She Leads Collective: Women, Leadership and What It Takes to Thrive at Work

Send us Fan Mail What if being more in touch with our spirit could help us contribute more fully at work? And what might stop organisations from taking that seriously? In this episode, Mary Gregory talks with Nathalie Cordell, a holistic leadership guide, coach, facilitator, author and speaker. Nathalie spent 21 years in the global pharmaceutical industry before moving into personal and leadership development. Her book, Awakening the Sleeping Queen: How to Reclaim Your Feminine Wisdom and Power , explores what can happen when outward achievement is accompanied by inner disconnection. Nathalie shares how a growing sense of disconnection led her to question the familiar cycle of achievement and reward, and how psychosynthesis helped her reconnect with a deeper sense of meaning. Together, Mary and Nathalie explore spirituality beyond religion, the role of intuition in decision-making, and how being more connected to ourselves might affect the way we lead, relate and contribute. A thread running through the conversation is how qualities such as intuition, emotion and connection can be valued alongside rational thought. They also consider why organisations can be wary of spirituality, and what a grounded, practical approach might look like. To connect with Nathalie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathalie-cordell/ You'll find Nathalie's book here: https://www.cordellcoaching.com/the-book-awakening-the-sleeping-queen And for other resources from Nathalie: https://linktr.ee/NathalieCordell 🔗 Connect with Mary: marygregory.com 📣 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marygregory 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mary_gregory/ 📰 Newsletter: Subscribe on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7029410958645059584 Link to Mary's book Ego - Get Over Yourself and Lead - https://shorturl.at/yW4LW 🎙 Want to be a guest? Get in touch! ⭐ Subscribe, share & leave a review ✨ Produced by Mary Gregory Leadership Coaching

Send us Fan Mail What happens when women spend so much energy managing someone else’s reaction that their own voice gets lost? In this conversation, I’m joined by behavioural coach and author James Dakin to explore the insecure male ego, the effects of patriarchy, and how power dynamics shape our relationships and workplaces. James speaks candidly about his own journey: the feedback that changed how he saw himself, the insecurity beneath his confident exterior, and the work it took to become more open to challenge. He shares the five-step approach behind his work, moving from self-awareness and self-acceptance towards confidence, presence, influence and greater freedom. We also explore a difficult question: how can women influence change in a system that isn’t fair, without making women responsible for fixing it? And what could become possible if women’s voices were heard without them first having to manage someone else’s defensiveness? James’s book, How to Stop Taking Sh t from Insecure Men*, is out on 22nd October and a special offer for She Leads Collective listeners. Please follow this link to receive a discount on one of James's online programmes: http://jamesdakin.co.uk/Mary To find James's book go to https://www.jamesdakin.co.uk/thebook To connect with James on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesdakin/ 🔗 Connect with Mary: marygregory.com 📣 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marygregory 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mary_gregory/ 📰 Newsletter: Subscribe on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7029410958645059584 Link to Mary's book Ego - Get Over Yourself and Lead - https://shorturl.at/yW4LW 🎙 Want to be a guest? Get in touch! ⭐ Subscribe, share & leave a review ✨ Produced by Mary Gregory Leadership Coaching

Send us Fan Mail What if we stopped asking women to adapt to workplaces that weren’t designed with them in mind? In this episode of the She Leads Collective podcast, executive leadership coach Mary Gregory joins Brad Johnson and David Smith to explore what meaningful male allyship requires—from mentoring and sponsorship to speaking up and changing workplace systems. Brad and David are the co-founders of Workplace Allies and co-authors of Athena Rising, Good Guys and Fair Share. Drawing on their research with women and the men they recognise as effective allies, they explain why good intentions need to become visible action. We explore: • Why women are over-mentored and under-sponsored—and what a “raving fan” can do for someone’s career. • How women’s leadership programmes can become a substitute for addressing workplace bias. • Why even supportive men hesitate to challenge sexist comments, and a simple way to interrupt the moment. • How to offer support without taking away a woman’s voice. • Why parental leave and flexible working policies need leaders who use them. • What men gain from workplaces that recognise their lives as partners, parents and caregivers. Mary brings her experience of coaching leaders and facilitating women’s leadership programmes to a conversation about shared responsibility, practical action and the culture leaders create. For anyone who wants to move beyond saying the right things to making work fairer. Explore Brad and David’s work and books: https://www.workplaceallies.com/ 🔗 Connect with Mary: marygregory.com 📣 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marygregory 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mary_gregory/ 📰 Newsletter: Subscribe on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7029410958645059584 Link to Mary's book Ego - Get Over Yourself and Lead - https://shorturl.at/yW4LW 🎙 Want to be a guest? Get in touch! ⭐ Subscribe, share & leave a review ✨ Produced by Mary Gregory Leadership Coaching

