Lead to Soar – Détails, épisodes et analyse

In this solo episode, Michelle tackles a deeply challenging issue many women face: hostile workplaces. From subtle microaggressions to outright discrimination, hostile environments can undermine confidence, drain emotional energy, and hinder career progression. Michelle breaks down practical strategies to protect yourself, build resilience, and—if necessary—find your way out. This episode is filled with actionable advice on how to survive and thrive even in the most difficult work environments.

Key Takeaways:

1. Understand What a Hostile Workplace Is: Hostile environments are more than just overt harassment—they include subtle behaviors like exclusion, being passed over for key projects, or being assigned non-promotable tasks.

2. Build a Network: Don't isolate yourself. Find allies and accomplices both inside and outside your workplace who can offer support and validation.

3. Document Everything: Keep detailed records of hostile behaviors, including dates, times, what was said, and how it made you feel. This can serve as crucial evidence if you need to escalate the issue.

4. Know Your Rights: Familiarize yourself with workplace policies and legal protections like the Respect @ Work legislation in Australia. Know what resources and recourse are available to you.

5. Develop Emotional Resilience: Take care of your mental and physical health by practicing self-care, and don’t hesitate to seek professional support if needed.

6. Evaluate Your Options: If the hostility continues, decide whether escalating the issue or leaving the organization is the best path for you. Be prepared with an exit strategy.

7. Prepare for an Exit: Continuously network and keep your LinkedIn updated. Having options and an exit strategy will empower you, even if you don’t immediately leave.

Call to Action:

Join the Lead to Soar network for access to weekly group coaching sessions where women from all over the world come together for support and advice on navigating their careers.

If you found this episode helpful, please share it with someone who might benefit from these strategies.

Additional Resources:

Lead to Soar Network

Respect @ Work Legislation (Australia)

Hour of Power Group Coaching

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Lead to Soar, hosts Michelle Redfern and Mel Butcher tackle the crucial topic of taking risks in your career. From deciding whether to apply for new roles to managing toxic work environments, the conversation covers practical strategies for assessing risks, taking bold steps, and learning from past decisions. Michelle introduces the concept of a "risk matrix" to help you evaluate career moves, while Mel shares personal insights on making big life changes. The episode also explores overcoming fear of rejection, managing workplace politics, and how to become proactive in your career growth.

Episode Highlights:

- Risk-taking in career moves: Michelle encourages women to take risks by applying for new opportunities without overthinking or creating problems that haven't arisen yet.

“If something’s piqued your interest, why wouldn’t you explore it? You don’t have a decision to make until a new offer is on the table.” 

- The risk matrix: Michelle shares a simple framework for evaluating risks based on probability and impact, applicable to both business and personal career decisions.

Example: The risk of losing your job may be low, but the impact could be high, so always be prepared with updated CVs, LinkedIn profiles, and professional networks.

Managing toxic workplaces: Both hosts discuss strategies for handling toxic bosses and environments, including the importance of having a support network and proactive mitigation strategies.

Taking career risks as opportunities: Instead of avoiding risk, view new job opportunities as a chance to build networks, explore roles, and raise your profile—without the fear of “what if.”

Risk vs. reward in networking: Mel and Michelle emphasize the importance of strategic networking, both for career advancement and to help others, highlighting the reciprocity and generosity required in building professional relationships.

“Don’t wait for someone to invite you—create your own table.” 

Learning from failure: The episode touches on how we can make good decisions that don’t always lead to good outcomes and how reflecting on those experiences leads to growth.

“We can’t do life over, but we can stop, breathe, reflect, and ask: What did I learn from that situation?” 

Leadership Call to Action:

Apply for opportunities, even if unsure: Don’t hesitate to apply for a role that interests you. You’re not obligated to make a final decision until an offer is in hand.

Use a risk matrix for career decisions: Evaluate risks using a simple matrix based on probability and impact, and mitigate risks with strategies like maintaining an updated CV and strong professional networks.

Strategic networking: Be proactive in your networking efforts. Reach out to industry professionals, create opportunities to connect, and offer value in return.

Take calculated risks: Whether it’s applying for a new job, starting a conversation with a recruiter, or advocating for yourself in a difficult work environment, weigh the risk vs. reward. Remember, staying in the comfort zone carries its own risks.

