PODCAST · business
Lead to Soar
by Michelle Redfern & Mel Butcher
A leadership podcast for ambitious women who want strategic skills, sharp insights, and a clear path to reaching their full potential. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
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Should I Be the Fixer? How to Assess “Opportunities” That Might Be Glass Cliffs
Being asked to “fix” an underperforming team or leader can be a genuine opportunity – or a glass cliff. Michelle Redfern and Mel Butcher break down how to assess high-stakes roles, identify red flags, and determine whether you’re being set up to succeed or to take the fall. Essential guidance for...
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Why LinkedIn Is No Longer Enough: Our Revised Career Advice for Ambitious Women
Mel and Michelle get honest about why LinkedIn is no longer enough. We rethink visibility, real networking, and the “I do not” list that protects women’s energy and careers. Fierce, practical guidance for ambitious women. Lead to Soar is a podcast for ambitious women and the leaders who support...
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Professional Jealousy: What Is It & How Does it Show Up?
In this episode, Michelle Redfern and Mel Butcher tackle a workplace issue most people experience but rarely discuss openly: professional jealousy. They walk through how jealousy shows up, how it can be weaponised through policy or gossip, and why it can have serious consequences for someone’s...
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The Dissenting Voice: Why Women’s Courage Will Define Leadership in the Age of AI
Technology is racing ahead — but courage and conscience must lead the way. In this episode, Michelle Redfern and Mel Butcher explore how women leaders can be the dissenting voices that keep ethics, empathy, and humanity at the centre of progress. Lead to Soar is a podcast for ambitious women and...
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How to Play the Long Game: A Career Strategy for Ambitious Women
Your future self is counting on you. In this episode, Michelle Redfern and Mel Butcher explore how ambitious women can play the long game — building strategy, visibility, and momentum that leads to real career success. Lead to Soar is a podcast for ambitious women and the leaders who support…
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Why Credibility PLUS Visibility Is Essential for Career Success
Competence alone doesn’t create credibility. Michelle and Mel reveal why visibility and credibility must work together if you want to be chosen for high-value work. They share how to talk about your achievements without the cringe, use language that lands with decision-makers, and demonstrate...
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From Hope to Strategy: How to Reach Your Full Potential
Hope is not a strategy. Michelle and Mel show you how to define your full potential, state your ambition with a business lens, and build a roadmap that aligns your moves to revenue, margin, and growth outcomes. Practical prompts and language you can use this week. Lead to Soar is a podcast for...
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Too Nice to Lead? How to Manage Up to an Ineffective Boss
In this episode of Lead to Soar, Michelle Redfern and Mel Butcher tackle a quiet but costly leadership issue: the boss who’s “too nice to lead.” They’re kind, approachable, and well-intentioned—but decisions stall, standards slip, and teams burn out. You’ll learn how to recognise this pattern,...
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Why Being Busy and Obedient Is a Poor Strategy for Ambitious Women
Why being busy and obedient is a poor strategy for ambitious women. Michelle and Mel share why obedience isn’t leadership, how to ditch non-promotable tasks, and why radical accountability drives career growth. Lead to Soar is a podcast for ambitious women and the leaders who support them. Hosted...
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Real Talk for Women at Work: Why Loyalty Is for Labradors and Leadership Matters
Michelle and Mel are back with fresh energy for a new season of Lead to Soar. They tackle why DEI work is going underground, why “loyalty is for Labradors” hit home, and how to lead when brilliant jerks and gendered feedback still thrive. Lead to Soar is a podcast for ambitious women and the...
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Inside Lead to Soar: Real coaching, real community, zero noise
In this episode of the Lead to Soar podcast, co-founder Michelle Redfern takes listeners inside the Lead to Soar Network. She explains what actually happens inside: weekly Hour of Power group coaching, monthly themes and challenges, and a highly curated leadership library she calls the…
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You’re a Great Leader. So Why Is Your Manager Pushing You Out?
