Mel Butcher And Michelle Redfern

Shows

Lead to Soar Smart Trust and Setting Boundaries: What to Do When You’re Being Thrown Under the BusIn this episode of Lead to Soar, co-hosts Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern discuss a real-world leadership challenge brought forward by a Lead to Soar Network member. “Jane,” a high-performing consultant in a matrix organization, found herself unexpectedly blamed when a project she was only lightly involved in started to unravel. Mel and Michelle use this scenario to explore the importance of establishing clear expectations, the concept of Smart Trust, and how to respond when your professional reputation is at risk. This episode is essential listening for women navigating complex work environments where visibility, influence, and trus...

2025-06-2331 min

Lead to Soar Smart Trust and Setting BoundariesIn this episode of Lead to Soar, co-hosts Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern discuss a real-world leadership challenge brought forward by a Lead to Soar Network member. “Jane,” a high-performing consultant in a matrix organisation, found herself unexpectedly blamed when a project she was only lightly involved in started to unravel.Mel and Michelle use this scenario to explore the importance of establishing clear expectations, the concept of Smart Trust, and how to respond when your professional reputation is at risk. This episode is essential listening for women navigating complex work environments where visibility, influence, and trust must...

2025-06-2331 min

Lead to Soar Opportunity Knocks: How to Take Smart Risks for Career GrowthIn this episode of Lead to Soar, hosts Michelle Redfern and Mel Butcher tackle the crucial topic of taking risks in your career. From deciding whether to apply for new roles to managing toxic work environments, the conversation covers practical strategies for assessing risks, taking bold steps, and learning from past decisions. Michelle introduces the concept of a "risk matrix" to help you evaluate career moves, while Mel shares personal insights on making big life changes. The episode also explores overcoming fear of rejection, managing workplace politics, and how to become proactive in your career growth....

2024-10-1436 min

Lead to Soar Career Compass: How to Be a Growth Leader at Every Career StageMel Butcher and Michelle Redfern are discussing growth leadership on todays episode. They explore the idea that every employee, regardless of their department or career stage, plays a critical role in driving the growth of their organization. Growth is not limited to revenue and sales—it extends to overall impact, customer satisfaction, and internal efficiency. The episode also emphasizes that leadership manifests at all levels, from early career professionals to C-suite executives. Michelle shares insights on how understanding the business of the business and aligning with organizational strategy is essential for contributing to growth.Episode Highlights:...

2024-09-2933 min

Lead to Soar Career Compass: How to Be a Growth Leader at Every Career StageMel Butcher and Michelle Redfern are discussing growth leadership on today’s episode. They explore the idea that every employee, regardless of department or career stage, plays a critical role in driving their organisation's growth. Growth is not limited to revenue and sales—it extends to overall impact, customer satisfaction, and internal efficiency. The episode also emphasises that leadership manifests at all levels, from early career professionals to C-suite executives. Michelle shares insights on how understanding the business of the business and aligning with organisational strategy is essential for contributing to growth.Episode Highlights:Growth Lead...

2024-09-2933 min

Lead to Soar Career Compass: Mastering Actionable Feedback and Overcoming Gender BiasIn this episode, Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern discuss the opportunity for leaders to learn how to provide better feedback, with a keen focus on the gender differences in feedback reception. They discuss the importance of specific, clear, and timely feedback to foster growth and avoid the pitfalls of vague critiques. Additionally, they explore the systemic biases women face, particularly in performance reviews, and offer practical strategies for managers to provide equitable and constructive feedback. The episode also touches on the often detrimental "compliment sandwich" method and the significance of avoiding personality-based feedback.Episode Highlights:

2024-09-0431 min

Lead to Soar Career Compass: Mastering Actionable Feedback and Overcoming Gender BiasIn this episode, Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern discuss how leaders can learn to provide better feedback, with a keen focus on gender differences in feedback reception. They discuss the importance of specific, clear, and timely feedback to foster growth and avoid the pitfalls of vague critiques. Additionally, they explore the systemic biases women face, particularly in performance reviews, and offer practical strategies for managers to provide equitable and constructive feedback. The episode also touches on the often-detrimental "compliment sandwich" method and the importance of avoiding personality-based feedback.Episode Highlights:Importance of Actionable Feedback: Feedback...

2024-09-0432 min

Lead to Soar Career Compass: How to Level Up Your LinkedIn GameEpisode Summary:In this episode of Lead to Soar, Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern discuss the power of LinkedIn as a strategic tool for professional women. They explore the common hesitations women face in using LinkedIn and provide actionable advice on how to effectively utilize the platform to enhance career opportunities, build networks, and establish a strong professional brand.Episode Highlights:Hesitations Women Face on LinkedIn:- Lack of time and prioritization.- Uncertainty about how to use the platform effectively.- Feelings of shyness...

2024-08-2637 min

Lead to Soar Career Compass: How to Level Up Your LinkedIn GameIn this episode of Lead to Soar, Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern discuss the power of LinkedIn as a strategic tool for professional women. They explore the common hesitations women face in using LinkedIn and provide actionable advice on how to effectively utilise the platform to enhance career opportunities, build networks, and establish a strong professional brand.Episode Highlights:Hesitations Women Face on LinkedIn:- Lack of time and prioritisation.- Uncertainty about how to use the platform effectively.- Feelings of shyness or being overwhelmed by the information...

2024-08-2637 min

Lead to Soar Career Compass: The Importance of Creating Career Paths for People to NavigateIn this episode, Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern continue their Career Compass series by discussing the importance of creating clear career paths within organisations. They explore how managers can understand their team members' career aspirations and the strategic benefits of having robust internal mobility programs. The conversation emphasises the need for leaders to foster employee growth and engagement through visible and accessible career development opportunities.Episode Highlights:Career Conversations: Regular career conversations between managers and their team members are essential to understanding their strengths and aspirations.Intrinsic Motivation: How aligning employees' intrinsic mo...

2024-08-1925 min

Lead to Soar Career Compass: The Importance of Creating Career Paths for People to NavigateIn this episode, Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern continue their Career Compass series by discussing the importance of creating clear career paths within organisations. They explore how managers can understand their team members' career aspirations and the strategic benefits of having robust internal mobility programs. The conversation emphasises the need for leaders to foster employee growth and engagement by providing visible, accessible career development opportunities.Episode Highlights:Career Conversations: Regular career conversations between managers and their team members are essential to understanding their strengths and aspirations.Intrinsic Motivation: How aligning employees' intrinsic motivations wi...

