Do Less, Lead More – Strategic Visibility & Senior Leadership with Katy McFee

In this empowering episode of It’s In You, host Katharina Engelhardt sits down with leadership coach and former EVP Katy McFee, a powerhouse voice helping women land their first VP roles and step confidently into senior leadership.Katy shares her honest and refreshing perspective on why so many women stay stuck despite strong performance and what needs to change. Together, Katy and Katharina dive deep into visibility, strategic leadership, navigating bias, burnout, and the mindset shifts women need to rise without losing themselves in the process.This is a must-listen for every woman who knows she’s ready for more — more impact, more clarity, more confidence and wants practical tools to step into senior leadership with strength and intention.✨ TakeawaysVisibility is not self-promotion — it’s strategy. If you don’t share your impact, no one knows it exists.Senior leadership requires a shift from doing to leading. Overperformance isn’t a path to VP roles — strategic influence is.Women face real bias — and need real processes to advocate for themselves consistently.Slowing down is a power move. Mindfulness and intentionality create better leaders.You don’t need 100% readiness to go for the next role. Confidence comes after action, not before.Strategic relationships are leadership — not politics. Influence grows through connection.You deserve a seat at the table as much as anyone else. None of this is innate — leadership is learnable.🎧 Sound Bites“You can’t outperform your way into leadership.”“Create visibility into your work — you’re already doing great things.”“Impact requires being at the table.”“Slowing down to think is not laziness — it’s leadership.”“This is not about fixing women — it’s about helping them navigate the system.”⏱️ Chapters00:00 – Welcome & Introduction03:10 – Katy’s path to senior leadership & burnout07:45 – Why she now works exclusively with women11:25 – “Fix the system” vs. “Fix the women”15:02 – Why performance alone doesn’t get you promoted17:40 – Visibility, bias & the three reasons women stay unseen23:12 – The power of written wins & the weekly update27:08 – Non-promotable tasks & saying “no”30:20 – “Politics” vs. strategic leadership36:15 – Stakeholder mapping & influence41:18 – Asking for help and closing the loop46:55 – Why women overperform (and how to stop)51:10 – Mindset shifts: slowing down, intentional action54:44 – Signature Questions59:50 – Final message & closing🔗 Connect with KatyLinkedIn: Katy McFee Website: morewomenpromoted.com Free Template: morewomenpromoted.com/template📩 If this episode resonates with you, share it on LinkedIn and tag us!Connect with Katharina🌐 Website: www.katharinaengelhardt.com💼 LinkedIn: Connect with Katharina on LinkedIn📩 Subscribe to Katharinas newsletterIf you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe to IT`S IN YOU! so you never miss an update. For more leadership and career inspiration, follow Katharina on LinkedIn and visit her website for additional resources. Don’t forget to share the podcast with the women in your life who are ready to step into their leadership roles with confidence.Contact: [email protected]