourself in those heavily male dominated meetings that are really tense?

And I so feel the pressure.

And I've been there too, wanting to speak up and many times I haven't.

And then there are examples and times where I haven't.

How have you been able to thrust yourself into that to actually elevate your voice?

Well, just to be fair, Nicole, so you do understand, I have not always been this way.

You know, for sure, when I worked side by side in corporate America next to a woman who appeared perfect and wanted everyone to believe she was perfect and was trying to sell that she was perfect.

I definitely emulated that for a while.

I went down that road.

for a couple of years trying to not show who I really was, trying to sit a certain way, dress a certain way that wasn't in alignment with who I am.

And I'll tell you, I became a B-rate target version of myself, which I am never going back to.

So I can't encourage people listening.

It is so important to show up as that authentic, true version of you.

I talk about it all the time in my speeches.

I've got smelly feet and I freaking own it and rock it, people, because you know what?

It makes me feel good that I'm different and I'm unique.

And, you know, own who you are and do it with pride, even if it is different than what's popular opinion.

And even more important, because it's different than what's popular opinion, that just makes you, instead of feeling shame about who you are or embarrassed about who you are,

you start stepping into that powerful, confident version.

And I just had Molly Fletcher, who's an incredible negotiation expert and sports agent on the show.