Leading Women in Tech Podcast

What does it really take to rise to senior leadership as a woman in tech—without burning out, compromising who you are, or constantly second-guessing your worth? In this episode of Leading Women in Tech, I’m joined by Leila Kassner, COO at Boku, to explore the power of authentic leadership, how to lean in without losing yourself, and what it means to build a career that blends impact, inclusion, and integrity. We cover: Her career journey from entry-level to executive The challenge of being heard in male-dominated rooms How to self-advocate without overworking Lessons in balancing ambition with wellbeing Why emotional intelligence is a leadership superpower The DEI strategies making a real difference at Boku How to speak up, create cultural change, and mentor the next generation Whether you're climbing the career ladder, managing self-doubt, or trying to build a more inclusive culture from the inside—you’ll find both inspiration and practical insight in this conversation. Connect with Leila: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leila-kassner-3a2b4a19/  Leila’s current read: The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt 👇 Book a free strategy call to explore how executive coaching can help you lead with clarity, confidence, and authenticity: https://tonicollis.com/lets-chat This episode was sponsored by Boku. Thank you Leila and Boku for helping to bring Leading Women in Tech to this community!  

Struggling to be heard at work? This discussion uncovers why high-performing women often feel overlooked and offers practical strategies to shift from frustration to influence. Learn about reframing communication for impact and how executive presence can change perceptions. Discover the importance of framing achievements in business terms and making strategic recommendations that drive action. Plus, hear real-life success stories and tips for building allies and knowing when to seek new opportunities.

You don’t need a degree—or a perfect plan—to lead with vision. In this episode, I’m joined by Jackie Peters, startup founder and longtime tech innovator, for a powerful conversation on how to lead boldly, build something meaningful, and move forward—even when you don’t feel 100% ready. With 25+ years of experience across mobile gaming, AI-powered healthcare, and privacy-preserving data analytics, Jackie brings a rare mix of visionary thinking, human-centered leadership, and strategic clarity. We talk about building confidence in uncharted territory, trusting your instincts, and turning complex ideas into user-first innovation. 💡 What You’ll Learn: Why you don’t need credentials to lead powerfully How to turn big vision into practical progress What it means to lead with empathy and clarity Why “privacy by design” matters now more than ever How to build momentum when the roadmap is uncertain The founder mindset: from grit to growth Why leadership starts before you feel ready ✨ This episode is for the bold, the curious, and the women shaping the future of tech on their own terms. 🔗 Connect with today’s guest, Jackie Peters: Website: https://blindinsight.comLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/jackiepeters 📖 Jackie’s current read: Dogen's Genjo Koan: Three Commentaries by Dōgen, Nishiari Bokusan, Shohaku Okamura, Shunryu Suzuki, Kosho Uchiyama, Sojun Mel Weitsman, Kazuaki Tanahasi, Michael Wenger 📞 Want career support or leadership coaching? Book a free strategy session: https://www.tonicollis.com/lets-chat  👩‍💻 Show notes & more: https://www.tonicollis.com/episode269  💬 Join the free Slack community for women in tech: https://www.tonicollis.com/slack  #WomenInTech #TechLeadership #FounderMindset #PrivacyByDesign #StartupLeadership #JackiePeters #LeadingWomenInTech  

You’re overdelivering. Everyone relies on you. But you’re exhausted—and no closer to the promotion or recognition you deserve. If you're stuck in overfunctioning, feeling responsible for everyone, or afraid to say no—this episode is your permission slip to lead differently. Join us as we explore how boundaries aren’t just helpful—they’re essential for executive presence, sustainable leadership, and getting recognized at work. You’ll walk away with the mindset shifts, scripts, and practical tools to reclaim your time, your strategic focus—and your path to promotion. 💡 Want to know what’s really holding you back from a promotion? Take the Promotion Readiness Scorecard  (tonicollis.com/scorecard)— a 3-minute diagnostic to find your biggest gap. In this episode: ✔️ Why women leaders are especially vulnerable to burnout ✔️ The performance vs. potential promotion gap ✔️ How to stop being the team therapist ✔️ 4 signs your boundaries are broken ✔️ Why boundaries = executive presence ✔️ Scripts to say no without guilt or burning bridges The Micro-Boundary Phrases to help you get started: 🗣️ “That sounds important—can I suggest someone better positioned to help?” (👉 Delegates without guilt, empowers others.) 🗣️ “Let me check my priorities and get back to you.” (👉 Buys you time. Signals intentionality, not resistance.) 🗣️ “To give this the attention it deserves, I’ll need to shift the timeline.” (👉 Balances ownership with realism.) 🔥 You’re not failing. You’re just doing too much of the wrong kind of work. Let’s fix that—starting today.

