In this reflective episode of Lead to Soar, Susan Colantuono, Michelle Redfern, and Mel Butcher look back on 2020 and examine what the year revealed about leadership, gender, power, and whose work is valued.
The conversation goes beyond a recap. It interrogates how the pandemic exposed structural inequities already embedded in workplaces, economies, and leadership systems, particularly for women and women of colour.
Key themes explored include:
What 2020 revealed about gendered labour, care work, and economic vulnerability
Trailblazing women and the cost of being “first”
Hostile workplaces, visibility, and the pet-to-threat dynamic
Leadership accountability in times of crisis
The long-term consequences of short-term policy decisions
Why representation in decision-making roles changes outcomes
The episode also reflects on the evolution of Lead to Soar as a leadership platform and network, shaped by the lived experiences, questions, and contributions of its members during an unstable year.
This conversation sets the context for the work ahead. It is about judgment, systems, and the conditions required for women to reach their full potential at work.
If this episode was useful, there are three simple ways to go further:
Subscribe on Substack
This is now the home of the Lead to Soar podcast. Subscribers get new episodes, curated guidance from the back catalogue, and written insights to help you navigate leadership and career decisions with sound judgement.
Explore the Lead to Soar Network
Lead to Soar is a leadership development network for ambitious women and for organisations serious about closing the leadership gender gap. Members get access to group coaching, practical leadership tools, and a network of women actively advancing their careers. Explore
Share the episode
If this resonated, share it with a colleague, manager, or friend who might need it. Leadership is shaped by what we notice, name, and talk about.