Send us Fan Mail What does it take to succeed as a woman in construction—and what does that success cost when you feel you have to protect yourself behind a tough exterior? Faye Allen has spent more than three decades in the industry, often as one of very few women in the room. Now a senior global leader and author of Building Women: How Everyone in Construction Can Win, she joins executive leadership coach Mary Gregory for an honest conversation about ambition, belonging and the cultures we create at work. Faye describes the “armadillo shell” she developed early in her career, the support that helped her become more herself, and an experience of persistent undermining that chipped away at her confidence. Together, we explore: • Why resilience can make it harder to recognise how much you are tolerating. • Navigating organisational politics and setting boundaries. • The difference supportive leadership makes. • Owning mistakes and welcoming feedback as a senior leader. • How women and men can become allies to one another. • Flexible working, caring responsibilities and retaining talented women. • Why healthier workplace cultures matter for everyone. Drawing on her own experience and the research behind her book, Faye offers practical examples of leadership that combines high expectations with care for people. For anyone leading a team, navigating a difficult workplace or working to make their industry more inclusive, this conversation offers plenty to reflect on. Connect with Faye on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/fayeallen/ Or go to Rimkus - https://rimkus.com/expert/faye-allen/?utm_source=chatgpt.com Buy her book - Building Women: How Everyone in Construction Can Win is available in print, on Kindle and on Audible - https://amzn.eu/d/0aNOJCuw Content note: This episode includes discussion of bullying, an abusive relationship, mental health and suicide bereavement. Follow She Leads Collective for conversations about women’s leadership, allyship and the changes that help people thrive at work. 🔗 Connect with Mary: marygregory.com 📣 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marygregory 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mary_gregory/ 📰 Newsletter: Subscribe on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7029410958645059584 Link to Mary's book Ego - Get Over Yourself and Lead - https://shorturl.at/yW4LW 🎙 Want to be a guest? Get in touch! ⭐ Subscribe, share & leave a review ✨ Produced by Mary Gregory Leadership Coaching

Send us Fan Mail What if imposter syndrome isn’t a syndrome at all? Many highly capable women find themselves overthinking, doubting their abilities or holding back from opportunities they are more than ready for. We’ve learned to call this “imposter syndrome”—but business psychologist, executive coach and author Kay Tear believes that label may be part of the problem. In this thought-provoking conversation, Kay challenges some of our most familiar assumptions about confidence, anxiety and performance. She argues that imposter thinking is not evidence that something is wrong with us, but a very human response to uncertainty, social conditioning and the environments in which we are expected to succeed. Together, Kay and Mary explore: • How imposter phenomenon became labelled a “syndrome” • Why confidence may not be something we need to acquire • The relationship between overthinking, state of mind and performance • How to recognise the thoughts that stop us speaking up • Why women often experience these patterns more acutely • The double bind of being expected to appear both competent and likeable • Why confidence training alone won’t create gender equity • The importance of sponsorship, advocacy and fair progression • How reconnecting with our natural selves can help us lead with greater clarity and freedom Kay also explains why women’s leadership programmes must go beyond “fixing” confidence and connect more closely with succession planning, access and genuine sponsorship. This conversation is an invitation to question the labels we have absorbed and recognise that you may be far less broken than your thinking sometimes convinces you that you are. Connect with Kay: Website: https://businessreimagined.co.uk/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaytear/ Listen now and follow the She Leads Collective Podcast for more honest conversations about women, leadership and creating workplaces where everyone can thrive. 🔗 Connect with Mary: marygregory.com 📣 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marygregory 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mary_gregory/ 📰 Newsletter: Subscribe on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7029410958645059584 Link to Mary's book Ego - Get Over Yourself and Lead - https://shorturl.at/yW4LW 🎙 Want to be a guest? Get in touch! ⭐ Subscribe, share & leave a review ✨ Produced by Mary Gregory Leadership Coaching

