Finding Your Voice

Navigating the world of professional communication as a woman in the San Francisco Bay Area is a topic that just doesn’t get the focus it deserves. There’s a lot of work to do when it comes to workplace equality and living up to the Bay Area’s image of inclusivity — in California’s 400 largest public companies, women hold just 12.3% of the highest-paid executive positions. While we’re making progress — 1,959 women on California company boards in 2021! — there’s still a long way to go. Confident communication is one of the keys to moving us forward.

Workplace cultures tend to equate the way men speak with confidence, which leaves a lot of us with a skewed idea of what confident communication looks like. This guide will help you reframe your mindset about public speaking. Women professionals in the San Francisco Bay Area, specifically, have some unique opportunities for finding their voice and making a lasting impression.

Whether you’re pioneering the development of AI in San Francisco or revolutionizing sustainable fashion in Oakland, you’re part of a unique ecosystem where traditional approaches are about as relevant as a flip phone at a tech conference. The Bay Area isn’t just any place to build a career: it’s a place where some of the best and the brightest from the world over come to make a difference.

But it’s not all sunshine in sunny California: despite our reputation for inclusion, we still have some head-scratching stats. Only about 4% of California’s largest public companies have women CEOs. And don’t even get me started on the fact that about two-fifths of these companies still don’t have a single woman of color on their board. Seriously, what year is it?

At the same time, let’s celebrate the companies who do get it. Do you know or can you guess the two (I know!) Bay Area companies who have equal numbers of women and men in top executive positions and board seats? Need a hint? One makes organic food and the other is a kitchen and home retailer. I’m talking about Annie’s of Berkeley and Williams-Sonoma of San Francisco. We need more Annies’ and Williams-Sonomas — and I have some strategies for how we get there.

Here’s the thing about confident communication: it’s as dynamic and multifaceted as the food scene in San Francisco’s Mission District. One moment, you’re presenting quarterly results in a boardroom, and the next, you’re building meaningful connections while volunteering at the SF Food Bank.

But as women, many of us have been conditioned to people-please and avoid “rocking the boat.” This often manifests in language that unintentionally diminishes our ideas, making them seem less confident or certain. Let’s not judge ourselves for this — it’s a learned behavior. Instead, let’s cultivate awareness and intention to reshape how we communicate.

Reclaiming Your Expertise
One common habit is undermining our own expertise. Statements like, “I’m not an expert, but…” can send a signal of doubt, even when you’re fully qualified. Remember: if you weren’t capable, you wouldn’t be in the room. Trust that you belong, and resist the urge to preface your ideas with disclaimers.

Imposter syndrome is real, especially in male-dominated spaces, but strong, intentional language can counteract it. Here are a few simple swaps to elevate your communication:

• Replace “if” with “when”: “When we get approval,” instead of, “If we get approval.”
• Swap “could” for “should”: “We should implement this next week,” instead of, “We could implement this next week.”
• Use “let’s” instead of “can”: “Let’s schedule a follow-up,” rather than, “Can we schedule a follow-up?”

Each of these shifts conveys certainty and positions your contributions as deliberate and decisive. It’s harder for others to dismiss ideas framed with confidence.

Let Others Disagree
If you’re worried about disagreement, let it happen! Pushback signals that your ideas are compelling enough to engage with. It’s far better than making a polite, conditional statement that’s ignored because it seems noncommittal.

And remember: it’s not your responsibility to manage others’ egos. Shrinking your voice to avoid discomfort only undermines your own contributions.

No Apologies Necessary
Finally, be mindful of unnecessary apologies. For example, in group meetings, there’s no need to say, “Sorry for interrupting,” when you speak up. Instead, try: “Thanks for letting me jump in.”

In a virtual meeting, if you’re late, skip the “Sorry, I’m late!” and say, “Thank you for your patience.” These small shifts reinforce your right to take up space and emphasize your value without framing your presence as an inconvenience.

Own Your Voice
Confident communication doesn’t mean being flawless — it means being intentional, clear, and unapologetic. Your insights and expertise matter. Speak as though they do. When you drop permission-seeking language and embrace strong, affirmative speech, you not only command respect but also inspire trust and engagement.

Let your voice be heard. The impact you can make is far too significant to let anything — or anyone — diminish it.

There’s so much we could say about what makes the San Francisco Bay Area unique, but one of its less discussed qualities is our commitment to authenticity. Being true to ourselves is one part of this, but it’s also about transparency and clear communication. In our professional lives, this means being direct about challenges, addressing where we stand in terms of results and progress toward goals, and articulating solutions. This goes a long way toward demonstrating confidence in public speaking — by clearly addressing issues, project status, and solutions, you can develop your reputation for confidence and transparency. After all, courage means taking action in spite of your fears — not the absence of fear.

Here are my tips on how to be transparent:

• Lead with the key issue: When delivering difficult news, get it out of the way first instead of leaving your audience guessing. Start with a concise statement of the challenge, then follow up with necessary context and solutions. The point of context is to communicate your understanding of the situation but not to overexplain — this allows you to move more quickly into how you move forward. 
• Balance honesty with optimism: Acknowledge the issue, but pair it with solutions. Instead of saying, “We’re behind schedule, and we’ll need to catch up,” try, “Our project is behind schedule, but I’ve identified three immediate steps to regain momentum.” This reassures your team that you’re in control and solutions are in progress.
• Be specific about lessons learned: Think of setbacks as an opportunity to demonstrate growth and resilience. After addressing the challenge, share what the team or organization has learned and how those insights will shape future actions: “This experience highlighted a gap in our supplier vetting process. We’re now implementing a more rigorous review system to ensure reliability moving forward that includes X, Y, and Z.”
• Engage others in solutions: After outlining the challenge and your proposed solution, invite input or support. For instance: “I’d love your thoughts on additional ways to streamline our ticketing system.” This approach not only builds trust but also fosters a sense of shared ownership.
• Keep communication regular: Transparency is a process, not a one-time event. Consistently update your team or stakeholders on progress toward resolving the issue: “As of today, we’ve implemented the first two steps of our action plan and are seeing promising results. I’ll share more updates next week by email/on our next call/etc.” Being clear about when to expect the next check-in helps provide clarity about next steps and when to expect them.

Look, we’ve got work to do. According to a 2020 study, labor force participation for women in the Bay Area remained below men. It’s clear we’re not quite where we need to be. But here’s the thing: the Bay Area has always been about writing new rules. We’re the place that decided a hoodie could be formal wear and that cars don’t need drivers — so who says we can’t rewrite the rules of public speaking too?

Whether you’re presenting to VCs in Menlo Park, leading a team meeting in the Mission, or pitching to clients in Oakland, your authentic voice is your secret weapon. Remember: The fog will clear (eventually), the traffic on the 101 might improve (okay, probably not), but being confident in what you have to offer? That’s here to stay. So let go of pressure to sound like everyone else and rock your style. Because at the end of the day, the best leader you can be is authentically you.