She Leads Collective Podcast: stories, allyship and confidence tools for women

Send us Fan Mail In this opening episode of Season 2 of the She Leads Collective Podcast , Mary Gregory reflects on why this podcast still matters — and why now. At a time when there’s a growing narrative that “enough has been done” on gender equity, Mary explores the gap between perception and lived experience. Drawing on her decades of leadership experience and years of coaching women leaders an...

Send us Fan Mail As we look towards the future of gender equity, we often focus our attention on women and girls. But boys and girls don’t grow up in separate worlds — they learn together, socialise together, challenge one another, and eventually work and lead together. So if we want a future that is safer and more equitable for women, we must also understand the boys who will become the men of to...

Send us Fan Mail In this Season One finale of the She Leads Collective Podcast, Mary Gregory shares five powerful leadership lessons that will shape the future of work in 2026. Drawing on 26 episodes and 24 remarkable guests, Mary reflects on the themes of humanity, allyship, visibility, the undiscussables, and the evolving definition of power in leadership. Season One of the She Leads Collective...

Send us Fan Mail What if the talent your organisation needs isn’t in plain sight? Creative maverick,  coach, producer and writer Fiona Lindsay joins me to unpack radical non-judgment , deep listening and the power of story to help people feel seen, speak with impact and thrive. This week I’m joined by Fiona Lindsay —founder of Awaken Her , creative producer, writer and globally acclaimed coach who...

Send us Fan Mail In this short International Men’s Day bonus episode, Mary reflects on why women cannot create systemic gender equity alone — and why understanding and engaging men is essential for real change. This special bonus episode marks International Men’s Day with a powerful reflection on the vital role men play in creating gender-equitable workplaces. Drawing on conversations with four po...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when someone who never liked football ends up helping to change the game—forever? Karen Dobres, former Lewes FC director and author of Pitch Invasion , joins me to share how “Equality FC” became the first club to equally resource their men’s and women’s teams, and what that taught her about leadership, allyship, and challenging the status quo. Love it or loathe it, fo...

Send us Fan Mail What if the very system we’ve been trained to succeed in is holding all of us back? Inclusive leadership and male-allyship specialist Daniele Fiandaca joins me to explore healthier masculinity, practical ways to include men in DEI, and why empathy is a leadership muscle—not a “female” trait. In this conversation, Daniele (founder of Token Man and co-founder of Hard as Nails ) expl...

Send us Fan Mail What would change if you gave yourself full permission—not just to lead—but to speak with courage, clarity and intention? In this uplifting conversation, lawyer-turned-coach, TEDx licence holder and “Queen of Joy” Ronke Kokoruwe shares how women can stop waiting to “feel confident” and start speaking from intention, presence and joy. We trace Ronke’s journey from the law to coachi...

Send us Fan Mail Are women-only leadership programmes a solution—or part of the problem? Dr Rob Sayers Brown joins me to explore leadership identity, human vs social capital, and why inclusive design must go deeper than “fix the woman.” In this candid conversation, occupational psychologist Dr Rob Sayers Brown unpacks what actually helps women (and other under-represented leaders) thrive. Drawing...

Send us Fan Mail This week on the She Leads Collective Podcast , host Mary Gregory is joined by Vanessa White , accredited Relationship and Divorce Master Coach, to mark Domestic Violence Awareness Month . Together they open up an important and often hidden conversation: how abuse at home can impact confidence, performance, and leadership at work. Vanessa shares her lived experience of domestic ab...

Send us Fan Mail Released the week of World Menopause Day (18 October) , this episode features Helen Tomlinson, the UK’s first Menopause Employment Champion . She shares why midlife isn’t a decline—it’s a power stage—and how employers can move from token gestures to real culture change.  What happens when a musical-theatre dream becomes a mission to transform workplaces for millions of women? Hele...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when the loss that shapes your life is the one the world rarely talks about? In this deeply human conversation released to mark Baby Loss Awareness Week (9–15 October, UK) , Shelley Kay —Talent & Development Business Partner and co-lead of the Gender Perspectives Network at the Adecco Group—shares her personal experience of five miscarriages and how she transforme...