Send us Fan Mail What if one of the most powerful ways to advance women at work is to give men more time away from it? Jo Farmer is Joint Managing Partner of international law firm Lewis Silkin—and the first woman to hold the role. In this deeply human and practical conversation, Jo shares how the firm introduced six months’ paid parental leave for everyone and achieved an extraordinary result: 100% of eligible men have taken it. But this isn’t simply a conversation about policy. Jo explains why giving fathers meaningful time to care can begin to dismantle the assumptions holding women back, from the mental load and gender pay gap to unequal career progression. She also reveals what Lewis Silkin did to ensure its policy felt genuinely safe to use—including supporting senior men to take leave and promoting one colleague to partner while he was away. We also explore Jo’s remarkable personal journey: born to a 17-year-old mother, raised in a working-class family in Darlington and becoming the first person in her family to attend university before progressing to the top of her profession. Jo talks candidly about learning to fit in, navigating the unwritten rules of unfamiliar environments and why we should never mistake someone else’s polish for greater potential. This is an inspiring conversation about social mobility, gender equity and what becomes possible when leaders use their influence to leave their organisation—and their profession—better than they found it. In this episode: • Why paternity leave is fundamental to gender equity • How Lewis Silkin achieved 100% take-up among eligible men • Why policy alone cannot create cultural change • The commercial impact of care, including retention, recruitment and performance • Jo’s journey from a financially precarious childhood to senior leadership • Why curiosity and tenacity can matter more than polish • What leaders can do to widen opportunity for others This is the final episode in our CARE mini-series, exploring what’s really getting in the way of people thriving at work. To connect with Jo Farmer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jo-farmer-3569b62/ Or visit Lewis Silkin's website: https://www.lewissilkin.com/ 🔗 Connect with Mary: marygregory.com 📣 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marygregory 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mary_gregory/ 📰 Newsletter: Subscribe on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7029410958645059584 Link to Mary's book Ego - Get Over Yourself and Lead - https://shorturl.at/yW4LW 🎙 Want to be a guest? Get in touch! ⭐ Subscribe, share & leave a review ✨ Produced by Mary Gregory Leadership Coaching

Send us Fan Mail Why are so many working mothers, parents and carers stepping back from careers they have spent years building? In this episode of the She Leads Collective Parenting & Caring mini-series , I’m joined by Tracey Gunn and Michelle O’Keeffe, co-founders of Platform 55 , to explore the motherhood penalty, returning to work after maternity leave, parental leave for fathers, caring responsibilities and what employers can do to retain talented people when work and life collide. Supporting working parents and carers isn't simply about employee wellbeing. It affects retention, gender equality, the gender pay gap, succession planning, leadership and business performance. We explore the reality of returning to work after having children, why so few men take their full parental leave entitlement, and the often-unspoken assumptions about what it takes to progress into senior leadership. But this conversation goes beyond parenting. Tracey and Michelle make a compelling case for supporting people through major life moments — from caring responsibilities and fertility treatment to menopause, miscarriage and family leave — and explain why line managers and leaders have such an important role to play. We also discuss why policies alone aren't enough, and what empathetic leadership really looks like when leaders still have performance and business results to deliver. Organisations don't employ part of a person. They employ whole people, with whole lives. And supporting those lives well might just be a competitive advantage. This episode is part of the She Leads Collective Caring & Leadership mini-series , exploring the realities of parenting and caring responsibilities and what organisations can do to support the people carrying them. Connect with Tracey and Michelle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracy-gunn/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelleplatform55/ Or visit their website: https://platform55.com/ 🔗 Connect with Mary: marygregory.com 📣 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marygregory 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mary_gregory/ 📰 Newsletter: Subscribe on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7029410958645059584 Link to Mary's book Ego - Get Over Yourself and Lead - https://shorturl.at/yW4LW 🎙 Want to be a guest? Get in touch! ⭐ Subscribe, share & leave a review ✨ Produced by Mary Gregory Leadership Coaching