2024-08-1925 min

Lead to Soar Career Compass: How You Can Help the Next Generation of Women CEOs Navigate their CareersIn this episode of Lead to Soar, hosts Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern discuss the critical topic of navigating career advice for women aiming for CEO roles. The conversation highlights the disparity in career advice, which focuses heavily on emotional intelligence (EQ) over business intelligence (BQ) and the importance of developing BQ skills for career advancement. They share insights from successful women CEOs like Nickie Gibson and emphasise the need for actionable advice that prepares women for executive leadership roles.Episode Highlights:Career Advice Landscape: We discuss the disproportionate focus on EQ in career a...

2024-08-1226 min

Lead to Soar Is Your Manager Frozen Seeing the Old You? 3 Ways to Unfreeze Their ViewIn this episode, Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern discuss into a phenomenon hindering women's career progression. They discuss the scenario where managers, mentors, or sponsors fail to recognize the current abilities and potential of women, instead seeing them as they were in the past. This "frozen in time" perception can prevent deserving women from being considered for advancement. The hosts explore strategies women can use to overcome this barrier and offer advice to managers and mentors on how to better support their team members and mentees.Episode Highlights:Phenomenon Overview: Managers seeing women as...

2024-08-0523 min

Lead to Soar Is Your Manager Stuck on an Old Version of You?In this episode, Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern discuss into a phenomenon hindering women's career progression. They discuss the scenario where managers, mentors, or sponsors fail to recognize the current abilities and potential of women, instead seeing them as they were in the past. This "frozen in time" perception can prevent deserving women from being considered for advancement. The hosts explore strategies women can use to overcome this barrier and offer advice to managers and mentors on how to better support their team members and mentees.Episode Highlights:Phenomenon Overview: Managers see women as their o...

2024-08-0523 min

Lead to Soar "I'm Not Fixing Women and Nor Should You" -A Reading from The Leadership Compass by Michelle RedfernIn this mini-episode of Lead to Soar, Michelle Redfern, author of "The Leadership Compass," reads an excerpt from her book. Michelle emphasizes that women do not need fixing; instead, the focus should be on transforming the patriarchal systems that hinder their progress. Inspired by Catherine Fox's book "Stop Fixing Women," Michelle highlights the importance of addressing workplace policies and leadership frameworks designed for men.Episode Highlights- Systemic Change Over Individual Fixes: Women aren't the problem; the system is.- The Leadership Compass: Aims to help women navigate and change the...

2024-07-2209 min

Lead to Soar "Who Are You Called to Become?" A Reading from The Leadership Compass by Michelle RedfernIn this mini episode of Lead to Soar, Michelle Redfern, author of "The Leadership Compass," shares a reading from the book's first chapter. Michelle reflects on a transformative leadership retreat and the journey to discovering her true calling as a leader.Episode Highlights- Transformational Retreat: A pivotal 2013 leadership retreat prompted Michelle to reflect deeply with the question, "Who are you called to become?"- Self-Discovery Journey: Michelle emphasizes the importance of listening to one's inner voice, reflecting on past experiences, and understanding personal and professional growth.- Mentorship Wisdom...

2024-07-1509 min

Lead to Soar The State of Women in STEM: Leadership for the Modern Executive. with Mel Butcher & Erika Jefferson.On this episode, Mel Butcher and Erika Jefferson (founder of Black Women in Science and Engineering, BWiSE) discuss the latest on the state of women in STEM. Hear from Erika what trends she is seeing in STEM heavy industries for talent recruitment, attrition, employee priorities, and what leaders can do to attract and retain the best and brightest.Reference Links:Study, Women in STEM are Struggling in the WorkplaceWomen Making Gains in STEM Occupations, But Still UnderrepresentedDiversity and STEM: Women, Minorities and Persons with DisabilitiesLead to Soar is a global...

2024-06-1729 min

Lead to Soar Loneliness, Civility, and Retention: Executive Leadership (Part I)In this episode of the Lead to Soar podcast, Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern are joined by Erika Jefferson to discuss into the intricate topics of loneliness, civility, and employee retention in the modern workplace. The discussion is catalysed by statistics revealing a surge in loneliness among American workers and a notable rise in workplace incivility, which has not only doubled over the past two decades but also incurs significant financial costs to organizations. The hosts explore the role of HR in this landscape, pondering its capacity and strategies to reverse these trends. Insights from Gallup highlight the increasing...

2024-05-2134 min

Lead to Soar Loneliness, Civility, Retention P1: Leadership for the Modern Executive, featuring Erika JeffersonIn this episode of the Lead to Soar podcast, Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern are joined by Erika Jefferson to discuss into the intricate topics of loneliness, civility, and employee retention in the modern workplace. The discussion is catalysed by statistics revealing a surge in loneliness among American workers and a notable rise in workplace incivility, which has not only doubled over the past two decades but also incurs significant financial costs to organizations. The hosts explore the role of HR in this landscape, pondering its capacity and strategies to reverse these trends. Insights from Gallup highlight the increasing...

2024-05-2134 min

Lead to Soar Recruiting and the HR Shift: An Executive ViewIn this episode of the Lead to Soar podcast, co-hosts Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern, along with special guest Erika Jefferson, tackle the pervasive challenges within the recruitment industry. The discussion centres on the inefficiencies and impersonal nature of recruiting practices, advocating for a radical transformation that prioritises human connection, candidate care, and the dismantling of outdated systems. Through the trio, sheds light on the importance of networking in job acquisition, critiques the reliance on artificial intelligence in recruiting, and proposes actionable solutions to create a more inclusive, efficient, and respectful hiring process.Episode Highlights• Th...

2024-04-2949 min

Lead to Soar Recruiting and an HR Revolution for the Modern Executive featuring Erika JeffersonIn this episode of the Lead to Soar podcast, co-hosts Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern, along with special guest Erica Jefferson, tackle the pervasive challenges within the recruitment industry. The discussion centres on the inefficiencies and impersonal nature of recruiting practices, advocating for a radical transformation that prioritizes human connection, candidate care, and the dismantling of outdated systems. Through trio sheds light on the importance of networking in job acquisition, critiques the reliance on artificial intelligence in recruiting, and proposes actionable solutions aimed at creating a more inclusive, efficient, and respectful hiring process.Episode Highlights

2024-04-2949 min

Lead to Soar AI and the Future of HR, featuring Erika JeffersonIn this thought-provoking episode, Mel, Michelle, and Erika discuss the intersection of human resources (HR) and artificial intelligence (AI), exploring the implications, opportunities, and challenges that HR professionals face in the era of AI-driven automation and decision-making. As organizations globally adopt AI technologies to enhance hiring processes and operational efficiency, the trio sheds light on the necessity for HR to evolve, the fears surrounding job replacement, and the critical need for strategic, informed decision-making within HR departments.Episode Highlights:AI in Hiring: Reflection on the widespread use of automation...

