271: Leaning In: Navigating Leadership, Authenticity, and Growth as Women in Tech with Leila Kassner
Release Date: 10/07/2025
277: URGENT UPDATE: What’s Really Happening in the 2025 Tech Job Market (AI, Hiring & Recruiter Insights)
Leading Women in Tech Podcast
AI is changing how people get hired — and it’s happening fast. In this episode of Leading Women in Tech, Dr. Toni Collis sits down with Nicole Bugenske, a recruiter from Robert Half, to unpack what’s really going on in the 2025 tech job market. From fake résumés and AI-generated cover letters to the rise of quiet hiring and risk-averse employers — we’re breaking down what job seekers and hiring managers need to know right now. Learn how to stand out as the human signal in a sea of AI, what recruiters are really looking for, and how to future-proof your career in tech leadership. If...
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276: Busy ≠ Valuable: How to Prioritize Work That Gets You Promoted
Leading Women in Tech Podcast
http://tonicollis.com/how-to-prioritize-work-to-get-promoted/If your calendar is overflowing but your career feels stuck, this episode is for you. You’re not alone in the busyness trap. For so many high-achieving women in tech, doing more has always felt like the way to get ahead — but it’s not what gets you promoted. In this episode of the Leading Women in Tech Podcast, we’re unpacking the truth behind prioritizing impactful work, the hidden gap between performance and promotion, and how to build the kind of executive presence that actually gets noticed. If you’re ready to stop...
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275: Leading Without a Title: Michele Doyle on Cross-Functional Influence, AI, and Recognition
Leading Women in Tech Podcast
How do you lead with impact—before you ever get the title? In this episode, I sit down with Michele Doyle, VP of Data & Analytics at Senos, to explore what it means to lead from the crossroads of engineering, operations, and strategy. Michele shares her unconventional journey from psychology to tech leadership, how to lead with influence before you're formally given the title, and what it takes to build trust, safety, and innovation in complex teams—especially in non-obvious tech spaces like fermentation. You’ll hear about: ◾How to step into strategic leadership without the title...
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274: How to Stop Overthinking at Work: Tools for Clear, Confident Leadership Decisions
Leading Women in Tech Podcast
When was the last time you rewrote an email six times before hitting send? Or spiraled through a decision long after it needed to be made? If you’ve ever been told “you’re overthinking it,” you’re not alone — and you’re not failing. Overthinking at work is often the result of high pressure, perfectionism, and internalized leadership expectations — especially for high-achieving women in male-dominated spaces. But here’s the truth: overthinking isn’t helping you get promoted. It’s quietly chipping away at your executive presence and leadership impact. In this episode,...
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273: Lead with Confidence: Building Teams That Don’t Need You – with Sandy Motley
Leading Women in Tech Podcast
Can your team thrive without you in the room? And what does it really take to lead with confidence in a male-dominated industry? In this episode, I sit down with Sandy Motley, Senior VP at Nokia and former President of Fixed Networks, to talk about what it means to lead a high-performing team without overfunctioning—and how to build trust, autonomy, and strategic impact into your leadership style. We explore: ⏹ How to build a team that doesn’t need you to function ⏹ What executive leadership looks like beyond control and perfectionism ⏹ Why inclusive leadership drives innovation in...
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272: Should You Stay, Go, or Redesign Your Role? How to Know When It’s Time to Exit
Leading Women in Tech Podcast
Is It Time to Leave? How to Know If You’ve Outgrown Your Role (Without Burning It All Down) 🔗 Take the free “What’s Holding You Back?” Diagnostic → You’re a high-achiever. You don’t quit easily. But lately… something feels off. Maybe you’re exhausted. Or uninspired. Or quietly wondering if you’ve outgrown your current role—or even the company entirely. In this episode of Leading Women in Tech, we’re digging into the career stagnation signs that high-performing women often ignore. Whether you’re wrestling with golden handcuffs, chronic burnout, or a growing sense...
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271: Leaning In: Navigating Leadership, Authenticity, and Growth as Women in Tech with Leila Kassner
Leading Women in Tech Podcast
What does it really take to rise to senior leadership as a woman in tech—without burning out, compromising who you are, or constantly second-guessing your worth? In this episode of Leading Women in Tech, I’m joined by Leila Kassner, COO at Boku, to explore the power of authentic leadership, how to lean in without losing yourself, and what it means to build a career that blends impact, inclusion, and integrity. We cover: Her career journey from entry-level to executive The challenge of being heard in male-dominated rooms How to self-advocate without overworking Lessons in balancing...
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270: When Your Boss Doesn’t Listen: How to Shift from Frustrated to Heard
Leading Women in Tech Podcast
Your boss isn’t listening. You’re delivering results, showing up in meetings, and sharing smart insights — but somehow, it feels like your voice never lands. In this episode of Leading Women in Tech, we’re diving into the deeper reasons why high-performing women are overlooked, unheard, or dismissed — and what to do about it. We’ll explore how to shift perception, develop executive presence, and lead with influence (without becoming someone you’re not). You’ll learn: ✅ The hidden dynamics that cause leaders to tune you out ✅ The performance vs. perception trap (and how to...
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269: Big Vision Without Burnout: How to Lead Without Overwhelm with Jackie Peters
Leading Women in Tech Podcast
You don’t need a degree—or a perfect plan—to lead with vision. In this episode, I’m joined by Jackie Peters, startup founder and longtime tech innovator, for a powerful conversation on how to lead boldly, build something meaningful, and move forward—even when you don’t feel 100% ready. With 25+ years of experience across mobile gaming, AI-powered healthcare, and privacy-preserving data analytics, Jackie brings a rare mix of visionary thinking, human-centered leadership, and strategic clarity. We talk about building confidence in uncharted territory, trusting your instincts, and...
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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...
info_outlineWhat does it really take to rise to senior leadership as a woman in tech—without burning out, compromising who you are, or constantly second-guessing your worth?
In this episode of Leading Women in Tech, I’m joined by Leila Kassner, COO at Boku, to explore the power of authentic leadership, how to lean in without losing yourself, and what it means to build a career that blends impact, inclusion, and integrity.
We cover:
- Her career journey from entry-level to executive
- The challenge of being heard in male-dominated rooms
- How to self-advocate without overworking
- Lessons in balancing ambition with wellbeing
- Why emotional intelligence is a leadership superpower
- The DEI strategies making a real difference at Boku
- How to speak up, create cultural change, and mentor the next generation
Whether you're climbing the career ladder, managing self-doubt, or trying to build a more inclusive culture from the inside—you’ll find both inspiration and practical insight in this conversation.
Connect with Leila: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leila-kassner-3a2b4a19/
Leila’s current read: The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
👇 Book a free strategy call to explore how executive coaching can help you lead with clarity, confidence, and authenticity:
https://tonicollis.com/lets-chat
This episode was sponsored by Boku. Thank you Leila and Boku for helping to bring Leading Women in Tech to this community!