What if the key to unlocking the next wave of tech innovation lies in the hands of the entrepreneurs receiving the least funding? There's a fascinating paradox in today's tech landscape: women-led startups are 63% more likely to succeed and have higher chances of becoming unicorns, yet they're receiving less venture capital funding than ever before. This gap represents not just missed opportunities, but untapped potential that could reshape entire industries. In this inspiring conversation, tech entrepreneur and AI pioneer Susan Sly reveals the uncomfortable truths about Silicon Valley's old boys' club and shares her blueprint for change. From deploying AI computer vision at scale to building The Pause—a revolutionary menopause-focused platform—Susan breaks down exactly how women can stop waiting for permission and start reshaping the industry from within. “If you don't like the stats we're sharing, where did you go shopping for that outfit you're wearing? Who designed it? We need to get present to where we're spending our hard-earned dollars—from the apps we download to the brands we're wearing." — Susan Sly What You'll Learn in This Episode: What’s really driving the decline in VC funding for women Simple ways to discover and support women-founded companies in your everyday purchases How perimenopause affects women leaders and why workplace support matters more than ever Practical strategies for breaking into male-dominated tech spaces without playing small Why AI governance desperately needs more women's voices and how to get involved The real reason most medicine is based on data from middle-aged white men and how AI can change this How to leverage crowdfunding platforms and angel investing to support female founders 🎧 Want to explore the companies mentioned in this episode? Visit Susan's website to learn more about The Pause and discover other women-led companies making waves in tech.  💵 Consider how your own purchasing decisions and investment choices can support the change you want to see in the industry. **Useful links** Connect with today’s guest and sponsor, Susan Sly: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/susansly/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/susansly/ X https://x.com/susanslylive Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SusanSlyLive/ Personal Website https://www.susansly.com The Pause Technologies https://www.thepause.ai Susan’s current read: We'll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida Join the Leading Women in Tech community in Slack where we discuss all-the-things for women’s tech leadership, covering everything from early-career leadership to C-level executives.

Did you know most teams using AI are actually moving slower? Lots of teams are testing AI tools—but not seeing the payoff. Why? Because tools alone don’t create results. In this episode, I break down what AI-Ready Leadership actually looks like and how to drive real results. You’ll learn how to create an AI Leadership Strategy that drives results, how to avoid the pitfalls of reactive adoption, and how to position yourself as a future-ready leader with AI who can scale output, protect market share, and accelerate your career. I’ll also cover why team sizes will shrink, how to lead with confidence in regulated or hesitant industries, and why embracing AI Productivity Leadership is now part of your credibility as a strategic leader.  Whether you’re in marketing, sales, engineering, or preparing for your next promotion — this episode gives you the playbook to lead AI adoption with purpose. 📌 What You’ll Learn in This Episode: The gap between AI hype and reality — and how to close it Why AI-driven team acceleration is about leadership, not tools How to embed AI into workflows without losing critical thinking The career edge: talking AI-readiness in promotions and interviews What ethical AI leadership looks like in practice How to shape the future of work instead of waiting for it   Are you leading your team into the AI era — or just dabbling?    🕛 The window for proactive AI adoption is closing. Don't wait for the market to force your hand. Book a FREE strategy session with me:  👉 https://www.tonicollis.com/lets-chat  

Have you ever felt like you couldn't lead in tech because you didn't come from a technical background? This week's guest, Anna Belova, is living proof that non-technical leaders can build cutting-edge tech companies and thrive in the most technical industries. Anna is a serial entrepreneur and CEO who has built multiple successful companies in AR and AI - including selling over 15 million AR books for kids worldwide and creating one of the leading web XR platforms used by Google and Meta. Her secret? She's never written a single line of code, and she wouldn't have it any other way. In this episode, we dive deep into what it means to lead highly technical teams without a technical background and how to turn perceived weaknesses into creative advantages. “I think it's one of the main powers that I have, because I'm always thinking about products for people who are not geeks or non-technical as well, like me." — Anna Belova What You'll Learn in This Episode: How being non-technical gives you an advantage in creating user-friendly products Why "What if?" is the most powerful question for breakthrough thinking How to lead technical teams when you don't speak their language The mindset shift from "building a unicorn" to "building yourself into someone who can build a unicorn" Why authenticity trumps trying to fit into male-dominated tech culture How to turn doubt into creative power as a woman in tech leadership   Ready to embrace your non-technical superpowers?  👉 Connect with Anna Belova on LinkedIn or Facebook to continue the conversation about leading with authenticity in tech.  💬 And share your biggest "What if?" moment with us - we'd love to hear how you're thinking outside the box in your leadership journey.   **Useful links** Connect with today’s guest, Anna Belova:  http://mywebar.com http://openway.ai https://www.facebook.com/aibelova/ https://x.com/AIBelova If you are ready to uplevel your career, get unstuck or you are simply ready to unlock those leadership time-management techniques then join us in my monthly career & leadership coaching program exclusively for women in tech: https://www.tonicollis.com/academy  Catch the show notes, and more details about today's episode here: https://tonicollis.com/episode265  Check us out on Youtube. Join the Leading Women in Tech community in Slack where we discuss all-the-things for women’s tech leadership, covering everything from early-career leadership to C-level executives.  

