In this Lead to Soar Podcast episode, Michelle Redfern and Mel Butcher focus on strategic networking as a core career capability, not a personality trait.
They walk through five networking fundamentals that consistently shape career progression for women, particularly in systems where access, sponsorship, and informal influence matter as much as performance.
The conversation covers:
Why networking should be intentional, not transactional
How to build relationships that create opportunity rather than obligation
The difference between visibility, connection, and influence
How to stop over-giving and start using networks strategically
This episode reframes networking as career infrastructure and offers practical guidance women can apply immediately, without performing extroversion or adopting inauthentic tactics.
For women asking What should I do next?, and for leaders who want to understand how careers actually progress inside organisations.
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.
