My lived experience was that leading or wrapping with minimizing statements increased the likelihood that my observation or idea would be heard, considered and discussed by the men around the table. The reality is that women in a corporate setting are labeled if they are too confident or outspoken - ‘difficult’ or ‘emotional’ are words I’d often heard my male colleagues deploy to describe women who held and shared strong viewpoints. In my human resources seat, I saw first hand the impact these perceptions had in performance reviews, compensation adjustments, career investment and even hiring decisions. This can lead women, like myself, to feel the need to downplay their abilities or ideas in order to avoid these perceptions and their consequences while ensuring their ideas are ultimately heard.