Lead to Soar

In this episode, Michelle Redfern is joined by Amal Yusuf from Delta Airlines to discuss what it really takes to run a women’s Employee Resource Group (ERG) that delivers impact. Too many ERGs are treated as social clubs or passion projects. Amal brings a different perspective. She shares how high-performing ERGs operate as strategic leadership vehicles , influencing culture, talent outcomes, and...

In 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 hel...

In 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...

In this episode of the Lead to Soar podcast, Mel Butcher speaks with Molly Beck , author of Reach Out and CEO of Messy.fm . Molly challenges the way most people think about networking. Instead of chasing contacts when you need something, she advocates for a disciplined, long-term practice of connection. One message a day. Every weekday. To someone on the edge of your network. It’s a simple strateg...

In 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 spo...

In this episode of the Lead to Soar podcast, Michelle Redfern and Mel Butcher examine the internal stories many women carry at work, stories often labelled as “lack of confidence” or “imposter syndrome,” but which are more accurately shaped by experience, feedback, and workplace conditions. They talk candidly about the internal dialogue that tells capable women they’re not ready, not enough, or ab...

What 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...

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 in...

Succession 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 nex...

Job hunting is rarely taught properly. Most people are left to figure it out through trial, error, and a lot of unnecessary self-doubt. In this episode, Michelle Redfern is joined by job hunting coach and podcast host Renata Bernarde for a practical, grounded conversation about how women can approach job searching strategically, not reactively. Renata walks through the ABCs of job hunting and expl...

Season 4 opens with a clear message: women’s networks and employee resource groups are not social clubs. Done well, they are leadership engines and change levers inside organisations. In this episode, Michelle Redfern and Mel Butcher discuss why industry networks, workplace women’s networks, and ERGs matter for women who want to progress and for organisations that are serious about closing the lea...

As Season 3 wraps, Michelle Redfern, Mel Butcher and the other hosts of the Lead to Soar Network reflect on what the so-called “Great Resignation” revealed about women’s careers. Rather than treating it as a trend, this episode examines why many women reassessed loyalty, ambition, and career direction, and what leaders continue to misunderstand about retention, motivation, and commitment. This epi...

A poor boss affects decision-making, energy, confidence, and career momentum. In this episode, Michelle Redfern and Mel Butcher focus on how women leaders think clearly and act deliberately when leadership above them is failing. The conversation covers: How to recognise when behaviour is no longer tolerable or workable What to consider before escalating concerns or staying put The professional ris...

In this episode of the Lead to Soar Podcast, Michelle Redfern and Mel Butcher tackle a pattern many women recognise instantly but are rarely taught how to manage. They explain what “emotional vampires” look like at work, how to spot the behaviours early, and why these dynamics often land hardest on capable, conscientious women. The conversation moves beyond pop psychology and into practical leader...

In this episode of the Lead to Soar Podcast, Michelle Redfern is joined by Amal Yusuf for a grounded conversation about what inclusive leadership looks like in practice. Amal shares her journey from immigrant to senior leader at Delta Air Lines , and reflects on how identity, power, and organisational norms shape who is heard, who is trusted, and who has to work harder to belong. This is not a dis...

In this episode of the Lead to Soar Podcast, Michelle Redfern is joined by Dr Jen Frahm , a global authority on organisational change, transformation, and executive leadership. Together, they examine the difference between managing change and being a change leader . This is not a technical conversation about frameworks or spreadsheets. It is about how leaders think, behave, and respond when uncert...

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...

In this episode of the Lead to Soar Podcast, Michelle Redfern is joined by Renata Bernarde , executive coach and host of The Job Hunting Podcast , for a grounded conversation about fear of success and imposter syndrome. Rather than treating imposter syndrome as a personal flaw, Renata reframes it as a predictable response to transition, visibility, and risk. Together, she and Michelle examine what...

In this episode of the Lead to Soar Podcast, Michelle Redfern and Mel Butcher tackle one of the most misunderstood areas of leadership and career development: feedback. They challenge the idea that all feedback is a gift and examine why women so often receive guidance that is incomplete, vague, or disconnected from what actually drives progression. This episode is not about being nicer or more pos...

In this episode of the Lead to Soar Podcast, Michelle Redfern and Mel Butcher focus on what it actually means to lead with agility. They examine the role of emotional intelligence in leadership and why effective leaders do not rely on a single default style. Instead, they use different leadership approaches deliberately, based on context, people, and outcomes. The conversation covers: Why emotiona...

In this episode of the Lead to Soar Podcast, Michelle Redfern sits down with Jo Thomas , Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Institute of Business . Jo shares her career journey, including how she came to build her life and career in Australia, and the leadership judgment required to progress through multiple C-suite roles. This is not a linear success story. It is a conversation about scope...

In this episode of the Lead to Soar podcast, Susan Colantuono , Michelle Redfern, and Mel Butcher take a hard look at executive presence —what it actually is, why it matters, and why so much advice aimed at women misses the mark. Executive presence is often framed as polish, confidence, or style. This conversation reframes it as something far more substantive: how leaders are perceived when decisi...

In this episode of the Lead to Soar Podcast, Michelle Redfern and Mel Butcher examine a pattern that shows up across industries and seniority levels: women being relied on to do work that keeps organisations running but does nothing for career progression. They focus on office housework and non-promotable tasks — the organising, note-taking, smoothing, fixing, and emotional labour that benefits te...

In this episode of the Lead to Soar Podcast, Michelle Redfern speaks with Alicia Scott , Senior Director of People, Culture and DEI at onsemi . Alicia shares her career journey across more than two decades in the semiconductor industry, one of the most male-dominated and technically demanding sectors. She reflects on what it means to advance as a woman of colour in STEM, how power and credibility...

In this episode of the Lead to Soar Podcast, Michelle Redfern and Mel Butcher focus on one of the most persistent barriers to women’s career progression: financial acumen. They challenge the idea that being “not good with numbers” is a fixed trait and explain why understanding the business's financial story is essential for credibility, influence, and advancement. This is not accounting training....