Send us Fan Mail When we talk about caring responsibilities, we often picture parents with young children. But millions of leaders are quietly carrying another responsibility that receives far less attention: caring for ageing parents. In this deeply honest conversation, Mary Gregory is joined by Amy Kiernan , Group Chief Growth Officer at McCann, to explore what happens when a demanding leadership role collides with dementia, grief, ageing parents, perimenopause and life lived alone. Amy shares the emotional reality of supporting her father through dementia, the ongoing care of her mother, and how those experiences have shaped the leader she has become. Together they explore: caring for ageing parents whilst leading at senior level anticipatory grief and emotional resilience balancing leadership with personal responsibility managing energy during perimenopause why self-awareness changes everything how organisations can better support carers the role of compassionate workplace cultures practical strategies for protecting your own wellbeing This episode is part of the She Leads Collective Caring & Leadership mini-series , exploring the realities of caring responsibilities and what organisations can do to better support the people carrying them. Whether you're a leader, a carer, an HR professional or someone trying to hold everything together, this conversation offers reassurance, practical wisdom and hope. Connect with Amy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/askiernan/ 🔗 Connect with Mary: marygregory.com 📣 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marygregory 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mary_gregory/ 📰 Newsletter: Subscribe on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7029410958645059584 Link to Mary's book Ego - Get Over Yourself and Lead - https://shorturl.at/yW4LW 🎙 Want to be a guest? Get in touch! ⭐ Subscribe, share & leave a review ✨ Produced by Mary Gregory Leadership Coaching

Send us Fan Mail What if supporting working parents wasn't simply an employee benefit—but one of the smartest leadership decisions an organisation could make? In this first guest episode of Season 4, Mary Gregory is joined by Amie Kendall , Business Director at Regenerate, to explore why family-friendly workplaces are no longer just an HR issue—they are a strategic leadership priority. Together they discuss how the earliest years of a child's life shape future health, learning and resilience, why business leaders have far more influence than they realise, and how organisations can improve retention, engagement and productivity by creating cultures where working parents can thrive. Amie also shares the thinking behind Regenerate's national Working Families Roadshow , developed alongside the Department for Education, which is helping organisations rethink the role they play in supporting families and the next generation. Whether you're a CEO, HR leader, line manager or parent, this conversation challenges us to see leadership through a much wider lens. In this episode you'll discover: • Why supporting working parents is a leadership issue—not just an HR policy • The business case for family-friendly workplaces • Why culture matters more than policy alone • How better support for families benefits business, society and future generations • Practical ideas leaders can implement immediately If we're serious about building better organisations, perhaps we need to start by thinking differently about the people raising tomorrow's workforce. This episode is part of the She Leads Collective Caring & Leadership mini-series , exploring the realities of parenting and caring responsibilities and what organisations can do to better support the people carrying them. Connect with Amie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amiekendall/ Or visit Regenerate: https://www.re-generate.org/ 🔗 Connect with Mary: marygregory.com 📣 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marygregory 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mary_gregory/ 📰 Newsletter: Subscribe on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7029410958645059584 Link to Mary's book Ego - Get Over Yourself and Lead - https://shorturl.at/yW4LW 🎙 Want to be a guest? Get in touch! ⭐ Subscribe, share & leave a review ✨ Produced by Mary Gregory Leadership Coaching