2024-04-2245 min

Lead to Soar Succession Planning Is a Leadership ResponsibilityIn this insightful episode, Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern tackle the often overlooked yet critical aspect of leadership—succession planning. They explore why leaders tend to shy away from this responsibility and provide a roadmap for effective succession planning that prepares organisations for future challenges. This episode is a must-listen for anyone in a leadership position, offering practical strategies for cultivating the next generation of leaders.Episode Highlights:The Importance of Succession Planning: An exploration of why succession planning is essential for sustainable organisational growth and leadership transition.Overcoming Avoidance: Michelle shares insights on...

2024-04-1517 min

Lead to Soar Effective Leaders Do Succession Planning! Here's how!In this insightful episode, Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern tackle the often overlooked yet critical aspect of leadership—succession planning. They explore why leaders tend to shy away from this responsibility and provide a roadmap for effective succession planning that prepares organizations for future challenges. This episode is a must-listen for anyone in a leadership position, offering practical strategies for cultivating the next generation of leaders.Episode Highlights:The Importance of Succession Planning: An exploration of why succession planning is essential for sustainable organizational growth and leadership transition.Overcoming Avoidance: Michelle shares in...

2024-04-1517 min

Lead to Soar Why Most Mentoring Programs Fail (and How to Build One That Actually Works)In this episode of Lead to Soar, Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern discuss the importance of creating a strategic mentoring program. They challenge the traditional, often questionable effectiveness of mentoring programs and present a strategic approach that promises to elevate these initiatives from good to great. Targeted at leaders, HR professionals, and decision-makers, this episode is a masterclass on designing mentoring programs that genuinely advance women's careers.Episode Highlights:The Strategic Importance of Mentoring: Michelle Redfern highlights the need for mentoring programs to be strategic, aligning with organisational goals and advancing women.Organisational...

2024-04-0825 min

Lead to Soar How to Take Your Mentoring Program from Good to Great!In this episode of Lead to Soar, Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern discuss the importance of creating a strategic mentoring program. They challenge the traditional, often questionable effectiveness of mentoring programs and present a strategic approach that promises to elevate these initiatives from good to great. Targeted at leaders, HR professionals, and decision-makers, this episode is a masterclass on designing mentoring programs that genuinely advance women's careers.Episode Highlights:The Strategic Importance of Mentoring: Michelle Redfern highlights the need for mentoring programs to be strategic, aligning with organizational goals and the advancement...

2024-04-0825 min

Lead to Soar Leadership Compass: Mastering the Art of Emotional Intelligence in LeadershipLeadership Compass: Mastering the Art of Emotional Intelligence in LeadershipIn this episode of the "Lead to Soar" podcast, Mel interviews Michelle regarding the definition of Emotional Intelligence (EQ) in leadership, as described in her book, The Leadership Compass. Michelle shares personal stories, highlighting the importance of self-awareness, empathy, adaptability, and a growth mindset in navigating the complexities of professional environments. The episode also explores the significance of reflective practice in personal and professional growth, providing valuable insights for aspiring and experienced leaders.Links and ResourcesThe Leadership Compass book offers a...

2024-03-1827 min

Lead to Soar Leadership Compass: Mastering the Art of Business Intelligence in LeadershipThis episode is the first in a series exploring leadership skills detailed in "The Leadership Compass." Stay tuned for more insights on SQ and EQ in upcoming episodes. In this episode, Mel interviews Michelle about Business Intelligence (BQ) as a critical skill for effective leadership. Unlike innate strengths, BQ, along with Social (SQ) and Emotional Intelligence (EQ), can be developed through practice. Michelle shares transformative experiences from her career, emphasising the importance of continuous learning and adaptability in leadership roles. Some of the key takeaways:- Leadership Development: Michelle's journey highlights the power of self-reflection in pe...

2024-03-1135 min

Lead to Soar F*ck the Cupcakes: What Real Support for Women at Work Looks LikeIn this episode of Lead to Soar, Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern take aim at the performative rituals that dominate International Women’s Day in many organisations and ask a harder question: what does meaningful support for women at work actually look like?This is a frank conversation about how good intentions routinely fall short, and how symbolic gestures such as cupcakes, morning teas, and unpaid speaking slots often replace real investment, accountability, and structural change.Michelle and Mel explore why women are still expected to contribute free labour around IWD, how organisations outsource responsibility fo...

2024-02-2627 min

Lead to Soar Playing to Your Strengths: Career Strategy, Not Self-HelpIn this episode of Lead to Soar, Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern are joined by Charlotte Blair, a Gallup-certified strengths coach, to talk about what it really means to play to your strengths at work and why this is a strategic career decision, not a feel-good exercise.Charlotte shares her transition from a senior corporate role into strengths-based coaching and explains why self-awareness is a critical leadership skill, particularly for women navigating complex organisations. The conversation moves beyond personality labels to examine how understanding strengths supports better judgement, clearer role fit, and more effective leadership....

2024-01-2940 min

Lead to Soar The Leadership Compass Book - Navigating the World of Women's LeadershipIn this first episode of Season 7, Michelle Redfern joins Mel to discuss her upcoming book, "The Leadership Compass: The ultimate guide for women leaders to reach their full potential." Set to be published on March 26, the book aims to guide women through their careers and leadership journeys.Links and ResourcesPre-order and additional information about "The Leadership Compass" can be found at michelleredfern.com under the 'books' tab.Exclusive updates and resources are available for those who join the Leadership Compass community. Lead to Soar is a global online...

2024-01-2217 min

Lead to Soar Career Q&A: Self-Promotion, Networking, and Leadership Strategies for SuccessIn this episode, Michelle Redfern and Mel Butcher engage in a informative Career Q&A discussion, based on questions from their members and listeners, sharing practical strategies and insights for self-promotion, networking, leadership, job hunting, and career advancement. They provide actionable advice and guidance on how to build credibility, thought leadership, and strategic relationships, and emphasize the importance of showing up, demonstrating value, and mastering your current role. With their engaging and informative conversation, Michelle and Mel offer valuable tips and tools for listeners to take their careers to the next level. Tune in now to...

2023-11-2050 min

Lead to Soar Moving Up Begins in Your Own Mind FirstOn this episode of Lead to Soar, Michelle Redfern and Mel Butcher discuss the significance of our mindsets when it comes to advancing in our careers. Drawing from their personal experiences, they dispel the misconception that leaders are born and instead promote the notion that leadership is a skill that can be learned. The hosts encourage listeners to assess their own beliefs and attitudes, highlighting the importance of self-awareness and personal growth. The episode concludes with a call to action, urging individuals to reflect on their mindsets and strive for greater leadership potential. This episode is...

