When Little Moments Shape Big Beliefs

In this Women on Wisdom episode, Tammy Heermann shares a story that stopped her in her tracks.

While out for a family walk, her young daughter tugged her hand and said, “Wait, Mom — Dad has to go first. He’s the leader.”

When Tammy asked why, her daughter replied simply, “Because he’s a boy.”

That moment hit hard. It wasn’t born from anything Tammy had said — it came from a small, everyday experience that quietly taught her daughter who “leaders” are supposed to be.

Tammy’s reflection reminds us how early gender norms take root, and how much power we have as parents, leaders, and colleagues to rewrite those stories — not just through what we say, but through what we model.

Listen to Episode 3 of Women on Wisdom featuring Tammy Heermann: https://linktr.ee/womenonwisdom