Leading Women in Tech Podcast

Curious about how executives really allocate their time? Discover the value of strategic thinking over tactical execution. Learn how strategic pauses can empower your team to problem-solve independently. Explore the key differences between strategy and tactics, plus essential mindset shifts for effective delegation. Uncover practical steps to build trust and let go of control. Finally, master your time management with the 30-60-10 rule to focus on high-impact work and avoid burnout. A must-listen for aspiring leaders!

In this episode, I sit down with Adaeze Iloeje-Udeogalanya, a trailblazing STEM leader, engineer, and advocate for diversity in STEM. From her early years in Nigeria to her leadership role in the U.S. energy sector, Adaeze shares how she navigated challenges, broke barriers, and turned her cultural identity into a powerful asset for innovation and leadership. We explore the role of mentorship, representation, and community in career success, along with her mission to uplift African women in STEM. Whether you're an aspiring engineer, a STEM professional, or a leader looking to foster diverse perspectives, this conversation is packed with insights you won’t want to miss. We dive into: Adaeze’s career journey from Nigeria to leadership in the U.S. energy sector Overcoming challenges as an African woman in STEM How cultural identity plays a powerful role in innovation and leadership The importance of mentorship and community in professional growth How she founded African Women in STEM and her vision for global impact A real-world example of using cultural perspectives to resolve project conflicts Actionable advice for aspiring STEM leaders And more "Your Leadership Readiness Checklist" is a free resource designed to help ambitious professionals ensure all aspects of their careers are aligned. https://link.africanwomeninstem.com/LeadingWomenInTechPodcast **Useful links** Connect with today’s guest and sponsor, Adaeze Iloeje-Udeogalanya: Website address: https://africanwomeninstem.com/ LinkedIn URL: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adaeze-iloeje-udeogalanya/ Instagram URL: https://www.instagram.com/africanwomenin_stem/ Check out Adaeze’s ‘Leadership Readiness Checklist’:  https://link.africanwomeninstem.com/LeadingWomenInTechPodcast Adaeze’s current read: Be your future self now by Dr Benjamin Hardy 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/episode240 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. This episode was sponsored by our guest, Adaeze Iloeje-Udeogalanya. Thank you Adaeze for helping to bring Leading Women in Tech to this community!

Sales aren’t just for salespeople—they play a crucial role in the success of every part of an organization. In this episode, I sit down with extraordinary sales leader Colleen Watson to explore why every executive, regardless of department, needs to understand the sales function for leadership effectiveness and long-term business growth. Whether you’re directly in sales or not, this conversation will change the way you think about leadership, influence, and driving business success. Join us! We dive into: How sales impacts every part of an organization and drives executive alignment Why a consistent sales methodology benefits leaders across all departments The most common misconceptions about sales—and why they’re wrong How cross-functional collaboration with sales strengthens business strategy The role of personality and communication styles in effective sales and leadership And more **Useful links** Connect with today’s guest and sponsor, Colleen:  https://go.sandler.com/watson/  Colleen’s current read: Be Your Future Self Now: The Science of Intentional Transformation by Benjamin P. Hardy The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins 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/episode239  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 how to elevate your leadership from reactive firefighting to strategic thinking. Uncover the story of a Director of Engineering who transformed her approach, gaining a promotion in just eight months. Learn the power of authentic confidence to delegate tasks and tackle imposter syndrome. Explore methods for making high-impact decisions with long-term benefits. Shift your mindset from identifying problems to embracing solutions, as you develop a vision-driven leadership style.

Have you ever wondered what it takes to become a true change agent as a leader? Or how to future-proof your leadership career in 2025 and beyond? In a world where technical skills alone are no longer enough, the ability to facilitate conversations, drive alignment, and unlock the potential of teams has become the missing piece in modern leadership. Today’s guest, Therese Miclot, shares the one skill that sets impactful leaders apart: facilitation. We explore why facilitation is essential for scaling organizations, fostering engagement, and leading with impact—and provide practical tips on the art of inclusive meetings, including how to balance authority and approachability and why great facilitators make the best problem solvers. Whether you're leading a small team or a global organization, facilitation can be your secret weapon for driving change and future-proofing your career. Don’t miss this conversation! We dive into: How facilitation skills can future-proof your career, helping you become a more adaptable, resilient, and sought-after leader in any industry Practical facilitation techniques for removing obstacles and making meetings more productive and inclusive Why self-talk is your hidden leadership nemesis and how it shapes your ability to facilitate effectively The power of trust-building and executive presence—and why the most effective leaders don’t just talk, they activate others through facilitation And more   **Useful links** Connect with today’s guest and sponsor, Therese Miclot:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/theresemiclot/ https://www.thefacilitationadvantage.com/ https://www.theresemiclot.com/ 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/episode237 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.   This episode was sponsored by our guest, Therese Miclot. Thank you Therese for helping to bring Leading Women in Tech to this community!  

