ABOUT ANNA SPEAKING PROGRAMS AND WORKSHOPS
Be confident — but not aggressive 
Be warm — but not soft
Speak up — but not like that


You've probably noticed that the rules women are taught about how to communicate are ludicrously contradictory - and impossible to follow. 

Despite decades of progress, gendered expectations and cultural norms shape how women are perceived and evaluated in workplace every day.

Over time, many women learn - often unconsciously - to adjust their words, tone, body language and contributions constantly; over explaining, minimising their expertise, apologising unnecessarily, or second guessing whether to speak at all. 

What many of us have been told is a confidence problem is actually a conditioning problem. 

You’re not imagining it ... 

Research consistently shows that in professional settings:  

  • Men account for around 75% of available speaking time in mixed gender meetings.
  • When women speak more frequently than their peers, they’re perceived as less competent.   When men do the same, they’re viewed as more competent.
  • Both men and women interrupt women more frequently then they interrupt men.
  • Assertive communication tends to benefit men — and trigger backlash against women.

 

These aren’t personal failings, they’re documented dynamics. And they shape what you say, how you say it, and how others receive it — often without anyone in the room realising it’s happening. 

She Speaks acknowledges that reality, and equips you to navigate it, without losing yourself in the process.

Why “just be more confident’ doesn’t work

Confidence is often treated as a prerequisite of building professional presence and power.

But for women confidence is shaped by years of contradictory feedback: be assertive, but no intimidating; visible, but not “too much.” 

The same behaviour that signals confidence in one person attracts a very different label in another. And the reality is, confidence may not always arrive before the moments that matter.

She Speaks gives you something different: the awareness, tools and courage to communicate effectively - even when you feel scared or uncertain.

If you: 
  • Get tired of being labelled too emotional, too direct, too much — or conversely, not assertive enough
  • Struggle to find the right words at the right time, or wind up saying too much at the wrong time
  • Leave meetings having said less than you meant to, or said it in a way that didn’t land
  • Feel overlooked for opportunities despite your expertise and experience
  • Find yourself saying yes when you want to say no, and staying quiet when you want to speak
  • Go quiet or go hard under pressure, and neither feels right
  • Have to be told to speak up more, without anyone explaining what’s actually getting in the way

      ... then She Speaks is for you!

Register Your Interest

The Key Framework

A.W.E.

Every time you walk into a room, log on to a Teams meeting, or contribute to a conversation,
you're signalling where you sit across three dimensions:

Authority

Builds credibility and commands respect. Most women unconsciously soften their authority to avoid being labelled ‘aggressive’ or 'too much'. 

 

Warmth

Conveys that we care about others and are open to human connection. Women have often been taught to display warmth at all costs, even when we disagree, feel uncomfortable or xxxx.

 

Energy

When focused, energy can inspire and influence; when depleted or frenetic, it may have the opposite effect. 

 

 

Most women don’t manage these factors consciously. They manage them in real time, under social pressure. And over time the adjustments become automatic - so speaking stops feeling like communication and starts feeling like performance.

What’s Included:

 

Before: Live Online, 1 Hour 

Preparation Session. Guided self-reflection and structured feedback-gathering from trusted colleagues. You arrive knowing what to work on.

 

During: In-person, Adelaide, 2 Days

Maximum 18 participants — small enough for real practice, real feedback, and peer connection that lasts beyond the two days.

Two days of high-impact learning across four domains:

1. Understand the cultural, systemic and personal factors that shape how you show up

Recognise how internalised norms, stereotypes and your innate preferences have shaped your communication — and start letting go of the habits that no longer serve you.

2. Communicate for connection

Turn surface-level interaction into meaningful connection. Build trust quickly. Navigate conflict without torching the realtionship.

3. Conversational courage

Experience the A.W.E. Framework in action. Say what needs to be said without compromising your values, your relationships or your reputation. 

4. Make your presence matter

Voice, language, body, gestures and face — how to express yourself with clarity and conviction in any professional setting, without feeling fake or awkward.

 

After: Live online, 1.5 hours 

Implementation session, a fortnight after the workshop. Troubleshoot, ask questions, celebrate what’s shifted, stay accountable for what’s next.

 

$1900 

per person (GST inclusive)

August 2026

 

 

Join the Waitlist

You’ll leave She Speaks with:

  

A framework you’ll use for the rest of your career

You can apply A.W.E. To any communication situation — from feedback conversations and toddler-wrangling to stakeholder negotiations and boardroom presentations

Specific honest feedback

No vague. Specific enough to act on immediately. You’ll know exactly where your communication is working and what you need to do to expand your influence and impact

The precise language for moments that matter

The words to express yourself opinion clearly. How to handle interruptions without losing your thread. How to respond to inappropriate behaviour without blowing up the conversation or your career 

Techniques for saying no — and sticking to it

Boundaries that protect your values, your professional reputation and your relationships

Techniques for saying no — and sticking to it

Research-backed approaches to quell your inner-critic, overcome Imposter Syndrome and say what matters even when you feel nervous or unsure

Skills you’ll use from day one:
  • Speaking with authority without tipping into aggression
  • Leading with warmth without losing credibility
  • Protecting energy that commands attention without being overwhelming
  • Body language and vocal habits that will dial up your presence and impact without feeling fake or awkward  
Join the Waitlist

What others say about their

She Speaks experience:

〞

It's hard to express the difference She Speaks has made in both my personal and professional life. I'm so much better at staying calm and focused on the goal of the conversation, and am using the tools and techniques Anna shared every single day, especially in challenging situations. I loved everything about this Program, from Anna's brilliant facilitation to sharing experiences and learning from a group of incredible women."