Send us Fan Mail What’s really getting in the way of people being able to thrive at work? As She Leads Collective returns for Season 4, I’m exploring a question that has stayed with me after more than 50 conversations with women leaders, business owners, allies, academics and changemakers. We often focus on helping individuals become more confident, capable and resilient. But what about the environments they are being asked to succeed in? The cultures we create, the behaviours we tolerate, the expectations we place on women and men, and the structures that influence who progresses, who gets heard — and who quietly decides a workplace simply isn't for them? In this short opening episode, I introduce some of the conversations coming in Season 4, including: parenting, caring and the realities of combining work with life why gender equity also requires us to talk about men meaningful male allyship and changing workplace systems imposter phenomenon and whether we're asking the right questions about confidence bias, bullying and harassment in male-dominated industries why depth, humanity and human connection may matter more than ever in an increasingly technology-driven world Underneath it all is an even bigger question: What would work look like if it were designed around the reality of being human? And you don't have to wait for the first conversation. My opening guest episode with Amie Kendall is also available today, exploring how parents' experiences at work can reach far beyond the employee — and potentially shape the next generation's relationship with work. Welcome to Season 4 of She Leads Collective: Real Models. Allies. The Undiscussables. 🔗 Connect with Mary: marygregory.com 📣 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marygregory 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mary_gregory/ 📰 Newsletter: Subscribe on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7029410958645059584 Link to Mary's book Ego - Get Over Yourself and Lead - https://shorturl.at/yW4LW 🎙 Want to be a guest? Get in touch! ⭐ Subscribe, share & leave a review ✨ Produced by Mary Gregory Leadership Coaching

Send us Fan Mail As AI becomes capable of doing more, what becomes more valuable about being human? Much of the conversation about AI focuses on what technology will replace, which jobs will change and what skills we'll need next. But what if there's another question we should be asking? In the final episode of Conversations Worth Revisiting – A She Leads Collective Summer Series , I bring together three conversations exploring what happens to the value of our humanity as technology becomes increasingly capable. You'll hear from Celine Floyd , who challenges the idea of human versus AI and argues instead for human + AI ; Nishma Patel Robb , who believes our character, values, empathy and ability to connect may give us an “outsized advantage” in an increasingly automated world; and Carmel Saulbrey , who shares a fascinating real-world example of using AI to help people practise the very human skills of curiosity, empathy, judgement and connection. Together we explore: Why the future doesn't have to be human versus AI What Nishma calls Authentic Intelligence Why human-centred leadership may become more important, not less The growing value of empathy, curiosity, judgement and connection How AI can help people practise difficult human interactions What leaders need to keep developing as technology advances Carmel's story contains a fascinating paradox. She initially thought AI had no place in children's care because “we need human beings in this.” Yet she ultimately found a way to use artificial intelligence to help people practise being more human . Perhaps the opportunity isn't to compete with AI at all. Perhaps it's to become better at the things that make us human. Because in a world increasingly driven by technology, our humanity may become our greatest competitive advantage. Listen now, and discover the full conversations with Celine, Nishma and Carmel through the links in the show notes. 🔗 Connect with Mary: marygregory.com 📣 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marygregory 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mary_gregory/ 📰 Newsletter: Subscribe on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7029410958645059584 Link to Mary's book Ego - Get Over Yourself and Lead - https://shorturl.at/yW4LW 🎙 Want to be a guest? Get in touch! ⭐ Subscribe, share & leave a review ✨ Produced by Mary Gregory Leadership Coaching

Send us Fan Mail Why do we still pretend that people can leave their personal lives at the door when they come to work? We talk about bringing our “professional selves” to work. But our relationships, families, losses, worries and major life changes don't simply disappear when the working day begins. In this second episode of Conversations Worth Revisiting – A She Leads Collective Summer Series , I'm bringing together three powerful conversations that challenge the myth that our personal and professional selves can somehow be separated. You'll hear from Leila Green , who explores the masking women can adopt when returning to work after motherhood; Tamara Glanvill , a family lawyer who sees first-hand how divorce can affect confidence, concentration and capacity at work; and Shelley Kay , who shares her experience of baby loss and what she's learned about creating genuinely human workplaces. Together, we explore: Why people mask what's happening in their personal lives Motherhood and returning to work The hidden impact of divorce in the workplace Baby loss, grief and belonging at work Why listening can be more powerful than trying to fix How leaders can support people through major life transitions What it really means to lead with humanity The challenge for leaders isn't to create workplaces where people's personal lives never affect their performance. That's impossible. It's to create workplaces with enough humanity, trust and flexibility to recognise that sometimes people simply can't be at their best. As Shelley puts it: “On the other days we turn up and we're amazing.” Listen now, and discover the full conversations with Leila, Tamara and Shelley through the links in the show notes below: Leila Green, S1 Ep13 - https://www.buzzsprout.com/2489643/episodes/18870108 Tamara Glanvill, S3 Ep11 - https://www.buzzsprout.com/2489643/episodes/19273871 Shelley Kay, S1 Ep - https://www.buzzsprout.com/2489643/episodes/17868019 🔗 Connect with Mary: marygregory.com 📣 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marygregory 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mary_gregory/ 📰 Newsletter: Subscribe on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7029410958645059584 Link to Mary's book Ego - Get Over Yourself and Lead - https://shorturl.at/yW4LW 🎙 Want to be a guest? Get in touch! ⭐ Subscribe, share & leave a review ✨ Produced by Mary Gregory Leadership Coaching

