Hello beautiful soul
There’s a version of the truth that gets you hired.
And there’s a version that talks you right out of the room.
I see it all the time with women—especially brilliant, high-achieving, quietly powerful women.
We want to be honest. Radically honest. So we don’t just name our wins—we wrap them in disclaimers.
“Yes, I led the project… but I didn’t own the budget.”
“I managed the team… but it was only three people.”
“I got the promotion… but it was a small company.”
We’re afraid of being caught out.
Afraid of someone thinking we’ve overclaimed.
So we start padding our own stories with caveats—just in case.
And here’s the truth of it:
That’s not integrity. That’s conditioning.
You can be honest without betraying yourself.
You can tell the truth without handing over the reasons not to believe you.
You can own your impact without overexplaining how it happened.
Last week in London, thirty women came together for Voice, power and presence.
It was a morning of real talk, deep listening, no masks, no fluff.
Together, we unpacked what it really means to speak from truth, set boundaries with presence, and share your story in a way that leads—not pleads.
This wasn’t a workshop on how to be more confident.
It was a recalibration. A remembering.
We practised saying no without apology.
We explored how to speak so that people feel us.
And we worked with one small but mighty tool to rewrite our stories from power—not performance.
This is our four step story framework.
This was just one part of the workshop—but it landed deeply.
So I want to offer it to you here.
If you’ve ever found yourself freezing when someone says, “Tell me about yourself,”
Or if you’ve found yourself spiralling after you did,
This is for you.
It’s a short framework. But it changes the energy completely.
1. The challenge
What was the moment that tested you or pushed you to the edge?
Write: “I was facing…”
Don’t shrink the moment. Let it be hard. Let it be real.
2. The choice
What decision did you make? What did you risk or claim?
Write: “I chose to…”
This is the moment you stepped into agency. Every powerful story has one.
3. The change
What shifted in you, your leadership, or your life as a result?
Write: “As a result, I…”
This is your proof. The impact. The thing that makes it stick.
4. The message
What do you want others to take from this moment?
Write: “What I learned is…”
This turns your experience into influence. This is how leaders speak.
Read your four lines aloud.
No disclaimers. No asterisks. Just truth, clean and clear.
What we saw in the room that day was extraordinary.
Women who’d spent years downplaying their brilliance suddenly owning it—without raising their voice.
Women who had felt pressure to perform suddenly speaking from their centre.
Women who had always been respected finally feeling seen.
And this framework?
It wasn’t even the whole workshop.
It was just one small part of what becomes possible when you stop shape-shifting and start showing up fully.
So now, beautiful soul, I want to ask you:
Where have you been underselling yourself in the name of honesty?
And what would it sound like to share your story—confidently, clearly, and truthfully—without the footnotes?
Write your four lines.
Then send them to me.
Just the win. No disclaimers.
I’m listening. And I’m rooting for you—always.
Ruth x
Ps. If you’re ready to be all of who you are, there are a few ways I can support you with that right now:
- Hit reply if you think you might want to be part of the next Women Who Lead cohort (confirmed for September!) — I’ll make sure you’re first to hear when the waitlist opens.
- I still have just ONE SPACE open for 1:1 clients — hit reply if you want to find out more.
- Invite me to speak at your company and let’s see if we can get them to invest in the women on your team 💫
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