The Boardroom by Heather Elkington

If you’re a manager who constantly feels like there are not enough hours in the day, this episode is for you. Heather breaks down how managers can start buying back their time, from cutting unnecessary meetings and setting stronger boundaries, to delegating properly and learning when to say no. In this episode, Heather explores: Why busy does not always mean productive How managers get trapped in...

Want to ask for a pay rise but have no idea where to start? In this episode, Heather breaks down how to prepare for the conversation, build a strong case, choose the right timing and ask with confidence. You’ll learn what to say, what not to say and how to follow up if the answer is “not yet”. In this episode: The exact steps Heather used to grow her salary from £85k to £120k Why the pay rise conv...

If you’ve ever avoided a difficult conversation because you didn’t want to upset someone, this episode is for you. Heather explores the difference between being nice and being kind at work, and why people-pleasing can quietly hold you back as a manager and leader. She shares personal stories from her own career, including uncomfortable conversations she has had to start, feedback that was difficul...

You go into the conversation with a plan. Then they push back, and suddenly you’re convincing yourself you were wrong all along. In this episode, Heather gets into the part of leadership nobody prepares you for, the moment a difficult conversation goes sideways, and your confidence completely disappears. She covers: Why imposter syndrome hits hardest in difficult conversations How to hold your pos...

Most leaders won’t admit this. But Heather will. Nobody tells you that becoming “the manager” changes everything your friendships, your confidence, and how you show up every single day. In this episode, Heather gets real about the moment anxiety nearly stopped her in her tracks, and why asking for help turned out to be her biggest leadership superpower. Why asking for help is actually your biggest...

Some people grow through pressure. Others spend their careers blaming everyone else for where they’re stuck. In this episode, Heather breaks down the “above the line vs below the line” framework, the quickest way to see who on your team is genuinely growing and who is stuck in blame, excuses, and denial. In this episode: The “above the line vs below the line” framework and how to use it as a litmu...

The Boardroom is the podcast for anyone navigating the messy, real, and often unspoken side of leadership. Hosted by Heather Elkington, someone who's been at the bottom, fought her way to the top, and never forgot what the hard parts actually felt like. Whether you're a first-time manager finding your feet, a senior leader feeling the pressure, or somewhere in between, this is the podcast that hel...