Who It’s For: Entrepreneurs, Senior Business Leaders, Managers, Sales Professionals, Female Leaders, and R&D, Innovation, DEI, and Other Critical Teams
The Inspired Action Interview Series, Darlene Hawley and Host Frances Naty Go
Darlene Hawley
Finding My Voice So I Could Help Others Find Theirs
Watch the YouTube Video above for the full interview.
Reflections from the Inspired Action Interview Series with Frances Naty Go.
When Frances invited me onto the Inspired Action Interview Series, I didn’t think of it as an interview. I thought of it as a conversation about the moments that shape us. The ones that stretch us. The ones that almost silence us.
We didn’t just talk about business, we talked about voice and what it costs to hide it.
Where This All Began
People often assume I always wanted to be on stages.
I didn’t.
I started in retail HR and training. I loved developing leaders. I loved watching someone connect the dots and realize they were more capable than they thought. But there was a moment early in my leadership career that changed everything for me.
I was the only woman in a room full of men. I had an idea. A good one. I could feel it. And I could also feel my body betraying me. My face was hot. My throat tightened. My heart raced. I sat there arguing with myself while the conversation moved on without me.
I drove home in tears that night.
Not because anyone shut me down.
Because I shut myself down.
That moment never left me. And when I eventually stepped into coaching nineteen years ago, it wasn’t because I wanted to teach people how to “present better.” It was because I understood what it feels like to have something important to say and not be able to get it out.
Now I help leaders and entrepreneurs bridge that gap between what they know and what they say.
What Lights Me Up
During the interview, Frances asked what I love most about my work.
It’s watching someone shift in real time.
It’s the executive who realizes she doesn’t have to change herself to be taken seriously.
It’s the entrepreneur who stops over explaining and starts owning her value.
It’s the leader who creates enough safety in a room that her team finally speaks up.
Those moments feel sacred.
Service has always been at the center of my work. I don’t see communication as a performance skill. I see it as a responsibility. When we use our voice well, we make it safer for others to use theirs.
The Cost of Staying Silent
We talked about why speaking up matters so much in leadership.
Because silence shapes culture.
When leaders hold back, teams hold back. Innovation slows. Tension builds under the surface. People begin editing themselves instead of contributing fully.
But when a leader learns how to align her inner voice with her outer voice, something shifts. That alignment creates presence. It builds trust. It invites others into the conversation.
That’s the work I care about. Not louder voices. Clearer ones.
Self-Doubt and the Work of Becoming
Frances also asked about self-doubt.
Of course I’ve experienced it.
And I see it every week in brilliant people who are stepping into bigger rooms.
I shared a story about a client who had just been promoted into leadership. On paper, she was more than qualified. In her body, she felt like an imposter. Every meeting felt like a test.
We didn’t just talk strategy. We worked with her physiology. Her breathing. Her posture. We practiced saying the hard sentences out loud before she had to say them in real life. We reframed the internal critic that kept whispering she wasn’t ready.
Confidence didn’t appear overnight. It grew through repetition, embodiment and action.
Which is why when Frances asked what inspired action means to me, I told her something I believe deeply:
Clarity doesn’t come before action. It comes because of it.
So many people wait to feel certain before they move. But certainty is built through motion. Through small, brave steps. Through choosing to speak even when your voice shakes.
Inspired action isn’t dramatic. Sometimes it’s simply refusing to stay silent one more time.
Why This Conversation Mattered
That interview reminded me why I do this work.
Not for perfect messaging.
Not for polished stages.
But for the woman sitting in the meeting debating whether to raise her hand.
For the entrepreneur rewriting her offer for the tenth time because she’s afraid to own her expertise.
For the leader who knows her team needs more from her but isn’t sure how to step forward.
Your voice is not an accessory to your leadership.
It is your leadership.
And if our conversation sparked something in you, I hope you follow it.
Say the thing.
Raise your hand.
Submit the proposal.
Start the conversation.
You don’t need to wait to feel ready.
You just need to begin.
-----
If this resonated with you, don’t just nod your head and move on.
Pay attention to where you’re holding back.
If you’re ready to strengthen your voice, build executive presence, and influence conversations instead of replaying them later in your head, I invite you to explore working together.
This work is for leaders and entrepreneurs who are done shrinking in rooms they’ve earned the right to be in.
You don’t need to be louder.
You need to be aligned.
✨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.
Darlene Hawley shows women leaders how to build authority and attract opportunities by avoiding the permission trap and visibility leaks. Stop playing small.
Unlock the tools to regulate your nervous system, strengthen your voice, and communicate with powerful leadership presence.
Learn how creating a visual or signature framework makes your business easier to understand, builds client trust, and turns your offers into an easy yes.
