Gender Equity, Authenticity and Systemic Change in Leadership with Jennifer McCollum

In this episode, Andy Lopata revisits his conversation with Jennifer McCollum, CEO of Catalyst and author of In Her Own Voice: A Woman’s Rise to CEO. Their conversation explores the unique challenges women face in advancing their careers, emphasising the critical role of sponsorship over mentorship. Jennifer shares personal and professional insights on how external biases often become internalised, holding women back from advocating for themselves. She highlights the importance of visibility, self-promotion, and making bold asks as key drivers of career progression. Andy and Jennifer discuss allyship—especially male allyship—and what it looks like at different levels of an organisation. They emphasise that allyship isn’t just about grand gestures; small actions, such as giving credit where it’s due or amplifying someone’s voice in a meeting, can make a big difference. Their conversation also touches on the “third shift” burden placed on women to lead DEI efforts and the need to share that responsibility across all genders. Jennifer outlines four levers organisations can use to drive equity: inclusive culture, equitable talent systems, executive commitment, and targeted leadership development. The episode closes with reflections on authenticity in leadership and the value of diverse perspectives in reshaping outdated narratives around gender and success. Key Takeaways: 1. Sponsorship > Mentorship: Sponsors open doors and advocate actively, while mentors offer advice—women especially need sponsors to access opportunities. 2. Internalised Bias: Women often downplay their worth, believing hard work alone will lead to advancement—this mindset must be challenged. 3. Allyship Matters: Men can be powerful allies by amplifying women’s voices, mentoring, and sponsoring talent. 4. Systemic Change Required: Organisations must address culture, talent systems, leadership development, and executive accountability to support gender equity. 5. Authentic Leadership: Success doesn’t require women (or men) to conform to outdated masculine stereotypes—being authentic drives performance and belonging. SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE Connect with Andy Lopata: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | X/Twitter | Youtube Connect with Jennifer McCollum: X/Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram Podcast: Navigating Imposter Syndrome With Sajna Rahman and Caroline Flanagan Book: Business Networking and Sex: Not What You Think Book: Beyond the Boys' Club: Achieving Career Success as a Woman Working in a Male Dominated Field