Leading Women in Tech Podcast

If you're ending the year exhausted, mentally overloaded, or stuck in a spiral of self-doubt… this episode is your reset. In today's conversation, we're breaking down the inner critic, the mental load of leadership, and why high-performing women struggle most with overthinking, decision paralysis, and confidence dips at this time of year. You'll learn self-coaching techniques for leaders, practical executive mindset tools, and the exact thought-reframing strategies I use with my clients to help them create clarity before burnout makes the decisions for them. Because you don't need more confidence going into 2026 — you need more clarity. And this episode will help you build it. What You'll Learn in This Episode ⏹ Why your inner critic gets louder during year-end cycles ⏹ How burnout affects clarity, decision making, and self-trust ⏹ The neuroscience behind overthinking (and how to interrupt it) ⏹ Self-coaching techniques for leaders you can use right away ⏹ Thought reframing for executives: how to shift fear-based thoughts ⏹ The Neutral Question Reset ⏹ The Thought Ladder Reframe ⏹ The Executive Decision Filter ⏹ How to create decision-making clarity at leadership levels ⏹ The mindset shifts required to lead with confidence in 2026 ⏹ Why clarity → confidence (not the other way around) ⏹ How to prepare your leadership thinking before planning next year ​​Free Leadership Resources Say It Like a Leader Scripts → tonicollis.com/sayitlikealeader Promotion Readiness Scorecard → tonicollis.com/scorecard Self-Coaching Toolkit (coming soon!) Connect With Toni LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tonicollis Website: tonicollis.com

Career stagnation isn't caused by a lack of talent — it's caused by the wrong strategy. If you're a high-performing woman in tech who's STILL feeling stuck (despite delivering more than everyone around you), this episode is going to hit home. In today's conversation, Master Executive Coach Dr. Toni Collis breaks down why you're overperforming but overlooked, why hard work stops working at senior levels, and how brilliant women end up trapped in career stagnation even when they're doing everything "right." You'll learn: ✨ Why you're not getting promoted (even with exceptional performance) ✨ The 4 hidden barriers behind feeling stuck at work ✨ How overperformance creates the Invisible Leader trap ✨ Why leadership visibility matters more than output ✨ The difference between proving your value vs positioning yourself as a leader ✨ The 5 strategic levers that actually get women promoted ✨ How to know if you've outgrown your leadership strategy ✨ What to do next if you're ready to break your career plateau If you've been Googling things like "why am I not getting promoted?", "career plateau," or "how to get noticed at work," this episode will give you the clarity and direction you've been missing. If This Episode Spoke to You… You're not stuck because you're not good enough. You're stuck because you've outgrown your old strategy. And that means you're closer to your next level than you think. Make sure you're here next week for our special pre-2026 Episode — Silencing the Inner Critic: Rewiring Your Mindset for 2026 Confidence. We'll dive into how to shift your self-talk, build unshakeable confidence, and finally stop overthinking your way out of the opportunities you deserve.

Feeling unheard at work? Uncover the neuroscience behind why great ideas often go unnoticed. Explore four dynamics that stifle leadership voices and learn the Outcome–Process–Ask framework to ensure your message lands. Discover how calming your nervous system can shift perceptions and enhance your authority. Plus, get tips on reverse listening to foster psychological safety and model trust in your team. If you’re in a workplace resistant to change, reflect on your next steps and ensure you’re seen, heard, and respected.

Nicole Bugenske, Vice President and Practice Director at Robert Half, dives into the evolving tech job market. She reveals how AI is influencing hiring practices, from the rise of fake resumes to the importance of authentic networking on LinkedIn. Nicole shares insights on the trend of quiet hiring and how risk-averse employers are reshaping candidate profiles. She emphasizes the need for personal touches in resumes and encourages candidates to confidently stand out in a flooded market. Plus, hear her take on the future of tech leadership and candidate visibility.

http://tonicollis.com/how-to-prioritize-work-to-get-promoted/If your calendar is overflowing but your career feels stuck, this episode is for you. You're not alone in the busyness trap. For so many high-achieving women in tech, doing more has always felt like the way to get ahead — but it's not what gets you promoted. In this episode of the Leading Women in Tech Podcast, we're unpacking the truth behind prioritizing impactful work, the hidden gap between performance and promotion, and how to build the kind of executive presence that actually gets noticed. If you're ready to stop being the go-to person for everything and start focusing on what truly shifts your career — this episode will show you how to lead smarter, not harder. 🔗 Take the free Promotion Readiness Scorecard. Wondering if your work is getting you noticed for the next level? → tonicollis.com/scorecard 💬 Want tailored support? → Book a strategy call with Toni: tonicollis.com/lets-chat 🛠️ Tools & Concepts from the Episode: ◾The CEO Filter — Would the CEO care if I did this? ◾The 90-Day Question — Will this matter in 3 months? ◾The 15-Minute Weekly Priority Reset — Realign your leadership each week ◾The Impact Multiplier — From busy to visible

