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If your organization is running AI pilots that aren't moving the needle, waiting for the right moment to commit, or treating AI as a technology problem for IT to solve — this episode is the reset you need. Charlene Li, NYT bestselling author and one of the world's leading voices on disruptive leadership, joins Toni for her second appearance on Leading Women in Tech. When she was last on the show in Episode 225 (Run To Disruption), the AI conversation was just beginning to accelerate. Now, with her new book Winning with AI: The 90-Day Blueprint for Success freshly published, Charlene brings a framework that is both more urgent and more practical than anything most organisations are currently working with. This is a conversation about AI leadership strategy — not as a technology decision, but as a leadership and strategic imperative. And it has particular resonance for women in tech, who face a specific version of this challenge: the deeply conditioned pressure to be certain before acting, and what that costs us when the window for leadership is open right now. What we cover in this episode: ⏹ Why you don't need an AI strategy — you need an AI roadmap that serves your existing business strategy ⏹ The 95% pilot failure rate, and what to do instead of running pilots ⏹ The 18-month rolling AI roadmap: how to write strategy in ink and your roadmap in pencil ⏹ Speed as the new competitive moat — and what that means for leaders who wait for certainty before acting ⏹ The specific challenge women face: perfectionism, scrutiny, and the risk of sitting out the AI transition ⏹ What AI fluency actually looks like — and why becoming fluent publicly is a leadership act, not a vulnerability ⏹ The "how did you use AI to prepare for this meeting?" technique — and why it changes team culture fast ⏹ The superhuman thesis: what happens when uniquely human skills (empathy, judgment, wisdom, intuition) meet AI capability ⏹ Why the good people have to show up — and why women's voices are non-negotiable in shaping how AI is used   Connect with Charlene — today's guest and sponsor: ⏹ Website: charleneli.com ⏹ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/charleneli ⏹ Book: winningwithaibook.com   Mentioned in this episode: ⏹ Episode 225 — Run To Disruption with Charlene Li: tonicollis.com/leading-women-tech/225-run-to-disruption-charlene-li    Connect with Toni: ⏹ tonicollis.com ⏹ tonicollis.com/lets-chat This episode was sponsored by our guest, Charlene Li. Thank you Charlene for helping to bring Leading Women in Tech to this community!  

Office politics. Just reading those words probably made you want to click away — and that reaction is exactly why this episode exists.   If you're a high-achieving woman in tech who has built your career on results, integrity, and doing excellent work, the idea of navigating office politics probably feels like a compromise. Like you'd be becoming someone you don't recognise.   But here's what nobody says out loud: not engaging with office politics is itself a political choice. And for most high-performing women in tech leadership, it's one that is quietly costing them promotions, visibility, and influence — regardless of how good their work is.   In this episode, Executive Coach Dr Toni Collis breaks down the critical distinction between the toxic version of office politics (which you should absolutely avoid) and the strategic, integrity-consistent leadership work of building influence, visibility, and advocates — which most high-achieving women have been avoiding along with it.   This is not about becoming a different person. It's about leading fully in the organisation you're actually in.   What you'll learn in this episode: ⏹ Why we as high-achieving women often resist office politics — and the specific career cost of that resistance ⏹ The two completely different things most women are calling "office politics" — and why separating them changes everything ⏹ Five practical moves for building influence and strategic visibility without compromising your values ⏹ How to build advocates (not just allies) who speak up for you in the rooms you're not in ⏹ The integrity check that tells you whether you're building genuine influence or drifting into game-playing   Links and resources mentioned: ⏹ Take the Office Politics Quiz for Women in Tech: tonicollis.com/resources/office-politics-quiz  ⏹ Book a strategy call: tonicollis.com/lets-chat/  ⏹ Learn more about building your advocates: Episode 292 — From Tactical to Strategic: The Unspoken Rules for Women in Tech Stepping Into Executive Leadership ⏹ Learn more about communication: Episode 243 — Struggling to Be Heard? Master Leadership Communication Strategies and Coach Upwards If this episode resonated, please leave a review and share it with a woman in tech who needs to hear this conversation.   Chapters: 00:00 — The coaching conversation that changed everything  01:15 — What this episode is and isn't about  03:08 — Why high-achieving women avoid office politics — and what it's costing them  09:44 — What navigating office politics with integrity actually looks like: three core reframes  18:49 — Five moves that build influence and strategic visibility without selling out  19:12 — Move 1: Map the landscape before you need it  21:25 — Move 2: Invest in relationships before you need them  24:33 — Move 3: Make your impact visible — strategically, not constantly  27:31 — Move 4: Learn to read the room and the organisation  30:15 — Move 5: Build advocates, not just allies  34:22 — The integrity check: how to know you're building influence, not playing games  37:39 — The Office Politics Playbook for Women in Tech Related episodes: ⏹ Episode 112 — If You Don't Openly Celebrate Your Achievements, Who Will? ⏹ Episode 228 — Mastering Your Value: Strategies to Stop Underselling Yourself ⏹ Episode 243 — Struggling to Be Heard? Master Leadership Communication Strategies and Coach Upwards ⏹ Episode 256 — No More Crickets: The Networking Strategy That Lands Jobs in 2025 ⏹ Episode 276 — Busy Does Not Equal Valuable: How to Prioritise Work That Gets You Promoted

