WHEN BANTER CROSSES THE LINE

That moment when the banter crosses a line—and you’re the only woman in the room.

Throughout my career, I was often the only woman in the meeting.

I remember one room in particular. The meetings were productive, full of banter, and laced with a healthy dose of humour.

But over time, the language shifted.

Swearing became the norm. And the c-word was being thrown around like it was going out of fashion.

Every time I heard it, something in me tensed.

I could have laughed it off. Stayed quiet. Pretended it didn’t bother me.

But it did.

So I emailed the MD and CEO. I said the language was unprofessional and, as the only woman in the room, deeply uncomfortable. That the culture was starting to feel like a lads’ locker room. Even if it wasn’t intentional, the undertones felt sexist.

My heart raced when I hit send.

But I’m glad I did.

To their credit, they took it seriously. The tone changed. The space felt different - more respectful.

Speaking up can shift the room. But someone has to go first.

I coach women in music who are still in rooms like that; still weighing when to stay quiet and when to push back.

Coaching won’t fix the industry. But it can help you back yourself, draw the line, and lead on your terms.

Have you ever had to weigh the cost of speaking up?

Contact me here if you want to chat. I’d love to hear your story.

#womeninmusic #musicindustry