Hady Méndez went from being taught to stay quiet as a child to leading equality work at Slack and founding Boldly Speaking. In this episode, we talk about how a 2023 layoff became the catalyst for her book, coaching, and speaking career, and why transforming silence into advocacy has become her greatest strength.
Check Out These Highlights:
Hady reflects on her mother’s saying, “Closed mouths don’t let flies in,” and how that lesson in silence shaped her early years and followed her into a 25‑year career in male‑dominated tech and finance.
She shares how being the youngest of four sisters pushed her to carve out her own identity, always looking for ways to do things differently and stand out.
We talk about her mission work in Bolivia, teaching incarcerated women to find their voice, and how that experience connected directly to her later work in equality and leadership.
Hady also describes her time as head of equality at Slack, and how she shifted from quietly waiting her turn to actively advocating for herself; a transformation that became the foundation of her bestselling book.
Her story is a powerful reminder that underestimated professionals can thrive when they own their voice, and that belonging and inclusion lead to stronger teams, better products, and more authentic leadership.
About Hady Méndez:
Hady Méndez is a bestselling author, leadership coach, and founder of Boldly Speaking. She helps underestimated professionals find their voice and claim their place at the table, drawing on her decades of experience in tech, finance, and equality leadership.
Connect with Hady:
🌐 Website: https://www.boldlyspeakingllc.com
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hadymendez
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calladitanomorebook
📑 Substack: https://hadyunfiltered.substack.com
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About Me: https://tobymyles.com/about/
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