Do you feel you must work crazy hours to get the recognition you deserve? It’s time to redefine success beyond the quantity of work! In this episode, I discuss the barrier of the traditional success model, the major pitfalls of quantity over quality, and how you can shift your mindset to redefine success for yourself and your team. I dive into boundary setting, redefining success metrics, and how to escape the burnout cycle by prioritizing high-impact tasks, celebrating wins, and coaching your team to work proactively vs. reactively.  Ready to find success in the quality of your work and the impact you’re making?  Let’s go to the show! I dive into: The pitfalls of the traditional success model: prioritizing quantity over quality at work Coaching yourself and your team through the shift from reactive mode to proactive mode  How the focus on quantity and presenteeism leads to burnout Client case study: from burnout and a possible layoff to a fulfilled VP of Engineering Building a strategy for prioritizing tasks, saying NO, and celebrating wins And more   **Useful links** 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/episode203 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.

Let’s talk neuroscience (and leadership, of course)!   Join me for this enlightening conversation with Dr. Hayley Nelson, a passionate neuroscientist and professor, who dives deep into the intricacies of how our brains operate and the neuroscience of being a great leader.  In this episode, Dr. Hayley shares her personal journey, detailing how overcoming a traumatic experience led her to pursue a career in neuroscience, despite having other early ambitions. We discuss the difference between the brain and the mind, how to rewire our brains to change our outlook, and embracing resistance as a crucial part of creating lasting change in mindset or habits. We dive into the mindset of optimism vs. toxic positivity, instilling an effective mindset in your team, productivity insights from a neuroscience perspective, and embracing & managing neurodivergent team members.  Ready to learn how neuroscience can transform your approach to leadership and personal growth? Let’s go to the show! We dive into: Dr. Hayley’s journey to becoming a neuroscientist professor A look at negativity from the neuroscience perspective Leading through challenges: optimism vs. toxic positivity The neuroscience behind effective mindset Her advice for encouraging an effective mindset in your team Productivity & motivation in the workplace Embracing and managing neurodivergence and individuality in your team members And more   **Useful links** Connect with today’s guest and sponsor, Dr. Hayley Nelson: https://academyofneuro.com https://www.academyofneuro.com/stress-brain for a special discounted price of Stress and the Brain Course https://www.linkedin.com/in/bewellwithdrhayley/ https://www.instagram.com/bewellwithdrhayley/ (I'm also on TikTok, Facebook, and Twitter)  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/episode202  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.  

It’s time to seek the rewards you deserve! Let’s talk about negotiation - a core skill essential for your career success.  In this episode, I dive into useful strategies for negotiating your worth and how to own your value regarding salary, recognition, and advancement opportunities. I discuss my top tips for negotiating compensation, handling job offers (counter and multiple), and positioning yourself for advancement. But it’s not just the practical tools you need, we’ll dive into the mindset around owning your value, understanding your limits, and overcoming the specific negotiation challenges faced by women in tech, ensuring you can advocate effectively for the compensation and opportunities you deserve.  Ready for the actionable tips to help you reach your next salary goal or dream role? It’s time to understand your worth and master the art of negotiation.  Let’s go to the show! I dive into: Practical strategies for negotiating salary for a new role - or the raise you deserve! A simple, but essential TIP to help you negotiate your worth Considering immediate & long-term goals in your negotiations Navigating recognition and advancement opportunities Effectively handling job offers: counter offers, rejections & multiple offers The mindset of negotiation: exploring your limits and owning your value And more   **Useful links** 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/episode201 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.

Ready to dive into the empowering journeys of three extraordinary women in tech? In today’s episode, I invite three amazing women I have the honor of supporting to dive into their experiences, insights, and triumphs through the lens of executive coaching. Lindsay, Allison, and Jennifer candidly share their motivations for seeking executive coaching, its transformative impact on their professional development, and powerful career lessons around overcoming imposter syndrome, burnout, gender bias, and more. We explore the pivotal moments that led them to join The Lit Up Leadership Academy, the biggest successes they've achieved, and the one thing they wish they had known about themselves a decade ago. Join us to uncover the importance of embracing one's identity, confronting self-doubt, and cultivating resilience in the face of adversity - you don’t want to miss these valuable leadership insights & strategies!  We dive into: The highlights and lowlights from their three incredible tech careers Why they joined the Lit Up Leadership Academy Some of their biggest academy successes: empathy, celebration, and finding alignment Effectively dealing with imposter syndrome and self-doubt in career transition Lessons on kindness and empathy in leadership, pushing tech boundaries, and external validation And more   **Useful links** Connect with today’s amazing women in tech guests: Lindsay Kulzer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsay-kulzer/ Jen Peters: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferepeters/  Allison Williams: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonmwilliams/  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/episode200  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.