What does it actually take to become a transformational leader in the age of AI? Catherine Wong, Chief Product Officer at Entrata, joins Toni to share the career philosophy, leadership mindset, and honest hard-won lessons that took her from software engineer to CPO — via architecture, M&A, product, and operations. Catherine built her career on range, not a straight line. She calls it the jungle gym — and she believes it's more relevant now than ever. In this episode she gets real about diversity as a product quality issue (not just a values issue), why AI adoption is the biggest change management challenge of our careers, and what authentic leadership actually means when the pressure is on. If you're navigating a non-linear career, trying to lead your team through AI change, or wondering whether you need a perfect plan to reach the C-suite — this one is for you. What we cover: ◾ Why range matters more than specialisation at the executive level ◾How empathy becomes your most powerful leadership tool across functions ◾Why diversity is a product quality issue — and what's at stake as that conversation disappears ◾AI adoption as a change management challenge at unprecedented speed ◾The "hit song" principle: why consistent messaging is the job ◾How to stop minimising yourself — and what to do if you don't have the right mentors ◾Authentic leadership: what it really means to bring the right energy to your team About Catherine Wong Catherine Wong is Chief Product Officer at Entrata, where she leads product and operations. She has held VP of Engineering and product leadership roles across multiple organisations and has spent her career building range across software engineering, architecture, M&A, and product management. She is a passionate advocate for diversity in tech and for leading teams through AI transformation with humanity and clarity. Connect with Catherine Wong  ◾LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/catherinewong  ◾X: @catherinewong  ◾Entrata: entrata.com This episode was sponsored by our guest, Catherine Wong. Thank you Catherine for helping to bring Leading Women in Tech to this community!  

