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Lead to Soar: Career Advice and Guidance for Ambitious Women Leaders
The Confidence Scoop: Susan Colantuono, Michelle Redfern, Mel Butcher
On episode 19 of Lead to Soar, Susan Colantuono, Michelle Redfern, and Mel Butcher sit down for a discussion on confidence... What is confidence? Where does confidence come from? How do you get it? Where does traditional advice on confidence go wrong? LINKS
SPEAKER BIOs Susan Colantuono has made it her life’s mission to support the career success of women. She is the Founder of and now retired CEO of Leading Women, an international management consulting company focused on bringing gender balance to leadership teams. She is globally known for her TED Talk on The Career Advice You Probably Didn't Get (now with over 4 million views). Recognizing that many women around the globe do not have access to the leadership and career development resources they need in order to advance, Susan envisioned that a global network of aspiring women could fill such a gap. She embarked on the journey to form Lead to Soar, and joined forces with Michelle Redfern to bring it to life. Susan is also the author of two internationally acclaimed books: No Ceiling, No Walls: what women haven’t been told about leadership and Make the Most of Mentoring. -- Michelle Redfern is the co-founder of Lead to Soar and host of the Lead to Soar podcast. Michelle is the founder of Advancing Women, an enterprise providing research and advisory services on equality, inclusion and gender diversity. She is co-founder of social enterprise CDW (Culturally Diverse Women and Workforces). Everything Michelle does is grounded in her personal mission and purpose to contribute to creating a gender equal world. -- Mel Butcher is a co-host in Lead to Soar and executive producer and host of the Lead to Soar podcast. During the day, Mel serves as an independent consultant, where she is most passionate about helping corporate enterprise clients achieve and exceed their water risk, resilience, and sustainability goals. NOTABLE EPISODE QUOTES “Confidence is not absolute.” -Susan Colantuono “Go beyond the headline. Go deeper. And think about - what does the CEO really want you to know... The CEO really wants you to know about being confident about how to run the business. Then ask yourself, is the advice you're getting about confidence really going to help you do that?" - Michelle Redfern
Lead to Soar is a podcast for ambitious women and the leaders who support them. Hosted by Michelle Redfern and Mel Butcher, it delivers evidence-based, practical advice on leadership, career progression, and closing the gender gap. Join the Lead to Soar Network at leadtosoar.network or get Michelle’s book The Leadership Compass at michelleredfern.com/book.
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32:33||Season 9, Ep. 199In 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 reputation and career if it isn’t handled well.198. The Dissenting Voice: Why Women’s Courage Will Define Leadership in the Age of AI
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19:46||Season 9, Ep. 196Competence 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 leadership that moves the business forward.195. From Hope to Strategy: How to Reach Your Full Potential
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29:49||Season 9, Ep. 194In 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, manage up with evidence and courage, and raise the standard without burning out or doing their job for them. Michelle also unpacks why organisations keep rewarding comfort over competence, and what real leadership development should look like.193. Why Being Busy and Obedient Is a Poor Strategy for Ambitious Women
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