Explore the secrets behind developing an authentic executive mindset. Discover how executive presence can transform your leadership style. Learn to combat imposter syndrome and embrace self-kindness for personal growth. Understand the importance of taking uncomfortable actions and making mistakes for career acceleration. Get ready to reflect on your self-perceptions and boost your confidence in professional environments.

You don’t want to overlook the emotional intelligence aspect of your leadership in 2025! Leaders with high emotional intelligence (EQ) are more likely to foster greater employee satisfaction and achieve up to 20% higher productivity. Yet, many leaders overestimate their EQ. In this episode, I explore why emotional intelligence is vital for modern leadership and how you might be falling short in surprising ways. Join me as I explore the link between emotional intelligence in leadership and leadership success, including the connection to employee retention, team performance, and overall workplace dynamics. Through real-life emotional intelligence workplace examples and my 3-part approach to improving EQ, I will provide you with helpful leadership self-awareness techniques to help you improve your leadership EQ. Whether you’re focused on emotional intelligence in tech leadership or strengthening your executive presence, this episode will show you how confidence and EQ will play a pivotal role in elevating your leadership this year.  I dive into: The positive impacts of improved emotional intelligence Common misconceptions about EQ The relationship between confidence and EQ My 3-part approach for improving your EQ Self-awareness techniques for tech leaders The Notice, Pause, Reframe framework for building higher self-awareness 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/episode235  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.

In this episode, I dive deep into why LinkedIn is an essential tool for career growth and job market success and break down what's working, what's not, and how to make the platform work for you.  Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting out, this episode will give you actionable insights to elevate your LinkedIn game, including my top tips for analyzing LinkedIn metrics and optimizing your profile so you can open doors to new opportunities. Ready to transform your LinkedIn profile into a powerful career advancement tool? I dive into: The impact of networking and LinkedIn on career advancement My advice on how to analyze and use LinkedIn metrics to achieve results The three most important sections of your LinkedIn profile Practical tips for optimizing your LinkedIn profile for job-hunting success Tidying up the skills section of your profile (and some tips for skill endorsement) Specific strategies for effective networking on LinkedIn 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/episode234 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.

In this special episode, I have an honest and heartfelt coaching conversation with Madeleine Lambert, a young mom navigating the complexities of leadership, work, and family life. Together, we explore the challenges and triumphs of balancing a demanding career with personal responsibilities, touching on important topics like guilt, self-doubt, and the societal pressures of "having it all figured out."  During a candid live coaching session, we dive into the realities of conflicting priorities and explore whether Madeleine’s struggles stem from a prioritization issue or an unrealistic workload. I share actionable strategies to help her feel more in control, such as implementing a task triage system and using tools like brain dumps to capture all tasks and reduce mental clutter.  Join us for these valuable insights and let 2025 be the year you stop "should-ing" all over yourself and give yourself permission to set boundaries and pursue ambitious goals. We dive into: Madeleine’s career journey The challenges of juggling family life and work as a female leader A special live coaching session addressing conflicting priorities and identifying the root causes of stress My favorite strategies for task management and freeing up mental space And more   **Useful links** Connect with today’s guest and sponsor, Madeleine: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madeleine-lambert-b6426aa9/ originality.ai 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/episode233 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. This episode was sponsored by our guest, Madeleine. Thank you Madeleine for helping to bring Leading Women in Tech to this community!  

Ready to set inspiring, achievable targets and turn them into strategic, intentional action?  This week, I want to help you harness that fresh start energy of the new year and turn it into real progress on your biggest goals! I’m diving into common barriers to taking action like low confidence and confusion, why understanding the critical difference between proactive and reactive action is vital to your success, and how to tackle goal aversion and negative self-talk going into the new year. Join me for my personal strategies for maintaining momentum and some inspiration to help you lean into the new year energy and show yourself compassion if things don't go as planned.  Whether you're looking to level up your leadership, make a career change, or just meet some important goals, this episode is your roadmap to making this your best year yet! I dive into: Harnessing the "fresh start" energy of the new year to drive real progress on your biggest goals Common barriers to taking action (and what to do about them) The critical difference between proactive and reactive actions - and why being proactive is key to meeting your goals this new year My personal strategies for sustaining momentum, managing setbacks, and maintaining self-compassion Practical tips for clear goal setting and finding success through actionable steps 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/episode232 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.