2023-11-1320 min

Lead to Soar Rethinking DEI: Should It Sit Inside HR?In this episode of Lead to Soar, Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern challenge a long-standing organisational assumption: that diversity, equity, and inclusion should sit within HR.They explore why DEI is so often treated as a functional responsibility rather than a leadership one, and how this structural choice quietly limits impact, accountability, and cultural change. When DEI is positioned as an HR issue, it is too easily reduced to policy, compliance, and process rather than power, decision-making, and leadership behaviour.This conversation examines what happens when leaders outsource inclusion instead of owning it, and why...

2023-10-2327 min

Lead to Soar BEST OF L2S: Please stop being baffled about the leadership gender gapRecent research tells us (again) that women outperform men on a range of different leadership metrics. That same research informs us that leaders are baffled that, given how competent women are, there are more of us at the top of organizations. Well, we want you to stop your bafflement about the leadership gender gap. It might be an okay place to start, but leaders must move on from admiring the problem and start taking action. And that does not mean enrolling all your workers in unconscious bias training! In this episode, Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern...

2023-10-1649 min

Lead to Soar Benevolent Bias and Everyday Sexism at WorkIn this episode of Lead to Soar, Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern examine one of the most entrenched and least challenged barriers to women’s leadership: benevolent bias.Unlike overt sexism, benevolent bias often presents as kindness, protection, or concern. It sounds supportive. It feels polite. And it quietly limits women’s authority, decision-making power, and credibility at work.Mel and Michelle explore how everyday sexism operates through lowered expectations, selective protection, softened feedback, and assumptions about women’s resilience and risk tolerance. They also examine why these behaviours persist in organisations that believe they are al...

2023-09-1130 min

Lead to Soar Strategic Communication: Speaking the Language of PowerMel Butcher and Michelle Redfern tackle a critical leadership skill that is often misunderstood and badly taught: strategic communication.This is not about presentation polish or finding your “authentic voice.” It’s about learning to communicate in the language decision-makers listen for: business outcomes, priorities, trade-offs, and impact.Michelle and Mel explore why talented women are frequently told they’re “not landing their message” when the real issue is misalignment with organisational strategy and executive expectations. They break down how leaders use language to shape decisions, influence priorities, and be taken seriously at senior levels.This ep...

2023-08-2824 min

Lead to Soar What is The Glass Cliff and How Do I Avoid It?The Glass Cliff is a phenomenon that describes the tendency for women to be appointed to leadership positions in challenging or risky situations, such as when a company is experiencing financial difficulties or when there is a high likelihood of failure. The term "glass cliff" was coined by researchers Michelle Ryan and Alex Haslam in 2005. Mel and Michelle discuss what The Glass Cliff is, and importantly, how women can be on the lookout for it when moving up.Links and ResourcesThe Glass Cliff: Exploring the Dynamics Surrounding the Appointment of...

2023-07-1021 min

Lead to Soar The Glass Cliff: Why Women Are Offered Leadership Roles Set Up to FailThe Glass Cliff describes a well-documented pattern in leadership appointments: women are more likely to be promoted into senior roles during periods of crisis, instability, or high risk, when the chance of failure is already elevated.In this episode of Lead to Soar, Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern explain what the Glass Cliff is, where the concept comes from, and why it continues to shape women’s leadership experiences. Drawing on the foundational research by Professors Michelle Ryan and Alex Haslam, they break down how these roles are framed as “opportunities” while often lacking mandate, resources, or genuin...

2023-07-1021 min

Lead to Soar What Actually Works in Goal SettingTraditional goal-setting advice is built around achievement, optimisation, and constant striving. But what if that model is part of the problem, especially for women navigating complex systems that were not designed with them in mind?In this episode of Lead to Soar, Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern are joined by Tara McMullin, author of What Works, to discuss a fundamentally different approach to goals, progress, and success.Tara’s work challenges the idea that more ambition, clearer targets, or better discipline will automatically lead to better outcomes. Instead, she examines how social and economic systems sh...

2023-06-2750 min

Lead to Soar Stop. Breathe. Reflect.Women are rewarded for being responsive, available, and endlessly capable. Reflection rarely makes the list. Yet the absence of reflection is one of the reasons so many women find themselves overextended, misaligned, or stuck in roles that don’t actually advance their careers.In this episode of Lead to Soar, Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern make the case for reflective practice as a critical career strategy for women, not a wellness habit or personal indulgence. They explore how constant urgency, gendered expectations, and organisational bias push women into reactive mode, and why pausing to think clearly is of...

2023-06-1934 min

Lead to Soar Why Loyalty Is Not a Career Strategy for WomenWomen are often praised for being loyal at work. Loyal to their team. Loyal to their manager. Loyal to the organisation. But loyalty is not a neutral virtue in career progression, and for women, it is frequently misunderstood, misused, and unrewarded.In this episode, Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern examine how loyalty operates differently in men’s and women’s careers, and why staying put, staying grateful, or staying silent can quietly limit progression.Research from Harvard Business Review shows a persistent double standard: exceptional men are expected to job-hop to advance, while exceptional women are...

2023-04-2435 min

Lead to Soar Why Boundaries Matter in LeadershipIn this episode of Lead to Soar, Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern talk about boundaries as a leadership discipline, not a wellness perk.Using something deceptively simple—taking leave and setting out-of-office expectations—they explore how leaders signal standards, model sustainability, and protect decision quality. This is not about disappearing or being unavailable. It’s about clarity, trust, and resisting the slow erosion of leadership effectiveness that comes from being permanently on.The conversation challenges the idea that good leaders must always be accessible and examines how poor boundaries create confusion, dependency, and burnout—both for lead...

2023-04-0306 min

Lead to Soar Stop Saying You're Busy!Being “busy” is not a neutral statement for women leaders. It shapes how judgement, capability, and authority are perceived.In this episode of Lead to Soar, Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern take on one of the most normalised habits in working life: responding to everything with “I’m busy.” They examine how busyness language positions women as overloaded operators rather than leaders with control over priorities, decisions, and outcomes.This conversation sits squarely in the reality of women’s work. Women are expected to carry more, fix more, and absorb more. Busyness becomes proof of value, even...

2023-03-2018 min

Lead to Soar The Brilliant JerkLead to Soar! is a production of A Career that Soars!On episode this episode, Michelle Redfern and Mel Butcher talk about brilliant jerks. We've all worked with one (trying hard not to name names here), but what is a brilliant jerk and how do you work with one. Plus, Michelle and Mel have tips for taking your complaint to your boss or human resources.This is a recording from a LinkedIn in Live find out more about all the Lead to Soar events.Michelle Redfern Mel Butcher ...

2023-03-0614 min

Lead to Soar BEST OF: The Confidence Scoop, with Susan Colantuono, Michelle Redfern, and Mel ButcherLead to Soar! is a production of A Career that Soars! Welcome to our "BEST OF SERIES". On episode this episode, Susan Colantuono, Michelle Redfern, and Mel Butcher sit down for a discussion on confidence... What is confidence? Where does confidence come from? How do you get it? Where does traditional advice on confidence go wrong? LINKS Book: What the CEO Want You To Know by Ram Charan Book: No Ceiling, No Walls by Susan Colantuono SPEAKER BIOs Susan Colantuono has made it her life’s mission to support the career success of women. Sh...

