Lead to Soar: Career Advice and Guidance for Ambitious Women Leaders

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 Management through Program Management and Client Development. She is now a leader of leaders in Operations. In this episode of the Lead to Soar Podcast, Heather reflects on some of the ways mentors have helped her most, the best career advice she's ever received, and how she has developed The Missing 33% (business strategic and financial acumen) throughout her career. Heather was recently appointed as the Chief Operating Officer of Arcadis North America, with a staff of ~6,000 professionals.Learn more about Arcadis by visiting Arcadis.com Notable Quotes from Heather Polinsky:On advice for professionals growing in leadership: "Really make sure that you're willing to ask questions, and the second part is - trust your team... We're all at the table because of something we offer that's unique... and if you've built a good team, it's designed that way. So use it!""You have to understand what your picture looks like and be happy with your picture. Don't spend your days comparing yourself to other people, families, or pictures. Because they might not be the same, but it's OK...""My message is: go for it now. If you think you'll be ready in a year, you're probably ready now."

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 gender gap. The conversation focuses on breaking down harmful money myths, embracing financial empowerment, and taking actionable steps to build wealth and create choices.Whether you’re navigating your career, seeking financial freedom, or dreaming of a larger impact in your community, this episode will inspire you to take control of your financial future.Episode HighlightsThe “3 Ds” of Financial Vulnerability:• Death, Divorce, and Domestic Violence often leave women in precarious financial positions.• Women aged 55+ are the fastest-growing demographic of homeless people in Australia, emphasizing the need for financial independence.Why Money Matters:• Financial resources give women the power of choice and freedom, enabling them to escape abusive situations or transition careers without fear.• By 2034, women are projected to control 65% of Australia’s wealth, making financial literacy more crucial than ever.Reframing Harmful Money Mindsets:• Common limiting beliefs:• “I’m not good with money.”• “Money is vulgar or shameful to talk about.”• Empowering reframes:• “I’m learning to get better with money.”• “I love money and the choices it brings.”Investing in Yourself:• Warren Buffett’s advice: The best investment you can make is in yourself.• Tips for self-investment: podcasts, networking, online courses, and continuous learning.The Power of Choice Through Money:• Financial independence allows women to:• Volunteer and engage in meaningful causes.• Leave unsupportive workplaces or unhealthy relationships.Practical Tips to Build Wealth:• Create a “Runaway Fund” for emergencies or unexpected life transitions.• Start small with consistent saving and investing—compounding interest is a game changer.• Keep a record of your accomplishments to ensure fair remuneration at work.Leadership Call to Action1. Examine Your Money Mindset:Identify any limiting beliefs you have about money. Write them down and consciously work to reframe them into empowering affirmations.2. Start Building Wealth Today:Open a savings account and set up an automated transfer—even $5 per paycheck can snowball over time.3. Prepare for Your Next Salary Negotiation:Document your accomplishments and contributions to the business. Set a target remuneration goal and plan your negotiation strategy now.4. Get Educated:Listen to podcasts like She’s on the Money, read books like The Barefoot Investor by Scott Pape, or follow Lizzie Goldfinch for actionable financial insights.5. Support Your Community:Use your financial resources or time to give back in meaningful ways—whether by mentoring, volunteering, or donating to causes you care about.Connect with Lizzy Goldfinch:Resources Mentioned in the Episode:• The Barefoot Investor by Scott Pape• The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko• PepTalkHer App by Meggie Palmer            • The Snowball - Warren BuffetMake sure to subscribe to Lead to Soar on your favourite podcast platform and share this episode with women in your network who are ready to take control of their financial futures.

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 success when the market picks up.Topics include:• Navigating the anxiety of job hunting during the quieter holiday season.• Crafting your personal narrative for holiday gatherings and professional networking.• Why LinkedIn optimization is critical for being found by recruiters.• Using downtime to reflect, strategize, and strengthen your career assets.• The importance of taking a break to recharge and avoid burnout.Key Takeaways:1. Prepare your narrative: Be ready to confidently answer, “What are you up to?” at holiday gatherings.2. Leverage LinkedIn: Optimize your profile to ensure recruiters find you for the roles you want.3. Reflect and strategize: Use the slower holiday season to assess your strengths and career goals.4. Take a break: Job hunting is emotionally taxing—allow yourself time to recharge.Links & Resources:• Renata's LinkedIn Audit Services: https://www.renatabernarde.com/linkedin/• The Job Hunting Podcast: https://www.thejobhuntingpodcast.com/podcast• Lead to Soar Network: https://leadtosoar.network/landingFinal Thought:Renata reminds listeners, “You will find a job. Take this time to focus on yourself, recharge, and set yourself up for success in the new year.”Lead to Soar is a multi-platform resource for ambitious women on a leadership journey and for organisations serious about closing the leadership gender gap.We support women and organisations in 5 ways;The Lead to Network: https://leadtosoar.network/landingThe Lead to Soar Podcast: https://shows.acast.com/lead-to-soarThe Lead to Soar Summit: https://www.leadtosoar.com/summitWomen’s Leadership Programs: https://www.michelleredfern.com/advancing-women-in-business-sportDEI Consulting & Advisory: https://www.michelleredfern.com/consulting