This episode addresses a recurring issue in the Lead to Soar Network: what do you do when your boss—or their boss—is disinterested, disengaged, or outright hostile? Michelle and Mel respond to a recent message from a long-time Network member who was given two options by her boss: accept a…
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Network Like a CEO: How to Build Strategic Relationships for Career Success
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...
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Speaking Up and Standing Out – Navigating the Challenges for Women Leaders
In this Lead to Soar webinar episode, Michelle Redfern delivers a focused and strategic workshop on the art and necessity of speaking up and standing out as a woman in the workplace. Drawing on research, lived experience, and her work with women leaders globally, Michelle uncovers the systemic...
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How to Take Charge of Your Annual Performance Discussion
Michelle addresses strategies for women to effectively manage performance reviews, career progression conversations, salary negotiations, and navigating gender biases in the workplace. Key Points: 1. Mindset Shift: - Performance reviews are business meetings, not tests. - Move from anxiety to...
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Smart Trust and Setting Boundaries: What to Do When You’re Being Thrown Under the Bus
In this episode of Lead to Soar, co-hosts Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern discuss a real-world leadership challenge brought forward by a Lead to Soar Network member. “Jane,” a high-performing consultant in a matrix organization, found herself unexpectedly blamed when a project she was only…
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The Importance of BQ for Women's Leadership Success
In this episode of the Lead to Soar podcast, Michelle Redfern explores why Business Intelligence (BQ) is the missing link for women’s leadership success. She explores how developing and demonstrating BQ—alongside Emotional Intelligence (EQ) and Social Intelligence (SQ)—can help women advance in...
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The Strategic Skills Every Woman Leader Needs to Soar in Her Career
Welcome to Lead to Soar Presents: The Strategic Skills Series—a new podcast series where real leadership meets real career growth. In this launch episode, Michelle Redfern drops three truth bombs every ambitious woman must hear about the state of women’s leadership, the flawed advice we’ve been...
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Celebrating Women's Leadership: Helga Svendsen: So you want to be on a board?
Helga Svendsen is a self-confessed 'governance nerd' who is a facilitator, coach and mentor specializing in strategy and planning, governance and stakeholder engagement. She hosts the Take on Board podcast, a weekly pod where she talks all things governance, as well as the Take on Board…
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Celebrating Women's Leadership: Jo Thomas on how she climbed the career ladder to hold multiple C-Suite positions
In this episode of L2S!, leadership and gender equality expert Michelle Redfern sits down for an interview with Jo Thomas, the CEO of the Australian Institute of Business. Jo shares her career story, how she ended up living in Australia, and how she climbed the career ladder to hold multiple...
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Celebrating Women's Leadership: Alicia Scott shares her experiences advancing in an extremely male-dominated space
Lead to Soar! is a production of A Career that Soars! In this episode of L2S!, leadership and gender equality expert Michelle Redfern sits down for an interview with Semiconductor engineer and DEI expert Alicia Scott. Alicia joins us to share her experiences advancing in a highly male-dominated...
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Celebrating Women's Leadership: Sheila Flavell brings curiosity and tech together
In this episode of L2S!, leadership and gender equality expert Michelle Redfern sits down for an interview with the one and only Sheila Flavell. Sheila is an extraordinary leader (by our full ACtS! definition!) in the truest sense. She has created exceptional outcomes for business and women in…
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Celebrating Women's Leadership: CEO of Zillion, Cheryl Morrison Deutsch shares her career story and philosophies on leadership
Cheryl Morrison Deutsch, CEO of Zillion, joins us on episode 28 of the Lead to Soar podcast to share her career story and philosophies on leadership. Guest Bio: Cheryl Morrison Deutsch, CEO of Zillion, brings almost three decades of experience in translating business and technology requirements...
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Celebrating Women's Leadership: Laura Ryan on Strategic Networking and Meat Business Women
Guest Bio: Laura Ryan BA (Hons), MSc, DipM MCIM Laura has a First-Class Honours in Marketing and a Masters in Management and has also achieved Chartered Marketer status via the Chartered Institute of Marketing. Laura joined the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) in 2007 after...
