Just Because You’re Afraid Doesn’t Mean You’re Disqualified: My Conversation with Patty Azzarello

2026-01-06

If you have ever felt unwelcome, underestimated, or like the only woman in a room full of men who seem convinced you don’t belong—this episode is for you. This week, I sit down with business advisor, speaker, and bestselling author Patty Azzarello, whose new book, Why Is She Still Here? My Ungraceful Journey from the Playground to the Boardroom tells the story of how she rose through some of the toughest, most male-dominated rooms in tech—all while battling social anxiety, subtle biases, and expectations so low she f...

If you have ever felt unwelcome, underestimated, or like the only woman in a room full of men who seem convinced you don’t belong—this episode is for you.

This week, I sit down with business advisor, speaker, and bestselling author Patty Azzarello, whose new book, Why Is She Still Here? My Ungraceful Journey from the Playground to the Boardroom tells the story of how she rose through some of the toughest, most male-dominated rooms in tech—all while battling social anxiety, subtle biases, and expectations so low she felt like she had to prove her right to exist in every meeting.

In this conversation, Patty and I talk about:

🔹 The real origin story behind Why Is She Still Here?

Not the marketing version—the emotional truth: what it feels like to be the woman people silently (or loudly) underestimate… and why Patty simply refused to leave.

🔹 Fear as a companion, not a disqualifier

Patty shares how every major step in her career was accompanied by fear—and why courage isn’t the absence of fear but the willingness to show up anyway.

🔹 “Little Patty”: The inner-child energy that powered an executive career

Her brilliant, brave younger self shows up in the book for a reason—and Patty explains how reconnecting with the child you were before the world hurt you can unlock creativity, resilience, and truth.

🔹 The invisible tax of low expectations

Patty unpacks the 1963 “smart rat / stupid rat” experiment and connects it to modern corporate life in a way that will stop you in your tracks. (This one hit me hard.)

🔹 How to survive—and lead—in rooms not designed for women

Patty shares stories, strategies, and the mindset that allowed her to keep standing, keep leading, and keep advancing.

🔹 Authenticity vs. being unfiltered: finding your real leadership voice

Why being “all business” works—until it doesn’t. And how a simple, human question transformed Patty’s executive presence.

🔹 Why the people around you will make—or break—your career

From romantic partners to friends to colleagues: who lifts you up, who drains you, and why managing your energy may matter more than managing your calendar.

🔗 Links

Patty’s Book: Why Is She Still Here? My Ungraceful Journey from the Playground to the Boardroom
Patty on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pattyazzarello/
Patty on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patty.azzarello

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