Unboxed: Behind the Keynote, the Tears, and the Truth

What really happened before, during, and after my Women in Tech Sweden keynote

I’m still in it.

Still processing.

Still reading through messages from women who say they cried, who say they saw themselves in what I shared.

But I want to let you in on the full story—the one behind the stage, before the standing ovation.

Because this wasn’t just about a speech.

This was about everything I had hidden. Everything I was finally ready to reclaim.

The Chaos Before the Spotlight

The weeks before the event was… chaotic, to say the least.

We had just moved houses. My kids were sick. I was unpacking, caregiving, AND battling Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome, which I’ve dealt with for years.

Add to that the mental noise of ADHD, imposter syndrome, and the pressure of doing something I had never done before—a proper keynote.

Yes, I’d danced on stage before. Yes, I’ve spoken at events.

But never like this.

Never this personal. This exposed. This… me.

Rehearsals, Restlessness & Self-Doubt

Between a messy house, no sleep, and two sick kids, space for rehearsal was hard to find.

When I finally got to rehearsals the day before, I felt like I sucked. 

The spoken word part? Solid.

But during the speech itself, I kept blanking out.

I remember thinking, “How can I forget my own words?”

But that’s what fear does. It creeps in—even when you’re prepared.

Stepping Into a Room That Gave Me Space

Women in Tech gave me something rare:

Permission to show up fully.

No mask.

No code-switching.

No shrink-to-fit energy.

 I didn’t just share a keynote.

I shared myself—spoken word, music, rap, and soul.

And the most surreal part?

They felt it.

I had a call-and-response moment planned. In rehearsals, I imagined I’d have to hype the audience.

But when I said, “When I say space to…” they roared back "PLAAAY."

I was so shook I had to break script.

 At one point, I panicked. The vulnerability felt too raw.

So I made the entire audience stand up.

I had them dance. Move.

Together, we turned that keynote into a collective energy shift.

The Aftershock of Being Seen

After the performance, I did what I always do when I feel too much—I withdrew.

I told myself I’d be happy if just one woman was impacted.

But I heard from dozens.

Dozens of brilliant, creative women: 

“I’ve been hiding my creativity to stay professional.”

“I’ve kept parts of myself locked away for years.”

“This felt like permission to be whole.”

And when they asked me—

“Where can I find your music?”

“Do you have poetry published?”

I had no answer.

Not because it doesn’t exist.

But because I’ve been hiding it.

Because I was scared it didn’t belong in my “serious” brand.

What I’m Unboxing Next

This moment cracked something open in me.

I’m done dimming my creativity to stay credible.

I’m done separating the parts of me that write business strategy by day and freestyle affirmations by night.

So here’s what’s next:

✔️ Recording and releasing the mixtape I've been working on for a year

✔️ Publishing the poetry that’s been waiting for air

✔️ Booking more speaking engagements that blend all of me—not just the polished parts

✔️ Facilitating workshops where women can reconnect to their play, power, and multi-passionate magic

✔️ Turning Just Fckn Launch into the ultimate resource for women who have been delaying their creative project and business launches.

Because I don’t want to just talk at people.

I want to help you:

• Break out of the box you were told to stay in

• Create a career that fits you, not the other way around

• Share your gifts without apology

   

This Is Your Invitation

If you’ve ever tucked away a piece of yourself to “stay professional,”

If you’ve ever made your dreams smaller so your job title could stay neat,

If you’ve ever almost shared your poetry, your voice, your ideas—

This is your moment.

Unbox yourself.

Let the parts of you that have been hiding finally breathe.

And if you need help making space to do that?

I’ve got you.