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Celebrating Women's Leadership: Julie Escobar on Strategic & Financial Empowerment
Guest bio: Julie Escobar is a sharpened international market-driven leader and international businesswoman. She has driven the achievement of tremendous sales goals - from $20M to $50M in 3 years. Escobar is co-founder of Global Women Fresh, an organization whose mission is to leverage the talent...
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Celebrating Women's Leadership: Heather Polinsky on her path from Public Servant to C-Suite
Heather Polinsky is an environmental consulting professional with over 20 years of experience. She started as a civilian project manager for the US Army Environmental Command. She found herself in consulting not too long ago and has had a wonderful career trajectory that's taken her from Project...
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Money, Leadership, and Potential: Why Women Must Close Their Gender Gap with Lizzy Goldfinch
Michelle Redfern sits down with Lizzy Goldfinch to explore the crucial intersection of money, leadership, and women’s potential. Lizzy shares her professional expertise and personal experiences to illuminate how financial literacy and independence are foundational for closing the leadership…
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The End-of-Year Job Hunting Heebie-Jeebies: How to Stay Focused and Seize Opportunities
In this follow-up episode, Michelle and Renata Bernade, host of The Job Hunting Podcast, tackle the other side of the equation—job hunting. For job seekers, the holiday season can be a nerve-wracking time, but Renata offers insights and strategies to stay proactive, avoid burnout, and prepare for...
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Is hiring people a joy or a burden? Talent Management Tips from Renata Bernade
In this episode of Lead to Soar, Michelle welcomes back friend of the pod, Renata Bernarde to discuss hiring from the manager’s perspective. Does the thought of hiring fill you with joy or dread? They explore this question because managers tell us that hiring often feels like a burden. Topics...
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How to Support All Women at Work: Advice for Inclusive Leadership
Michelle Redfern is joined by Lisa Saunders and Natalie Moore from Own Your Health Collective to explore how workplaces can better support women through perimenopause and menopause, pivotal life stages impacting women at the peak of their careers. Together, they address the often-taboo subject of...
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From Good to Great: How to Transform the Way You Coach Women Leaders
In this episode, Michelle Redfern is joined by Susan Colantuono, founder of Be Business Savvy and co-founder of the Lead to Soar Network, to discuss the transformative coaching approaches needed to support women’s advancement into senior leadership. This conversation focuses on how managers,...
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Can We Reimagine HR for a Second Please? With Trina Sunday
In this episode of Lead to Soar, host Michelle Redfern is joined by Trina Sunday, founder of Reimagine HR, for a candid conversation about the need for a major overhaul in HR. Michelle and Trina unpack the shortcomings in traditional HR practices, including the “policy police” reputation, and...
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Why You Must Master the Art of Conversation for Leadership Growth
In this episode of the Lead to Soar podcast, Michelle Redfern explores the concept of learning conversations and their role in career and leadership development. Michelle shares how mastering the art of these informal but intentional discussions can significantly enhance your leadership journey....
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Real Success Stories: How Hour of Power Transforms Careers
In this episode, Michelle Redfern discusses the Hour of Power, a weekly group coaching call within the Lead to Soar network. This session provides a safe and consistent space for women to share their career challenges and insights, offering practical advice, support, and a strategic network that...
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Reach Your Full Potential: How to Navigate a Hostile Workplace
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...
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Opportunity Knocks: How to Take Smart Risks for Career Growth
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…
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Queen Bee Syndrome: Why We Must Shatter Myths and Double Standards
Mel and Michelle have an unfiltered chat about a challenging and often uncomfortable topic—bad behaviour among senior women in leadership, particularly the so-called "Queen Bee" syndrome. Drawing on listener questions and their personal experiences, they tackle the issue of women who pull up the...
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Career Compass: How to Be a Growth Leader at Every Career Stage
Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern are discussing growth leadership on todays episode. They explore the idea that every employee, regardless of their department or career stage, plays a critical role in driving the growth of their organization. Growth is not limited to revenue and sales—it extends…
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Navigating Career Crossroads: Be the Main Character and Author of Your Career Story with Noa Rein
In this episode of the Lead to Soar podcast, host Michelle Redfern welcomes back Noa Rein, an organizational psychologist and HR advisor, to discuss navigating career crossroads. Together, they explore the concept of being the main character in your career story and the challenges of...
