Male employee hijacks female coworker's presentation in front of clients despite her doing all the work: 'I almost laughed but didn’t'

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Apr 18, 2026 9:00 PM EDT

Have you ever been talked over in a work setting?

It might happen more than you're comfortable with. If you're working with others, you've probably learned to negotiate tough situations. You know that everyone's personality is different and therefore everyone's working style is different. Some people are more talkative than others, so you have to work to get a word in edgewise. Other people need to be prompted to add their fair share to a presentation or project. It's helpful to learn how to deal with all types. You never know what you're going to encounter on a job, and it's helpful to know how to manage multiple kinds of people. But you also never want to sign yourself up for disrespect. You don't have to sit there and take it just because someone is working with you. This could lead to all sorts of clashes, ones that you would be right to try to avoid. 

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  • A woman in a black shirt sits with her male coworker at a presentation at work
    via LinkedIn Sales Solutions

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Was I in the wrong for not jumping in when my coworker hijacked my presentation and messed it up?

    He cut me off again mid- sentence and I just... stopped talking. Like completely. We were at a small team lunch thing, nothing fancy, just sandwiches and those weird dry cookies no one eats but they're always there. I was telling a client about a campaign I've been working on for weeks-like actually *my* project, I stayed late for it, skipped gym twice (which... ok I wasn't going anyway but still).
    via TideTapir
  • And my coworker Jason just jumps in with "yeah what she means is" and starts explaining it. Not even correctly. I just sat there like... what. This isn't even new. He does this thing where he repeats what I say but louder, like he's translating me into "important person language" or something. And people actually start looking at *him* when he talks. It's so weird. It's so weird.
    via TideTapir
  • So this time I didn't jump back in. I just let him go. He kept going too, like fully took over, adding random details that weren't even part of the plan. At one point he mentioned a feature we literally cut last week. I almost laughed but didn't. The client looked confused. Like actually confused.
    via TideTapir
  • Then Jason looks at me and goes "right?" like expecting me to back him up. And I just shrugged and said "you seem to have it covered." He kinda froze. Like actually froze for a second. After the meeting he said I made him look bad by not supporting him. I don't know... maybe I could've stepped in, but I'm tired of always fixing it.
    via TideTapir

  • Commenters weighed in with their thoughts an opinions.

    Designer_Though... He made himself look bad by being an idiot
    via Designer_Thought2907

  • As a woman in the workplace, you might be used to all sorts of microaggressions. By nature, they're not big things that make you upset. It's small things that add up over the course of time, coming together to create a picture of inequity. It's good to call it out when it arises, or else the needle may never move in the right direction. But it can also be exhausting to have to be the one to notice what's going on. Maybe you wish your coworkers and managers would see it when it was happening and stop it in its tracks. That's what this employee tried to do on the spot when her coworker started talking over her. They were in front of clients, which made it a high-pressure situation, and everyone was trying to look good. But one employee's fight to be recognized had an inverse effect. Sometimes when people are crossing you, you just need to let them do their thing, and fate will take care of the rest. That's what happened here. Keep reading for all the details and see what you think about it.

  • andmewithoutmy... I would have said "no, you're actually incorrect about several key points. Would like me to finish explaining my own project more, or did you have more you wanted to add before I correct you?"
    via andmewithoutmytowel
  • Samwry NTJ. I think you should hit him with one of those ultra bitchy "I'm TALKING!" when he tries to interrupt. Or be a bit more polite and say "Jason, why don't you let me finish, OK? THanks..." and keep going. He is overcompensating for a small sorry a small brain, by having a big voice.
    via Samwry
  • xopeachyfairy He made himself look bad by taking over something that wasn't his and getting it wrong, that's not on you.
    via xopeachyfairy
  • Coygon NTJ. Jason either is trying to steal credit for your project by casting himself as the primary worker - and possibly the only worker - on it, or he is a misogynist who feels he can explain things to a client better than
    via Coygon
  • the woman who is most familiar with things. Either way, he deserved a lot worse than you gave him. Keep an eye on him, and be prepared to go yo HR about this if he makes a big deal over this meeting or tries something similar again.
    via Coygon
  • A male and a female coworker present together
    via Tool., Inc

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • macross 1984 Your coworker tried to be something he wasn't qualified and paid the consequence. NTJ
    via macross1984
  • flindersrisk I'm just going to guess he wouldn't have steamrollered you had you been male, with exception for timid doormat males. I hate that a certain section of the population believes women have no validity except as a resource to be used and discarded by men.
    via flindersrisk
  • cinnamongirl73 Sounds like you need a meeting with HR or a Manager about him "mansplaning" everything you say.
    via cinnamongirl73
  • Top-Bit85 Did you bother to set the client straight on what he got wrong?
    via Top-Bit85
  • Working_Estate_... I have seen a member of the "out" group field a really good idea in a middle-school-esque work environment, watched the "in" group dismiss it, then a few minutes later seen the very same idea offered up by the most popular
    via Working_Estate_3695
  • member of the "in-group" and seen the greater group embrace it. So I had to say, "Isn't that what John just said a minute ago?" I was in the next round of layoffs but f____ them. f..
    via Working_Estate_3695
  • HeartoftheHive I would have full on embarrassed him. "Right?" "Not at all, but keep going. I want to see what else you will make up."
    via HeartoftheHive
  • regularforcesme... YTJ to yourself for not stepping in and running your presentation. So you made him look officious and inept. Cool. At a client presentation might not have been the time.
    via regularforcesmedic
  • Historical-State-... Nope. He's trying power plays, he can suffer the consequences. He's lucky you haven't gone to HR.
    via Historical-State-275
  • Specialist_Bike_1... Hopefully, everyone saw what 'Jason' done. It's asshats like him that eventually get what they asked for. A reputation in the office as the 'project thief'. People will see him for who he is, without you saying anything.
    via Specialist_Bike_1
  • h... He was mansplaining to the group. Go to your boss. Explain what he did. How he damaged the whole presentation. NTJ
    via hedwigflysagain
  • Bitter-Art7631 Never interrupt your enemy with they're making a mistake. Not an enemy per se, but you get the idea. Let the fool expose his own foolishness.
    via Bitter-Art7631
  • Samwry I think you could blade Jason very effectively by saying something like; "Jason is new and very eager to impress our clients. Now as I was saying...."
    via Samwry
  • And when you are done and back at the office, just tell him that the next time he interrupts you, you will cut off his head so fast he won't have time to blod.
    via Samwry
  • Specific_Leave313 Next time just say: this is my project, stop messing around like you actually did something. I won't tolerate it anymore. You will lose a horrible co-worker and will find peace
    via Specific_Leave313
  • Certain-Let2040 You need to talk to your manager. He is literally taking credit for your work. Think of it as mansplaining at the career level. He is being a sexist j and undermining you.
    via Certain-Let2040
  • He also made the company look bad to the client. Use that as your in so you don't get labeled difficult. "Hey can I talk to you about something in private? At lunch on Tuesday, Jason
    via Certain-Let2040
  • started talking about x project at the client lunch. He misspoke several times about it. I didn't want to embarrassed him so I didn't correct him in public. This happens frequent. How should I handle it in the future?"
    via Certain-Let2040
  • As a woman, phasing it this way makes the manager aware so they are watching for it. Depending on their response, Jason may be corrected or you will be told he's just trying to help. If its the 2nd response, start looking for a new job asap.
    via Certain-Let2040

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antiwork toxic-workplace job bosses coworkers working workplace mansplaining gender roles
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