247: What’s Holding You Back? Mary Rombaut on Solving the Barriers to Your Next Big Step
Release Date: 04/22/2025
257: The Job Market Shift: A Playbook for Landing Your Next Role As A Woman in Tech
Leading Women in Tech Podcast
Are you wasting precious time in your job search without realizing it? In today’s volatile job market, especially for women in tech, using the wrong strategies can cost you months of progress—and countless missed opportunities. Before you polish that resume or fire off another LinkedIn message, hit pause. This episode lays out the real dynamics of today’s job market and gives you a proven playbook to navigate it with clarity, confidence, and intention. We dig into the tough truths about what’s changed, why old advice doesn’t work anymore, and how women in tech can stand out by...
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256: No More Crickets: The Networking Strategy That Lands Jobs in 2025
Leading Women in Tech Podcast
Are you still sending out resumes and hearing nothing but crickets? If you're stuck in the old "apply and hope" cycle, it's time to break out. The job market in 2025 rewards the networked, not just the qualified. Most people think of networking as a time-consuming chore or an awkward event—what if it's actually your most powerful leadership tool? Whether you're actively job hunting or simply keeping your options open, your network is your future. And it doesn’t require hours of small talk or massive LinkedIn posts. It’s about small, intentional actions that open doors. In this...
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255: What Happens When You Don’t Want the CEO Job… But Take It Anyway – with Christine Spang
Leading Women in Tech Podcast
Are you a reluctant CEO? Telling yourself you're not CEO material? What if the story you've been telling yourself is the only thing holding you back from stepping into a powerful new chapter? Christine Spang never set out to become a CEO. As the co-founder and longtime CTO of Nylas, she spent over a decade in the trenches—coding, building, and deeply involved in the work on the ground. But when the time came to lead the company, she said yes... even though she didn’t think she fit the mold. In this raw, insightful episode, Christine shares what it really looks like to evolve from hands-on...
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254: The Invisible Load: Leadership Shouldn’t Cost Your Wellbeing
Leading Women in Tech Podcast
Are you doing everything “right” at work—and still being told it’s not enough? If you're constantly overdelivering but still feel like you're falling short, you're not alone. For women in leadership—especially in tech—there’s often a hidden, unspoken weight we carry: the emotional labor, the expectations to nurture, lead, represent, and accommodate. This invisible workload isn't part of your job description, but it shapes how you lead, how you’re perceived, and how your executive presence is judged. Let’s talk about what that invisible load really is—and why it’s quietly...
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253: Standing Her Ground: Sophronia McKenzie on Assertiveness and Leadership in Tech
Leading Women in Tech Podcast
Have you ever wondered how the most grounded leaders stay true to themselves—especially when the room wasn’t built for them? In this episode, we’re talking about what it really takes to lead with confidence, clarity, and purpose. Sophronia McKenzie—tech founder, CEO, and unapologetically authentic leader—joins us to share how assertiveness, resilience, and authenticity have powered her rise from arriving in the U.S. with $100 to leading her own successful tech company. We talk about what it really takes to thrive as a female leader in tech—from building resilience during seasons of...
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252: How to Think Like a Leader Instead of Just Another Employee
Leading Women in Tech Podcast
You don’t need permission to lead. Real leadership starts in your mindset — not in your job description. If you're ready to break free from "employee thinking" and step into the career growth you deserve, this episode is your blueprint. In this episode, I explore the subtle but powerful leadership mindset shifts that will help you stand out at work, grow your influence, and accelerate your career — especially as a woman in tech. From breaking out of reactive mode to owning ambiguity and thinking beyond your paycheck, we’re diving into 7 key mindset shifts that help you think like a...
