Who It’s For: Entrepreneurs, Senior Business Leaders, Managers, Sales Professionals, Female Leaders, and R&D, Innovation, DEI, and Other Critical Teams
Speak Like You Mean It: Lessons from The Handmaid’s Tale and the Power of Using Your Voice
Darlene Hawley
What the emotional finale of The Handmaid’s Tale teaches us about reclaiming our voice, healing from trauma, and leading with courage.
If you’ve ever watched The Handmaid’s Tale, you know it’s not a show you just binge and forget. It stays with you... its themes, its pain, its power.
And as the final episode aired last week, the conversation on Elisabeth Moss’s fan page wasn’t about love triangles or plot twists... it was about what the series really meant.
It was about resilience.
It was about survival.
It was about finding your voice after it’s been taken.
From the first episode to the final scene, we’ve witnessed June fight... not just for her daughter, but for herself and every woman silenced by systems built to erase them.
Her story, with all its heartbreak and slow, painful healing, reminds us that reclaiming your voice doesn’t come in a loud, sweeping moment. It comes in small choices, brave words, and quiet strength over time.
As a vocal empowerment and leadership coach, I couldn’t help but see the connection to the work I do every day with women leaders and entrepreneurs. Many of us were raised to be quiet, agreeable, “nice.” We’ve been taught to shrink, not shine... to look pretty.
But the truth is this. Your voice is your power.
When we learn to speak up... for ourselves, for others, for what matters—we do more than just take up space. We shift culture. We challenge systems. We lead with courage. We give permission for other women to speak up.
The finale of The Handmaid’s Tale felt like an exhale. A deep breath that we've been holding. A reminder that healing is possible, that being a whole women is the goal... and that our voice will get us there.
If you’ve felt the heaviness of holding back, if you’re tired of not being heard or understood... then I invite you to join me this July for the Speak Up & Influence experience in partnership with C-Sweet.
It’s a four-week journey designed to help professional women reframe their self-doubt, amplify their presence, and lead powerful conversations that make a real difference... in meetings, on stages, in life.
Because no one else can tell your story.
And like June, you deserve to speak it with clarity, purpose, and impact.
👉 Join me in July: darlenehawley.com/c-sweet
To the women who are ready to speak up... your time is now.
✨Ready to Own Your Story and Attract Your Dream Clients?✨
If you’re ready to stop second-guessing your message and start using storytelling as a powerful tool to connect, inspire, and sell—then I’d love to invite you to my It’s Time to Own Your Story: Mini-Course.
In this self-paced course, you’ll learn how to:
✔️ Identify the key moments in your story that captivate your audience.
✔️ Share your story in a way that builds trust and positions you as the go-to expert.
✔️ Use storytelling across your website, social media, and sales conversations to attract and convert more clients.
Plus, you’ll get a
step-by-step workbook and
personal feedback on your brand story—so you can start sharing with confidence.
Hey There!
I'm Darlene
As a mother, wife, connector, and dream builder, I’m Darlene Hawley, the founder of DarleneHawley.com and an Executive Leadership & Businesss Coach dedicated to empowering leaders like you.
My passion lies in helping ambitious professionals cultivate their unique leadership style while crafting an authentic and impactful personal brand. Through my coaching, we’ll work together to build a solid foundation that not only inspires your team but also drives results and growth within your organization.
Since 2007, I have been committed to guiding leaders and entrepreneurs in launching and scaling their businesses with confidence and clarity.
Today, I focus on supporting women in reaching their leadership goals and living their dream lives—all while balancing the joys of raising my family and creating meaningful memories each day.
Together, we’ll transform your challenges into opportunities, allowing you to lead with authenticity and inspire those around you.
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Welcome back to the Attract & Stand Out podcast! In this episode, I’m chatting with the incredible Michele Risa, CEO of Collaborative Solutions. Michele takes us on a journey—from her early days in the corporate world to launching her own business back in 1991 (before entrepreneurship was even a buzzword!). She opens up about what it really means to follow your heart, trust yourself, and build a business that reflects who you are at your core. We dive into so many powerful topics—why collaboration always wins over competition, the real work behind diversity, equity, and inclusion, and how trust is the true foundation of great leadership. Michele also shares stories from working internationally and offers such grounded wisdom on staying resilient and growing with intention over the long haul. If you're a leader who wants to make an impact by showing up as your full, authentic self—you’re going to love this conversation. Here’s what we cover: 00:30 – Michele’s leap from corporate to entrepreneurship 02:56 – Why collaboration is the future 04:50 – How DEI creates stronger businesses 08:20 – What it takes to lead with authenticity 11:47 – Michele’s biggest lessons from decades in business 18:45 – Navigating challenges with resilience 26:58 – Rapid fire Qs + final takeaways Let’s dive in! Michele Risa, CEO Collaborative Solutions, Inc since 1991, is an Executive Consultant specializing in trust, engagement, and talent optimization. Michele’s most recent project is creating employment for 1 million low-income women in the MENA region- Middle East/North Africa. She is: a renowned speaker at Mastercard, Microsoft, TEDx, and more. Co-author of the award-winning book "Conscious Entrepreneurs: A Radical New Approach to Purpose, Passion & Profit.” Former President of the Manhattan Holistic Chamber of Commerce. Certifications: PTSD, Breathwork, Reiki, Vipassana, and M.A. Columbia University. www.collaborativesolutionsco.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelerisa/