2023-02-131h 04

Lead to Soar Ambition is Not A Dirty Word!When the word ambitious is applied to women, it rarely lands as a compliment. It’s coded as selfish, threatening, or unlikable—especially when ambition shows up alongside competence and authority.In this episode of Lead to Soar, Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern take a hard look at why ambition is still treated as suspect in women, while being actively rewarded in men. The conversation is sparked by the public discussion raised in a recent podcast featuring Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Serena Williams, and is grounded in what Mel and Michelle see every day in their work wit...

2022-11-2039 min

Lead to Soar How Women Leaders Should Introduce Themselves at Work“Who are you, and what does your organisation pay you to do?”That question sounds simple. For many women, it’s where credibility leaks.In this episode, Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern draw on the research and coaching work of Susan Colantuono to examine why women so often undersell their leadership when they introduce themselves at work — and how to change that.This is not about elevator pitches or personal branding theatre. It’s about learning to describe your role, contribution, and impact in language that signals judgment, authority, and leadership intent.Mel and...

2022-10-0922 min

Lead to Soar What is Gaslighting at Work and What Can I Do About It?Lead to Soar! is a production of A Career that Soars Gaslighting in the workplace is Bullying. This form of toxic behavior is particularly insidious, and it can't be ignored if it's happening in your workplace. Because for the victims of this gaslighting, it can cause anxiety, depression, and even nervous breakdowns. It can cause the victim to even question their own sanity. In this episode, Mel and Michelle explore what gaslighting can look like, sound like and feel like for women in the workplace so that they at work know how to recognize it. We also...

2022-07-2426 min

Lead to Soar Dealing with "The Brilliant Jerk" in the WorkplaceLead to Soar! is a production of A Career that Soars Do you have a “brilliant jerk” (or two) in your workplace? A Brilliant Jerk, also known as a Toxic Rock Star, is a person, typically in a position of power who has awful toxic behaviours that negatively impact colleagues. Their toxic bullying behaviour “evades consequences” because they’re typically high performing in another metric. The brilliant jerk has a particularly [negative] impact on women with Women of Colour reporting significantly higher rates of bullying than their white counterparts. Mel and Michelle share their experience of Brilliant Jerks and...

2022-07-1724 min

Lead to Soar How to Find Words that Work at WorkLead to Soar! is a production of A Career that Soars Women face some tough workplace challenges from time to time. Often, we can find ourselves in a Fight/Flight/Freeze/Fawn response. Its where the amygdala takes over our own behaviour. Mel and Michelle discuss the types of challenges women might face at work, including hostile workplaces, the types of human behaviour that occurs, the impact it has and importantly, what language is helpful versus not helpful when tackling the poor behaviour of co-workers. They even role play a situation that will be useful for workers...

2022-07-1042 min

Lead to Soar How to Find Words that Work at WorkWomen face difficult moments at work that demand judgement, composure, and credibility. In high-pressure situations, many women experience a fight, flight, freeze, or fawn response as the amygdala takes over. When that happens, access to clear language can disappear at exactly the moment it is needed most.In this episode, Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern focus on the role language plays in navigating hostile behaviour, poor conduct, and power dynamics at work. This is not about sounding polite or agreeable. It is about using language that protects credibility, sets boundaries, and redirects behaviour without escalating risk.

2022-07-1042 min

Lead to Soar L2S E65: Please stop being baffled about the leadership gender gapLead to Soar! is a production of A Career that Soars Recent research tells us (again) that women outperform men on a range of different leadership metrics. That same research informs us that leaders are baffled that, given how competent women are, there are more of us at the top of organizations. Well, we want you to stop your bafflement about the leadership gender gap. It might be an okay place to start, but leaders must move on from admiring the problem and start taking action. And that does not mean enrolling all your workers in unconscious...

2022-06-2749 min

Lead to Soar L2S EP63: Yes, successful women 'play politics' at work.Lead to Soar! is a production of A Career that Soars In this episode, Mel and Michelle discuss why politics at work need to be rebadged and rethought by women who want a career that soars. Politics, when viewed through the lens of our 3-part leadership definition, is engaging the greatness in others and aligning them towards to strategic and financial goals of the organization. Furthermore, women are rated by bosses as having superior EQ and engagement skills. We discuss how leveraging those skills, strategically and authentically is part of the successful woman's career toolkit. ~...

2022-06-1242 min

Lead to Soar Yes, Successful Women Play Politics at WorkIn this episode of the Lead to Soar podcast, Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern challenge one of the most damaging myths in women’s career advice: that politics is something principled leaders should avoid.Workplace politics already exists. The question is not whether women participate, but whether they understand how power actually operates and how decisions really get made.Viewed through the Lead to Soar leadership lens, politics is not manipulation or self-promotion theatre. It is the ability to engage others, align interests, and influence outcomes in service of the organisation’s strategic and financial goal...

2022-06-1242 min

Lead to Soar Work–Life Balance Is a Myth Women Are Still Paying ForIn this episode, Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern take aim at the idea of work–life balance and why it continues to fail women leaders.The balance narrative assumes a neat split between “work” and “life”. That framing ignores reality and quietly reinforces an old expectation: that women are still responsible for managing everything else around work. The result is not balance. It’s overload.This conversation reframes the issue as one of integration and choice, not self-sacrifice. It looks at how women can think more strategically about time, energy, ambition, and responsibility, without accepting the default...

2022-06-0513 min

Lead to Soar L2S EP61: Amal Yusuf from Delta Airlines - Running a successful, high impact employee resource group for womenLead to Soar! is a production of A Career that Soars! In this episode of L2S!, leadership and gender equality expert, Michelle Redfern, sits down for an interview with Amal Yusuf, newest host for a Career That Soars, to discuss her career path, and the leadership and wisdom she brings to our organization. Amal shares with us her path from immigrant to corporate business leader, and how she views networking and building connections for women in business. Learn more about Lead to Soar! and A Career that Soars! by visiting LeadToSoar.com ~

2022-05-2947 min

Lead to Soar 10 Questions Women Must Ask a Potential or New BossIn this episode, Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern share 10 non-negotiable questions women should ask when interviewing for a role, starting a new job, or resetting expectations with a current manager.Too many women step into roles with incomplete information and untested assumptions, then pay the price later. These questions are about judgement, due diligence, and power, not politeness. They help women assess whether a role is genuinely a growth opportunity or a risk dressed up as one.What this episode coversThe questions that surface how decisions really get madeHow...