When someone asks you how you're doing, what do you say?   If you answered "I'm fine" before you'd even finished reading that question — this episode is for you.   Burnout in high-performing women in tech leadership rarely looks like collapse. It looks like going through the motions. Like numbness. Like resentment that arrives out of nowhere and exhaustion that's become so normal you've stopped registering it as a warning sign.   In this episode, Toni breaks down why burnout hits women in tech leadership differently, the three patterns she sees most in her coaching work, and what burnout-proof leadership actually means — strategically, not just in a "take more baths" sense.   This isn't about slowing down. It's about building leadership that doesn't require you to run on empty to function.   What you'll hear in this episode: ◾ Why high-performing women are often the last to identify as burned out — and the specific compounding factors that make burnout in tech leadership different ◾ The three burnout patterns Toni sees most in coaching: the silent spiral, the conflict-avoidant overgiver, and the high-performer in denial ◾ What burnout-proof leadership actually requires — structural protection, a perceptual shift, and leadership identity recalibration ◾ The mistake that keeps women stuck in burnout cycles even when they're actively trying to recover ◾ Four practical first steps you can take this week, even if you're already running on empty   For a limited time, the Burnout to Balance Toolkit is completely free — self-paced audio training, workbook, and an optional four-week reset plan, designed for women in tech leadership who need something concrete right now. Available free for two weeks from release, or until the first 200 downloads. Get it at tonicollis.com/burnout-to-balance.   Links mentioned in this episode: ◾ Burnout to Balance Toolkit (free for limited time): tonicollis.com/burnout-to-balance/  ◾ Episode 216 — Understanding and Overcoming Burnout with Lindsay, Jen, and Allison: https://tonicollis.com/leading-women-tech/216-understanding-and-overcoming-burnout-insights-from-leading-women-in-tech-with-lindsay-jen-and-allison/    

 You don't need a perfect career plan to succeed in tech. In this episode of Leading Women in Tech, I sit down with Sarah Walker, Chief Executive of Cisco UK & Ireland, to talk about women in tech leadership, non-traditional career paths, AI in the workplace, and why backing yourself matters more than ticking every box. Sarah didn't follow a traditional route into tech. She didn't leave school with perfect results. She didn't move to London (despite being told she should). And she certainly didn't have a 20-year career plan mapped out. Yet today, she leads one of the most influential tech organisations in the UK and Ireland. In this conversation, we explore: ◾ Women in tech leadership and representation ◾ Career advancement for women in tech without a rigid plan ◾ How to become a leader in tech without ticking every box ◾ Leadership mindset and backing yourself before you feel ready ◾ AI in the workplace and how it unlocks human potential ◾ Why social mobility and regional leadership matter ◾ Sustainable leadership and authenticity at the top If you've ever questioned whether you "fit" the mould of a tech executive — this episode will change how you see your path. 🔗 Connect with Sarah Walker on LinkedIn 🔗 Learn more about Cisco UK & Ireland 👉 Ready to design your path to executive leadership? Book a Strategy Call: https://tonicollis.com/lets-chat This episode was sponsored by our guest, Sarah Walker at CISCO. Thank you Sarah for helping to bring Leading Women in Tech to this community!

Executive Leadership for Women: From Tactical to Strategic You've mastered being a leader. But executive leadership for women is not just the next step up. It's a completely different game. In this episode of Leading Women in Tech, we unpack why tactical excellence alone won't get you promoted — and what actually signals executive readiness. If you've ever been told: "You're doing great." "Keep going." "You're almost there." "We just need to see a bit more." This episode is for you. We explore: Why women not getting promoted in tech is often a positioning issue The difference between management and executive leadership How gender bias in tech leadership shapes perception Navigating bro culture in tech without losing yourself Executive presence for women — and why it's about credibility, not charisma Why sponsorship matters more than merit A practical 90-day roadmap to reposition yourself strategically Executive leadership for women is not about becoming louder. It's about raising your altitude.   **Useful links** Listen to Episode 286: Executive presence is about how you are experienced in the room.   Ready to Make the Shift? If you're ready to transition from management to leadership at executive level — but need clarity on your perception gap — Book a Strategy Call: 👉 https://tonicollis.com/lets-chat Because executive leadership for women is not reserved for a personality type. It is built. And you are closer than you think.  

