Karli Sherman went from dreaming of Broadway stages to building a career helping women communicate with clarity and confidence. Her message is simple: Your voice matters. It's time to own it, even when you're nervous.
Many accomplished women struggle with the same challenge: they doubt their voice. They apologize before speaking. They soften their opinions. They lead with questions instead of convictions. And they're often brilliant despite these habits—not because they lack clarity or capability, but because they've learned to second-guess themselves.
In this honest episode of the Influential Women Podcast, host Jodie O'Brien speaks with leadership coach and speaker Karli Sherman about confidence, leadership communication, and owning your voice at work.
Karli's path to this work was unexpected. As a theater student dreaming of Broadway, she learned something profound about voice, presence, and courage—lessons that later transformed how she approached professional communication. Instead of pursuing theater, she built a career helping women lead with the same clarity and conviction that stage performers develop.
The episode explores what it actually means to "lead courageously" when you feel nervous. Spoiler: Courage isn't the absence of fear. It's moving forward despite it. Karli shares practical strategies for building confidence through everyday practice—small moments of speaking up that accumulate into rewired neural pathways.
The conversation also tackles a specific pattern holding back many women: over-apologizing. You've probably caught yourself saying "I'm sorry" before sharing an idea, apologizing for taking up space, or softening a strong conviction with qualifiers. Karli addresses this directly, helping you understand why you do it and how to stop.
In this episode, you'll discover:
- What it means to lead courageously, even when you feel nervous
- How everyday practice builds confidence in professional settings
- Why women over-apologize and practical ways to stop
- How to speak about achievements with confidence rather than self-doubt
- Strategies for showing up authentically in leadership roles
- The connection between voice, presence, and professional impact
Karli's approach is grounded in behavioral psychology and professional communication strategy. She doesn't ask you to fake confidence or adopt a persona—she helps you access the clarity and conviction you already possess.
This episode resonates with:
- Women in leadership questioning their voice or authority
- Professionals struggling with confidence in presentations or meetings
- Anyone who finds themselves apologizing too much
- Leaders wanting to communicate more effectively
- Women stepping into new roles or higher visibility
If you've questioned your voice, struggled with confidence in professional settings, or want to lead with more self-trust and conviction, Karli's practical wisdom will help you claim the space you deserve.
