Leading Women in Tech Podcast

A candid look at how burnout hides in high-performing women in tech. Short snapshots outline three common burnout patterns and why rest alone does not fix the problem. Practical frameworks are offered for building structural protections, shifting how impact is measured, and recalibrating leadership identity. Four simple, actionable first steps are included to start protecting your energy this week.

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!

They unpack why high-performing women in tech are overlooked for leadership and where the promotion gap shows up. Topics include executive presence tailored for women, the power of sponsorship over mentorship, and making leadership visible without changing who you are. They reframe office politics as strategic influence building and offer practical pillars for running a promotion campaign.

They unpack why fractional leadership hiring is non-linear and often feels inconsistent. Topics include the organisational triggers that prompt fractional hires, why timing often matters more than effort, and the three repeatable conditions that lead to hiring. They explain recognizability versus visibility, why referrals convert faster, and how casual scoping conversations can turn into paid engagements.

A deep dive into positioning yourself as a fractional leader and why senior experience alone often falls short. Discussion of what buyers actually pay for — judgment, perspective, and risk reduction. Common positioning mistakes that make leaders invisible. Practical ways to pressure-test your positioning and where fractional opportunities truly come from.

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!

Clear breakdown of what executive presence actually means for senior women in tech. Why strong performance alone does not earn strategic trust. How leaders evaluate judgment, framing, and decision ownership. Practical moves like recommending decisions, elevating only strategic issues, and protecting energy and boundaries. How bias changes feedback and support for women and ways to design how leaders experience you.

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!