In this conversation, Adelina Peltea, CMO at USERCENTRICS shares her unique journey to C-level Leadership for women in tech, emphasizing the importance of understanding one's strengths and the realities of leadership roles. She discusses the significance of communication, empowerment, and the impact of presence in leadership. Adelina also introduces her meditation method, Inner Sanctuary, and explores the responsible use of AI in decision-making. The discussion concludes with advice for personal growth and reflection on one's career path.   Takeaways ◾ Adelina's journey to CMO was unconventional and early. ◾  Understanding your strengths is crucial for career success. ◾ C-level roles require a significant presence and responsibility. ◾ Communication is key in empowering teams and making decisions. ◾ Meditation can be a powerful tool for leaders. ◾ AI should be used responsibly and with critical thinking. ◾ Follow your passion to maintain energy in your career. ◾ Reflecting on your journey is essential for growth. ◾ Empower others while maintaining responsibility for outcomes. ◾ Enjoy the journey and be open to adjustments in your path.   **Useful links** ◾ Connect with today's guest and sponsor, Adelina Peltea:       ▢ UserCentrics: https://usercentrics.com/       ▢ Connect with Adelina on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adelinapeltea/        ▢ Find out more about Adelina's work in wellness for leaders and get her book:                        https://www.verdawellnessclub.com/   This episode was sponsored by our guest, Adelina Peltea. Thank you Adelina for helping to bring Leading Women in Tech to this community!  

The women in tech promotion gap is real—but it's not random. High-performing women in tech are still being overlooked for leadership roles, even as they deliver exceptional results. In this episode of Leading Women in Tech, we dive into the gender bias in tech leadership, the shift in workplace culture, and the strategic moves you need to close the gap—without losing yourself. Why are women in tech not getting promoted at the same rate as their male peers? The answer isn't about competence; it's about perception, positioning, and politics. We'll explore: The promotion gap in the tech industry and why it persists, especially at Director-to-VP transitions. How executive presence for women and leadership visibility can shift how you're perceived. The difference between mentorship and sponsorship—and why the latter is critical for advancement. Navigating bro culture in tech without compromising your authenticity. Sustainable executive leadership: How to build influence capital without burning out. This episode is for you if:  ✔ You're a Passed-Over High-Performer delivering results but not seeing advancement.  ✔ You're a Strategically Focused On Rising, and getting ready to step into executive leadership—but need a roadmap.  ✔ You refuse to trade ambition for comfort or shrink in the face of pushback. Key Takeaways: Promotion is a strategic game. Hard work alone won't close the gap—you need positioning, visibility, and sponsorship. Executive presence isn't about personality—it's about framing your work in business impact language. Sponsorship > Mentorship. Advocates in high places are your ticket to the next level. Cultural shifts don't have to derail your ambition. Learn to navigate gender bias in tech leadership with composure and strategy. Resources Mentioned: Promotion Readiness Scorecard – Assess how you're perceived by leadership. Lit Up Leadership Academy – Join the next cohort to build your influence capital. Ready to close the women in tech promotion gap strategically? Book a Strategy Call and let's design your roadmap to leadership.  

How fractional leaders get hired isn't random — but it does follow a very different logic than most people expect. If you've been having good conversations, receiving positive signals, and still not seeing those conversations turn into paid work, this episode will help you understand what's really happening on the hiring side. In this episode, we step out of the leader's perspective and into the mindset of the organisation making the decision — because fractional leadership hiring doesn't follow a traditional job search or sales process. Instead, hiring happens when recognition, trust, and timing align. In this episode, we explore: Why fractional leadership opportunities don't follow a linear funnel The difference between visibility and recognisability The three conditions that consistently lead to fractional leadership hiring Why timing matters more than effort How trust is built before a hiring decision is ever made Why so many capable leaders get stuck in "almost" conversations   This episode is for senior women in tech who: Are fractional-ready but not yet chosen Are getting interest, but not conversion Want to stop guessing — without resorting to hustle or salesy tactics Listen if you want to: Understand how fractional hiring decisions are actually triggered Feel calmer and more in control of the process Make your leadership easier to recognise and hire Next steps: Book a Strategy Session (Positioning + Hiring Clarity) 👉 https://tonicollis.com/lets-chat Continue listening to the Fractional Series: Episode 284 — Am I Ready to Be a Fractional Leader? Episode 288 — How to Position Yourself as a Fractional Leader Chat to me to learn more about the Fractional Accelerator:  👉 https://tonicollis.com/lets-chat  