You’re doing all the right things—delivering results, taking initiative, working harder than ever.  So why are you still being passed over for promotion? In this episode, I’m breaking down the real reason high-performing women in tech get overlooked for executive roles—and how to shift from being overlooked to being seen as a strategic leader so you can take the next step toward your promotion with clarity and confidence. "Performance doesn't equal promotion. If you're delivering results but still being overlooked, you're playing the wrong game—and it's time to learn how to play like an executive." — Toni Collis What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why performance ≠ promotion (and what does) The 5 executive skills decision-makers are looking for How to shift from “reliable doer” to “strategic leader” Subtle perception gaps that derail your promotion path What to say and do to change how you’re seen in the room 🔍 If you’re not getting promoted, it doesn’t mean you’re not good enough. It doesn’t mean you need to work harder. 💡 It means it’s time to shift how you’re showing up. 🎯 Grab the free Promotion Readiness Scorecard to find out what’s really holding you back: 👉 tonicollis.com/scorecard  

Ready to raise venture funding—but wondering if you’re actually ready to lead at that level? In this inspiring and honest conversation, I sit down with Emily Dinu, founder and CEO of Numinous Capital, to explore what VCs really look for—and what kind of leadership mindset shifts are essential to succeed as a founder in today’s market. We go deep on the emotional and strategic prep work that’s required to lead through uncertainty, communicate vision clearly, and move forward with grit and clarity—even when you feel uncomfortable or underqualified. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: How to build executive mindset tools to lead with confidence in ambiguity Why clarity often beats charisma in VC pitches The truth about confidence vs. clarity in leadership How to reverse engineer a successful exit What it looks like to lead with values while raising capital The role of decision-making clarity and thought reframing when the pressure’s on 💬 What’s the bold move you’ve been avoiding? 👇 Drop a comment and share: What’s one thing you’re ready to do—even if it scares you? ✨ And if you want support building your founder mindset, strategy, or leadership presence, let’s talk: 📞 Book your free strategy session: https://www.tonicollis.com/lets-chat You don’t have to do this alone. 🚀 **Useful links** Connect with today’s guest and sponsor, Emily Dinu:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilydinu/ www.numinouscap.com  Emily’s current read: Trauma and the Unbound Body: The Healing Power of Fundamental Consciousness by Judith Blackstone Join the Leading Women in Tech community in Slack where we discuss all-the-things for women’s tech leadership, covering everything from early-career leadership to C-level executives.  This episode was sponsored by our Gld PR. Thank you GldPR for helping to bring Leading Women in Tech to this community!  

Want to speak up at work—without risking your reputation or your sanity? In this episode, we’re diving into one of the most uncomfortable (and essential) leadership skills: how to disagree with your boss professionally. Whether you’re navigating power dynamics, trying to avoid “yes culture,” or just want to be heard in meetings—this episode gives you the mindset, strategy, and scripts you need. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Preparing for difficult conversations with clarity Using respectful dissent to earn trust Handling pushback with emotional intelligence When to stand your ground and when to align How to recover if things get tense Becoming the kind of leader whose voice makes a difference If you’ve been biting your tongue to keep the peace, this episode will help you protect your energy and your integrity. You’ll also discover how to contribute to a culture where respectful dissent is welcomed—so you can speak up and create psychological safety for others. 🔗 Ready for support navigating tough conversations and building your leadership presence? Book a FREE strategy session with me: 👉 https://www.tonicollis.com/lets-chat 🎧 Mentioned Episode: → The Art of Being Professionally Blunt (highly recommended before this one!) 💬 Let me know in the comments:What’s one disagreement you’ve been avoiding?