How to Speak Up Without Changing Who You Are | Juhi Ranjan | From a Woman to a Leader

Do you ever leave a meeting thinking, “Why didn’t I say something?”
Or feel like you must become louder, tougher, or more assertive just to be taken seriously?

This episode will show you another way.

In this conversation, I sit down with Juhi Ranjan, Head of Product Management at RTI, computer science PhD, and product leader in real-time systems, edge computing, and autonomy. Juhi has built and scaled safety-critical platforms for automotive, aerospace, medical, and industrial markets—all while leading with quiet strength, deep curiosity, and unwavering authenticity.

If you’ve ever struggled to speak up, doubted yourself in male-dominated rooms, or wondered how to lead without pretending to be someone else… this episode is going to shift how you show up.

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🎧 What You’ll Learn
• How to speak up at work without sounding aggressive
• A simple framework to handle assertive colleagues
• How to build influence using curiosity instead of confrontation
• What to do when you’re the only woman in the room
• How to pivot your career without losing your identity
• Why authenticity is a leadership superpower in tech

This episode is designed for women in tech, product managers, engineering leaders, and anyone who wants to build confidence, visibility, and impact.

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About Juhi Ranjan:
Juhi Ranjan is the Head of Product Management at RTI and a computer science PhD with deep experience in real-time systems, edge computing, and autonomy. Juhi leads product strategy across RTI’s Connext portfolio and has spent her career building and scaling complex, safety-critical platforms for automotive, aerospace, medical, and industrial markets.
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🔗 Links & Resources

📥 Download my free career guide:
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📬 My personal notes on Substack:
https://limorbergman.substack.com/

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https://limorbergman.com/podcast

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  / limorbergman  

📸 Instagram: @limorbergman
▶️ YouTube: @LimorBergman

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⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – How Juhi learned to speak up without becoming someone else
01:41 – Why curiosity works better than confrontation
03:45 – Episode intro: Why your voice matters
04:12 – Why Juhi started sharing her voice publicly
06:34 – Juhi’s non-linear career journey: software → research → PhD → product
11:10 – The power of career pivots & knowing your values
13:41 – Finding champions and advocates in your career
15:34 – Why hunger and curiosity sometimes trump experience
17:37 – Handling assertive colleagues with confidence
19:00 – The curiosity framework to influence without conflict
23:00 – Being the only woman in the room—what it really feels like
26:29 – Why difference is a leadership strength
29:05 – How champions help introverts find their voice
30:33 – Leading with values and inner compass
33:38 – Alignment, transparency, and disagree-and-commit
35:28 – Juhi’s final advice: reclaim your power
37:01 – Closing thoughts & next episode teaser