2022-05-2214 min

Lead to Soar L2S EP59: How women can become adept at authentic and graceful self-promotionLead to Soar! is a production of A Career that Soars In this episode, Mel and Michelle discuss why women doing great work is just not enough. They talk about and share tips on, how women can communicate more about their work, their contributions, and their team's contributions in support of reaching goals. These goals are those that support, staff, team members, and the needs of other colleagues as you move up the career ladder. ~ Resources Sign up for A Career that Soars! *Premium ~ Bio for Michelle Redfern

2022-05-1532 min

Lead to Soar How Women Build Credibility Through Strategic Self-PromotionIn this episode, Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern tackle one of the most persistent career myths women are given: “If you work hard, you’ll be noticed.”Women consistently deliver results, solve complex problems, and carry disproportionate organisational load. Yet many stall because their contribution is not seen, understood, or attributed at decision-making tables.This conversation reframes self-promotion as a leadership skill, not a personality trait. The focus is not on bravado, personal branding theatre, or talking louder. It’s about learning how to name your work, connect it to outcomes, and position your contribution in ways...

2022-05-1532 min

Lead to Soar Who is Your Career Sponsor? with Michelle Redfern & Mel ButcherIn this episode of the Lead to Soar podcast, Michelle Redfern and Mel Butcher tackle one of the most misunderstood levers of career progression: sponsorship.Inspired by a talk from Carla Harris, this conversation draws a sharp line between mentors and sponsors. Mentors advise. Sponsors advocate. And confusing the two is one of the reasons capable women stall.Mel and Michelle break down what sponsorship actually looks like in practice, why it is harder to secure than mentoring, and what women need to pay attention to if they want someone in the room when decisions...

2022-05-0231 min

Lead to Soar Who is Your Career Sponsor? with Michelle Redfern & Mel ButcherThis episode was inspired by Carla Harris who gave a TED Talk called 'How to find the person who can help you get ahead at work'. Mel and Michelle explore just what a career sponsor is, how to go about getting one (hint: its not easy but there are ways) and importantly, what to pay attention to if you want to advance your career with the help of an advocate. Lead to Soar is a podcast for ambitious women and the leaders who support them. Hosted by Michelle Redfern and Mel Butcher, it delivers evidence-based, practical a...

2022-05-0231 min

Lead to Soar L2S EP56: The Stories we tell ourselves with Michelle Redfern & Mel ButcherLead to Soar! is a production of A Career that Soars Have you ever thought or said “I’m just not that confident” or do you identify strongly with having imposter syndrome? Mel and Michelle talk about this and that we've both had at times in our lives, an internal dialogue or voice that we listen to that tells us that we're just not enough. So how do women get beyond this mindset, and start telling ourselves a much much better story? Learn more about Lead to Soar! and A Career that Soars! by visiting LeadToS...

2022-04-2427 min

Lead to Soar Becoming a Boardroom Star with Beverley BehanWhat does it really take to succeed in the boardroom?In this episode, Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern are joined by board governance expert Beverley Behan to talk frankly about what boards expect of directors and where women often get misdirected in their preparation.This is not about confidence, polish, or “putting your hand up.” It’s about judgement, contribution, and understanding how boards make decisions.Beverley shares what differentiates credible board candidates from well-intentioned observers, how women can prepare for board roles without over-credentialing, and why many capable leaders underestimate the strategic shift...

2022-04-1748 min

Lead to Soar Why Women Get Stuck at Career Crossroads and How to Move Forward What do you do when your career hits a standstill?When the next move isn’t obvious.When every option feels compromised.When staying feels wrong, but leaving feels risky.In this episode, Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern tackle one of the most common moments women leaders face: the career crossroads.This is not about motivation or mindset hacks. It’s about decision-making when information is incomplete, confidence is shaken, and the system isn’t designed to make choices easy.Michelle and Mel break down why women so oft...

2022-04-1128 min

Lead to Soar L2S EP54: Why Women Are Stuck at the Crossroads and How to Get Outta There! Michelle Redfern & Mel ButcherLead to Soar! is a production of A Career that Soars What happens when you don't know what to do next in your career? Or you are faced with a difficult choice? Or, you feel like you haven't got any choices? Mel and Michelle get to the heart of making career decisions and what women can do to help themselves gain clarity when they find themselves at the crossroads. Learn more about Lead to Soar! and A Career that Soars! by visiting LeadToSoar.com ~ Resources Sign up for A Career t...

2022-04-1128 min

Lead to Soar L2S E53: Succession Planning for Leaders - Setting Your Underrepresented minority staff up for success with Michelle Redfern & Mel ButcherSuccession planning is often treated as a paperwork exercise. Or worse, a private conversation about who feels “ready”.That’s a problem.In this episode, Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern tackle succession planning as a core leadership responsibility and a critical lever for gender and racial equity.They ask the uncomfortable questions many leaders avoid:Who is really being developed for the next role?Who keeps getting missed?And what risk are you carrying by pretending succession will “sort itself out”?This is not a theoretica...

2022-04-0339 min

Lead to Soar L2S E53: Succession Planning for Leaders - Setting Your Underrepresented minority staff up for success with Michelle Redfern & Mel ButcherLead to Soar! is a production of A Career that Soars! Are you managing key personnel risk well enough in your organisation? Have you identified a potential successor or successors for your role? Do you have at least one woman or PoC on your succession plan? Have you identified what role(s) you would like to be considered a successor for? Answers to these and many more questions about succession planning are in this lively episode with Mel and Michelle. Learn more about Lead to Soar! and A Career that Soars! by visiting LeadToSoar.com

2022-04-0339 min

Lead to Soar L2S E50: Farewell Season 3, See you in Season 4 – 2022! The Great Resignation/Reset/ResistanceLead to Soar! is a production of A Career that Soars! In this episode of L2S!, leadership and gender equality expert, Michelle Redfern, sits down with hosts from a Career That Soars, as part of a live event to discuss career advice, what they think of the "Great Resignation", and so much more. Learn more about Lead to Soar! and A Career that Soars! by visiting LeadToSoar.com SPEAKER BIOs Susan Colantuono has made it her life’s mission to support the career success of women. She is the Founder of and...

2021-12-2453 min

Lead to Soar L2S E43: Giving and Receiving FeedbackLead to Soar! is a production of A Career that Soars! In this episode of L2S! - leadership and gender equality expert, Michelle Redfern, and Mel Butcher come together to share insights on the concepts that not all feedback is a gift and that women often receive feedback that isn't helpful to their careers. Because it is incomplete or vague. both women and leaders of women will benefit from the tips we share about giving and receiving GREAT career advice to lift performance. Learn more about Lead to Soar! and A Career that Soars! by...