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How to Close the Workplace Gender Gap
In this episode of the Lead to Soar podcast, Michelle Redfern and Mel Butcher discuss the persistent workplace gender gap, its causes, and actionable steps to close it. The conversation covers the current state of gender disparity in leadership roles, the impact on women's economic potential, and...
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Career Compass: Imposter Syndrome and Navigating Systemic Bias
In this episode, Mel and Michelle tackle the pervasive issue of imposter syndrome, particularly how it affects women in the workplace. They challenge the traditional views of imposter syndrome, suggesting it is often a result of systemic biases rather than individual shortcomings. The discussion...
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Career Compass: Mastering Actionable Feedback and Overcoming Gender Bias
In this episode, Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern discuss the opportunity for leaders to learn how to provide better feedback, with a keen focus on the gender differences in feedback reception. They discuss the importance of specific, clear, and timely feedback to foster growth and avoid the...
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Career Compass: How to Level Up Your LinkedIn Game
Episode Summary: In this episode of Lead to Soar, Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern discuss the power of LinkedIn as a strategic tool for professional women. They explore the common hesitations women face in using LinkedIn and provide actionable advice on how to effectively utilize the platform to...
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Career Compass: The Importance of Creating Career Paths for People to Navigate
In this episode, Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern continue their Career Compass series by discussing the importance of creating clear career paths within organisations. They explore how managers can understand their team members' career aspirations and the strategic benefits of having robust...
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Career Compass: How You Can Help the Next Generation of Women CEOs Navigate their Careers
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…
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Is Your Manager Frozen Seeing the Old You? 3 Ways to Unfreeze Their View
In this episode, Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern discuss into a phenomenon hindering women's career progression. They discuss the scenario where managers, mentors, or sponsors fail to recognize the current abilities and potential of women, instead seeing them as they were in the past. This…
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Transforming Accidental Managers into Effective Leaders: Key Insights and Actionable Strategies
In this episode of the Lead to Soar podcast, Michelle and Mel discuss "accidental managers"—individuals promoted into management roles without formal training. They explore the distinction between managers and leaders, examine the prevalence and impact of untrained managers, and offer actionable...
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"I'm Not Fixing Women and Nor Should You" -A Reading from The Leadership Compass by Michelle Redfern
In this mini-episode of Lead to Soar, Michelle Redfern, author of "The Leadership Compass," reads an excerpt from her book. Michelle emphasizes that women do not need fixing; instead, the focus should be on transforming the patriarchal systems that hinder their progress. Inspired by Catherine…
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"Who Are You Called to Become?" A Reading from The Leadership Compass by Michelle Redfern
In this mini episode of Lead to Soar, Michelle Redfern, author of "The Leadership Compass," shares a reading from the book's first chapter. Michelle reflects on a transformative leadership retreat and the journey to discovering her true calling as a leader. Episode Highlights - Transformational...
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Evolving Workplace Dynamics and Culture
Show Highlights How are workplace dynamics evolving? What must leaders know and do to create workplaces of the future? - We need all hands on deck to contribute to innovation. There's room for everyone to contribute. Join us. AND it's ok to move the naysayers to another room; don't let them suck...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
A leadership podcast for ambitious women who want strategic skills, sharp insights, and a clear path to reaching their full potential.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
HOSTED BY
Michelle Redfern & Mel Butcher
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Lead to Soar have?
Lead to Soar currently has 204 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Lead to Soar about?
A leadership podcast for ambitious women who want strategic skills, sharp insights, and a clear path to reaching their full potential. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How often does Lead to Soar release new episodes?
Lead to Soar publishes regularly with 204 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Lead to Soar?
You can listen to Lead to Soar on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Lead to Soar?
Lead to Soar is created and hosted by Michelle Redfern & Mel Butcher.
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