Leading Women in Tech Podcast

Dive into the essential elements of executive presence and why they matter for women in tech. Discover how to balance confidence and humility while mastering body language and mindful communication. Explore realistic strategies to foster an impactful presence, avoiding the pitfalls of arrogance. Learn from personal anecdotes and client experiences, highlighting the power of feedback and self-reflection. This discussion emphasizes authentic leadership and the importance of psychological safety within teams for enhanced career advancement.

In this inspiring episode, I sit down with Kris Baker, the president of leading sports tech company Demosphere. Kris's journey to success is anything but a straight line—it's a series of bold leaps and reinventions that have led her to where she is today. Her zigzag career path, filled with setbacks, misfires, and missteps, has not hindered her success but rather fueled it. Kris shares how she has identified and acted on opportunities with courage, stepping away from toxic environments and making purposeful decisions that have been fundamental to her growth and resilience. We explore the importance of embracing a zigzag career journey, understanding how these leaps can shape your leadership and personal career path. Whether you're feeling trapped in your career or looking for inspiration to take control and reinvent yourself - tune in to learn how to navigate your own zigzag path to success and take crucial leaps of faith to become a stronger, more resilient leader. We dive into: Kris's zigzag career journey and how it has fueled her success Taking leaps of faith and creating purposeful goals that are right for YOU Culture, leadership, and toxicity Kris's insights on career development and job searching strategies Exploring the zig-zag approach to your career And more **Useful links** Connect with today's guest and sponsor, Kris Baker: Follow Demosphere: W: www.demosphere.com, LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/demosphere-inc/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/demosphere IG: https://instagram.com/demosphere Follow Kris:https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristbaker/ Kris' book recommendations: The Purpose of Your Life by Carol Adrienne Dare to Lead by Brené Brown If you are ready to uplevel your career, get unstuck or you are simply ready to unlock those leadership time-management techniques then join us in my monthly career & leadership coaching program exclusively for women in tech: https://www.tonicollis.com/academy Catch the show notes, and more details about today's episode here: https://tonicollis.com/episode214 Check us out on Youtube. Join the Leading Women in Tech community in Slack where we discuss all-the-things for women's tech leadership, covering everything from early-career leadership to C-level executives. This episode was sponsored by our guest, Kris Baker of Demosphere. Thank you Kris for helping to bring Leading Women in Tech to this community!

Explore the art of authentic executive presence specifically for women in tech. Discover the unique challenges faced in developing this essential leadership skill. Gain practical strategies for balancing self-promotion with humility, and learn how to navigate workplace dynamics effectively. Understand the importance of emotional intelligence and empathy, while defining what true executive presence looks like. Real-life case studies are shared to demonstrate impactful transformations. Step boldly into your professional journey with confidence!

Shauna Garner, President of a leading tech company and former aspiring medical doctor, shares her inspiring career transition. She highlights the importance of taking risks and the value of uncomfortable conversations in business. Shauna discusses how effective communication fosters leadership and promotes team engagement during changes. She also delves into personal growth through forgiveness and self-discovery. Finally, she emphasizes the significance of gratitude and strategic thinking in navigating the complexities of the tech industry.

Explore the unique challenges faced by women in tech leadership and the strategies to overcome them. Discover the importance of balancing technical expertise with soft skills for effective communication and team management. Delve into the impact of gender dynamics and social conditioning on leadership roles. Learn about fostering psychological safety and creativity within teams, while navigating the pitfalls of traditional employee engagement surveys. Finally, empower yourself by embracing a personal leadership style and advocating for continuous growth.

In this episode, we take a slight detour from our usual leadership discussions to explore the world of entrepreneurship! I'm joined by serial entrepreneur Alex Batdorf, who dives into valuable insights from her entrepreneurial journey and her passion for supporting women on the same path. She shares some startling statistics about women in entrepreneurship, useful tips about funding, access to resources, and networking, and the most important things to consider before you leap into entrepreneurship. Join us for an honest discussion about the path of entrepreneurship - the pros and cons of seeking venture capital, why Alex believes you don't need a business school degree to become a successful entrepreneur, and whether entrepreneurship is the right path for you. We dive into: Alex's entrepreneurial career journey Surprising stats on women in entrepreneurship: funding and success Access to resources for women entrepreneurs Three factors to successful networking for women entrepreneurs Exploring your "why" for entrepreneurship The most important things to consider before you embark on an entrepreneurial journey Funding options in entrepreneurship: venture capital & bootstrapping strategies And more **Useful links** Connect with today's guest and sponsor, Alex Batdorf: W: https://www.shegetsshitdone.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chief-get-shit-done-officer/ Alex's current read: Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection by Charles Duhigg If you are ready to uplevel your career, get unstuck or you are simply ready to unlock those leadership time-management techniques then join us in my monthly career & leadership coaching program exclusively for women in tech: https://www.tonicollis.com/academy Catch the show notes, and more details about today's episode here: https://tonicollis.com/episode210 Check us out on Youtube. Join the Leading Women in Tech community in Slack where we discuss all-the-things for women's tech leadership, covering everything from early-career leadership to C-level executives.

The podcast delves into the power of tech leadership coaching for women in the tech industry, addressing unique challenges, benefits, and strategies for success. Topics include combating gender bias, building career skills, navigating transitions, and preventing burnout. It explores the importance of coaching in fast-paced tech environments and emphasizes the role of strategic planning for advancement.

What does it really take to create a healthy and thriving workplace culture? Let's talk about how we as leaders can create an environment where women can thrive! In this episode, I invite multi-faceted woman in tech, Michele Cober, to share her insights on workplace culture, how leaders can identify and cultivate the right environment, and the significant impact this has on overall culture and individual well-being at work. Join us for the practical strategies you can use to show up more authentically at work and transform your workplace culture for the better. We dive into: Michele's career journey: from the opera to becoming a big tech lawyer Career pivots, identity, and managing outside judgment The keys to a well-adjusted work culture Using your leadership role to encourage a healthy workplace The signs of a great workplace culture Showing up authentically and the cost of "fitting in" Networking and changing culture from any leadership level And more **Useful links** Connect with today's guest and sponsor, Michele: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-cober/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Madame_Gutterfly Michele's current read: Burn Book: A Tech Love Story by Kara Swisher: https://www.amazon.com/Burn-Book-Tech-Love-Story/dp/1982163895 If you are ready to uplevel your career, get unstuck or you are simply ready to unlock those leadership time-management techniques then join us in my monthly career & leadership coaching program exclusively for women in tech: https://www.tonicollis.com/academy Catch the show notes, and more details about today's episode here: https://tonicollis.com/episode208 Check us out on Youtube. Join the Leading Women in Tech community in Slack where we discuss all-the-things for women's tech leadership, covering everything from early-career leadership to C-level executives.

Delving into the evolution of tech leadership, the podcast explores adapting to career progression and the ever-changing tech landscape. It discusses key trends like AI adoption and diversity, offering tips on effective leadership evolution. The importance of embracing change, fostering resilience, and aligning business strategy with sustainability goals is highlighted.

Valerie Drew, a tech leader, shares her journey of continuous promotion and insights on tough projects, continuous learning, and advocating for oneself. She discusses leveraging communication skills, learning from mistakes, and navigating gender bias for leadership advancement. Topics include multi-tasking, advocating for higher pay, and overcoming challenges in the tech industry.