253: Standing Her Ground: Sophronia McKenzie on Assertiveness and Leadership in Tech

Have you ever wondered how the most grounded leaders stay true to themselves—especially when the room wasn't built for them? In this episode, we're talking about what it really takes to lead with confidence, clarity, and purpose. Sophronia McKenzie—tech founder, CEO, and unapologetically authentic leader—joins us to share how assertiveness, resilience, and authenticity have powered her rise from arriving in the U.S. with $100 to leading her own successful tech company. We talk about what it really takes to thrive as a female leader in tech—from building resilience during seasons of personal struggle, to navigating bias in boardrooms filled with male CTOs, to making sure your voice is heard without losing who you are. "I'm going to be authentically me... Why did I decide to be a CEO if I'm going to follow rules?" — Sophronia McKenzie What You'll Learn in This Episode: Assertiveness tips for female leaders in tech What building resilience as a woman in tech actually looks like Leadership strategies for women navigating high-pressure environments How to be taken seriously without compromising who you are Signs you're being dismissed—and what to do about it Why support systems matter, and how they evolve over time And more! Let's keep the conversation going, after listening, ask yourself: How are you being more assertive today? What strategies are helping you get heard and taken seriously? Are you still leading in a way that feels true to you?   Share your reflections with us using #LeadingWomeninTech, or connect for more conversations and resources that support your growth as a resilient, authentic leader.   **Useful links** Connect with today's guest and sponsor, Sophronia McKenzie: Social Platforms: @iamsophronia  @visuEats LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophroniamckenzie/  VisuaEats https://www.linkedin.com/company/visueats  Sophronia's current read: Your Next Five Moves: Master the Art of Business Strategy by Patrick Bet-David 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/episode253  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.