Episode 005: The Advantage Women Overlook but Men Master
Release Date: 09/13/2025
Episode 006: Is There a Path to Your Success?
Dreams and Ladders
Episode 6: Is There a Path to Your Success? Have you ever wondered if there’s actually a path to success in your organization or if the ladder is missing a few rungs? In this episode, Lori Kranenburg explores the fifth topic in her series “Five Things I Wish I Knew Sooner”—organizational awareness—and how understanding the system you work in can make or break your career advancement. Lori shares a story from early in her policing career when opportunities for women were few and far between. Even when multiple women applied for specialized positions, the outcome made it clear that the...
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Episode 005: The Advantage Women Overlook but Men Master
Dreams and Ladders
Episode 5: The Advantage Women Overlook but Men Master For too long, women in male-dominated professions have been told the only way forward is to “go it alone”, to prove themselves without help, support, or community. But here’s the truth: the greatest advantage men have always had isn’t their talent, it’s their networks. In this episode, Lori takes you inside the “hidden edge” that has the power to change your leadership journey: collaboration over competition. From lessons sparked by GI Jane to real-life breakthroughs in policing, Lori shares how women can transform their...
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Episode 004: Coaching or Mentoring? Which is Better?
Dreams and Ladders
Episode 4: Coaching or Mentoring? Which is Better? Have you ever felt like everyone else got the secret instruction manual for career success except you? In this episode of Dreams and Ladders, I share my own journey of searching for guidance in two male-dominated professions, and why the lack of mentorship often left me feeling like I was piecing together a recipe with missing ingredients. We’ll explore: · Why mentorship is powerful for career advancement and why it can be harder for women to access. · How to find...
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Episode 003: Why Being Smart Isn’t Enough to Get Promoted
Dreams and Ladders
Episode 003: Why Being Smart Isn’t Enough to Get Promoted You’ve worked hard, gotten the right education, and built strong technical skills. But here’s the truth: being smart and doing your job well isn’t always what gets you promoted. In this episode, Lori shares why relying on performance alone can keep you stuck—and what skills you actually need to rise into leadership. Drawing from her own experiences in both policing and the military, Lori unpacks the critical difference between being seen as a high performer versus being recognized as high potential. She explains why technical...
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Episode 002: Are You Going to Paint Your Office Pink?
Dreams and Ladders
Show Notes: Dreams and Ladders – Episode 2 Host: Lori Kranenburg Episode Overview: In this episode, Lori shares a story from her own leadership journey — a moment when a throwaway comment from a new boss revealed deeper biases about women in leadership. She explores how internal voices, societal programming, and external opinions can chip away at a woman’s self-worth if left unchecked. Through personal examples, from military training to competitive sport, Lori unpacks how to challenge limiting beliefs, reframe negative self-talk, and filter whose feedback truly matters. This episode is...
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Episode 001: Five Things I Wish I Knew
Dreams and Ladders
Show Notes: Dreams and Ladders – Episode 1 Host: Lori Kranenburg Episode Overview: In this debut episode, Lori shares her personal journey navigating male-dominated professions over 30+ years. She discusses the challenges women face in the workplace, from microaggressions to systemic barriers, and introduces the mission of Dreams and Ladders: empowering women to rise as leaders and close the gender gap. Key Topics Covered: Lori’s motivation for starting the podcast and her background The reality of entering the workforce as a woman in male-dominated fields The World Economic Forum’s...
info_outlineEpisode 5: The Advantage Women Overlook but Men Master
For too long, women in male-dominated professions have been told the only way forward is to “go it alone”, to prove themselves without help, support, or community. But here’s the truth: the greatest advantage men have always had isn’t their talent, it’s their networks.
In this episode, Lori takes you inside the “hidden edge” that has the power to change your leadership journey: collaboration over competition. From lessons sparked by GI Jane to real-life breakthroughs in policing, Lori shares how women can transform their careers by leaning into support networks, mentoring, and coaching each other instead of competing for scraps.
You’ll discover:
- Why avoiding women-only networks may actually be holding you back
- How “see one, do one, teach one” can become your leadership mantra
- The game-changing difference between competing and collaborating with other women
- Practical ways to prepare for promotions and interviews together and why it works
If you’ve ever felt like you had to do everything on your own, this episode will show you why the opposite is true. Your biggest strength lies in connection.
✨ If this episode resonates, share it with another woman who’s ready to rise. Together, we can level the playing field and lead with confidence.