256: No More Crickets: The Networking Strategy That Lands Jobs in 2025
Release Date: 06/24/2025
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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
info_outlineAre 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 episode, I dive deep into why networking—with intention and strategy—is your most important asset in the 2025 job market. From connecting with recruiters to rethinking how you engage with your peers, you’ll walk away with practical ways to shift from invisible to irresistible.
“Networking doesn’t have to take a lot of time. It’s small, consistent action every single day.” — Toni Collis
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- Why job seekers are hearing crickets in today’s market
- How “micro-networking” fits into a busy schedule—even with a full-time job
- The difference between transactional networking and genuine connection
- How to reframe discomfort around networking and make it part of your leadership identity
- A step-by-step networking recipe for 2025 that actually works
- The powerful role of recruiters and how to build meaningful connections with them
- Tools and systems to stay organized and follow up effectively
- How to use your existing network to create new opportunities
- And more!
Want to take this further?
Try reaching out to just one person today with a genuine message—and track your follow-up. Need a tool? Use a simple spreadsheet or personal CRM to manage your outreach.
**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/episode256
- 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.