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 include:• Why hiring feels like a chore for many leaders.• Common pitfalls in hiring practices, including rushing decisions or hiring for “ghost jobs.”• Strategies to make hiring purposeful and aligned with organizational goals.• The importance of skills matrices, workforce planning, and building intentional hiring processes.• How job descriptions can attract a diverse pool of candidates by moving away from unrealistic “unicorn” expectations.Key Takeaways:1. Plan ahead: Workforce planning and clear job descriptions are essential to hiring effectively.2. Train hiring managers: Equip them with tools and strategies to align hiring with strategic goals.3. Focus on strengths: Hire for skills and cultural fit, rather than ticking off an unrealistic checklist.Links & Resources:• Contact Renata: https://www.thejobhuntingpodcast.com/contact• The Job Hunting Podcast: https://www.thejobhuntingpodcast.com/podcastLead to Soar is a multi-platform resource for ambitious women on a leadership journey and for organisations serious about closing the leadership gender gap.We support women and organisations in 5 ways;The Lead to Network: https://leadtosoar.network/landingThe Lead to Soar Podcast: https://shows.acast.com/lead-to-soarThe Lead to Soar Summit: https://www.leadtosoar.com/summitWomen’s Leadership Programs: https://www.michelleredfern.com/advancing-women-in-business-sportDEI Consulting & Advisory: https://www.michelleredfern.com/consulting

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 menopause, highlighting the need for awareness, education, and supportive policies to ensure that women can continue to thrive professionally during these changes. Lisa and Natalie share actionable insights for both organizational leaders and individuals to foster inclusive environments, reduce stigma, and introduce practical solutions that make a difference for women's health and well-being at work.Episode HighlightsMenopause in the Workplace  - Roughly one in five women consider leaving their job due to menopause symptoms, such as hot flashes, brain fog, and fatigue.Normalizing Menopause Conversations  - The conversation around menopause is currently where mental health awareness was a decade ago—leaders must build an open culture to reduce stigma.  - Natalie emphasizes introducing “menopause vocabulary” in the workplace to increase understanding and normalize discussions about women’s health.Impacts on Mental and Physical Health  - Beyond physical symptoms, menopause often brings cognitive and emotional challenges, like anxiety, depression, and brain fog, which can affect work performance and confidence.  - Supporting women through perimenopause and menopause contributes to healthier, more engaged employees and retains valuable leadership experience within companies.Practical Ways Leaders Can Offer Support  - Embrace flexibility in work hours, hybrid work, and options for part-time adjustments when symptoms are especially challenging.  - Introduce menopause awareness training for managers to equip them with the language and empathy needed to support affected employees.  - Implement workplace policies, such as health leave for menopause, to alleviate the pressure on women to “push through” symptoms without adequate support.Breaking Down Stigmas and Biases  - Michelle shares personal experiences of reluctance to discuss menopause and emphasizes the importance of visible role models to normalize the conversation.  - Lisa and Natalie note that while many women feel uncomfortable discussing menopause, it is often a colleague or manager showing empathy that encourages them to seek support and open up.Leadership Call to ActionEducate Yourself and Your Team:   - Encourage company-wide learning sessions about menopause to introduce inclusive language and destigmatize the topic.   - Train managers specifically on recognizing symptoms, creating open dialogue, and offering support to women who may be struggling with symptoms.Be a Role Model and Normalize Menopause Discussions:   - Women leaders can play a pivotal role by speaking openly about menopause experiences to pave the way for younger generations.   - Encourage leaders to leverage existing frameworks like mental health awareness initiatives, using familiar concepts to open conversations on menopause as well.Resources- Own Your Health Collective: https://ownyourhealthco.com.au- Own Your Health Collective: https://www.linkedin.com/company/own-your-health-collective/posts/?feedView=all- Podcast: Perimenopause Power: https://omny.fm/shows/peri-menopause-power 

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, mentors, and coaches can go beyond traditional coaching frameworks to build their own business acumen—and effectively coach women on these skills. By developing these critical coaching capabilities, we can bridge the leadership gender gap and elevate women leaders to new heights.Key Topics Discussed:• Transformative Coaching for Women Leaders: Michelle and Susan explore why standard coaching methods, often centered on Emotional Intelligence (EQ), fall short in preparing women for executive roles. They emphasize the need to integrate Business Intelligence (BQ) into coaching strategies, equipping women with essential business, financial, and strategic skills.• The Missing Thirty-Three Percent: Susan shares her concept of the Missing Thirty-Three Percent—the skills gap in business, financial, and strategic acumen that women often face. This gap, left unaddressed, limits women’s advancement to senior positions. She urges coaches and mentors to prioritize building BQ to help women become recognized as invaluable business partners.• Practical Coaching Approaches to BQ: Susan and Michelle outline actionable coaching techniques that managers, mentors, and coaches can adopt to help women develop and showcase business acumen. They discuss the value of guiding women to interpret financial metrics, contribute to strategic initiatives, and effectively communicate business outcomes to senior leaders.• Gender Dynamics and Coaching: Susan offers insights on how gender biases in coaching can reinforce stereotypes, such as focusing on women’s confidence and work-life balance over business skills. By recognizing these dynamics, coaches can shift their approach to empower women with the skills that truly drive career advancement.Actionable Insights:1. For Coaches and Mentors: Build your own BQ skills to coach women effectively on business, financial, and strategic acumen. Make it a priority to help women develop the skills and language needed to be recognized as strategic partners within the organization.2. For Managers and Leaders: Transform coaching by focusing on how women’s roles contribute to business results. Encourage them to engage with business metrics, strategy discussions, and broader organizational goals to build their reputation as key business players.3. For Women in Leadership: Seek out opportunities to develop your business savvy. Understand how your work impacts the organization’s strategic objectives, and learn to communicate these impacts in ways that demonstrate your value as a leader.Resources Mentioned:• No Ceiling, No Walls by Susan Colantuono• Be Business Savvy: BeBusinessSavvy.com• Michelle Redfern’s The Leadership Compass for insights on BQ and leadership success.Final Thoughts:Michelle and Susan call on all managers, mentors, and coaches to step up their coaching game by integrating business acumen development into their support of women leaders. By strengthening their own BQ skills, these supporters can play a pivotal role in closing the leadership gender gap and positioning women as invaluable partners in the business.