Send us Fan Mail What does it take to turn good intentions into real change? In this conversation, Robert Baker —founder of Potentia Talent Consulting, board member at European Women on Boards , UN Women UK , and Women in Quantum Development , and former co-president of PWN Global —shares how to engage men as allies and build inclusive, gender-balanced cultures that last.  We explore the “aha” mom...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when someone tells you “women aren’t funny”? If you’re Lynne Parker BCAa , you build a movement. In this episode, Lynne — Founder & CEO of Funny Women CIC and host of How to Have Fun at Work podcast— shares the origin story of Funny Women, the growth of the Funny Women Awards (from 70 entrants to 2,000+ across performance, writing, film and content creation), and...

Send us Fan Mail What if the most powerful intelligence today isn’t artificial — but authentic? In this episode of the She Leads Collective Podcast , I’m joined by the incredible Nishma Patel Robb — Ex Google Brand Chief, past President of WACL (Women in Advertising and Communications Leadership), and now Founder of Glittersphere , a movement that’s part TED Talk, part Studio 54, all about making...

Send us Fan Mail Trigger warning: This episode includes discussion of male suicide and mental health. Why is it that men are told to be “strong” while women are labelled “too sensitive”? And what happens when those same societal rules leave both men and women struggling in silence? In this powerful episode, released on World Suicide Prevention Day , I’m joined by award-winning cognitive hypnothera...

Send us Fan Mail What if the very thing we’ve been told to leave at the door—our emotions—is actually the most powerful leadership tool we have? In this episode of the She Leads Collective Podcast , I’m joined by executive coach, facilitator, and author Steph Tranter . Together, we explore why emotions are still treated as “undiscussable” in many organisations, what happens when they’re ignored, a...

Send us Fan Mail What does it take to lead with impact in your twenties without burning out? In this episode, I speak with India Hatfield, Senior Manager in AI Product Innovation at Capgemini Invent. India shares her journey from GSK’s Future Leaders programme to senior leadership in tech—all before turning 30. We explore how ambition evolves, how to say no without guilt, and what inclusive leader...

Send us Fan Mail What kind of leadership does the world need now? In this deep and wide-ranging conversation, Dr Louise Austin—psychologist, senior lecturer, arts-based researcher, and integrative psychotherapist—joins me to explore what it truly means to be a whole leader in today’s complex, divided world. We delve into topics rarely discussed in organisational life: the shadow side of leadership...

Send us Fan Mail What if true leadership meant leading your finances—not just your team? In this powerful conversation, I’m joined by Diane Watson—award-winning financial advisor, entrepreneur, and author of She Can Prosper . Diane shares her mission to empower women at every life stage to take control of their financial future. From navigating money mindsets to challenging outdated societal norms...

Send us Fan Mail What if the thing that once threatened your life became the foundation of your purpose? Diagnosed with severe anaphylaxis at age two, Julianne Ponan MBE has spent her life navigating a world that isn’t built for people with allergies—and doing something extraordinary about it. As the founder and CEO of Creative Nature , Julianne built one of the UK’s leading Top 14 allergen-free b...

Send us Fan Mail What if the original “fallen woman” wasn’t sinful—but simply refused to submit? In this powerful and provocative episode, I’m joined by historical and mythological fiction author Nikki Marmery to explore the story behind Lilith —the first woman before Eve, banished from the Garden of Eden for daring to stand up to Adam and God. Together, we delve into why this story matters today....

Send us Fan Mail Ovarian cancer is often called a “silent killer”—and like many women’s health issues, it doesn’t get talked about enough. The symptoms are easily missed, the diagnosis often comes too late, and the impact can be devastating. In this deeply moving and inspiring episode, I’m joined by Craig McMurrough and Sarah Fritchley —also known as Mr and Mrs Ovary —who are quite literally runni...

Send us Fan Mail What if the future of work lies not just in the tech we adopt—but in the human qualities we choose to preserve? In this episode of the She Leads Collective Podcast , I’m joined by Celine Floyd — Chief Skills Officer at Cappfinity , Chartered Occupational Psychologist, and board-level leader shaping how organisations think about talent, capability, and the future of work. We explor...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a journalist refuses to stay silent and holds power to account? Award winning journalist Liz Perkins has become an expert in speaking truth to power. In this episode of the She Leads Collective Podcast , Liz shares the remarkable stories behind her fearless reporting—from exposing misogyny in Welsh rugby to influencing landmark Family Court reform through the Dom...