In this episode, Hannah and Tara sit down with Heather Morrison, public speaking coach and founder of Deliver Your Best, who also happens to be a theatre grad, CBC broadcaster, and national sideline reporter. Heather shares how she went from dreading community events and replaying every mistake in her head… to coaching professionals all over the world to use their voices without abandoning who they are.

Together we dig into the real reasons public speaking feels so awful (spoiler: it’s not because you’re “bad at it”), why traditional public speaking advice is wildly outdated, and how women in male-dominated workplaces can start small, build skills, and stop turning every awkward moment into a character flaw.

If you’ve ever walked out of a meeting thinking, “I regret not saying what I wanted to say”, this one’s for you.

In This Episode, We Talk About:

• Why traditional public speaking training doesn’t work for many women
• Internal vs external cues
• Fear, regret, and that awful post-meeting spiral
• Being a woman in a male-dominated room
• The “coin jar” of skill building
• Laddering your fear
• Judgment, reality checks, and more generous assumptions
• Executive presence (aka: the diet culture of corporate)
• The moment it ‘suddenly’ works

About Our Guest – Heather Morrison

Heather Morrison is the founder of Deliver Your Best, where she helps professionals who are terrified of public speaking build the skills and self-trust they need to actually use their voices. With a degree in theatre and a career spanning CBC radio, broadcasting, and national sideline reporting for basketball and lacrosse, Heather has lived both the performance world and the corporate world—and she knows firsthand what it feels like to dread a microphone.

After realizing that most public speaking advice didn’t work for her (or for a lot of women), she developed her own approach focused on internal cues, nervous system regulation, and self-talk that doesn’t destroy you after you leave the room. Now, she coaches clients around the world to stop chasing perfection and start aiming for connection.

Find Heather here:

• Instagram: @deliver.your.best

In this conversation, Hannah and Tara delve into personality assessments, particularly the Hogan assessment, and how it reveals self-perception versus how others perceive you.

The discussion also covers leadership traits such as adjustment and resilience, the nuances of ambition in the workplace, and the importance of communication styles in building relationships. They reflect on the balance between directness and sensitivity in feedback, and the challenges of maintaining personal and professional relationships.

In this conversation, Tara and Hannah explore various themes related to communication, problem-solving, and personal growth. They discuss the importance of honest feedback, different communication styles, and how these affect interpersonal relationships. The conversation also delves into problem-solving approaches, the need for flexibility in the face of change, and the significance of personal values and motivations in leadership. They reflect on how stress impacts decision-making and the balance between confidence and caution in professional settings. The discussion concludes with insights on the role of recognition and the pursuit of enjoyment in work and life.

Curious about taking the Hogan Assessment for yourself? Pull back the curtain on how you are received and unlock the skills to leverage the totality of your personality traits by reaching out to us at femaledominatedpod@gmail.com.

Hannah and Tara dig into the real work of presence and visibility—the often-invisible ways women learn to take up space, stop shrinking, and show up with the grounded confidence their roles demand. Through candid stories (including early-career cringe like stiff handshakes and being nicknamed “Cornbread”), they unpack how social conditioning, workplace dynamics, and internal narratives shape how women are perceived long before they ever speak.

Blending psychology with lived experience, they explore identity theory, embodied cognition, and the subtle behavioral shifts that quietly transform how you carry yourself—and how others respond. From learning to hold eye contact and keep your seat at the table, to accepting compliments without deflecting, to sharing wins without feeling the ick, the episode offers a roadmap for women who want to be seen, heard, and taken seriously without abandoning who they are.

Expect honesty, humor, and a refreshingly real look at what it takes to build visibility and authority as a woman in male-dominated spaces—without conforming, contorting, or becoming a watered-down version of yourself.

TIMESTAMPS

0:00–1:02 — Why Presence and Visibility Matter

Presence isn’t cosmetic—it shapes how women are heard, valued, and included in spaces never designed with them in mind.

1:02–4:06 — Authenticity vs. the Performed Professional

The pressure to adopt a “work persona” and the instinct to mimic dominant leadership cues rather than trust your own.

4:06–6:00 — When Authenticity Looks Effortless

Reflecting on women whose confidence seemed innate—and why it often isn’t.

6:00–7:29 — Losing Yourself to Fit In

A lighthearted but telling story (“Cornbread”) reveals the cost of over-assimilating.

7:29–9:27 — Micro-Behaviors That Build Presence

How small, intentional habits shape identity. “Dress for the job” becomes “behave for the job.”

9:27–12:16 — Quiet Power: First-Impression Psychology

Calm pacing, intentional movement, and stillness as forms of authority.

12:16–14:59 — Nonverbal Authority: Seating, Posture, Eye Contact

Tiny choices can dramatically shift perceived competence.

14:59–17:20 — Presence as Practice, Not Performance

Confidence develops through repeated, progressive behavior—not through persona-building.

17:20–20:27 — Embodied Cognition & Taking Up Space

How everyday physical habits train your mind to show up with confidence at work.

20:27–23:33 — Unlearning the “Sorry” Reflex

Why over-apologizing undermines authority—and how to stop shrinking.

23:33–26:26 — Visibility Without the Ick

Accepting compliments, owning your contributions, and communicating impact without self-doubt.

26:26–29:27 — The Weight of Bad Advice

How to discern whose feedback to internalize—and whose to let go.

29:27–33:12 — Strategic Communication for Self-Advocacy

Practical, non-cringe ways to ensure your work is seen and understood.

33:12–37:34 — Elevating Others While Elevating Yourself

Recognition as both leadership and visibility—done with clarity and intention.

37:34–41:12 — Relationship Visibility

The role of networks, floor walks, and informal touchpoints in expanding influence.

41:12–46:23 — Building Social Confidence Through Exposure

Small talk, vulnerability, and pushing past discomfort to grow presence.

46:23–47:55 — Visibility That Aligns With Your Values

Visibility isn’t bragging—it’s accurate representation of your work.

47:55–End — Closing Reflections + Season Preview

A reminder that elevating your presence is your responsibility—and your power.