How to Make Your Voice Matter in the Moments That Count
by Tabby Biddle
Have you ever walked away from a conversation, interview, or panel discussion and thought: “I wish I had said that differently.” “I didn’t share the part that really mattered.” Or, “That wasn’t quite my real voice!”
If so, you’re not alone. So many brilliant, thoughtful women leaders tell me the same thing. This isn’t because they lack expertise on the topic they’re speaking about. It’s because for many women, there’s a learned instinct to “get it right” and avoid mistakes at all costs when speaking in public—and this, unfortunately, causes us to filter, edit, or soften our truth.
I have found this to be especially true in high-stakes settings—because we’ve been taught to prioritize being “palatable” over being powerful. I’ve been there one too many times.
These are moments like: introducing ourselves to a new audience; answering the age-old question “what do you do?” in a way that feels real; sharing our story in an interview or podcast; responding to an important question in a meeting; and especially when speaking at a live event, panel, or roundtable.
Our desire to “get it right” and be “likeable” often has us speaking from the surface, rather than from the deeper place of our soul. And this becomes a loss for everyone.
The fact is that your voice is most powerful and can make the most impact when it comes from this deeper, soulful place—the place within you where your truth, your values, and your purpose meet.
Enter: The Feminine Soul Statement
One of the practices I teach my clients is how to create your Feminine Soul Statement. This is a short, powerful expression of your message that reflects not just what you do, but why it matters to those you’re here to serve.
It’s not a pitch or a slogan. It’s your essence, spoken clearly and confidently.
Unlike the traditional elevator pitch that often comes from our mind and is typically created from an outward facing view, the Feminine Soul Statement is sourced from within. It’s less about proving your worth—and more about standing in your truth.
This is your soul’s message distilled into a few lines. It’s a compass for your leadership, your visibility, and your voice.
Below is a simple structure to try. Before you fill in the details, I invite you to close your eyes, and place one hand on your heart and the other at your womb or belly. Then take three long, deep breaths to get settled, centered, and land fully in your body.
Here we go:
✨ I believe [insert core belief or the truth your heart/body knows]
✨ That’s why I help [who you serve] to [transformation you guide them through]
✨ So that [greater vision or impact/what becomes possible in the world when you do].
This kind of clarity is powerful. It helps your voice not just be heard—but land with the listener. It helps you speak from your core (even when you’re nervous) and show up with consistency, no matter the setting.
Once you’re grounded in your Feminine Soul Statement, you can start weaving it into the places you’re already showing up:
5 Places to Make Your Voice Matter
You don’t have to wait for a keynote stage or a spotlight to use your voice. There are moments all around you—every day—where your Feminine Soul Statement can guide you to speak with more truth, more power, and more alignment. Here are five powerful places to start:
1. Opening an event or meeting
Instead of starting with a laundry list of credentials or job titles, begin with your “why.” Ground yourself in your Feminine Soul Statement and speak from that deeper place. This sets the tone with presence and intention—and immediately invites others to listen with their hearts, not just their heads.
2. In your bio or introductions
Whether you're being introduced at an event, asked for your bio for a speaking engagement, or writing an “About Me” section on your website, your Feminine Soul Statement is a powerful compass. Let it shape how you describe yourself—infusing your intro with purpose, not just position. This brings warmth, meaning, and depth to what might otherwise feel formulaic.
3. During interviews or podcast appearances
Interviews are fertile ground to express your message, but they can also stir up nerves or throw you off track. Your Feminine Soul Statement acts as a grounding tool—it helps you return to your truth if you lose your place, feel triggered, or wander too far from your core. You don’t need to memorize it word for word—just let it live in your body as a north star.
4. In your social presence or website
Let your message move beyond marketing copy. Whether it’s in your Instagram bio, a pinned post, or the headline on your homepage, your Feminine Soul Statement can act as a soul-level invitation to your community. Instead of trying to “sell” your work, let your voice serve as a beacon for the women who are meant to find you.
5. In Everday Conversations
This is the one most women overlook—but it may be the most important. Whether you're at a networking event, on a school committee, or in a casual conversation with a new friend, you don’t have to wait for a formal platform to speak your truth. Share your Feminine Soul Statement when someone asks, “What do you do?” Let it ripple outward in daily moments. This is how thought leadership grows—from embodied truth, spoken consistently.
There’s something powerful that happens when you speak your Feminine Soul Statement out loud. It’s like a tuning fork for your leadership.
The more you practice saying your Feminine Soul Statement aloud, the more natural it will feel. Please keep in mind that you don’t need to rehearse your voice into perfection. You just need to return to your statement again and again—and make it a home for you.
That’s one of the things I’ll be supporting women to do in my upcoming workshop: The Feminine Leader’s Voice: How to Own Your Voice & Make It Matter.
Together, we’ll practice speaking from truth. We’ll refine your Feminine Soul Statement. And you’ll be witnessed in a space where your voice is safe, honored, and celebrated.
Because your voice matters, and when you speak from your feminine soul, people will listen.
With love,
Tabby
Tabby Biddle is a TEDx speaker, thought leadership mentor, and women’s public speaking coach who helps visionary women clarify their message and express it with power, presence, and purpose. Through her workshops and coaching, she supports women to use their voice in the moments that matter most—from the boardroom to the stage to everyday leadership conversations. Learn more at tabbybiddle.com.