220: Supporting New Moms in Tech: Balancing Career and Motherhood with Vanessa Jupe
Release Date: 10/01/2024
244: From Founder to CEO: Startup Rhythm and Leadership Lessons with Leslie Fine
Leading Women in Tech Podcast
Have you ever wondered what separates a great founder from a great CEO? Or how some startups seem to move effortlessly while others struggle to find their footing? In this episode, I sit down with Leslie Fine, Managing Partner at Enjoy The Work, to unpack the transition from founder to CEO. Leslie shares hard-earned lessons from her own journey—starting in academia and moving into startup leadership—and reveals the essential skills every aspiring CEO needs. From mastering the rhythm of a startup to navigating fundraising and leadership challenges, this episode is packed with insights for...
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243: Struggling to Be Heard? Master Leadership Communication Strategies and Coach Upwards
Leading Women in Tech Podcast
Are you struggling to feel heard in meetings and frustrated by misaligned conversations with your boss or team? In a world where 70% of workplace mistakes stem from communication breakdowns, your voice isn't just a tool—it's your leadership superpower. But if you’re not using it effectively, you risk misalignment, micromanagement, and stalled progress. In this episode, I dive into the strategies you need to master leadership communication, coach upwards, and navigate challenging workplace dynamics. You'll hear about Sarah, a leader who transformed her relationship with a micromanaging boss...
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242: Turning Imposter Syndrome into Your Secret Weapon
Leading Women in Tech Podcast
Struggling with imposter syndrome? You’re not alone. Many high-achievers experience self-doubt, but what if imposter syndrome wasn’t a weakness—but a hidden strength? In this episode, I explore how to reframe imposter syndrome as your superpower and how this surprising tool can help you with career growth, resilience, and innovation. Learn how to shift your mindset, overcome perfectionism, and use imposter syndrome to fuel success rather than fear. Whether you're dealing with self-doubt at work, in leadership, or in creative pursuits, these strategies will help you turn imposter syndrome...
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241: Thinking Like an Executive: Setting Priorities as an Executive
Leading Women in Tech Podcast
Have you ever wondered how executives spend their time? Early in our careers, it’s easy to assume they just sit in meetings and make decisions from the sidelines. But as you move up, you quickly realize that great leadership isn’t about doing individual tasks—it’s about setting the vision, making strategic decisions, and enabling your team to execute effectively. In today’s episode, I break down what high-performing executives actually spend their time on and how you can start thinking like one—whether you're an aspiring leader or already in an executive role. I dive into: ...
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240: Breaking Barriers: How Cultural Identity Drives Innovation in STEM Leadership with Adaeze Iloeje-Udeogalanya
Leading Women in Tech Podcast
In this episode, I sit down with Adaeze Iloeje-Udeogalanya, a trailblazing STEM leader, engineer, and advocate for diversity in STEM. From her early years in Nigeria to her leadership role in the U.S. energy sector, Adaeze shares how she navigated challenges, broke barriers, and turned her cultural identity into a powerful asset for innovation and leadership. We explore the role of mentorship, representation, and community in career success, along with her mission to uplift African women in STEM. Whether you're an aspiring engineer, a STEM professional, or a leader looking to foster diverse...
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239: The Hidden Power of Sales: Why Every Executive Needs to Understand The Sales Org in 2025 with Colleen Watson
Leading Women in Tech Podcast
Sales aren’t just for salespeople—they play a crucial role in the success of every part of an organization. In this episode, I sit down with extraordinary sales leader Colleen Watson to explore why every executive, regardless of department, needs to understand the sales function for leadership effectiveness and long-term business growth. Whether you’re directly in sales or not, this conversation will change the way you think about leadership, influence, and driving business success. Join us! We dive into: How sales impacts every part of an organization and drives executive alignment Why...
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238: Thinking Like an Executive: From Firefighter to Strategist
Leading Women in Tech Podcast
Thinking like an executive means moving from reactive to strategic leadership, making confident decisions, and focusing on long-term impact. In part two of my series on executive mindset, I’m shifting from how executive presence feels to what you do when you embody it. I explore the story of Sarah, a Director of Engineering who went from constant firefighting to executive thinking—and earned a promotion in just eight months. You'll learn how to embrace strategic pauses, delegate effectively, and develop the confidence to make high-impact decisions. Plus, I break down the shift from being a...
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237: The Missing Leadership Skill: How Facilitation Transforms Modern Leadership with Therese Miclot
Leading Women in Tech Podcast
Have you ever wondered what it takes to become a true change agent as a leader? Or how to future-proof your leadership career in 2025 and beyond? In a world where technical skills alone are no longer enough, the ability to facilitate conversations, drive alignment, and unlock the potential of teams has become the missing piece in modern leadership. Today’s guest, Therese Miclot, shares the one skill that sets impactful leaders apart: facilitation. We explore why facilitation is essential for scaling organizations, fostering engagement, and leading with impact—and provide practical tips on...
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236: The Executive Mindset Gap Part 1: Why You’re Struggling to Think Like an Executive
Leading Women in Tech Podcast
Why do so many of us struggle to “think like an executive”? If you’ve ever felt like you’re not quite hitting the mark, that people aren’t listening to you, or that you’re constantly scrambling, this series is for you. In part 1 of my executive mindset gap series, I dive into the foundation of executive mindset: executive presence. I explore the common misconceptions, the impact of imposter syndrome, and why "faking it" can lead to burnout. Join me to learn how to develop an authentic executive mindset, build self-awareness, and take the uncomfortable actions that will set you...
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235: Why You May Be Overlooking Your Emotional Intelligence Needs
Leading Women in Tech Podcast
You don’t want to overlook the emotional intelligence aspect of your leadership in 2025! Leaders with high emotional intelligence (EQ) are more likely to foster greater employee satisfaction and achieve up to 20% higher productivity. Yet, many leaders overestimate their EQ. In this episode, I explore why emotional intelligence is vital for modern leadership and how you might be falling short in surprising ways. Join me as I explore the link between emotional intelligence in leadership and leadership success, including the connection to employee retention, team performance, and overall...
info_outlineIn this episode, I’m joined by Vanessa Jupe, CEO and founder of Leva, a company dedicated to supporting mothers in the workplace. Vanessa shares her insights on the challenges new moms face, from identity loss to the cognitive and emotional impacts of motherhood, and the feelings of loneliness that often come with it. We discuss how to normalize conversations about what happens when someone has a child and explore holistic support systems for new parents, including mental health resources, lactation support, career coaching, and more. Vanessa also highlights the high rate of women leaving the workforce within a year of having a baby and the economic impact on companies.
Ready to discover how organizations can better support new moms to thrive at work and learn practical strategies for balancing career and motherhood? Join us.
We dive into:
- Normalizing conversations about the impact of motherhood on workplace morale and performance
- Holistic support systems for new parents: mental health resources, lactation support, nutrition, career coaching, and sleep
- The measurable benefits of companies supporting new moms
- Addressing gender bias and the importance of supporting non-birthing parents and all caregivers in the workplace
- Practical tips for new moms, including the importance of community, flexibility, and creating a re-entry plan after maternity leave
- And more
**Useful links**
- Connect with today’s guest, Vanessa Jupe:
- Vanessa’s current read: National Park Mystery Series
- 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/episode220
- 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.