Mitigate the impact of toxic work environments: If you’re dealing with a toxic boss or workplace, build a support system and have a clear strategy to protect your wellbeing while working through the situation.

Download a career risk management matrix here: 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Lead to Soar, hosts Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern discuss the critical topic of navigating career advice for women aiming for CEO roles. The conversation highlights the disparity in career advice, which focuses heavily on emotional intelligence (EQ) over business intelligence (BQ) and the importance of developing BQ skills for career advancement. They share insights from successful women CEOs like Nickie Gibson and emphasise the need for actionable advice that prepares women for executive leadership roles.

Episode Highlights:

Career Advice Landscape: We discuss the disproportionate focus on EQ in career advice for women and the significant gap in advice on BQ.

Nickie Gibson's Insights: Nikki Gibson (formerly Nickie Scriven), a successful CEO, provided great insights for Michelle's book, The Leadership Compass. Nickie's advice emphasises the importance of BQ skills such as strategic thinking, business growth, and leadership.

Business Intelligence (BQ): Michelle explains BQ in leadership and its critical role in advancing to senior executive and C-suite roles.

Challenges for Ambitious Women: Addressing societal biases against ambitious women and the "ambition penalty" they face in their careers.

Actionable Advice for Women and Managers: Practical steps for women to develop BQ skills and advice for managers to support the career development of women on their teams.

Leadership Call to Action:

Audit Development Programs: Ensure that women-focused programs include substantial business strategic and financial acumen content.

Train Managers: Educate managers on how to coach and develop women in BQ skills and understand the impact of gender dynamics on talent management.

Encourage Self-Development: Women should take charge of their development, seek out resources like the Lead to Soar Network, and attend events like the Lead to Soar Summit.

Lead to Soar is a multi-platform resource for ambitious women on a leadership journey and for organisations serious about closing the leadership gender gap.

We support women and organisations in 5 ways:

The Lead to Network

The Lead to Soar Podcast

The Lead to Soar Summit

Women’s Leadership Programs

DEI Consulting & Advisory

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lead to Soar! is a production of A Career that Soars

Gaslighting in the workplace is Bullying. This form of toxic behavior is particularly insidious, and it can't be ignored if it's happening in your workplace. Because for the victims of this gaslighting, it can cause anxiety, depression, and even nervous breakdowns. It can cause the victim to even question their own sanity. In this episode, Mel and Michelle explore what gaslighting can look like, sound like and feel like for women in the workplace so that they at work know how to recognize it. We also give advice to workplace leaders about how to recognise, respond and refer to when Gaslighting comes to their attention.   Resources Find an ally in A Career that Soars.

www.acareerthatsoars.com Watch

Gaslit: a series starring Julia Roberts about the real-life story of Martha Mitchell. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11834592/ Read

What Should I Do If My Boss is Gaslighting Me? https://hbr.org/2020/11/ask-an-expert-what-should-i-do-if-my-boss-is-gaslighting-me

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Bio for Michelle Redfern

Michelle is the founder of Advancing Women, an enterprise providing research and advisory services on workplace gender equality, inclusion and diversity. She is co-host of A Career that Soars! the founder of women’s network Women Who Get It  co-founder of CDW (Culturally Diverse Women) and host of the Lead to Soar podcast.

Michelle is an experienced Non-Executive Director with Board and advisory roles in the finance, sport, for purpose and supply chain sectors. She is a proud Ambassador for Flexible Working Day and Girls Uniform Agenda. She has held executive leadership roles at ASX & FTSE listed companies NAB, Telstra and Serco during her 30-year corporate career.

Michelle is a Graduate of the AICD, holds an Executive MBA (Distinction) and holds various accreditations in organisational diversity and coaching. She is an in-demand speaker and is a regular contributor to the discussion and advocate for gender equality and inclusion in sport and business workplaces.

Bio for Mel Butcher

Mel Butcher is a consulting engineer focused on growing business through serving enterprise industrial clients in the environmental, water, and sustainability spaces.  In her free time, she is a host inside A Career That Soars! and on the Lead to Soar! podcast where she supports women in achieving their highest career ambitions. Mel is a goal advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion in the engineering and industrial world. She also gives time to supporting young engineers early in their career. Reach out here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lead to Soar! is a production of A Career that Soars

Do you have a “brilliant jerk” (or two) in your workplace? A Brilliant Jerk, also known as a Toxic Rock Star, is a person, typically in a position of power who has awful toxic behaviours that negatively impact colleagues. Their toxic bullying behaviour “evades consequences” because they’re typically high performing in another metric. The brilliant jerk has a particularly [negative] impact on women with Women of Colour reporting significantly higher rates of bullying than their white counterparts. Mel and Michelle share their experience of Brilliant Jerks and issue a strong call to action for leaders to eliminate the Brilliant Jerk from workplaces once and for all!

