“You have permission to make noise.”

Coach Leanne Pedante from the SuperNatural Workout App always drops some life affirming words, but these hit me right at my core. And from what I hear from other female founders and leaders, I think they’re worth sharing.

Coach Leanne talks about struggle, doubt, and the stories we tell ourselves that keep us small. And she uses that context to inspire us to break past our limits–giving permission to rewrite those stories and show up stronger.

Permission to connect with our stories–something so many female leaders need to hear.

Whenever I hear one of Leanne’s truth bombs at the start of my day, I can easily see the personal growth lesson is just as applicable in my professional story. It becomes more and more clear to me that what holds us back personally is exactly what holds us back from promoting ourselves professionally. Whether it’s permission to show up as your full self, courage to do the scary thing, all the “shoulds” that might be holding you back. Human insight doesn’t discriminate between our personal and professional selves.

I've seen many posts from women on LinkedIn that begin with disclaimers: "I'm usually hesitant to share this..." or "I've been afraid to post about..." They're overcoming their fears to share their stories, and it's powerful to witness.

I experienced the same inner voice that whispered, "Who are you to take up space?” I felt how it translated to my work and brand–"Who am I to claim this market position?"

After spending a few years now helping founders and entrepreneurs tell their brand stories, and also a few years speaking about the power of story to transform us personally, I’ve just finally realized how intertwined these struggles are. Our personal limits don't stop at the office door—they shape how we show up in business, how confidently we own our expertise, and whether we're willing to take up the space and make the noise our work deserves.

I felt a breakthrough when I realized that giving myself permission to be fully human—messy, imperfect, still figuring it out—isn't separate from building a strong brand. It's the foundation of it.

Your brand story isn't just about what you do. It's about who you're becoming while you do it. Give yourself permission to make some noise and share it. You never know who needs to hear it.

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