Fractional leadership positioning is one of the most misunderstood — and most important — parts of building a successful fractional career. In this episode Toni breaks down why so many senior women struggle to gain traction in fractional roles, how positioning differs from full-time leadership, and what it really means to be hired for judgement rather than execution. Here's what you'll learn in this episode ⏹  Why experience alone doesn't translate into fractional opportunities ⏹  The difference between employee positioning and fractional leadership positioning ⏹  Why fractional leaders are hired for judgement, not capacity ⏹  The most common positioning mistakes that keep leaders invisible ⏹  How to pressure-test your own positioning without "selling yourself" ⏹  What comes next if you want to move from interest to paid fractional work What's coming next In next week's episode, we'll go one step further and explore how fractional leaders actually get hired — what genuinely leads to opportunities, and what doesn't. Want support with your positioning? If this episode highlighted gaps or uncertainty around how you're currently positioned, you can book a free strategy session or  fractional leadership positioning audit — here: 👉 https://tonicollis.com/lets-chat

If women don't experiment with AI now, we risk hard-coding today's leadership gaps into tomorrow's technology. In this episode I'm joined by Kendra MacDonald, CEO of Canada's Ocean Supercluster, to explore the intersection of women in leadership, AI readiness, representation, and emerging technology. This conversation goes beyond theory. It tackles the real risks and opportunities facing women leaders as AI, climate tech, and other emerging technologies reshape how leadership works — and who gets to shape the future. In this episode, we discuss: ◾ Why representation in leadership matters more than ever in emerging tech ◾ How AI adoption in the workplace can either reduce or reinforce gender bias ◾ Why women's hesitation to experiment with AI is a leadership issue — not a technical one ◾ What it takes to lead confidently in male-dominated industries like tech and ocean  innovation ◾ How leadership pipelines for women are shaped early — at work, at home, and through education ◾ The role of experimentation, confidence, and visibility in closing the leadership gap Kendra shares her own journey — from stepping away from STEM early in life to leading large-scale innovation and commercialisation — and offers practical insight into how women leaders can engage with AI and emerging tech without needing to be technical experts. If you care about: ✔ women in tech leadership ✔ AI readiness for leaders ✔ gender diversity in leadership ✔ bias in AI algorithms ✔ emerging and sustainable technology this episode is for you. If you're ready for your next  level explore how to strengthen your leadership clarity, visibility, and career trajectory by booking a discovery call via the link in the description.   **Useful links** Connect with today's guest and sponsor, Kendra MacDonald: ◾  W: kendramacdonald.com ◾ Substack: https://substack.com/@saltwatersignals  This episode was sponsored by our guest, Kendra MacDonald. Thank you Kendra for helping to bring Leading Women in Tech to this community!  

If performance were enough, more women in tech would already be promoted. They're not. In this episode of Leading Women in Tech, Toni Collis breaks down executive presence for women in tech — what it actually means, why being good at your job isn't enough at senior levels, and how leaders are really evaluated when promotion, influence, and trust are on the line. This episode is for high-performing women who've been told they need "more executive presence" — without ever being given clarity on what to change. You'll learn why executive presence is not about confidence theatre or personality, why women are often misread at senior levels, and how to build leadership presence without changing who you are. In this episode, you'll learn: ◾ Why performance alone doesn't create executive presence ◾ What executive presence for women in tech really looks like at senior levels ◾ How leaders are evaluated on judgement, framing, and decision-making ◾ Why executive presence is harder for women (and how bias actually shows up) ◾ The difference between confidence and leadership presence ◾ Practical ways to build executive presence without becoming someone else 🔗 Resources & Links ◾ Book a free strategy call: https://tonicollis.com/lets-chat ◾ Learn more about Toni Collis: https://tonicollis.com  

