Where Are All the Women?

Where Are All the Women?

From The Story I'm Telling Myself by Rita Ernst

April 2, 2026 · 40 min · Season 2 · Episode 50

About this episode

In this 50th episode, Rita Ernst and Bobbie Carlton discuss the visibility gap for women in professional spaces and the importance of representation in leadership roles.

In honor of a monumentous 50th episode , we deep-dive into the heart of mission-driven leadership and the systemic visibility gap in professional spaces. Grab the Episode 50 companion Self-Reflection Guide Host Rita Ernst sits down with Bobbie Carlton , the founder of Innovation Women , to challenge the staggering reality that two-thirds of all conference speakers are men . This imbalance doesn't just limit representation; it strips women of vital career and business opportunities . What You’ll Learn in This Episode: The Power of Giving Yourself Permission: Bobbie shares her journey of moving from a passive observer of "male, pale, and stale" panels to an active leader who created a solution for underrepresented voices. Overcoming the Inner Critic: Explore how to navigate the comparison story and imposter syndrome that often hinder professional growth. The "Speaker Friends" Framework: Learn why building a cadre of supportive peers is essential to making progress and going farther together. Reconciling Social and Economic Capital: A raw look at the monetization trap —why having "skin in the game" through membership fees is crucial for value…

People in this episode

Host: Rita Ernst

Guest: Bobbie Carlton

Topics covered

  • mission-driven leadership
  • systemic visibility gap
  • women in professional spaces
  • conference representation
  • career opportunities

Keywords

  • imposter syndrome
  • comparison story
  • Speaker Friends Framework
  • social capital
  • economic capital

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Self-Reflection Guide

Books & works: Self-Reflection Guide, Where are the Women?

More episodes of The Story I'm Telling Myself

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Story I'm Telling Myself podcast page.