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251: 10 Lessons I Wish I Knew 20 Years Ago: Elisabeth Bykoff’s Advice for Women in Leadership
Leading Women in Tech Podcast
What if the only thing standing between you and the career you dream of… is the belief that you're not ready yet? Far too many brilliant women delay bold moves, silenced by doubt or the weight of invisible barriers. In this powerful episode, Elisabeth Bykoff—seasoned consultant, startup leader, and now founder—opens up about the 10 game-changing lessons she wishes she knew two decades ago. From navigating bias in male-dominated industries and silencing self-doubt, to building a strong network of mentors and allies, Elisabeth shares the candid truths behind her leadership journey, the...
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250: Leading Through Change
Leading Women in Tech Podcast
What if change is the moment you’ve been preparing for as a leader? The best leaders don’t just survive change—they harness it to propel themselves and their teams forward. In a world where change is constant, your ability to lead through it isn’t just valuable—it’s vital. How you respond to change can either reinforce trust, inspire action, and spark innovation… or leave your team drifting. In this episode, I unpack why change isn’t something to dread—but something to embrace. You'll discover how to recognize resistance (in yourself and others), reframe your mindset around...
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249: The Preparation Playbook: How to Prepare for Senior Leadership in Tech with Chaitra Vedullapalli
Leading Women in Tech Podcast
Could your next big career move be one preparation habit away? Most people plan for leadership—but the ones who actually get there prepare differently. In this episode, Chaitra Vedullapalli—tech executive, entrepreneur, and President of Women in Cloud—breaks down what it really takes to rise into senior leadership roles like VP or GM in the tech world. From building business acumen to learning how to self-advocate without losing your authenticity, Chaitra shares the preparation playbook that helped her lead transformative initiatives and open economic access for thousands of women....
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248: Recognizing the Signs: Identifying Early Indicators of Burnout
Leading Women in Tech Podcast
Are you silently burning out—and don’t even realize it? Burnout isn’t always loud. Sometimes, it’s the quiet fatigue, the creeping cynicism, or the missed moments of joy that tell the real story. Whether you're a woman in tech leadership, or someone simply trying to do it all, this episode is your wake-up call. I’m breaking down the early emotional, physical, behavioral, cognitive, and workplace signs of burnout—and more importantly, how to address them before they lead to long-term damage. Plus, I debunk the myth that burnout means you’re not strong enough—it actually means...
info_outlineWondering if it’s time to leave your job, launch your business, or finally take that big leap?
In this powerful episode, I talk with Mary Rombaut, startup founder and working mom of three, about how to overcome fear, escape toxic work environments, and take bold, intentional steps in your career. Within just 12 months, Mary made two major career changes while raising young children—and built her company Recommenda to help entrepreneurs make smarter marketing tech decisions.
We explore how to let go of what’s no longer serving you, how to balance career and personal life, and how to move forward with clarity and confidence. Whether you're a leader, entrepreneur, or simply at a crossroads in your professional journey, this conversation will challenge you to face your fears—and take action.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- How to recognize fear and self-doubt as the biggest barriers to career growth
- How to leave a toxic job without guilt—and why job tenure isn’t always a strength
- Mary’s mindset and system for managing time and energy while launching a startup
- Why mission-driven leadership and intentional career moves matter more than ever
- How to ask for help, build your village, and lean into support as a leader
- Advice for new entrepreneurs and leaders considering their next big career step
- The importance of self-belief, personal investment, and strategic decision-making
- How to balance being a parent, professional, and startup founder without burning out
- And more!
“Fall into your fears. You have to own them—you have to acknowledge them. The sooner you start falling into them, the growth and the amazing achievements are really going to start.” – Mary Rombaut
What's Stopping You From Taking the Next Step?
Listen now and start taking action on your next bold move-–and share with a friend who’s stuck in indecision or dreaming about something bigger.
**Useful links**
- Connect with today’s guest and sponsor, Mary:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-rombaut-ed-d-363bb621
- Reommenda: www.yourrecommenda.com
- R-Squared Solutions: www.r-squaredsolutionsllc.com
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@yourrecommenda
- Mary’s current read: The Six Wives of Henry VIII by Alison Weir
- 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/episode247
- 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.