December 2023

Fearing that they aren’t being listened to or taken seriously, more women than are lowering their voices in skilled environments “First they think you’re crazy, then they fight you after which hastily, you alter the world,” Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes’s unusually deep baritone voice famously declared. Alongside her signature Steve Jobs-inspired black turtleneck and wide, unblinking eyes, Holmes’s low voice was a key a part of her public persona, making her sound more like a member of her high profile board of directors and investors (Rupert Murdoch, Henry Kissinger, George Shultz et al.) than the young woman she was.  Many individuals consider, nevertheless, that Holmes’s voice was as fraudulent as her company turned...