Send us Fan Mail Conversations Worth Revisiting: A She Leads Collective Summer Series Why do so many brilliant women still feel they have to prove themselves at work? We're often told the answer is confidence. Speak up more. Be more assertive. Believe in yourself. But after more than 50 conversations on the She Leads Collective podcast, I'm beginning to wonder if we've been asking the wrong question. In this first episode of Conversations Worth Revisiting – A She Leads Collective Summer Series , I'm bringing together two powerful conversations from Season 3 to explore whether confidence is really the issue—or whether workplace culture plays a much bigger role than we realise. You'll hear from: Lauren Neal – Chartered Engineer and founder of Valued at Work, who shares her experience of bias in engineering and explains why the problem wasn't her—it was the environment she was working in. Akua Opong – Technology leader, speaker and advocate for inclusive leadership, who reflects on the mentors and leaders who helped her thrive by embracing what made her different. Together, their stories challenge the belief that women simply need to become more confident. Instead, they offer a different perspective on leadership, belonging and creating workplaces where everyone can succeed. In this episode we explore: Why confidence isn't always the real issue Women in STEM and workplace culture Inclusive leadership Belonging at work Allyship Psychological safety The impact leaders have on confidence Why diversity and inclusion belong to everyone If this conversation resonates, you'll find links in the show notes to Lauren's and Akua's full episodes, along with more than 50 conversations exploring leadership, gender equity and the changing world of work. 🔗 Connect with Mary: marygregory.com 📣 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marygregory 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mary_gregory/ 📰 Newsletter: Subscribe on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7029410958645059584 Link to Mary's book Ego - Get Over Yourself and Lead - https://shorturl.at/yW4LW 🎙 Want to be a guest? Get in touch! ⭐ Subscribe, share & leave a review ✨ Produced by Mary Gregory Leadership Coaching

Send us Fan Mail This season wasn't simply a collection of conversations about women in leadership. Looking back across thirteen remarkable guests, Mary reflects that something much bigger has emerged. Together, Mary and her guests have explored what leadership now needs to become, discussing the five biggest lessons from Season 3, including: • Why confidence isn't always the problem — sometimes the system is. • Why sponsorship matters more than advice. • What money really tells us about opportunity and influence. • Why people can never leave their lives at the office door. • Why kindness, courage and encouragement are among the strongest leadership skills we have. Along the way, Mary revisits some of the most powerful moments from conversations with Lauren Neal, Steph Douglas, David B. Horne, Sue Rizzello, Helen Gibson and more. Rather than summarising each episode, this is an exploration of the ideas connecting them all—and what they mean for leaders who want to create workplaces where more people can thrive. If you've listened throughout Season 3, thank you. If this is your first episode, it's also a great place to start. 🔗 Connect with Mary: marygregory.com 📣 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marygregory 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mary_gregory/ 📰 Newsletter: Subscribe on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7029410958645059584 Link to Mary's book Ego - Get Over Yourself and Lead - https://shorturl.at/yW4LW 🎙 Want to be a guest? Get in touch! ⭐ Subscribe, share & leave a review ✨ Produced by Mary Gregory Leadership Coaching