If you've ever worried that an unconventional career path in tech leadership might hold you back — that your background isn't "technical enough," linear enough, or traditional enough — this episode will fundamentally challenge that belief. In this conversation, Toni Collis is joined by Lisa Ferrante-Walsh, SVP of Engineering at Native Instruments, whose career journey spans music, computer science, engineering leadership, mergers and acquisitions, and even stepping into an acting CTO role. Lisa's story is a powerful example of how a nonlinear career path in tech can become a strategic advantage rather than a liability. Toni & Lisa discuss what it really takes to move from individual contributor to people leader, how to lead engineering teams through M&A without losing trust or momentum, and why executive confidence, decision-making, and visibility matter even more when your background doesn't fit the "expected" mould. This episode is essential listening if you're a woman in tech navigating a career transition into senior leadership, leading through organizational change, or questioning whether you truly belong at the executive table.   Connect with today's guest and sponsor, Lisa Ferrante-Walsh on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisaferrantewalsh/ This episode was sponsored by our guest, Lisa Ferrante-Walsh. Thank you Lisa for helping to bring Leading Women in Tech to this community!  

If the idea of going fractional feels exciting and terrifying at the same time — you're not alone. In this episode of Leading Women in Tech, we explore what fractional leadership really looks like for senior women who want more autonomy, impact, and alignment — without blowing up their careers. This episode is for you if: ◾You're curious about fractional work but worried about legality, stability, or time ◾You've been asked to "advise" startups or former colleagues — informally and often unpaid ◾You want meaningful, senior-level work without the full-time corporate trap ◾You're wondering if a portfolio or fractional career could be a smart next step Rather than hype or hustle culture, this conversation focuses on clarity. You'll learn: ◾What fractional leadership actually is (and what it isn't) ◾The three most common starting points women have when exploring fractional work ◾How to explore fractional leadership safely alongside a full-time role ◾The real fears women have — about contracts, confidence, pricing, and visibility — and how to address them ◾Why most fractional experiments fail (and how to avoid those mistakes) ◾How to test fractional work intentionally, without quitting or burning bridges This episode is not about deciding everything today. It's about understanding what's possible — so you can make your next move with confidence. 🎯 Next step: If this episode resonates and you'd like to talk through your own fractional career options, you can book a complimentary strategy session with me to design your own fractional career right here: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule/64a6bd61/appointment/86825111/calendar/3066450?appointmentTypeIds[]=86825111

What does it really take to lead in a male-dominated industry — and build an AI-driven company grounded in trust, ethics, and human impact? In this episode of Leading Women in Tech, I'm joined by Shelley Copsey, CEO & Co-Founder of FYLD — a fast-growing, AI-powered platform transforming how frontline teams in infrastructure and utilities make decisions, stay safe, and improve productivity in real time. Shelley brings over 20 years of experience at the intersection of physical infrastructure, digital innovation, AI strategy, and human transformation, and she shares powerful insights on navigating self-doubt, being underestimated, scaling ethically with AI, and leading teams through rapid change. If you're a woman in tech, an aspiring executive, or a leader navigating AI transformation, this conversation will elevate how you think about leadership, trust, and impact.   In This Episode, You'll Learn: ⏹  How Shelley went from underestimated early-career consultant to award-winning CEO ⏹  Why traditional male leadership role models don't work for women — and how she found her own executive presence ⏹  The mindset that helped her secure a CEO role during the height of COVID ⏹  How she builds trust as a CEO — and why hiring with a "presumption of trust" changes everything ⏹  What ethical AI looks like in high-stakes environments (safety, field operations, human risk) ⏹  Why leaders must reimagine every role in the AI era (customer success, operations, engineering & beyond) ⏹  How to bring teams along when they resist AI ⏹  What self-doubt looks like at the CEO level — and how Shelley manages it with clarity and compassion ⏹  The best leadership advice she's ever received (and the worst!)   **Useful links** ⏹  Connect with today's guest, Shelley:      ⏹  Web: https://fyld.ai/       ⏹  Shelley's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelleycopsey/    This episode was supported by Shelley Copsey, CEO of FYLD. Thank you Shelley for helping to bring Leading Women in Tech to this community!