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Resources

• Sign up for A Career that Soars! *Premium
• Download: The Inclusive Leaders Guide to Listening https://www.theadvancingwomenformula.com/the-advancing-women-5x5-method
• Read: Do You Have a Brilliant Jerk Or Two In Your Workplace? https://michelleredfern.com/do-you-have-a-brilliant-jerk-or-two-in-your-workplace/
• Read: Leaders, Stop Rewarding Toxic Rock Stars https://hbr.org/2022/04/leaders-stop-rewarding-toxic-rock-stars 

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Bio for Michelle Redfern

Michelle is the founder of Advancing Women, an enterprise providing research and advisory services on workplace gender equality, inclusion and diversity. She is co-host of A Career that Soars! the founder of women’s network Women Who Get It  co-founder of CDW (Culturally Diverse Women) and host of the Lead to Soar podcast.

Michelle is an experienced Non-Executive Director with Board and advisory roles in the finance, sport, for purpose and supply chain sectors. She is a proud Ambassador for Flexible Working Day and Girls Uniform Agenda. She has held executive leadership roles at ASX & FTSE listed companies NAB, Telstra and Serco during her 30-year corporate career.

Michelle is a Graduate of the AICD, holds an Executive MBA (Distinction) and holds various accreditations in organisational diversity and coaching. She is an in-demand speaker and is a regular contributor to the discussion and advocate for gender equality and inclusion in sport and business workplaces.

Bio for Mel Butcher

Mel Butcher is a consulting engineer focused on growing business through serving enterprise industrial clients in the environmental, water, and sustainability spaces.  In her free time, she is a host inside A Career That Soars! and on the Lead to Soar! podcast where she supports women in achieving their highest career ambitions. Mel is a goal advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion in the engineering and industrial world. She also gives time to supporting young engineers early in their career. Reach out here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lead to Soar! is a production of A Career that Soars

Women face some tough workplace challenges from time to time. Often, we can find ourselves in a Fight/Flight/Freeze/Fawn response. Its where the amygdala takes over our own behaviour. Mel and Michelle discuss the types of challenges women might face at work, including hostile workplaces, the types of human behaviour that occurs, the impact it has and importantly, what language is helpful versus not helpful when tackling the poor behaviour of co-workers. They even role play a situation that will be useful for workers and leaders alike. 

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Resources

• Sign up for A Career that Soars! *Premium

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Bio for Michelle Redfern

Michelle is the founder of Advancing Women, an enterprise providing research and advisory services on workplace gender equality, inclusion and diversity. She is co-host of A Career that Soars! the founder of women’s network Women Who Get It  co-founder of CDW (Culturally Diverse Women) and host of the Lead to Soar podcast.

Michelle is an experienced Non-Executive Director with Board and advisory roles in the finance, sport, for purpose and supply chain sectors. She is a proud Ambassador for Flexible Working Day and Girls Uniform Agenda. She has held executive leadership roles at ASX & FTSE listed companies NAB, Telstra and Serco during her 30-year corporate career.

Michelle is a Graduate of the AICD, holds an Executive MBA (Distinction) and holds various accreditations in organisational diversity and coaching. She is an in-demand speaker and is a regular contributor to the discussion and advocate for gender equality and inclusion in sport and business workplaces.

Bio for Mel Butcher

Mel Butcher is a consulting engineer focused on growing business through serving enterprise industrial clients in the environmental, water, and sustainability spaces.  In her free time, she is a host inside A Career That Soars! and on the Lead to Soar! podcast where she supports women in achieving their highest career ambitions. Mel is a goal advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion in the engineering and industrial world. She also gives time to supporting young engineers early in their career. Reach out here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lead to Soar! is a production of A Career that Soars!

