249: The Preparation Playbook: How to Prepare for Senior Leadership in Tech with Chaitra Vedullapalli
Release Date: 05/06/2025
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_outlineCould 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. Whether you're early in your leadership path or preparing for your next big leap, this episode will give you the tools to show up like you're already in the role.
“Leadership isn't a title. It's a state of readiness. You have to prepare. You have to position yourself as a contributor for driving transformation. You show up.” — Chaitra Vedullapalli
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- Why planning and preparing are not the same—and which one actually gets you promoted
- How to develop business acumen and build strategic relationships
- Ways to leverage your network and become a rock of trust
- How to practice authentic self-advocacy without feeling like you're "too much"
- The power of socializing your ideas before you get to the meeting
- Daily leadership habits that quietly build influence and compound over time
- What it means to position yourself as VP or GM material—and how to prove it
- And more!
What’s in your Preparation Playbook?
This episode is your invitation to think bigger—and act bolder. What habits, relationships, and mindset shifts are still missing from your leadership journey?
If you’ve been wondering how to bridge the gap between where you are and where you want to be—this is where you start.
**Useful links**
- Connect with today’s guest and sponsor, Chaitra:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chaitrav/
- Chaitra’s current read: The Holy Grail of Investing by Tony Robbins, Christopher Zook
- 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/episode249
- 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.
This episode was supported by Gldn Agency.. Thank you Gldn for helping to bring Leading Women in Tech to this community!