do no harm. take no crap.
own your POWER!
We’ve been taught to shrink (or forcibly expand) —
but always to “fit” into a mold.
So, we strategically soften our language and edit our presence.
But the world doesn’t need a smaller (or forced larger) version of you.
It needs your warmth and competence, your compassion and conviction, your softness and fierceness.
Owning your power isn’t about domination or control.
It’s about authenticity, connection, and the courage to unleash your “muchness”.
In our time together, we explored:
How language and presence can unintentionally diminish our authority.
How to redefine power as something shared, not taken.
How to integrate both strength and softness into leadership and life.
How to reclaim our muchness — and stop apologizing for it.
Reflection Prompts
Return to these questions when you need to own your power:
When have you felt your most powerful — the most you, uninhibited and unfiltered — even if others thought it was “too much”?
Where in your life or work are you still strategically softening or editing yourself to make others comfortable?
What habits or patterns might you experiment with dropping?
How can you use your power with and for others — not over them?
What’s happening if/when you do feel the pull back toward the singular version of power over someone or something?
What does “Do No Harm. Take No Crap.” look like in practice for you this week?
How can you leverage your “muchness” as your superpower?
How can you champion the “muchness” in other women?
Explore more of the research on power, the double bind, the stereotype model, and the art of negotiation. (This is the presentation for the companion workshop.)
Learn how the Abhaya (“I Take No Crap”) and Varada (“I Do No Harm”) mudras form a mantra for balanced, authentic strength where you can own your power.
Additional Reads & Resources
Feed your mind and your muchness:
(Book) Playing Big — Tara Mohr
(Book) Cassandra Speaks — Elizabeth Lesser
(Book) A Different Kind of Power - Jacinda Ardern
(Book) The Power Code — Katty Kay & Claire Shipman
(Book) Big Magic — Elizabeth Gilbert
(Book) Untamed — Glennon Doyle
(Book) The Power of Mess — S. C. Lourie
(Assessment) Take the Confidence Code Quiz
(Research) The Tall Poppy Syndrome
(Article) Why Do We Diss Women’s Speech?
(Article) The Totally “Destructive” (Yet Oddly Instructive) Speech Patterns of… Young Women?
(Article) Uptalk & the Importance of Normalizing Women’s Speech Patterns
(Podcast Episode) Purpose, Identity & the Power of Starting Over with Molly Barker
(Podcast Episode) Living Into Your Authenticity with Dr. Amber Sessoms
Workshops & Retreats
You’ve reclaimed your muchness — now let’s put it into motion.
Dr. Katie Sandoe is an accredited Playing Big Facilitator, trained by author and thought leader Tara Mohr, and her graduate research (Master’s and Doctorate) centered on women in leadership and gender equity in workplace and beyond.
Through powerful workshops and immersive retreats, Katie helps women step into their fullest expression — confident, courageous, and deeply grounded in who they are.
Topics Include:
Women in Leadership: Navigate the unwritten rules and redefine what powerful leadership looks like in business, community, and beyond.
Communication Patterns: Spot (and stop) the subtle ways women’s voices are minimized — and learn how to speak with clarity, confidence, and conviction.
Gender & Power Dynamics: Explore how social conditioning shapes confidence, self-perception, and authority — and how to change the narrative.
Energy Management & Boundaries: Learn how to lead and live from power within, not power through depletion.
The “Playing Big” Mindset: Quiet your inner critic, unlearn the habits that keep you small, and step boldly into the work and life you’re meant for.
Available Formats:
Interactive workshops (half-day, full-day, or custom series).
Reflective retreats (1–3 days, perfect for leadership teams or women’s groups).
In-Person and virtual options available.
Final Note
You’ve started something powerful — don’t stop here.
Share your biggest insight using the hashtag #OwnYourPower and tag @katiesandoe.
Bring this message to your organization — book Katie for a Sparked Experience or keynote.
Explore coaching or other trainings with Katie
And remember:
Power isn’t something you seize. It’s something you embody.
So — stop playing the power game and reclaim your muchness.
Do No Harm. Take No Crap. Own Your Power!
Explore how language, body, and social norms shape your presence and influence.