In this episode of L2S!, Dr. Catriona Wallace is our guest. Catriona is a serial entrepreneur and seasoned CEO. She talks with Michelle about why we need more women in AI, and how she has thrived in the manosphere of AI, STEM, and Venture Capitalism. Catriona also gives women some absolute gold about what great CEOs know and do.  

https://mumbrella.com.au/youtube-algorithms-exposing-young-men-to-the-manosphere-reset-australia-734877

Learn more about Lead to Soar! and A Career that Soars! by visiting LeadToSoar.com

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Guest Dr. Catriona Wallace Bio:

Dr. Catriona Wallace is recognized as an entrepreneur in the artificial intelligence and machine learning fields. Catriona also has a global reputation as a leading practitioner, speaker, and media commentator on Responsible Technology, AI ethics, and the future of work. Dr. Wallace is the CEO of ethical AI advisory, the chair of venture capital fund Boab AI, and she was the founder of Flamingo AI and machine learning company with headquarters in New York and Sydney. Dr. Wallace has been recognized by the Australian Financial Review as the most influential woman in business and entrepreneurship in 2018. And as the FinTech leader, and overall excellence in finance award by women in finance, 2018

Michelle Redfern's Bio:

Michelle is the founder of Advancing Women, an enterprise providing research and advisory services on workplace gender equality, inclusion and diversity. She is co-host of A Career that Soars! the founder of women’s network Women Who Get It  co-founder of CDW (Culturally Diverse Women) and host of the Lead to Soar podcast.

Michelle is an experienced Non-Executive Director with Board and advisory roles in the finance, sport, for purpose and supply chain sectors. She is a proud Ambassador for Flexible Working Day and Girls Uniform Agenda. She has held executive leadership roles at ASX & FTSE listed companies NAB, Telstra and Serco during her 30-year corporate career.

Michelle is a Graduate of the AICD, holds an Executive MBA (Distinction) and holds various accreditations in organisational diversity and coaching. She is an in-demand speaker and is a regular contributor to the discussion and advocate for gender equality and inclusion in sport and business workplaces.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lead to Soar! is a production of A Career that Soars

Recent research tells us (again) that women outperform men on a range of different leadership metrics. That same research informs us that leaders are baffled that, given how competent women are, there are more of us at the top of organizations. Well, we want you to stop your bafflement about the leadership gender gap. It might be an okay place to start, but leaders must move on from admiring the problem and start taking action. And that does not mean enrolling all your workers in unconscious bias training! In this episode, Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern call on leaders to take deliberate action to change the playing field to support their female talent pipeline.

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Resources

• Sign up for A Career that Soars! *Premium

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Bio for Michelle Redfern

Michelle is the founder of Advancing Women, an enterprise providing research and advisory services on workplace gender equality, inclusion and diversity. She is co-host of A Career that Soars! the founder of women’s network Women Who Get It  co-founder of CDW (Culturally Diverse Women) and host of the Lead to Soar podcast.

Michelle is an experienced Non-Executive Director with Board and advisory roles in the finance, sport, for purpose and supply chain sectors. She is a proud Ambassador for Flexible Working Day and Girls Uniform Agenda. She has held executive leadership roles at ASX & FTSE listed companies NAB, Telstra and Serco during her 30-year corporate career.

Michelle is a Graduate of the AICD, holds an Executive MBA (Distinction) and holds various accreditations in organisational diversity and coaching. She is an in-demand speaker and is a regular contributor to the discussion and advocate for gender equality and inclusion in sport and business workplaces.

Bio for Mel Butcher

Mel Butcher is a consulting engineer focused on growing business through serving enterprise industrial clients in the environmental, water, and sustainability spaces.  In her free time, she is a host inside A Career That Soars! and on the Lead to Soar! podcast where she supports women in achieving their highest career ambitions. Mel is a goal advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion in the engineering and industrial world. She also gives time to supporting young engineers early in their career. Reach out here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lead to Soar! is a production of A Career that Soars!

In this episode of L2S!, we discuss how we want leaders to interact with HR to support women, how we want HR to call bullshit on workplace fuckery, and what exactly is a Fuckeroni Pizza? All this and more in this energetic conversation with "Not the HR LAdy" Tara Furiani. 

https://www.notthehrlady.com

Learn more about Lead to Soar! and A Career that Soars! by visiting LeadToSoar.com

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Guest Tara Furiani Bio:

I'm Tara Furiani and after spending 20 years in the corporate world of work, 12 of those as an International Chief People Officer, I founded Not the HR Lady, A ‘People’ Consultancy Firm, a Popular Web Series & Podcast, Learning Community and a movement toward… All Things People. No BS.

