What Women In Music Don’t Say Out Loud.

For International Women’s Day, I asked women in music to send me one sentence anonymously.

Something they never say out loud at work.

Here’s what they shared:

“No one asked for your f*cking feedback! lol”

“It’s too bad (for you) you’re threatened by my intelligence.”

“I’m not your mother nor am I giving mommy vibes because I am your manager.”

“No matter how good I know I look on paper, or how confident I feel, one man’s misinformed, delusionally confident opinion can make me spiral into impostor syndrome.”

“I’m terrified of ageing out.”

“Why am I doing this to myself?”

“Working harder AND smarter.”

“I spent most of my career marketing the work, not myself. Now I’m changing that.”

“I wish more senior level women would volunteer time to mentor emerging leaders, do more community outreach to women-in-music organizations, and/or shared content on how to be successful. I want to learn from the women who came before me!”

“It’s ok to take things personally, we’re built different, we shouldn’t have to remove emotion, it’s what makes us human.”

“I know there’s room for all of us, but I know I let old habits of fighting for my voice that I forget you’re doing that too.”

There’s anger here.

Exhaustion.

Ambition.

Vulnerability.

Truth.

This is what it actually feels like sometimes.

If one of these landed for you, you’re not alone.

International Women’s Day means different things to each of us.

But maybe this year isn’t just about reflection. Maybe it’s about doing something with what you’ve been carrying.

What’s the sentence you never say out loud?

And what might change if you stopped holding it alone?

This is the work I support women in music with every day.

The spirals. The self-doubt. The power dynamics. The voice that gets quieter in rooms where you’ve earned your seat.

In coaching, we name it. We untangle it. We build your toolkit, challenge the stories keeping you small and strengthen your confidence to make clear decisions and act.

If you’d like to talk, book your exploration call here.

Always in your corner,

Sarah