249: The Preparation Playbook: How to Prepare for Senior Leadership in Tech with Chaitra Vedullapalli
Release Date: 05/06/2025
268: Boundaries for Women in Leadership: How to Lead Without Burning Out
Leading Women in Tech Podcast
You’re overdelivering. Everyone relies on you. But you’re exhausted—and no closer to the promotion or recognition you deserve. If you're stuck in overfunctioning, feeling responsible for everyone, or afraid to say no—this episode is your permission slip to lead differently. Join us as we explore how boundaries aren’t just helpful—they’re essential for executive presence, sustainable leadership, and getting recognized at work. You’ll walk away with the mindset shifts, scripts, and practical tools to reclaim your time, your strategic focus—and your path to promotion. 💡 Want...
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267: AI, Investment & Impact: Why Women’s Leadership Must Shape the Future with Susan Sly
Leading Women in Tech Podcast
What if the key to unlocking the next wave of tech innovation lies in the hands of the entrepreneurs receiving the least funding? There's a fascinating paradox in today's tech landscape: women-led startups are 63% more likely to succeed and have higher chances of becoming unicorns, yet they're receiving less venture capital funding than ever before. This gap represents not just missed opportunities, but untapped potential that could reshape entire industries. In this inspiring conversation, tech entrepreneur and AI pioneer Susan Sly reveals the uncomfortable truths about Silicon Valley's old...
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266: AI Leadership Strategy: Stop Dabbling and Start Leading with AI
Leading Women in Tech Podcast
Did you know most teams using AI are actually moving slower? Lots of teams are testing AI tools—but not seeing the payoff. Why? Because tools alone don’t create results. In this episode, I break down what AI-Ready Leadership actually looks like and how to drive real results. You’ll learn how to create an AI Leadership Strategy that drives results, how to avoid the pitfalls of reactive adoption, and how to position yourself as a future-ready leader with AI who can scale output, protect market share, and accelerate your career. I’ll also cover why team sizes will shrink, how to lead with...
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265: Be Yourself. Believe in Yourself. Build Big Things with Anna Belova
Leading Women in Tech Podcast
Have you ever felt like you couldn't lead in tech because you didn't come from a technical background? This week's guest, Anna Belova, is living proof that non-technical leaders can build cutting-edge tech companies and thrive in the most technical industries. Anna is a serial entrepreneur and CEO who has built multiple successful companies in AR and AI - including selling over 15 million AR books for kids worldwide and creating one of the leading web XR platforms used by Google and Meta. Her secret? She's never written a single line of code, and she wouldn't have it any other way. In this...
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264: Why You’re Not Getting Promoted (Even When You’re Overperforming)
Leading Women in Tech Podcast
You’re doing all the right things—delivering results, taking initiative, working harder than ever. So why are you still being passed over for promotion? In this episode, I’m breaking down the real reason high-performing women in tech get overlooked for executive roles—and how to shift from being overlooked to being seen as a strategic leader so you can take the next step toward your promotion with clarity and confidence. "Performance doesn't equal promotion. If you're delivering results but still being overlooked, you're playing the wrong game—and it's time to learn how to play...
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263: Breaking Out of Your Comfort Zone: Emily Dinu on Mindset, Grit, and Preparing for Venture Funding
Leading Women in Tech Podcast
Ready to raise venture funding—but wondering if you’re actually ready to lead at that level? In this inspiring and honest conversation, I sit down with Emily Dinu, founder and CEO of Numinous Capital, to explore what VCs really look for—and what kind of leadership mindset shifts are essential to succeed as a founder in today’s market. We go deep on the emotional and strategic prep work that’s required to lead through uncertainty, communicate vision clearly, and move forward with grit and clarity—even when you feel uncomfortable or underqualified. What You’ll Learn in This...
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262: How to Disagree with Your Boss and Not Lose Your Job
Leading Women in Tech Podcast
Want to speak up at work—without risking your reputation or your sanity? In this episode, we’re diving into one of the most uncomfortable (and essential) leadership skills: how to disagree with your boss professionally. Whether you’re navigating power dynamics, trying to avoid “yes culture,” or just want to be heard in meetings—this episode gives you the mindset, strategy, and scripts you need. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Preparing for difficult conversations with clarity Using respectful dissent to earn trust Handling pushback with emotional intelligence When to stand...
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261: Leading Smarter, Not Harder with Amber Winter
Leading Women in Tech Podcast
What if the smartest thing you could do as a leader... was make yourself unnecessary? In an era where AI is changing how we work and lead, tech executive Amber Winter proves that success isn’t about working harder—it’s about working smarter. From her start as a marketing coordinator to becoming CEO in just eight years, Amber shares how she’s used continuous learning, smart delegation, and artificial intelligence to lead high-performing teams without burning out. In this episode, she opens up about what it really takes to scale your leadership while staying human in a...
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260: How to Be Professionally Blunt (Without Being Rude) | Leadership Communication Skills for Women in Tech
Leading Women in Tech Podcast
Have you ever sugarcoated feedback to avoid hurting someone’s feelings? Or avoided a tough conversation because it just felt too uncomfortable? In this episode of Leading Women in Tech, I’m diving into how to be professionally blunt—the leadership communication skill that will help you be more respected, more effective, and build high-performing teams with less confusion and more trust. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why we default to vague or “nice” communication The high cost of avoiding direct conversations What professional bluntness actually looks like (hint: it’s...
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259: From Startup to Strategy: How to Spot Strategic Gaps & Lead with Confidence with Ashley Wright
Leading Women in Tech Podcast
Are you missing the strategic blind spots that could unlock your next big move? What if the key to leveling up your leadership wasn’t in working harder—but in thinking more strategically? In this episode, we sit down with serial entrepreneur and strategy expert Ashley Wright, who shares how to spot the hidden gaps that slow teams down—and how to shift from reactive mode to confident, forward-thinking leadership. With stories from her time at General Mills, launching an AI-driven startup in the green industry, and guiding founders through major pivots, Ashley brings a rare...
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!