Episode Details

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You can be invited into the room for a reason and still feel your voice disappear the moment you walk through the door. Nichol Ellis-McGregor sits down with leadership and workforce development expert Paula Matthias to get honest about what happens when women shrink in high-stakes spaces, especially in male-dominated industries, and how to reclaim career agency without becoming someone you don’t recognize.

Paula shares the boardroom moment that flipped a switch for her: a new promotion, a table full of men, and a split-second choice to make herself small. From there, we dig into the roots of people pleasing, the pressure to keep everyone comfortable, and why saying yes too quickly can quietly crowd out your priorities. If you’ve ever done the behind-the-scenes work while someone else gets the credit, this conversation will feel familiar and also freeing.

Then we get practical. Paula walks us through her Yes Test framework for decision making and boundary setting: Is it yours, is it essential, is it sustainable. We talk about the “office snacks” trap, how resentment builds when invisible tasks pile up, and why a “no for now” can be a healthy, values-based choice. You’ll also hear simple speaking up at work tools, including a calm way to stop interrupters using clear language and nonverbal communication, plus a realistic approach to boundaries that doesn’t require a dramatic announcement.

If you want more confidence, better time management, and a cleaner yes that matches the life you’re trying to build, press play. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs it, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show. What would change first if you trusted your next no?

More on Paula at https://paulamathias.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulamathiasfryer/

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