 - Jennifer Reid, City of Charles Sturt

 〞

"I can't recommend She Speaks highly enough - it's the best professional development I've ever done. I now know how to get my point across even in heated moments. I've realised that I don't have to be full of energy all the time, I don't have to be cool calm and collected all the time or the most serious person in the room - it's about working with a balance of authority, warmth and energy that is right for the situation and true to who I am."

 - Faith Stilwell, Workplace Realtions Advisor, SA Government

〞

The best program I've ever done - anyone who has an inner critic that stops them being the best version of  themselves should do She Speaks! As someone with English as a second language it's been especially helpful to find the specific words and body language that will help me in complex negotiations with senior stakeholders and increase my impact in meetings. Anna is an incredible facilitator who makes every single person in the room feel empowered and inspired."

 - Jasleen Kalra, Workplace Strategist, Federal Government 

〞

She Speaks is an amazing program - you could see on everyone's faces that they felt heard, valued and empowered. I now feel I have the skills to be the person I know I can be but sometimes struggle to be - both at work and at home. The tools we covered will help me spend less time in my own head and be calmer and more present in my communication. I found the material on authority, warmth and energy especially valuable, and am looking forward to practicing being more authoritative, especially at work."

- Rachel Murchland, Principal Project Manager, City of Mitcham

Still not sure if She Speaks is for you? 

She Speaks is for you if you're:

✔ You ’re ready to take a more proactive, intentional approach to your workplace presence and communication.

✔  You ’re open to building your self-awareness through reflection, feedback and sharing your experiences and learnings with other women.

✔  You ’re seeking specific, actionable tools that deliver immediate improvements in your impact and influence.

Best to give She Speaks a miss if:

đŸš«Â You have no interest in exploring how gender can influence self-perception, communication and workplace dynamics.

đŸš«Â You ’re looking for presentation skills training - She Speaks will help with presenting, but the main focus is workplace communication.

đŸš«Â  You 're not in a space where you ’re open to trying new things, exploring different perspectives or working with others in small groups.

 

Hi, I'm Anna

I'm a keynote speaker, facilitator and program designer with twenty years' experience designing and delivering transformative learning experiences for women.

 I developed She Speaks after years of noticing the same pattern across leadership programs, workshops, and coaching conversations with professional women — including very senior leaders.

Again and again, I saw highly capable women navigating impossible communication expectations:
be confident, but not intimidating; direct, but warm; visible, but never “too much.”

I became fascinated by how deeply these messages shape the way women communicate — often in subtle, unconscious ways — and how much traditional “confidence” advice misses the complexity of that experience.

She Speaks was created as a more thoughtful, evidence-informed and practical approach: helping women understand the hidden patterns influencing their communication, experiment with new choices, and develop a voice that feels both authoritative and genuinely their own.

My work draws on leadership development, behavioural science, communication research, and years facilitating programs with women across corporate, government and university sectors.

 

Hi, I'm Anna

I'm a keynote speaker, facilitator and program designer with twenty years' experience designing and delivering transformative learning experiences for women.

 I developed She Speaks after years of noticing the same pattern across leadership programs, workshops, and coaching conversations with professional women — including very senior leaders.

Again and again, I saw highly capable women navigating impossible communication expectations:
be confident, but not intimidating; direct, but warm; visible, but never “too much.”

I became fascinated by how deeply these messages shape the way women communicate — often in subtle, unconscious ways — and how much traditional “confidence” advice misses the complexity of that experience.

She Speaks was created as a more thoughtful, evidence-informed and practical approach: helping women understand the hidden patterns influencing their communication, experiment with new choices, and develop a voice that feels both authoritative and genuinely their own.

My work draws on leadership development, behavioural science, communication research, and years facilitating programs with women across corporate, government and university sectors.

 

For Organisations

She Speaks is available as an in-house program — tailored to your context, industry’s and leadership framework.

Works well as part of a women’s leadership initiative, an internal women’s network program, or a leadership development program with a dedication communication strand.

In-house delivery is available nationally.

For enquires: anna@hacksforher.com

You’re not imagining it ... 

Research consistently shows that in professional settings:  

  • Men account for around 75% of available speaking time in mixed gender meetings
  • When women speak more frequently than their peers, they’re perceived as less competent.   When men do the same, they’re viewed as more competent
  • Both men and women interrupt women more frequently then they interrupt men
  • Assertive communication tends to benefit men — and trigger backlash against women

These aren’t personal failings, they’re documented dynamics. And they shape what you say, how you say it, and how others receive it — often without anyone in the room realising it’s happening. 

She Speaks acknowledges that reality, and equips you to navigate it, without losing yourself in the process.

Frequently Asked Questions

She Speaks is a Hacks for Her program

www.hacksforher.com

Register Your Interest for August 2026