How do you lead with impact—before you ever get the title? In this episode, I sit down with Michele Doyle, VP of Data & Analytics at Senos, to explore what it means to lead from the crossroads of engineering, operations, and strategy. Michele shares her unconventional journey from psychology to tech leadership, how to lead with influence before you're formally given the title, and what it takes to build trust, safety, and innovation in complex teams—especially in non-obvious tech spaces like fermentation. You'll hear about: ◾How to step into strategic leadership without the title ◾The underestimated power of cross-functional influence ◾Creating psychological safety and generous leadership ◾Real-world AI adoption (in the brewing industry!) ◾Why emotional regulation is the unsung skill of great leaders Whether you're an emerging tech leader or a seasoned exec looking to build empowered teams, this episode will help you lead with confidence, clarity, and real influence. **Useful links** Connect with today's guest and sponsor, Michele Doyle from Sennos: ◾https://sennos.com/ and Michele's ◾LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doylemichele/ Michele's current read: The Murder Bot Series by Martha Wells and Your AI Survival Guide by Sol Rashidi This episode was sponsored by our guest, Michele Doyle, and Sennos. Thank you Michele and Sennos for helping to bring Leading Women in Tech to this community!

When was the last time you rewrote an email six times before hitting send? Or spiraled through a decision long after it needed to be made? If you've ever been told "you're overthinking it," you're not alone — and you're not failing. Overthinking at work is often the result of high pressure, perfectionism, and internalized leadership expectations — especially for high-achieving women in male-dominated spaces. But here's the truth: overthinking isn't helping you get promoted. It's quietly chipping away at your executive presence and leadership impact. In this episode, I'll walk you through: ✅ How to spot overthinking in real time (vs. strategic thinking) ✅ Why smart women overthink — and how to shift that pattern ✅ The 1-1-1 decision tool to stop spiraling and act with clarity ✅ Executive mindset techniques to build trust in your own decisions ✅ Real stories from my clients who shifted from "perfection mode" to promotion This is your leadership reset — a tactical, mindset-rich episode to help you step into Q4 with calm, confident clarity. If you're ready to build a reputation for decisive, strategic leadership — let's dive in. If this episode helped you shift your thinking, I'd love to hear from you. Drop a comment, leave a review, or connect on LinkedIn @ToniCollis. 🔗 Mentioned in this episode: Free Strategy Call: https://www.tonicollis.com/lets-chat 📌 Primary Takeaways: – Overthinking is not a leadership trait — clarity is. – Learn how to reclaim your time and lead with confidence, even in high-stakes moments. – These tools will help you build sustainable leadership strategies and finally get out of your own way.

Can your team thrive without you in the room? And what does it really take to lead with confidence in a male-dominated industry? In this episode, I sit down with Sandy Motley, Senior VP at Nokia and former President of Fixed Networks, to talk about what it means to lead a high-performing team without overfunctioning—and how to build trust, autonomy, and strategic impact into your leadership style. We explore: ⏹ How to build a team that doesn't need you to function ⏹ What executive leadership looks like beyond control and perfectionism ⏹ Why inclusive leadership drives innovation in engineering and telecom ⏹ How to coach your team through conflict instead of fixing everything yourself ⏹ What it means to lead with confidence in male-dominated spaces ⏹ The mindset shift that takes you from tactical manager to strategic exec Whether you're a VP, a senior IC, or growing into a more strategic leadership role—this episode will challenge how you think about value, visibility, and voice. 📌 Want to step into your executive leadership without burning out? 💡 Explore coaching and resources at: https://www.tonicollis.com **Useful links** Connect with today's guest and sponsor, Sandy Motley from Nokia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandra-motley-b116659/ This episode was sponsored by our guest, Sandy Motley from Nokia. Thank you Sandy & Nokia for helping to bring Leading Women in Tech to this community!

Is It Time to Leave? How to Know If You've Outgrown Your Role (Without Burning It All Down) 🔗 Take the free "What's Holding You Back?" Diagnostic → https://tonicollis.com/whats-holding-you-back You're a high-achiever. You don't quit easily. But lately… something feels off. Maybe you're exhausted. Or uninspired. Or quietly wondering if you've outgrown your current role—or even the company entirely. In this episode of Leading Women in Tech, we're digging into the career stagnation signs that high-performing women often ignore. Whether you're wrestling with golden handcuffs, chronic burnout, or a growing sense that your values no longer align with your leadership path—this is the conversation for you. We're talking about career alignment, strategic career pivots, and how to realign your leadership journey with what matters most. By the end of this episode, you'll have: A checklist of signs it's time to move on Clarity on whether you're stuck, burned out, or truly misaligned 5 reflection questions to guide your next step A strategic framework to plan your next move—without quitting prematurely How to lead a purpose-driven career evolution What meaningful leadership roles look like after burnout Tips for navigating a strategic career change in tech 🔥 PLUS: Download the brand new free tool: 👉 What's Holding You Back? A Quick Diagnostic for Women in Tech Uncover if you're overdue for a pivot, stuck in visibility limbo, or simply misaligned with your current culture. https://tonicollis.com/whats-holding-you-back ⏱️ Chapters 0:00 The cost of staying too long 5:06 Signs you've outgrown your role 9:53 Career misalignment checklist 12:46 What if you can't leave yet? 22:58 5 reflection prompts for career clarity 26:31 What to do this week to reclaim control 💡 Ready for more clarity? If you're tired of doing this alone, executive coaching can help. Book a free strategy call: tonicollis.com/lets-chat

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!