Libsyn Directory

252: How to Think Like a Leader Instead of Just Another Employee

Release Date: 05/27/2025

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

258: Freeze, Ramble, Go Silent? Coach Yourself in Real Time

Leading Women in Tech Podcast

Ever freeze mid-sentence in a meeting? Start rambling when challenged? Or walk away thinking, “Why didn’t I speak up?” You’re not alone. This episode is going to be your go-to toolkit for navigating those high-pressure moments with more clarity and confidence. In this episode, I unpack what pressure really does to high-achieving women — and more importantly, how to coach yourself through it in real time, even when your heart is racing and your voice feels like it’s vanished. If you’ve ever wanted to feel more grounded, more articulate, and more in control under fire, this...

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...

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...

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...

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...

More Episodes

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 leader instead of just doing the job.

"Leadership isn't about a job title. It's about how you approach your work, how you solve problems, and how you add value every single day." — Toni Collis

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

How to think like a leader — not just another employee
7 powerful leadership mindset shifts to help you stand out and move up
Why “just doing your job” is keeping you stuck — and what to do instead
The difference between reactive employees and strategic leaders
Career growth strategies for women in tech who want more influence and impact
How to stop waiting for direction and start driving innovation
Why letting go of tasks is a leadership skill — not a weakness
The leadership thinking that reduces burnout and increases fulfillment
And more

Ready to make the shift from employee to leader?

Hit play and start building the leadership mindset that opens doors — for you and those around you.

**Useful links**

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/episode252
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.

TOPICS