Leading Women in Tech Podcast
For ambitious women ready to rise, lead, and thrive — without burning out. Are you delivering results… but still waiting to be seen as a true leader? Tired of performance reviews with praise — but no promotion? Hosted by Dr. Toni Collis, executive coach for women in tech, this podcast is your go-to leadership toolkit. Whether you're a rising Director, lone female VP, or overextended operator tired of being overlooked — you're in the right place. Each week, Toni shares real-world leadership strategies, career advancement frameworks, and executive presence tools to help you: ✅ Build strategic visibility ✅ Communicate like a trusted exec ✅ Navigate politics with integrity ✅ Advocate for yourself (without overworking) ✅ Lead with confidence, clarity, and influence You'll also hear powerful interviews with women who've paved the way — and candid conversations on the unspoken challenges women face in male-dominated industries. ✨ If you're ready to go from "she's great" to "she's the obvious next Exec" — hit follow.
Episodes
281: The Trust Crisis: How Cybersecurity Became Every Leader's Job with Karen Kaukol, CMO of Entrust
In today's episode, we're going deep into one of the most urgent leadership topics of 2025: cybersecurity, AI risk, and the new era of digital trust.
This is no longer a technical issue — it's a leadership issue.
I'm joined by Karen Kaukol, Chief Marketing Officer at Entrust, a global leader in identity, security, and trust. Karen brings decades of experience across global payments, financial ...
If you're ending the year exhausted, mentally overloaded, or stuck in a spiral of self-doubt… this episode is your reset.
In today's conversation, we're breaking down the inner critic, the mental load of leadership, and why high-performing women struggle most with overthinking, decision paralysis, and confidence dips at this time of year.
You'll learn self-coaching techniques for leaders, prac...
Career stagnation isn't caused by a lack of talent — it's caused by the wrong strategy.
If you're a high-performing woman in tech who's STILL feeling stuck (despite delivering more than everyone around you), this episode is going to hit home.
In today's conversation, Master Executive Coach Dr. Toni Collis breaks down why you're overperforming but overlooked, why hard work stops working at seni...
Struggling to feel heard at work?
You share ideas, offer solutions, repeat yourself — and still nothing lands. Then someone else says the same thing, and suddenly it's brilliant.
You're not imagining it. Being unheard isn't a personal flaw — it's a neuroscience and systems problem. In this episode, Dr Toni Collis unpacks why even great leaders struggle to be heard, and how to change that dynam...
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 hirin...
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 wor...
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 tr...
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 wom...
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.
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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 → https://tonicollis.com/whats-holding-you-back
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 rol...
271: Leaning In: Navigating Leadership, Authenticity, and Growth as Women in Tech with Leila Kassner
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 integr...
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, a...
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 analyti...
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...
What if the key to unlocking the next wave of tech innovation lies in the hands of the entrepreneurs receiving the least funding?
There's a fascinating paradox in today's tech landscape: women-led startups are 63% more likely to succeed and have higher chances of becoming unicorns, yet they're receiving less venture capital funding than ever before. This gap represents not just missed opportunities, but un...
Did you know most teams using AI are actually moving slower?
Lots of teams are testing AI tools—but not seeing the payoff. Why? Because tools alone don't create results. In this episode, I break down what AI-Ready Leadership actually looks like and how to drive real results.
You'll learn how to create an AI Leadership Strategy that drives results, how to avoid the pitfalls of reactive adoption...
Have you ever felt like you couldn't lead in tech because you didn't come from a technical background?
This week's guest, Anna Belova, is living proof that non-technical leaders can build cutting-edge tech companies and thrive in the most technical industries. Anna is a serial entrepreneur and CEO who has built multiple successful companies in AR and AI - including selling over 15 million AR books for kids...
You're doing all the right things—delivering results, taking initiative, working harder than ever.
So why are you still being passed over for promotion?
In this episode, I'm breaking down the real reason high-performing women in tech get overlooked for executive roles—and how to shift from being overlooked to being seen as a strategic leader so you can take the next step toward your promotion...
Ready to raise venture funding—but wondering if you're actually ready to lead at that level?
In this inspiring and honest conversation, I sit down with Emily Dinu, founder and CEO of Numinous Capital, to explore what VCs really look for—and what kind of leadership mindset shifts are essential to succeed as a founder in today's market.
We go deep on the emotional and strategic prep work that's ...
Want to speak up at work—without risking your reputation or your sanity?
In this episode, we're diving into one of the most uncomfortable (and essential) leadership skills: how to disagree with your boss professionally. Whether you're navigating power dynamics, trying to avoid "yes culture," or just want to be heard in meetings—this episode gives you the mindset, strategy, and scripts you need.
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