Today, March 8, is International Women’s Day. This year’s theme is Break the Bias. I appreciate that on the IWD website, they write, “Celebrating women's achievements and increasing visibility, while calling out inequality, is key.” In this episode, I share the premise of the book I’m working on around the importance of women being public speakers as a way to advance women in leadership and gender equality and a new model of public speaking. What if I told you that the key to being more confident is not what you’ve been told in the myriad of women’s leadership and personal development books you’ve read? Well, at least it’s not the whole story. Sure, what those books have taught you about getting clear on your goals, asking for what you want, taking action, and striking a power pose in the bathroom before an important event are helpful. But, they stop short of what’s critical for building true and lasting confidence. These books tiptoe around it by encouraging women to speak up and to raise their voice, but the advice is generally limited to asking for a promotion, contributing ideas at a meeting, or pointing out unequal treatment at work. What they miss is that the act of public speaking (the right to have a public voice and {safe} access to the public sphere) is what fundamentally shapes our individual identity and who we can become as leaders, as changemakers, and as citizens. Listen to the episode to hear more. About Us: The Speaking Your Brand podcast is hosted by Carol Cox. At Speaking Your Brand, we help women entrepreneurs and professionals clarify their brand message and story, create their signature talks, and develop their thought leadership platforms. Our mission is to get more women in positions of influence and power because it's through women's stories, voices, and visibility that we challenge the status quo and change existing systems. Check out our coaching programs at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com. Links: Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/267 Sign up for our free Choosing Women’s Voices challenge: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/challenge/ Join our Thought Leader Academy: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/academy/ Schedule a consult call with us to talk about creating your signature talk and thought leadership platform: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/contact. Connect on LinkedIn = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox Related Podcast Episodes: Episode 162: Why We’re #ChoosingWomensVoices – and You Should Too with Carol Cox and Diane Diaz Episode 163: A Feminist Approach to Public Speaking with Carol Cox Episode 241: The Expert Trap: What Holds Women Back from Thought Leadership with Carol Cox Episode 266: How I’ve Found and Used My Voice with Carol Cox JOIN US: Our in-person Speaking Accelerator Workshop is coming up in Downtown Orlando on October 30, 2025. Create and practice your signature talk in one day using our proven framework, so you can confidently share your message and attract more opportunities. It's a fun, supportive environment where you get personalized feedback, professional photos, and more. Limited to 15 attendees. Get the details and secure your spot at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/orlando/.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.