2021-11-1129 min

Lead to Soar L2S E40: Executive Presence - with Susan Colantuono, Michelle Redfern, & Mel ButcherOn episode 40 of Lead to Soar, Susan Colantuono, Michelle Redfern, and Mel Butcher sit down for a discussion on Executive Presence... What is executive presence? Why do you need it? And how do you get it? Where is traditional advice on executive advice missing, particularly for women? SPEAKER BIOs Susan Colantuono has made it her life’s mission to support the career success of women. She is the Founder of and now retired CEO of Leading Women, an international management consulting company focused on bringing gender balance to leadership teams. She is globally known for her TED Ta...

2021-10-211h 05

Lead to Soar L2S E37: Money, money, money, MONEY! Financial acumen in your business.Lead to Soar! is a production of A Career that Soars! In this episode of L2S! - leadership and gender equality expert, Michelle Redfern, and Mel Butcher come together for a discussion on financial acumen in the business. This is for any person who hasn't learned what the story that numbers tell about the business, or women who have told themselves, "well, I'm just not that good with numbers." Michelle provides easy to understand, financial acumen 101. Learn more about Lead to Soar! and A Career that Soars! by visiting LeadToSoar.com ~ R...

2021-09-3041 min

Lead to Soar Emotional Intelligence & Understanding What You CauseIn this episode of L2S! - leadership and gender equality expert, Michelle Redfern, and Mel Butcher come together to share insights on better understanding emotional intelligence and how to explore the question, "what do you cause?". Learn more about Lead to Soar! and A Career that Soars! by visiting LeadToSoar.com~ResourcesThe Get Sh*t Done ExperienceThe 12 Elements of Emotional Intelligence by Dr. Danial Goleman~Bio for Michelle RedfernMichelle is the founder of Advancing Women, an enterprise providing research and advisory ser...

2021-09-0253 min

Lead to Soar How to Network Like a Boss with Michelle Redfern and Mel ButcherIn this episode of L2S!, leadership and gender equality expert, Michelle Redfern and Mel Butcher come together to give YOU some tips and tactics on How to Network Like a Boss. Cultivating and maintaining a strategic network with the right others is key to your long-term career success. Lead to Soar is a podcast for ambitious women and the leaders who support them. Hosted by Michelle Redfern and Mel Butcher, it delivers evidence-based, practical advice on leadership, career progression, and closing the gender gap. Join the Lead to Soar Network at leadtosoar.net...

2021-08-1259 min

Lead to Soar L2S E30: Why Having it all is COMPLETE BS! with Michelle RedfernLead to Soar! is a production of A Career that Soars! In this episode of L2S!, leadership and gender equality expert, Michelle Redfern and Mel Butcher come together to discuss the idea of "having it all!" and the damage this can do to women and their mindsets. In particular, they discuss "having it all" in the context of juggling career, motherhood, relations and beyond. Learn more about Lead to Soar! and A Career that Soars! by visiting LeadToSoar.com ~ Bio for Michelle Redfern Michelle is the founder of Ad...

2021-08-0550 min

Lead to Soar L2S E26: Welcome to Season 3! with Michelle & MelYour hosts, Michelle Redfern and Mel Butcher, share the scoop on what to expect in Season 3 of the Lead to Soar podcast and what's coming up next inside A Career that Soars! A Career that Soars! is a network and learning environment for ambitious women who want to take their careers to the next level. Premium members can access free and discounted courses and workshops created by the founder and hosts -- Susan Colantuono (author of No Ceiling, No Walls), Michelle Redfern, Mel Butcher and more. We can't wait to see you inside! Visit LeadToSoar...

2021-07-0805 min

Lead to Soar A brief message from MelTake a listen to this episode to hear a brief message from Lead to Soar producer, Mel Butcher. Links: Join us inside A Career that Soars! No Ceiling, No Walls book by Susan Colantuono Make the Most of Mentoring book by Susan Colauntuono The Career Advice You Probably Didn't Get - a TED talk by Susan Colantuono Learn more about Michelle Redfern Learn more about Mel Butcher Lead to Soar is a podcast for ambitious women and the leaders who support them. Hosted by Michelle Redfern and Mel Butcher, it delivers evidence-based, practical advice on...

2021-04-3005 min

Lead to Soar Career Q&A with Emily McKie, interviewed by Michelle RedfernBio for Emily McKie: Emily has coached sports for 10 years using an exploratory facilitation and athlete-centred coaching style, and is currently working with the U18 female program at Dandenong Stingrays as a development coach in the semi elite pathway. Emily created and managed what is now one of the biggest female junior football leagues in Victoria, Australia - the Eastern Region Girls Football League. She has used sport to go around the world - either playing, coaching, or running Auskick clinics in France, Sweden, Amsterdam, Germany, and Belgium. Notable Episode Quotes: “If you under...

2021-04-2246 min

Lead to Soar Q&A episode with Michelle Redfern, & Mel ButcherOn this episode of Lead to Soar, we answer questions from you - our listeners! This episode's questions cover career progress obstacles, recognition, supporting diversity at work, and handling tricky feedback a superior. Leave your own questions to be answered on a future episode at LeadToSoar.comLead to Soar is a podcast for ambitious women and the leaders who support them. Hosted by Michelle Redfern and Mel Butcher, it delivers evidence-based, practical advice on leadership, career progression, and closing the gender gap. Join the Lead to Soar Network at leadtosoar.network or get Michelle’s book Th...

2021-04-1558 min

Lead to Soar Entrepreneurship to Intrepreneurship with Wendy Hanson & Michelle RedfernGuest Bio: Wendy Hanson is the co-founder and COO of BetterManager. At Better Manager, Wendy and her team believe that Managers are the single most important factor in employee engagement and happiness. The employee-manager relationship determines up to 70% of an employee's engagement. And, engaged employees are the key to company performance. Companies with highly engaged teams outperform peers by 147% in earnings per share. To create effective and lasting change, companies need to invest in a solution that is adaptive, responsive and meets the needs of all managers. That’s where BetterManager comes in. BetterManager executive coaches provide cost-effective, personalized gu...

2021-04-0857 min

Lead to Soar Kerry Ashbrook, Author of A Life ReinventedGuest Bio: Kerry Ashbrook is an entrepreneur, business women, inspirational speaker, author, corporate executive and investor. Kerry is the founder of Life You Choose, where she supports women in achieving financial independence and to live the life they would truly choose. Kerry has subject matter expertise that extends across business strategy, customer service, sales & marketing, information technology, enterprise transformation and program management, business architecture, retail and courier operations as well as corporate sourcing and supply chain. Kerry is the author of: A Life Reinvented ~ Disclaimer: In providing this podcast, no leaders or members o...

