What does it mean when someone says "You don't have that professional edge?"?

When someone uses the word "professional" my first urge is to say "bs"!

There was probably some reason she didn't want to mention (maybe because it was flimsey) that was the real reason.

When she said, "You don't talk professionally. You sound like you're 16! You don't have a professional edge to you. I don't want you working with my daughter," what she mean--if she would have been more frank with you--is this: "You don't talk that way I think a professional should talk to be the kind of person I want to work with my daughter." In other words, she has certain expectations which were different than the way you sounded. "Proifessional edge" probably menat being more formal, less informal.

Does that mean you're way off. No. It just means you didn't sound the way she wanted you to sound. And, yes, it probably was because of a young sounding voice.

You might try dealing with such people in person in the future, and dress professionally. That way, it would be more difficult for others to see you as a teen.

Unless you get this all the time, blow it off.

There's a difference between talking professionally and talking "with a high-pitched" voice and "sounding" young. But, from the looks of your question, you're doing fine, and you don't need to change. Nothing one can do about sounding high-pitched on the phone. I'm sure that you do your best to carry yourself in a professional manner on the phone.

In case there's a problem though...with being "professional"...I'll give you my own personal example:

When I'm at interviews, I'm always very careful about my speech. I tend to speak in a very assertive and straightforward manner. I'm not sure how to say this, but I tend to carry a "serious" tone during interviews. I always make sure I don't use trite, overused terms such as "ya know" or "like, whatever." I always make sure I speak in complete sentences when I'm speaking to my supervisor/during my interview. When I'm actually face-to-face in a meeting, I keep my body slightly leaning forward towards the other person. Obviously, the polar opposite applies when I'm with my friends or family. My speech is more laid-back, and relaxed. I tend not to speak in complete sentences. I use the words "Um" (well it's not a word I suppose, lol), "ya know", and terms akin to those more often in those circumstances. Not that I don't want to, but hey, I prefer a more informal tone during such circumstances.

That was rude though, you have to say. I'd rather not work with her at all though, so it's her loss! The only advice I really have to give you is to watch your words when you're in a formal engagement. That's the best you can do, and I'm sure you're doing it already...so I wouldn't worry.