Lead to Soar

In this episode of the Lead to Soar Podcast, Michelle Redfern and Mel Butcher introduce a practical career tool: the “I Don’t” List . This is not about doing less for the sake of it. It is about exercising judgment over what you say yes to, and recognising that every commitment you accept signals how your leadership is positioned and valued. Michelle and Mel explore: Why capable women are often ov...

In this episode of the Lead to Soar Podcast, Michelle Redfern is joined by Sheila Flavell , Chief Operating Officer of FDM Group . Sheila reflects on more than three decades in the global technology sector and the leadership judgment required to move from operational excellence to enterprise accountability. She shares her role in FDM’s growth from flotation through to an FTSE 250 listing, and the...

In this episode of the Lead to Soar Podcast, Michelle Redfern and Mel Butcher focus on one of the most practical and confronting questions in leadership: what do you cause? The conversation examines emotional intelligence not as a soft skill, but as a core leadership capability that shapes culture, performance, and trust. Michelle and Mel explore how leaders’ behaviours, reactions, and patterns cr...

In this episode of the Lead to Soar Podcast, Michelle Redfern and Mel Butcher focus on salary negotiation as a strategic career skill. They walk through practical steps women can take to prepare for a pay conversation with their current employer, including how to ground the discussion in value, outcomes, and market context rather than hope or goodwill. The conversation covers: Why preparation matt...

In this episode of the Lead to Soar Podcast, Michelle Redfern is joined by Peta Sitcheff for a candid conversation about burnout, pressure, and sustainability in demanding work environments. Peta reflects on her career in sales and customer-facing leadership, and on her lived experience of burnout in male-dominated environments where performance expectations are high and support is often thin. Thi...

In this episode of the Lead to Soar Podcast, Michelle Redfern and Mel Butcher focus on networking as a strategic leadership skill, not a popularity exercise. They move beyond surface-level advice and examine how intentionally maintained networks create access to information, opportunities, sponsorship, and career protection over time. This is not about working the room or performing with confidenc...

This episode challenges the idea that women can or should “have it all.” It reframes ambition around conscious trade-offs, career seasons, and success defined on your own terms rather than external expectations. Go further If this episode was useful, there are three simple ways to continue. Subscribe on Substack This is now the home of the Lead to Soar podcast. Subscribers receive new episodes, cu...

An introduction to the Life Audit as a structured way to assess what is working, what is draining you, and what needs to change to support career progression. 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 he...

Cheryl Morrison Deutsch, CEO of Zillion, joins us to share her career story and leadership philosophies. Guest Bio: Cheryl Morrison Deutsch, CEO of Zillion , brings almost three decades of experience in translating business and technology requirements into actionable plans to provide superior user experiences. Morrison Deutsch most recently served as Executive Director of Customer Experience, Coll...

A sharp look at execution as a career differentiator and why being known for delivery creates leverage, credibility, and opportunity. 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 leadershi...

In this Career Q&A episode, Michelle Redfern is joined by Emily McKie for a practical conversation about career development, mentoring, and leadership judgment. Drawing on Emily’s experience as a coach and leader in elite women’s sport, the discussion challenges common myths about mentoring and confidence. Rather than focusing on chemistry or perfection, this episode centres clarity, conviction, a...

In this listener Q&A episode of the Lead to Soar Podcast, Michelle Redfern and Mel Butcher respond to real questions from women navigating career progression inside organisations. The questions span common pressure points, including stalled progression, lack of recognition, supporting diversity at work without carrying the load alone, and handling difficult or unclear feedback from senior leaders....

In this episode of the Lead to Soar Podcast, Michelle Redfern is joined by Wendy Hanson , co-founder and COO of BetterManager . Wendy shares her career journey from employee, to side hustle, to leadership and entrepreneurship, and explores how entrepreneurial thinking can be applied inside organisations as an intrapreneur. The conversation reframes influence as something that can be built without...

In this episode of the Lead to Soar Podcast, Michelle Redfern is joined by Kerry Ashbrook , author of A Life Reinvented , for a grounded conversation about career change, reinvention, and agency. Kerry shares her journey across senior corporate leadership, entrepreneurship, and investment, and reflects on the decisions required to move from success defined by others to a life and career designed w...

In this episode of the Lead to Soar Podcast, Michelle Redfern speaks with Libby Mears , CEO of Leisure Networks , about leadership grounded in purpose, relationships, and impact. Libby reflects on her journey leading a community organisation delivering disability services, alongside her experience as a local councillor, Mayor, and Chair of major public authorities. The conversation centres on what...

In this episode, Susan Colantuono , Michelle Redfern, and Mel Butcher take on one of the most misunderstood ideas in women’s leadership: confidence. Women are told to get more confident as if confidence exists in a vacuum. As if it can be summoned without context, authority, or access to real decision-making. This conversation challenges that lazy advice. Instead, the discussion focuses on where c...

In this episode of the Lead to Soar Podcast, Michelle Redfern speaks with Florence Drummond , CEO and co-founder of Indigenous Women in Mining and Resources Australia . Florence shares how she restarted her career later in life, entered mining for financial security, and then recognised the opportunity to create broader change for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. What began as an indiv...

In this episode of the Lead to Soar Podcast, Michelle Redfern speaks with Nina Patil , a long-tenured CEO whose leadership has delivered sustained economic, environmental, and social outcomes in India. Nina shares her unconventional career journey, from social work to business leadership, including a difficult early transition into commercial responsibility. She speaks candidly about learning fina...

In this episode of the Lead to Soar Podcast, Michelle Redfern speaks with Laura Ryan , founder and global Chair of Meat Business Women , about the commercial power of strategic networking. Laura draws on her career across agriculture, marketing, sector strategy, and consultancy to explain how networks become a source of insight, influence, and long-term growth when they are built with intent. The...

In this episode of the Lead to Soar Podcast, Michelle Redfern speaks with Julie Escobar , a global, market-driven executive and co-founder of Global Women Fresh . Julie shares her experience driving significant commercial growth and explains why financial literacy, strategic intent, and disciplined execution are non-negotiable for leadership impact. The conversation cuts through the noise around g...

In this extended listener Q&A episode, Michelle Redfern , Susan Colantuono , and Mel Butcher respond to real questions submitted by women navigating career progression, power, and risk inside organisations. Rather than quick tips, this episode focuses on judgment and context, including when to move up, when to move sideways, and how to avoid career damage before it happens. The questions explored...

In this episode of the Lead to Soar Podcast, Michelle Redfern speaks with Libby Lyons , former Director of the Workplace Gender Equality Agency . Libby reflects on leading a national gender-equality regulator responsible for collecting and analysing workforce data from more than 10,000 employers. She shares how evidence, investment, and political skill are required to deliver real change, and why...

In this episode of the Lead to Soar Podcast, Michelle Redfern speaks with Heather Polinsky , Chief Operating Officer of Arcadis North America. Heather reflects on a 20+ year career that began in public service with the US Army Environmental Command and progressed through consulting, program leadership, client development, and ultimately enterprise operations leadership across a workforce of approx...

In this episode of Lead to Soar, Susan Colantuono interviews Michelle Redfern about mentoring, sponsorship, and the career advice women are still not being given. Susan Colantuono is the founder and former CEO of Leading Women and a globally recognised authority on women’s leadership. She is best known for her TED Talk The Career Advice You Probably Didn’t Get and for her books No Ceiling, No Wall...

In 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 partie...