Stories about courage tend to centre on people who, through their heroic actions, stand up against injustice. But courage can also be found in smaller, everyday moments: in meeting rooms, during difficult conversations, when making unpopular decisions, in conflict situations and at those moments when you decide to speak your mind anyway. In other words: courage with a small ‘c’.
In The Art of Speaking Up Courageously, Marry examines courage this form of courage through a female lens. For the book, she spoke to different people about their experiences with courage. They shared moments when they decided whether or not to speak up. Drawing on these conversations and her own insights, Marry explores whan can happen when you decide to make your voice heard. A courageous step can lead to recognition, progress or change, but also to discomfort, resistance or misinterpretation. That is the ‘courage paradox’.
The Courage@Work survey adds another perspective to these experiences. Houthoff conducted the survey across its international network on International Women’s Day 2026. Hundreds of women shared their experiences of courage in the workplace. Their responses show where women experience reluctance and the tensions that can play a role. They also reveal what helps women to speak up. Marry used the survey findings to further refine the themes explored in the book. The findings also feature throughout several chapters.
At the same time, the conversations and survey reveal the barriers that can prevent people from speaking up. This can create a ‘courage gap’: the gap between what you feel that needs to be said and what you ultimately dare to say. How do you deal with this? Speaking up courageously while continuing to follow your own path is an art. The Art of Speaking Up Courageously shows that opportunities arise from the conversations you do decide to have.
The book launches on 13 November 2026 and is available for pre-order via bol.com.