The glass ceiling concept is well known in the world of work, especially in male-dominated fields like tech. But what about its lesser-known counterpart - the glass microphone? Many of us have felt the frustration of not being heard or taken seriously, our ideas dismissed before we can fully express them. This glass microphone barrier can hurt our career advancement and lead to stress and burnout.  Let’s talk about how you can break through this communication barrier in your tech leadership! In today’s episode, I explore how to recognize the presence of the glass microphone and why honing your communication skills is crucial as a woman in tech. From strategies for thinking on your feet to navigating gender biases in communication, I give you practical tips to break the glass microphone and ensure you are heard at work.  I dive into: How to know if you are dealing with a glass microphone Gender biases in communication and why you need to make sure to “take the credit” in your career The 3 KEYS to breaking the glass microphone Communication must-haves for women in tech: tailoring communication, my “think on your feet” formula, and more! **Useful links** 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/episode199 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.  

Discover the power of mindfulness in leadership and how it can transform your professional journey. Learn to enhance your executive presence through adaptability, strategic vision, and confident communication. The discussion emphasizes practical steps for developing mindfulness, improving team dynamics, and fostering empathetic interactions. Delve into techniques for handling feedback more effectively while cultivating a more engaged leadership style. Embrace this underrated tool to elevate your career and unlock your potential.

If you’re interested in being a leader that promotes a sustainable, enjoyable, and nurturing work environment, prioritizing equity, diversity, and inclusion is a must. In today’s episode, I invite Jacqui Barrett, CEO of Wider Thinking, to share her inspiring career journey and passion for fostering inclusive workplaces and driving organizational change. We dive into an important discussion on equity diversity and inclusion (EDI) and share actionable insights on creating nurturing work environments, implementing strategies like flexible working arrangements to promote diversity, and overcoming burnout as we strive to apply EDI in our careers. Ready to explore why EDI is essential for organizational success and leave inspired to build a more inclusive and equitable workplace? Let’s go to the show! We dive into: Jacqui’s career journey and her story of experiencing cronyism Practical insights for creating more equitable, diverse, and inclusive work environments Flexible working as a gateway to more diversity in the workplace The important difference between equity and equality Tips for overcoming burnout while championing EDI initiatives And more   **Useful links** Connect with today’s guest and sponsor, Jacqui Barrett: E:  jacqui@widerthinking.com      W: www.widerthinking.com  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacquibarrettwiderthinking/  Jaciqui’s current read: Pachinko by Min Jin Lee 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/episode197  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.

It’s time to shift the narrative, to recognize that being in a perpetual state of hustle isn’t the key to success - it’s a catalyst for burnout.  In today’s episode, I explore the cost of constant hustle and why, contrary to popular belief, it’s not the path to greatness in your leadership career. Join me as I disprove the myths surrounding overwork and dive into solutions, from realistic goal setting to the importance of delegation and healthy boundaries.  Ready for the actionable leadership steps you can take to combat burnout and foster a healthier, more sustainable work environment? Let’s go to the show! I dive into: The high cost of constant hustle culture Debunking the myths around the culture of overwork and hustle The consequences of dismissing downtime and self-care Signs and symptoms of burnout in your leadership Practical strategies for preventing hustle and burnout And more   **Useful links** 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/episode196 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.

Let’s talk about the powerful approach to leadership - “Hold, Don’t Carry”. In this episode, HR veteran turned Executive Coach, Lindsay White, joins me to discuss learning to hold space without shouldering undue burdens and how this skill sets great leaders apart. We dive into the nuances of holding emotional space as a leader, cultivating resilience and stamina by “not carrying”, using lead and lag measures effectively, and the roles accountability and delegation hold within the "Hold, Don't Carry" paradigm. Join us for our top tips on how to implement this approach with self-care and empathy and an insightful discussion on how this leadership skill can uplevel your executive presence.  We dive into: How to use the “Hold, Don’t Carry” approach to uplevel your executive leadership A breakdown of what it means to “hold” effectively as a leader How to cultivate resilience and stamina by “not carrying” The roles of accountability and delegation in the “Hold, Don’t Carry” approach TOP TIPS to help you practice this skill as an executive leader And more **Useful links** Connect with today’s guest and sponsor, Lindsay: W: www.highvoltageleadership.ca  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsay-white-high-voltage/  IG: https://www.instagram.com/highvoltleadership/  Lindsay’s current read: The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music by Dave Grohl Listen to Lindsay’s previous episode, Are You Bragging on Your Resumé?: https://www.tonicollis.com/episode65 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/episode195  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.

Ever found yourself lost in a complex presentation? Maybe you’ve been the presenter and the audience looked a bit confused? If you want to be an effective senior leader, communicating complex ideas in a simple way is a key skill.  In this episode, we’re talking about communicating complex ideas with simplicity, the biggest traps to avoid, and the tools and tips to help you overcome this common leadership hurdle.  Ready to make sure your words are hitting the mark? Let’s go to the show! I dive into: How to simplify complex ideas for effective communication Avoiding communication breakdowns in the workplace Mistaking complexity for competence (“sounding clever”) Effective communication across different fields 6 practical tips for conveying your message effectively And more **Useful links** 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/episode194 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.