There’s a quiet question I hear from so many women—especially in midlife, especially when they’ve built careers, families, and businesses.

Am I doing enough? Am I using my voice the way I’m meant to?

This week’s podcast conversation with Sarah Barnes-Humphrey brought that question front and center in the most grounded, honest way. Not as a motivational slogan. Not as a hustle-heavy challenge. But as an invitation to slow down, reflect, and take responsibility for the power we already carry.

Self-Worth Is Not a Destination

One of the most powerful reminders from this conversation is that self-worth isn’t something you arrive at and check off a list.

It’s not permanent. It’s not linear. And it’s not tied to how confident you feel on any given day.

Self-worth shifts with life experiences—career changes, leadership roles, losses, pivots, and those moments when the labels you once relied on fall away. The work isn’t about forcing yourself to feel good all the time. It’s about learning how to protect your sense of worth when circumstances change.

That alone can feel like a relief for women who’ve been quietly beating themselves up for not feeling “confident enough.”

When Titles and Labels Start Calling the Shots

At some point, many women realize just how much power they’ve handed over to titles, roles, and external validation.

Director. Vice President. Founder. Leader.

And then (sometimes suddenly!) those labels shift or disappear. A business closes. A role changes. A new season begins. And the internal question becomes: Who am I without this?

This conversation explored how easy it is to attach self-worth to titles and how damaging that can be when life inevitably asks us to adapt. The real work is learning to separate who you are from what you do—and noticing where you may be giving your power away without realizing it.

Privilege, Power, and Responsibility

One of the most thought-provoking parts of this episode was the conversation around privilege.

Privilege isn’t a fixed identity. It changes depending on the room you’re in, the moment you’re in, and the role you’re playing.

The question isn’t whether you have privilege. The real question is: What are you doing with it?

When you recognize that you have influence (whether through experience, visibility, leadership, voice, or some other factor) it comes with responsibility. Not to be perfect. Not to have all the answers. But to create space, ask better questions, and make it safer for others to show up fully.

Creating Safe Spaces Starts With Presence

True leadership doesn’t come from having the loudest voice in the room. It comes from being present.

From listening without rushing to fix.
From asking questions without defensiveness.
From allowing yourself to be corrected, to learn, and to grow in real time.

When women feel safe, seen, and heard, something shifts—not just for them, but for the culture they’re part of. Whether that’s a workplace, a business, a family, or a community.

Letting Go of Shame and Giving Yourself Grace

So much of what holds women back isn’t lack of skill or opportunity... it’s shame.

Shame around past choices.
Shame around starting over.
Shame around not being “further along.”

And sometimes, it even shows up as shame around doing the thing you have to do to provide for yourself or your family. When you shift your mindset to being in service of others you can begin to reframe the shame. 

Shame doesn’t get to define you. It may show up, but it doesn’t get to stay in charge. When you learn to move through it with awareness and grace, you create room for clarity, confidence, and intentional action.

Your Voice Matters—Especially Now

If there’s one takeaway I hope stays with you, it’s this:

Your voice matters. And how you use it matters.

You don’t need a bigger platform to lead.
You don’t need a different title to make an impact.
You don’t need permission to show up fully.

You’re already in rooms that matter. The invitation is to notice your power, stop giving it away, and use your voice with intention—right where you are.

Resources & Links from This Episode

• I Buried Her in a French Press (Book): https://geni.us/Iburiedherinafp

• Sarah’s newsletter: https://sarahbarneshumphrey.com/newsletter/

• Let’s Talk Supply Chain: https://letstalksupplychain.com/

• Blended podcast: https://blendedpodcast.libsyn.com/

• Blended Pledge nonprofit: https://blendedpledge.org/

• Sarah’s website: http://sarahbarneshumphrey.com/

• Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahbarneshumphrey/