Her Ambitious Career

Do you lament the 'strength' of your current network? You aren't alone! A lot of women struggle to network but let's talk about changing all that because your network can become the biggest asset of your career and it might surprise you how quickly you can build it too! 

In this episode...

Career Sponsorship has become critical to women's advancement to leadership. Today, we are discussing the behaviours and actions the most exceptional Sponsors are taking to ensure more talented women are promoted to leadership.

Systemic bias means that men are exposed to opportunities in their careers more readily than their female peers are. Career Sponsors are needed to address that imbalance. 

Sponsors are influential leaders within an organisation, who believe in the moral and commercial importance of inclusion, equity and diversity of thought. They are proactive advocates of the talented women they sponsor.

DEI was shaken in early 2025 by both a change in US federal leadership and policy, potentially challenging the future of diversity, equity and inclusion in business as we knew it. My guest and I today are discussing how DEI may be evolving, but is here to stay.

My guest today is Bianca Hartge-Hazelman, CEO of Financy and The Women's Index, the only quarterly index released here in Australia that assesses the progress organisations are making to support women's advancement across key measures including Board representation, leadership representation, the pay gap, superannuation, employment and underemployment.

Do you have a tendency to say YES - or saying nothing at all - when really, you want to say NO? 

Today I am exploring 6 different scenarios where you might need to say 'No!' more often in your career!

I am sharing some powerful reframes so that you can say 'no', without having to say 'no' at all!

We are talking too about how saying 'no' can result in huge benefits to you, as well as greater ROI for your organisation! 

Pushing back, and saying 'no', has ne...

Does your organisation struggle to retain high-potential female talent without knowing why? 

Today I am looking at 5 key reasons organisations struggle to retain key female talent mid-career. We are discussing:

Let's be really honest about the barriers women are facing on a day-to-day basis and start taking measurable action towards creating more enriching careers for women.

Something I said today:

"Women must be made aware when internal roles are opening up for ap...

Are you hard on yourself and super self-critical? Or, are you good at setting boundaries and making your needs known? And how does your preference impact your leadership, your parenting, your friendships? Let's dive into this one together!

Today I am sharing a self-awareness quiz with you. Score yourself out of 70 across 7 different measures to review how healthy (or unhealthy) your relationship with yourself really is. We are looking at:

When we have a really healthy relationship w...

If you're SUPER strategic, you're always thinking three steps ahead of everyone else which can be extremely useful but NOT if you're losing everyone along the way.  

How would I define someone who is SUPER Strategic?

Bein...

Save yourself months, if not YEARS, on the wrong path by taking an objective step back to review your career. Coaching is the ideal partnership to help you become more strategic and chase down only THE BEST opportunities for you and your career.

Too often people are lost in their careers, working extremely hard and delivering phenomenal results - but without getting the return for themselves. It can leave you feeling empty, unfulfilled and unrecognised.

Making the time to think about where you are and what you REALLY want can be absolutely game...

Who said career 'success' is only about climbing the career ladder and going UP? Today I am exploring the metaphor of your career being a 'jungle gym' instead full of rich, lateral experiences.

In her book Lean In, Sheryl Sandberg references the metaphor of a 'career jungle gym' which she credits to Forbes' journalist Pattie Sellers. 

It's the idea that 'success' doesn't have to be a linear path. And you don't even need to know your ultimate destination. 

In all the years I have been a specialist career coach for women, I...

What if you learned something new that made you think: 'I wish I had known this 10 YEARS AGO!' How might life, or your opportunities, have been different? A number of my clients have said this exact thing to me about the career strategies they learn in my program... let's dive into why getting a coach earlier - even today - will set you up for success.

In this ep, I am exploring how to find out if you'd benefit from working with a coach, like me (or otherwise!)...

We are talking ambition...

Your team is full of individuals with different values (preferences and styles). The question I am posing today is: do you see merit in, or do you judge, values that are different from your own?

I am looking at two different values-preferences today:

1. Rational vs Emotional

2. Impulsive vs Thoughtful

Are you NOT applying for roles, or asking for the opportunities you want in your career? Could it be that you're doubting your value and wondering if you're good enough? If YES, this is the ep for you!

Today I am taking you on a deep dive into this belief 'Am I (good) enough?' Because if you're running this 'story', it will be keeping you small and you won't be showing the world the best of you.

Today let's do a dive into the subtext that lies beneath this belief (however unconscious...

Are the conditions around you right for you to be successful? This is the topic for today's episode, coming in HOT! 

It is the joint responsibility of both you and your organisation to make sure you succeed. 

It is 100% the case that if you don't take control of your own career and its outcomes, no-one else will do it for you... 

Equally, your organisation should be taking proactive steps to make sure you have everything you need in place to succeed and thrive.

Today I am...

In this concluding part of this 3-part series, I am going to be sharing a major systemic barrier to women's career progression, namely The Work-Life Barrier.

We are talking today about primary care givers, paternity leave, domestic duties, the Mental Load, societal stigmas and a whole lot of research that highlights the current imbalance between men and women in the workplace.

Something I said today:

"Until the stigma around men being accepted as class parents, as primary care givers for their own children, as worthy of lengthy paternity leave...

In this 3-part series I am going to be sharing the major systemic barriers to women progressing in their careers: today we are talking about The Bias Barrier.

Bias can be unconscious (and conscious) and is a key factor underpinning the slowness of progress in seeing more women rise to positions of leadership and power.

In this episode, I'm talking about three key factors:

1. Affinity bias - the reason why many male leaders hire more men with similar experiences and backgrounds as them

2. Loyalty bias...

In this 3-part series I am going to be sharing the major systemic barriers to women progressing in their careers: today we are talking about The Culture Barrier.

Most STEM and Financial environments remain heavily male dominated and it can have an impact on those organisations being able to hire and retain key female talent.

In this episode, I'm talking about three key factors:

1. The emotional impact of being one of a few women in a male dominated culture

2. The fact that these working environments often fail to play...

Investing in yourself is about personal growth, prioritising your needs and making conscious decisions to help you decompress and focus on what matters most. Today, I'm sharing 21 surprising ideas to help you do just that! 

Life's busy.

In this ep, I am taking you on a journey of self-discovery to help you think about what matters most to you. So that you can reinvest your time and energy into daily or weekly practices that bring joy to your life and help reenergise your soul.

Something I said today:

Is 'being heard in meetings' a challenge for you? I'm looking at the research today to help explain what could be making this so hard! 

In today's 'Stats' episode, I'm looking at some research from Kellogg's School of Management that explores meeting dynamics and why some meetings are dominated by particular people.

Something I said today:

"A question you might want to ask in your meeting is: Are we simply parroting a dominant point of view here, or are we inviting genuine diversity of thought and experience to arrive at a b...

Do you hate having a confronting conversation? Maybe you don't enjoy giving feedback you think might not be well received? In today's ep I am sharing my own process to prepare for a challenging conversation so you get the outcome you were hoping for without burning any bridges! 

A lot of people don't enjoy giving feedback, especially if you know it might not be well received.

Which is why it is so important to prepare and rehearse what you want to say in advance....

Join me and let's dive into this o...

Do you tend to over-catastrophise situations, or feel guilt too easily with setbacks? You might layer on 'meaning' to all sorts of situations but there's a much simpler way! Stay in control, feel better and more free with this strategy today!

I went to my yoga class last night… it was heaven. My yoga studio overlooks the beach, the sun was still low in the sky and I could hear the waves lapping the beach as I stretched and relaxed at the end of my class.

My yoga instructor, Annie, was whispering deep an...

Are you delivering phenomenal results for your org but aren't getting the recognition and respect you deserve? Perhaps you're doing TOO good a job! 

In today's value-packed episode I am talking about a problem a lot of new clients are struggling with.

Maybe you're seen as a 'reliable, safe pair hands' which on the face of it is great! But when you look a bit deeper, it can mean you're being trapped in a role you have outgrown when you're ready for that next STRETCH!

I'm sharing what signs to look o...

With the Bullet Mentoring Method, you could have 7 different mentors in a week and build credibility faster.... here's how!

Any mentoring relationship is about educating yourself, to fill a skills or knowledge gap or to learn from someone else's expertise and experience.

Traditional mentoring can be longer term, 3-6 months and feel quite formal. Whilst Bullet Mentoring is a chance to learn from 7 different mentors in any given week and explode your knowledge faster!

There is huge value in engaging in both longer term and bullet mentoring of course but...

Are you ASSUMING or ABDICATING your own authority? It's the difference between backing yourself and believing in your value (and right) to be there... and abandoning all hope. I know which strategy I would rather adopt!

In my business I focus a lot of energy with clients on the concept of assuming your authority. When you crack this idea you make huge shifts in how you view yourself, how you start to show up and critically, how you are seen by the senior stakeholders around you.

Today I am sharing 3 significant ways in...

Are you looking for a speaker for your next Women in Leadership conference or event? 

In this episode I am giving you the lowdown on my signature talk, The 5 Strategic Career Tips Women Don’t Ever Get, But Critically Need.

So if you're looking for a fresh conversation at your next International Women's Day event, conference or panel discussion this could be the ideal practical speech to enrich and empower your audience.

Women who are struggling to get promoted to leadership are often told they have a confidence 'problem' and just nee...

Are you a leader navigating Change: some technological shift, a merger or acquisition, or a personnel change? If you're feeling like you need some tips and support through this process, this is the ep for you!

My guest today is Ania Archer, an experienced Change Practitioner who has worked in a variety of industries, including financial services, pharmaceuticals, professional services, manufacturing and now banking.

Ania is sharing tips on:

1. How change impacts people, and how to lead effectively through transformation
2. What makes a successful leader during unpredictable times<...

Do you want some quick ideas to take control of the year ahead? This is the ep for you! 

I am talking about important tips today, to help you set yourself up for total success this year.

We are talking DEI initiatives, discrimination, self-awareness, dealing with feedback and seeking out opportunity! Join me!

Links:

Rate, Review, & Follow our Show on Apple Podcasts:

Also, if you haven’t do...

Our technological use has skyrocketed over the last 3 - 5 years - perhaps it's time for a detox?

The start of a new year is the perfect time to review both our good (and bad) habits.

Much research has been made into the negative impact that social media, and technological over-use, has on mental health...

I don't know about you but I find that when I'm doing mindless tasks online - like reading unwanted emails, searching for emails (or files) I can't find, or getting sucked into the social media vortex...

Are you bored setting goals? Me too! Here's a fresh way to commit to yourself this year! 

When we talk about goal setting, we are often looking only at what we want to DO or HAVE in our lives:

But the problem with these kinds of goals is, they don't tell us how to behave any differently to actually get that result.

So in today's ep, I am sharing my thoughts on l...

Reviewing the year you just had, your impacts and growth areas is critical to your wellbeing and growth!

I really think one of the most valuable things you can do, regularly, is reviewing your progress. 

These are some important questions to be asking yourself regularly.. but what better time to do it than TODAY, at t...

Do you love a positive quote? Today I'm sharing 10 fabulous, thought provoking quotes to round off your year!

Want to talk about courage, self-compassion and forging your own path? Grab your Christmas cocoa, curl up with me and let's explore these gorgeous ideas and nuggets of inspiration!

Links:

Rate, Review, & Follow our Show on Apple Podcasts:

Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. We air every week and I don't want you...

Want to learn the steps to become a more agile learner? I am sharing 5 today!

Learning agility is a major buzzword right now and if you want to be at the cutting edge of leadership, these 5 skills could be exactly what you need!

Here's something valuable I said today:

"The agile learner looks at situations, and results, with an objective lens. Instead of criticising themselves s/he will look for all the contributing factors that led to the outcome and take learning from what HAS worked...

Do you find it difficult to formulate your views, when dealing with a difficult person?

In today's 'shorty' episode I'm sharing my own process, that I take myself through, when preparing to have a difficult conversation with someone. You might be surprised to learn that part of this strategy is speaking out loud.... I'll see you inside!

Links:

What happens when our young boys have positive, male role models? They learn the lessons of respect, kindness and equity. Let's talk about this vital topic today.

In this episode I am sharing a personal story.

My son is 8 and he plays football (soccer) with his mates three times a week. Not only is he improving his football skills, he is also cementing his learning to be a good kid - and ultimately a good man. How? Because the lead coach at his club is a natural leader and one who (seemingly) effortlessly...

Are you getting pigeonholed as a 'safe pair of hands' but not being considered for a promotion? This is the ep you need right now!

In today's short episode (of 5 minutes or less) I'm talking about the 3 problems with being that 'safe pair of hands'.

On the face of it, it seems like a positive value to be adding to your organisation. But what if working really hard (and people constantly layering more work on you) is actually damaging your career prospects?

Let's get into it!

Links:<...

Are you an overachiever who doesn't know how to put the brakes on?

Sally and I are talking to the high achievers out there today who want to learn some strategies to challenge their current patterns.

Consistent overachievement inevitably learns to burnout - take new action today to get back in control of your workload - and your life.

We are talking about:

Do you know your team? Do you know that they are getting what they need from you? Are they clear of the strategy? 

In today's 'shorty' episode I'm sharing 3 important questions to be asking each and every member of your team, on a regular basis, to make sure you are all on the same page and they are feeling ENGAGED!

Let's get into it!

Links: