Dr. Sari Fishman: Questions Every Woman Should Ask Herself (And Men Should Listen)

Photographer: Angela Garcia

Why Are We Still Chasing Barbie?

You look around, and what do you see? A culture that pats itself on the back for progress, but really, it’s the same story with shinier packaging. Freedom? Empowerment? Or just another illusion?

Dr. Sari Fishman doesn’t sugarcoat it. “We’ve swapped old stereotypes for new ones and called it progress,” she says. “The postmodern Barbie? She’s just the same patriarchal doll dressed up in different packaging.”

Fishman doesn’t just talk about breaking molds—she lives it. An artist and a business development executive in biotechnology, her life defies neat labels. “When I want something, I don’t just say it—I see it. I feel it. I bring it to life in my mind before I even take the first step. That’s how I’ve built everything I am.”

Are We Living Half-Lives?

Think about it: how much of your life is spent holding back? Afraid to be too much. Afraid to not be enough. You second-guess yourself. You edit yourself. And for what? To make someone else comfortable?

Fishman has a sharper question: “How often do we measure ourselves against what we think a man expects? How much of our energy goes into shaping ourselves to avoid being left behind?”

It’s not a hypothetical question for her. “I know what it’s like to live in fear—fear of failure, rejection, or loss. But the truth is, the very thing you’re terrified of—being real, being you—is the only thing that leads to real connection.”

And here’s the kicker: she believes we’re wasting time on half-measures. “You’re not here to live a watered-down version of your life. Stop making compromises for a world that doesn’t deserve them.”

Can We Rewrite the Rules?

What if you let yourself imagine it? A life where you do what you love, no apologies, no second-guessing. What would that even look like?

For Fishman, this isn’t a daydream. It’s her life. She found clarity in moments that could have broken her—facing moments of profound challenge, where the only way forward was to embrace the present and find clarity in the chaos. “When everything’s stripped away, you see what’s real. You see yourself. And once you see it, there’s no going back.”

Living in the now, she says, is the only way forward. “When you stop dwelling on what’s behind you and stop fearing what’s ahead, you find this incredible clarity. That’s when life stops happening to you and starts happening because of you.”

A year ago, Fishman discovered ballroom and Latin dance. The moment her feet touched the floor, she fell in love. “There’s no limit. No ceiling. Every step is a challenge, every movement a joy. Passion doesn’t care about age—it cares that you show up.”

The Fashion of Authenticity

Since childhood, Fishman has used fashion as a way to express herself—boldly, unapologetically, and always with a personal twist. “I’ve always needed to stand out, to have an edge,” she says. “When I was little, I wanted to be a boy, so I dressed like one—short haircut, no shirt, the whole thing. Later, when I started ballet, I let my hair grow and began incorporating ballet-inspired pieces into my everyday wardrobe. My closet is still full of them to this day.”

Fishman’s approach to style has always been unconventional. As a teenager, she designed her own party outfits—provocative and unique—even borrowing items from her mother’s wardrobe to create looks that ensured she’d never blend into a crowd. “Makeup, bold accessories, dramatic outfits—it was all part of finding my voice.”

But not all stages of life allowed for this freedom. During her time in the military, Fishman struggled with the uniformity of army life. “Two years in uniforms felt like two years of losing myself. Even letting my long hair down was forbidden. To reclaim a sense of individuality, I shortened my skirt to a mini-mini-mini—and yes, I got court-martialed for it,” she laughs.

Now, as a business executive, her fashion choices continue to reflect her duality. “When I’m at a conference, I’ll show up in a sharp designer suit and heels that scream top model. But as soon as the mingling starts, I’ll switch to ripped jeans, a crop top, and sneakers. It’s about owning every part of who I am.”

Integration: Living Authentically in a Chaotic World

Fishman’s philosophy boils down to this: be present, be fearless, be yourself.

Her poetry echoes that defiance. From her book, Inner Self Portrait, she shares:

IN PRAISE OF RESTRAINT

not to write

to hold back

not to voice

to shut up

not to disclose

to be modest

not to stand out

a woman in the last row

lowers her eyes

casually dressed

bulimic

for your attention

This poem doesn’t pull punches. It’s raw. It’s real. It’s a challenge to every woman who’s ever silenced herself to fit in.

And then there’s this, her manifesto for self-acceptance:

INNER SELF PORTRAIT

sorry to disappoint you

but I’m not the beautiful blue creature

you thought I am

I met you in the street painted in tar

filth contamination darker than black

entered my home

my temple turned white

just when you touched me

you figured it out

the combination is me all in one

this is the pictureyou can’t grasp the abstract

you may love

you can hate

but make me feel I’m ok

The poems are her truth, unpolished and unapologetic, a reminder that perfection is the enemy of authenticity.

A Message for Women Everywhere

Fishman doesn’t sugarcoat her advice. “Stop waiting. No one’s going to give you permission to live your life. You have to take it. Right now.”

And isn’t that what we all want? To stop apologizing for who we are and start living the life we were meant to? That’s the revolution Fishman is leading—one authentic step at a time.