I was once sitting on a nonprofit board when a man interrupted to dismiss my expertise. Before I could respond, another woman piled on: “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
In that moment, I could have gone silent. Instead, I looked straight at them and said: “Google me.”
It wasn’t arrogance—it was truth. My career had spanned NASA, federal leadership, and executive management. I had put in the work. What I realized that day was simple: sometimes, the best leadership response is to own your credibility, unapologetically.
For women in leadership programs, this is more than a clapback moment—it’s a reminder:
- Don’t shrink your expertise.
- Don’t wait for validation.
- Don’t let even other women undermine your voice.
Sometimes leadership means saying what needs to be said—and letting your record speak for itself.
