You are not the problem. The system is. For decades, women have been handed the same advice: lean in, speak up, be more confident, adapt. As if the discomfort we feel at work is a personal shortcoming to fix rather than a structural problem we were dropped into. My guest this week spent thirty years inside male-dominated industries, from research science in remote Alaska all the way up to CEO of an international nonprofit, believing for years that the friction she kept running into was her fault. Until she realized it was never her. It was a system that was never built for women in the first place. Dr. Tina Yerkes is an executive coach and the author of the new book Change the Systems, Not the Women. In this conversation we get into what actually keeps women constrained at work, why the conditioning starts far earlier than you would ever guess, and what real change looks like, both from the top down and from within. Here's what we get into: Why the conditioning between boys and girls begins at age four, and how it follows us all the way into the boardroomHow workplaces built around men quietly constrain women from the very start, from the schedule to the dress codeThe difference between hiring women and actually letting them lead, and the "I didn't hire you to run a program, I hired you as a mouthpiece" story you won't forgetWhy so many men never even see the conditioning they're part of, and what it takes to bring them into the conversationHow women can lead as themselves, not as a watered-down imitation of the men around themWhat it really takes to change a system, and how to support the women choosing to stay and fight for itThis one is fired up, honest, and deeply validating for any woman who has ever wondered if it was just her. It was never just you. ________________________________________ How to get more of Dr. Tina Yerkes, her wisdom & energy: Learn more about her book, Change the Systems, Not the Women hereHire Dr. Tina Yerkes for a speaking eventSee all the ways to work with her here (executive mentorship, strategic planning, org redesign, team dynamics, board advisory)With a PhD in Zoology, executive training from Harvard and Kellogg, and 25+ years leading mission-driven organizations, Tina sits at a rare intersection: rigorous scientist, seasoned CEO, and trusted strategic advisor. She has scaled nonprofits from the ground up, secured seven-figure funding, built equity-centered programs, and guided leaders through their most complex moments, from boardrooms to frontline communities. Her work spans environmental conservation, public health, international sustainability, and social impact — always grounded in one belief: that the right strategy, the right structure, and the right leadership can change everything. At the heart of Tina's work is a deep commitment to equity and the advancement of women.
