Network Like a CEO

In this Lead to Soar Network session, Michelle Redfern breaks down why strategic networking isn’t just a nice-to-have for ambitious women—it’s non-negotiable if you want influence, visibility, and advancement. Michelle shares practical tips, real talk about the barriers women face, and why “drinking from the fire hydrant” (aka, her sessions) is exactly what’s needed to shift from endless busywork to genuine leadership presence. What You’ll Learn in This Episode • Why traditional networking advice fails women • The difference between busywork and strategic visibility • How to audit your own network using Michelle’s Leadership Compass tool • Simple steps to map, upgrade, and activate your leadership network • How to move from “nice, dependable” to “visible, credible, promotable” • Michelle’s story: building a life and network by design (with a shout-out to Bali & Kerry Ashbrook) Resources Mentioned • The Leadership Compass: Michelle’s essential guide for women who want more than ‘networking for networking’s sake’ www.michelleredfern.com/books • Exclusive resource for Lead to Soar members: Strategic Network Mapping Tool (from Michelle’s book) Leave a comment If this episode was useful, there are three simple ways to go further: Subscribe on Substack This is now the home of the Lead to Soar podcast. Subscribers get new episodes, curated guidance from the back catalogue, and written insights to help you navigate leadership and career decisions with sound judgement. Subscribe now Explore the Lead to Soar Network Lead to Soar is a leadership development network for ambitious women and for organisations serious about closing the leadership gender gap. Members get access to group coaching, practical leadership tools, and a network of women who are actively working on their careers. Explore Share the episode If this resonated, share it with a colleague, manager, or friend who might need it. Leadership is shaped by what we notice, name, and talk about. Share Get full access to Lead to Soar Podcast at leadtosoarpodcast.substack.com/subscribe