Send us Fan Mail Why do so many brilliant women remain invisible despite their expertise? In this episode of the She Leads Collective Podcast, Mary Gregory is joined by thought leadership strategist Sue Rizzello to explore why influential ideas aren't always the ones that receive the greatest attention—and why women are still under-represented as recognised thought leaders. Together they discuss: The way thought leadership is often misunderstood. The difference between personal branding and genuine influence. Why women hesitate to speak up and be visible. How organisations unintentionally overlook valuable expertise. Practical ways leaders can become known for their thinking rather than their job title. This is a thoughtful conversation about confidence, credibility, visibility and creating workplaces where the best ideas—regardless of who they come from—have the opportunity to shape the future. Whether you're building your own leadership profile or leading others, this episode offers practical insights into helping great thinking find the audience it deserves. Connect with Sue on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/suerizzello/ 🔗 Connect with Mary: marygregory.com 📣 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marygregory 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mary_gregory/ 📰 Newsletter: Subscribe on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7029410958645059584 Link to Mary's book Ego - Get Over Yourself and Lead - https://shorturl.at/yW4LW 🎙 Want to be a guest? Get in touch! ⭐ Subscribe, share & leave a review ✨ Produced by Mary Gregory Leadership Coaching

Send us Fan Mail Fara Butt never expected to lead a manufacturing business. Originally training as a teacher, she was on the path to becoming a headteacher before gradually finding herself helping to transform her family's mattress manufacturing company. Today, she is Managing Director of Shire Beds and President of the National Bed Federation. In this conversation we explore what it means to reinvent yourself without losing who you are. Fara shares how growing up as the eldest of five daughters in an ambitious immigrant family shaped her confidence, why teaching made her a better leader, and how she helped transform a traditionally male manufacturing environment into a more inclusive workplace. We also discuss visibility, unconscious bias, succession planning, creating cultures where people can flourish, and why leadership is ultimately about helping others succeed. Finally, Fara reflects on legacy, her hopes of becoming a writer, and why we should never allow other people's expectations to define who we become. If you've ever questioned whether it's too late to change direction, this conversation is a reminder that careers rarely follow a straight line—and that's often where the greatest growth happens. Connect with Fara on Linked In - https://www.linkedin.com/in/farkhanda-hussain-butt-9929205b/ Visit Shire Beds website - https://www.shirebeds.co.uk/ 🔗 Connect with Mary: marygregory.com 📣 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marygregory 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mary_gregory/ 📰 Newsletter: Subscribe on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7029410958645059584 Link to Mary's book Ego - Get Over Yourself and Lead - https://shorturl.at/yW4LW 🎙 Want to be a guest? Get in touch! ⭐ Subscribe, share & leave a review ✨ Produced by Mary Gregory Leadership Coaching

Send us Fan Mail What happens when the biggest leadership challenge isn't at work—but in your own life? Leadership consultant and coach Isabelle Courtney-Guy has spent more than twenty years helping organisations navigate complexity, culture and change. Then everything changed when she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. In this deeply honest conversation, Isabelle shares how she consciously chose curiosity over fear, learned to lead herself through uncertainty, and discovered that even life's most difficult experiences can deepen compassion, creativity and connection. Together we explore: why mindset can fundamentally change how we experience adversity the power of curiosity when life feels out of control what organisations often misunderstand about supporting people through illness psychological safety beyond the workplace asking for what you need without guilt how community, purpose and even AI became unexpected allies why leadership begins with how we lead ourselves Whether you've experienced serious illness yourself, supported someone who has, or simply want to become a more thoughtful leader, this conversation offers wisdom that reaches far beyond cancer. Connect with Isabelle on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabellecournteyguy/ 🔗 Connect with Mary: marygregory.com 📣 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marygregory 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mary_gregory/ 📰 Newsletter: Subscribe on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7029410958645059584 Link to Mary's book Ego - Get Over Yourself and Lead - https://shorturl.at/yW4LW 🎙 Want to be a guest? Get in touch! ⭐ Subscribe, share & leave a review ✨ Produced by Mary Gregory Leadership Coaching