My mission is simple… to create an on-going dialogue and affect change related to previously thought of as “taboo” topics for the workplace (like bullying, racism, good old boys’ clubs, brilliant a**holes, and more) that often marginalize, harm & oppress Women, BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ employees.

Companies all over the world hire my successful 'People Firm' to aid with: Business Strategy & Executive Team Building, Board Facilitator, HR & DEIB Consulting, C-Level Coaching & Executive Brand Management, to Speak at Events (virtual and live), to help them find the right executives for their organizations and, to change their business through people.

I hold several certifications, including Predictive Index, DiSC, Dale Carnegie, Franklin Covey, Meyers-Briggs and more. I also have my BBA in Marketing, an MS in Organizational Leadership, and 2nd MS in Psychology.

I've recently wrote my first book, F*ck Your Office Snacks and am working on a 2nd book & learning series called Don't Suck As A Boss.

I spend my free time with my seven children (5 bio, 2 adopted, Single Parent) and our fun family team enjoys traveling (before COVID-19), dark hide and seek, going to the lake, making music together, scary movies, dance parties, roller coasters, and cooking together.

Bio for Mel Butcher

Mel Butcher is a consulting engineer focused on growing business through serving enterprise industrial clients in the environmental, water, and sustainability spaces.  In her free time, she is a host inside A Career That Soars! and on the Lead to Soar! podcast where she supports women in achieving their highest career ambitions. Mel is a goal advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion in the engineering and industrial world. She also gives time to supporting young engineers early in their career. Reach out here.

Michelle Redfern's Bio:

Michelle is the founder of Advancing Women, an enterprise providing research and advisory services on workplace gender equality, inclusion and diversity. She is co-host of A Career that Soars! the founder of women’s network Women Who Get It  co-founder of CDW (Culturally Diverse Women) and host of the Lead to Soar podcast.

Michelle is an experienced Non-Executive Director with Board and advisory roles in the finance, sport, for purpose and supply chain sectors. She is a proud Ambassador for Flexible Working Day and Girls Uniform Agenda. She has held executive leadership roles at ASX & FTSE listed companies NAB, Telstra and Serco during her 30-year corporate career.

Michelle is a Graduate of the AICD, holds an Executive MBA (Distinction) and holds various accreditations in organisational diversity and coaching. She is an in-demand speaker and is a regular contributor to the discussion and advocate for gender equality and inclusion in sport and business workplaces.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lead to Soar! is a production of A Career that Soars

In this episode, Mel and Michelle discuss why politics at work need to be rebadged and rethought by women who want a career that soars. Politics, when viewed through the lens of our 3-part leadership definition, is engaging the greatness in others and aligning them towards to strategic and financial goals of the organization.  Furthermore, women are rated by bosses as having superior EQ and engagement skills. We discuss how leveraging those skills, strategically and authentically is part of the successful woman's career toolkit.

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Resources

• Sign up for A Career that Soars! *Premium

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Bio for Michelle Redfern

Michelle is the founder of Advancing Women, an enterprise providing research and advisory services on workplace gender equality, inclusion and diversity. She is co-host of A Career that Soars! the founder of women’s network Women Who Get It  co-founder of CDW (Culturally Diverse Women) and host of the Lead to Soar podcast.

Michelle is an experienced Non-Executive Director with Board and advisory roles in the finance, sport, for purpose and supply chain sectors. She is a proud Ambassador for Flexible Working Day and Girls Uniform Agenda. She has held executive leadership roles at ASX & FTSE listed companies NAB, Telstra and Serco during her 30-year corporate career.

Michelle is a Graduate of the AICD, holds an Executive MBA (Distinction) and holds various accreditations in organisational diversity and coaching. She is an in-demand speaker and is a regular contributor to the discussion and advocate for gender equality and inclusion in sport and business workplaces.

Bio for Mel Butcher

Mel Butcher is a consulting engineer focused on growing business through serving enterprise industrial clients in the environmental, water, and sustainability spaces.  In her free time, she is a host inside A Career That Soars! and on the Lead to Soar! podcast where she supports women in achieving their highest career ambitions. Mel is a goal advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion in the engineering and industrial world. She also gives time to supporting young engineers early in their career. Reach out here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.