“We all have agency to speak up, and it’s incredibly liberating.” - Karen Laos Karen came to this realization after a moment that could have easily been dismissed as just another bad day at work. She was in a boardroom giving a presentation when she suddenly froze. Instead of pushing through, her boss stopped the meeting. Later, she pulled her aside and asked a simple but powerful question: why didn’t you just table the discussion, and why do you keep asking for permission? That question stayed with her. As she reflected, Karen recognized something deeper, she didn’t actually agree with what she had been presenting. But she had been raised to respect authority, not challenge it, and certainly not push back in a room like that. In that moment, she saw how much she had been holding herself back. What started as an uncomfortable experience became a turning point. It led her to rethink how often people stay quiet, even when they have something important to say, and ultimately inspired her to help others find the confidence to use their voice. It’s easy to stay silent, especially when speaking up feels risky. But over time, that silence can become a kind of prison we create for ourselves. Speaking up isn’t about being difficult or confrontational, it’s about being honest and bringing your full perspective to the table. If something doesn’t sit right with you, it’s worth saying so. You’re in the room for a reason, and your voice carries more value than you might think.