2021-04-0155 min

Lead to Soar The Confidence Scoop: Susan Colantuono, Michelle Redfern, Mel ButcherOn episode 19 of Lead to Soar, Susan Colantuono, Michelle Redfern, and Mel Butcher sit down for a discussion on confidence... What is confidence? Where does confidence come from? How do you get it? Where does traditional advice on confidence go wrong? LINKSBook: What the CEO Want You To Know by Ram CharanBook: No Ceiling, No Walls by Susan Colantuono SPEAKER BIOs Susan Colantuono has made it her life’s mission to support the career success of women. She is the Founder of and now retired CEO of Leading Women, an international management consulting company focused on bringing gender...

2021-03-1859 min

Lead to Soar Q&A episode with Susan, Michelle, & MelOn this episode of Lead to Soar, we hear and answer questions from you - our listeners! This episode's questions cover career growth, asking for a promotion and raise, paid mentorship/coaching, and recognizing bad bosses in interviews. Leave your own questions to be answered on a future episode at LeadToSoar.comLead to Soar is a podcast for ambitious women and the leaders who support them. Hosted by Michelle Redfern and Mel Butcher, it delivers evidence-based, practical advice on leadership, career progression, and closing the gender gap. Join the Lead to Soar Network at leadtosoar.network...

2021-02-1236 min

Lead to Soar Better Allyship with Karen Catlin and Michelle RedfernKaren Catlin bio: After spending 25 years building software products and serving as a vice president of engineering at Macromedia and Adobe, Karen Catlin witnessed a sharp decline in the number of women working in tech. Frustrated but galvanized, she knew it was time to switch gears. Today, Karen is an acclaimed author and speaker on inclusive workplaces. She is the author of three books: "Better Allies: Everyday Actions to Create Inclusive, Engaging Workplaces," "The Better Allies Approach to Hiring,” and "Present! A Techie's Guide to Public Speaking." “We all need to build our network *before we nee...

2021-01-2856 min

Lead to Soar Experiences in Mentorship with Susan Colantuono and Michelle RedfernSusan Colantuono has made it her life’s mission to support the career success of women. She is the Founder of and now retired CEO of Leading Women, an international management consulting company focused on bringing gender balance to leadership teams. She is globally known for her TED Talk on The Career Advice You Probably Didn't Get (now with over 4 million views). Recognizing that many women around the globe do not have access to the leadership and career development resources they need in order to advance, Susan envisioned that a global network of aspiring women could fill such a gap. She em...

2021-01-211h 01

Lead to Soar Mentorship 101 with Michelle Redfern and Mel ButcherOn this episode of Lead to Soar, Mel Butcher interviews Michelle about Mentoring 101. What is mentoring? How does one mentor effectively? How can you be an amazing protege?LinksBook LinksMake the Most of Mentoring by Susan ColantuonoNo Ceiling, No Walls by Susan ColantuonoAre You My Mother by P.D. EastmanLead to Soar is a podcast for ambitious women and the leaders who support them. Hosted by Michelle Redfern and Mel Butcher, it delivers evidence-based, practical advice on leadership, career progression, and closing the gender gap. Join the Lead to Soar Ne...

2021-01-1453 min

Lead to Soar Mentorship 101: What Works, What Fails, and What Actually Helps Women's CareersIn this episode of Lead to Soar, Mel Butcher interviews Michelle Redfern on the fundamentals of mentoring and why so much well-intentioned mentoring fails to move women’s careers forward.The conversation cuts through vague advice and focuses on what mentoring is actually for, how it differs from coaching and sponsorship, and what makes a mentoring relationship worth the investment for both parties.Michelle and Mel explore:What mentoring is (and what it is not)How mentors add value without over-functioning or becoming fixersWhat strong protégés do d...

2021-01-1453 min

Lead to Soar Reflections on 2020 & Vision for 2021 with Susan Colantuono, Michelle Redfern, and Mel ButcherLead to Soar provides actionable advice for ambitious career women working their way up inside public and private organizations. On this episode, co-founders of A Career that Soars!, Susan Colantuono & Michelle Redfern, join Mel Butcher (ACtS! co-host and Lead to Soar producer) to share reflections one 2020 - the good and bad. And then, the ACtS! give some insight into what's ahead for the organization and podcast, welcoming 2021... Lead to Soar is a production of A Career That Soars! L2S is hosted by Michelle Redfern and executive produced by Mel Butcher.Lead to Soar is...

2020-12-241h 12

Lead to Soar Career Q&A with Laurel Rowse (interviewed by Michelle Redfern)Lead to Soar provides actionable advice for ambitious career women working their way up inside public and private organizations. On this episode, ACtS! co-founder, Michelle Redfern, interviews water/wastewater engineer and consultant, Laurel Rowse. An important theme of their discussion is positive self talk. Lead to Soar is a production of A Career That Soars! (ACtS!) It is hosted by Michelle Redfern and executive produced by Mel ButcherLead to Soar is a podcast for ambitious women and the leaders who support them. Hosted by Michelle Redfern and Mel Butcher, it delivers evidence-based, practical advice...

2020-12-1749 min

Lead to Soar The Leadership Mindset at Every Stage with Michelle RedfernLead to Soar provides actionable advice for ambitious career women working their way up inside public and private organizations. On this episode, co-founder Michelle Redfern, discusses what the leadership mindset looks like at different carer stages and the difference between conventional and strategic career advice for women.Lead to Soar is a podcast for ambitious women and the leaders who support them. Hosted by Michelle Redfern and Mel Butcher, it delivers evidence-based, practical advice on leadership, career progression, and closing the gender gap. Join the Lead to Soar Network at leadtosoar.network or get Michelle’s bo...

2020-12-1058 min

Lead to Soar Michelle Redfern, a biographical InterviewLead to Soar provides actionable advice for ambitious career women working their way up inside public and private organizations. Who is Michelle Redfern? On this episode, Mel Butcher interviews A Career that Soars! (ACtS!) co-founder, Michelle Redfern, about her life and career, setting the stage for future discussion on career ambition and advice. Lead to Soar is a production of ACtS! It is hosted by Michelle Redfern and executive produced by Mel ButcherLead to Soar is a podcast for ambitious women and the leaders who support them. Hosted by Michelle Redfern and Mel Butcher...

2020-12-0349 min

Lead to Soar Who Is Michelle Redfern? Leadership, Ambition, and the Work That FollowedIn this episode of Lead to Soar, Mel Butcher interviews Michelle Redfern about her life, career, and the experiences that have shaped her views on leadership, ambition, and systemic workplace inequality.The conversation provides context for the work that followed, including the creation of Lead to Soar and Michelle’s broader focus on fixing leadership systems rather than asking women to adapt themselves to environments that limit progression.Mel and Michelle discuss:Michelle’s career journey and key leadership experiencesHow ambition has been shaped and limited for women at work

2020-12-0349 min