Carolyn Bennett-Sullivan, a seasoned keynote speaker, TEDx presenter, and change strategist, shares her incredible journey from a challenging career in pharma sales to becoming a transformational catalyst. She discusses overcoming fear-based thinking, navigating major business disruptions, and building trust in organizations. Whether you're a heart-centered entrepreneur or an executive leader, this conversation is packed with valuable insights on how to lead confidently, handle major transitions, and create a business that thrives. Curious to learn more? Visit darlenehawley.com/workwithme. 00:41 Meet Carolyn Bennett Sullivan 01:48 Carolyn's Journey and Overcoming Fear 04:15 Navigating Workplace Disruptions 07:21 Tools for Leaders and Employees 15:03 The Importance of Communication and Engagement 21:19 The Importance of Team Buy-In 22:49 Building Relationships in Sales 27:21 Future Plans and Goals 29:26 Rapid Fire Questions 35:09 Conclusion and Contact Information Carolyn is an inspiring keynote speaker, transformational catalyst, and change strategist. As a TEDx speaker, author, and consultant, she leverages her corporate sales and small business expertise to help organizations create strategies for navigating business disruptions through mindset mastery. Her deep understanding of psychology, neuroscience, and business uncovers barriers to change and guides individuals to overcome obstacles, build resilience and unlock their highest capabilities. You can engage with Carolyn at: https://linkedin.com/in/carolynbennettsullivan https:instagram.com/cbsullivan https://facebook.com/carolynbennettsullivan ------ Hi I’m Darlene Hawley and I help ambitious entrepreneurs and executive women find their voice, craft powerful messaging, and regulate their nervous system so they can speak up with confidence in high-stakes conversations, client meetings, and on stages ... without second-guessing themselves. Grab my 10 Do's and Don't for Effective Daring Conversations: https://mailchi.mp/297e8105e904/communicationguide Grab my 6 Steps To Attract & Stand Out digital guide, a free roadmap to create a successful business with less hustle and more ease: https://bit.ly/attractandstandoutonline Grab a Chai and let's Connect: https://darlenehawley.com https://linkedin.com/in/darlenehawley
How do you lead, sell, and grow in a world where the old playbook no longer works? Learn how to evolve your message and strategy for lasting impact.
Explore how career pivots and technological advancements like AI can reshape business landscapes and personal journeys.
When you're talking but no one's listening. Have you ever introduced yourself at a networking event… only to feel like people’s eyes glazed over? One of my clients put it perfectly: “Darlene, I share who I am and what I do, but it feels like I’m invisible. People nod politely and then move on.” She had so much value to offer. In fact, she is amazing at what she did. Yet, her introduction was all over the place. Some days she was talking to potential clients, other days to possible collaborators, and sometimes even she wasn’t sure what her main point was. And that’s why it felt like no one was listening. Why This Happens It’s not because you’re not experienced enough. It’s not because you’re not interesting enough. It’s because without clarity about who your audience is in the room and what you really want to say, your voice gets lost in the shuffle of business cards and conversations. Networking rooms are full of people competing for attention. If your message doesn’t connect directly... if it doesn’t make them pause, lean in and say, “Tell me more” ... it disappears before they even leave the event. The Shift When this client and I worked together, the first thing we did was get crystal clear about: Who she most wanted to reach in the room. What those people actually cared about. How her work specifically helped them. Once she had that clarity, her introductions started sounding different... more direct, more alive, more her. And the result? People leaned in. Instead of walking away, they asked questions. They followed up after the event. They booked time with her. Because when you find your voice and know exactly who you’re talking to, you stop being forgettable. You become someone people can’t ignore. This is exactly what we’ll be diving into in Session 1 of my Attract & Stand Out Framework: Getting clear on who your audience is. Knowing what you want to say. Communicating how you help in a way that truly connects... whether you’re introducing yourself in a room or on stage. It’s not just about having the words, it’s about the confidence to say them out loud too... with presence, authority, and ease. If you’ve been walking out of networking events feeling overlooked, let this be a gentle nudge: ~ You don’t need to try harder. ~ You don’t need to stuff more into your intro. ~ You need clarity... on your audience, your message, and your voice. That’s where visibility begins. That’s how you go from overlooked to unforgettable. Think about the last time you introduced yourself at a networking event. Could the right person in the room... your dream client or collaborator... hear you and say: “That’s me. She gets it”? ________________________________________________________ 🌀 Nervous System Regulator: The 4-7-8 Reset Feeling that anxious butterfly sensation before you introduce yourself? Try this right before you speak: Inhale quietly through your nose for a count of 4. Hold your breath for a count of 7. Exhale slowly and fully through your mouth for a count of 8. Repeat this 3–4 times. It only takes a minute, but it tells your nervous system: You’re safe. You’ve got this. When your body is calm, your voice comes through with more presence and power... and people remember you. ✨ Ready to stop feeling overlooked at networking events? Download my free guide, 6 Steps to Attract & Stand Out, and discover how to clarify your message, show up with confidence, and connect with the people who matter most. Grab it here »
Discover how Laurie Itkin, CDFA and founder of The Options Lady, refined her messaging, raised her rates, and attracted high-value clients with clarity and confidence.
had the honor of attending the first-ever C-Sweet Annual Summit in Shelbyville, Tennessee—hosted at the breathtaking Uncle Nearest Distillery.