Send us Fan Mail What happens when outward success no longer feels enough? In this episode of the She Leads Collective Podcast, Mary is joined by entrepreneur and founder Carmel Saulbrey. After building and selling one of the UK's largest school photography businesses, Carmel could have retired. Instead, she followed a deeper sense of purpose into children's residential care. Today she owns therapeutic homes for traumatised children and is developing an innovative AI-powered training platform to help care staff navigate some of the most challenging situations they face. Together they explore: Reinvention and purpose Leadership through kindness Female entrepreneurship and funding Supporting frontline teams AI as a force for good Why compassion and patience are becoming essential leadership skills This is a conversation about what happens when success alone is no longer enough, and how purpose, kindness and continuous growth can lead us to make an even greater difference, genuinely changing lives for the better. Connect with Carmel on LinkedIn - Connect with Carmel: 🔹 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmel-jane-saulbrey-256a9526/ 🔹 Website: www.kindnesscode.co.uk 🔹 Podcast: The Kindness Code (available on all major podcast platforms) 🔹 Instagram & Facebook: The Kindness Code 🔗 Connect with Mary: marygregory.com 📣 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marygregory 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mary_gregory/ 📰 Newsletter: Subscribe on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7029410958645059584 Link to Mary's book Ego - Get Over Yourself and Lead - https://shorturl.at/yW4LW 🎙 Want to be a guest? Get in touch! ⭐ Subscribe, share & leave a review ✨ Produced by Mary Gregory Leadership Coaching

Send us Fan Mail What happens at work when life falls apart at home? We talk openly about maternity, menopause, wellbeing and bereavement, but one major life transition remains largely invisible in many workplaces: divorce. In this episode of the She Leads Collective Podcast, I’m joined by family lawyer and partner at Taylor Walton Solicitors, Tamara Glanvill, who has spent more than 30 years helping people navigate separation, divorce and complex family transitions. Together we explore: Why divorce impacts far more than finances and legal arrangements The hidden effect on confidence, identity and wellbeing How divorce can expose inequalities around childcare, careers and the mental load Why women often face a steeper financial recovery after separation What employers can do to support people through major life transitions Tamara's own leadership journey as the youngest and only female partner in her firm This is a thoughtful conversation about leadership, communication, resilience and the realities many people are navigating behind the scenes while still showing up at work every day. Connect with Tamara on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamara-glanvill-00327718/ Visit Taylor Walton's website - https://taylorwalton.co.uk/ 🔗 Connect with Mary: marygregory.com 📣 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marygregory 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mary_gregory/ 📰 Newsletter: Subscribe on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7029410958645059584 Link to Mary's book Ego - Get Over Yourself and Lead - https://shorturl.at/yW4LW 🎙 Want to be a guest? Get in touch! ⭐ Subscribe, share & leave a review ✨ Produced by Mary Gregory Leadership Coaching

Send us Fan Mail This week on the She Leads Collective Podcast, I'm joined by women's health advocate, senior leader and Co-Chair of Menopause Mandate, Tina Backhouse. Tina's story is extraordinary. After losing both parents as a baby and growing up in care, she developed a resilience and self-belief that would later help her build a successful leadership career and become one of the UK's most passionate voices for women's health. In this powerful conversation we explore: • Tina's journey from a children's home to senior leadership • Why she believes resilience is a leadership superpower • The courageous decision to leave a highly successful career and follow her purpose • Why women's health is still misunderstood, underfunded and under-prioritised • The link between women's health, careers and gender equality • What organisations can do to better support women at work • The work of Menopause Mandate and the future of women's health advocacy This is a conversation about leadership, purpose, inequality and creating a world where women no longer have to suffer in silence. A must-listen for leaders, HR professionals, policy makers and anyone who cares about gender equity. Connect with Tina on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-backhouse/ Visit Menopause Mandate's website - https://www.menopausemandate.com/ 🔗 Connect with Mary: marygregory.com 📣 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marygregory 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mary_gregory/ 📰 Newsletter: Subscribe on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7029410958645059584 Link to Mary's book Ego - Get Over Yourself and Lead - https://shorturl.at/yW4LW 🎙 Want to be a guest? Get in touch! ⭐ Subscribe, share & leave a review ✨ Produced by Mary Gregory Leadership Coaching