Women Who Lead

Ruth Penfold
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Women Who Lead Hosted by Ruth Penfold Real, unfiltered conversations with women who are redefining what leadership looks like — from the inside out. Every episode, I sit down with a brilliant woman and ask her the things that don't usually make it into the highlight reel. The seasons that shaped her. The moments she nearly didn't make it. The version of herself she had to become to get where she is. This isn't about performing success. It's about the truth underneath it. If you're a woman who's brilliant at what you do and still sometimes wonders why it feels so hard — this show is for you. New episodes weekly. Come as you are. Learn more at ourtimetobloom.com

  1. 1d ago

    502: From best supporting actress to CEO with Sylvia Kwan

    Women Who Lead is more than a podcast—it's a movement, a mindset, and a space for transformation. It's a platform for real, raw, and radically honest conversations with women who are redefining leadership on their own terms. Rooted in the belief that true leadership begins within, these Women Who Lead invite us to break free from outdated models of power and success. Through storytelling, coaching, and a soulful newsletter that follows the rhythm of the seasons, it supports women to rise—courageously, unapologetically, and as their whole selves. This is a space for women ready to lead with more self-trust, more softness, and more power. Learn more at https://ourtimetobloom.com. Season 5, Episode 2: From best supporting actress to CEO — with Sylvia Kwan This week I'm joined by Sylvia Kwan — CEO and Chief Investment Officer of Ellevest, the women-focused wealth management firm on a mission to close the gender wealth gap. Sylvia is a quant by training, a self-described introvert by nature, and someone who told her founder point blank that she never wanted to be CEO. And then she became one anyway. In this conversation she talks about what it means to lead from a different kind of intelligence — quieter, less visible, but no less powerful. She talks about the scripts we write for ourselves about who we are and what we're capable of. About stepping into enormous shoes without a blueprint. And about wealthcare — her vision for a more holistic approach to wealth management that asks not just how do we build your wealth, but how do we build your life. This one is for every woman who has ever told herself she's not the leader type. To stay updated on future episodes, make sure you subscribe on your favourite podcast platform. I'd love to hear what resonates—so feel free to leave a review or reach out on social media. And if this episode moved you, inspired you, or made you feel seen, please consider sharing it with someone else who might need to hear it. Timestamps: 01:53 | What does it mean to be in Bloom — in work and in life? 02:29 | Are women hormonally programmed to put others first — and what happens when we stop? 04:09 | The chief care officer of everything except ourselves 07:39 | Stepping into the CEO role — and why Sylvia never wanted it 09:41 | When Sally stepped down and the call came anyway 13:50 | What she would say to the woman who thinks she's not the leader type 16:09 | Having a narrow definition of leadership — and what happens when you widen it 19:20 | Wealthcare: why optimising for wealth and optimising for life are not the same thing 33:06 | Confidence doesn't come from reading — it comes from small actions stacked 35:42 | One thing Sylvia wishes she'd known sooner: let go of perfection Resources mentioned: Ellevest: ellevest.comSylvia on LinkedIn Book a complimentary financial consultation at ellevest.com

  2. Aug 14

    501: Recovery, resilience and the real cost of building with Morgan Fowles

    Women Who Lead is more than a podcast—it's a movement, a mindset, and a space for transformation. It's a platform for real, raw, and radically honest conversations with women who are redefining leadership on their own terms. Rooted in the belief that true leadership begins within, these Women Who Lead invite us to break free from outdated models of power and success. Through storytelling, coaching, and a soulful newsletter that follows the rhythm of the seasons, it supports women to rise—courageously, unapologetically, and as their whole selves. This is a space for women ready to lead with more self-trust, more softness, and more power. Learn more at https://ourtimetobloom.com. Season 5, Episode 1: Recovery, resilience and the real cost of building with Morgan Fowles This week, I'm joined by Morgan Fowles—seasoned operator, former CEO of TALA, and one of the most honest voices I've spoken to about what it actually costs to build. Morgan has spent over a decade scaling creative and fashion businesses, leading at every level from senior operator to chief executive. Under her leadership, TALA doubled down, hit record revenue, and opened its first physical stores. She stepped away at the top—not at the bottom—and is now advising and building again across fashion, wellness, and beyond. In this conversation, she talks candidly about burnout that looks like speeding up, not slowing down. About the quiet voice of "not enough" that lives underneath ambition. About self-esteem as a daily practice, the loneliness of the CEO seat, and why recovery might be the most underrated leadership skill of all. This is the opening episode of CEO Season—a limited series going inside the inner lives of female CEOs. And Morgan was exactly the right person to start it. To stay updated on future episodes, make sure you subscribe on your favourite podcast platform. I'd love to hear what resonates—so feel free to leave a review or reach out on social media. And if this episode moved you, inspired you, or made you feel seen, please consider sharing it with someone else who might need to hear it. Timestamps: 00:02 | What does it mean to you to be in Bloom in work and in life? 02:28 | Seasons within roles — and how to know which one you're in 05:19 | What burnout actually looks like when you're a builder 08:13 | From "not enough" to CEO — where does the audacity come from? 10:23 | Self-esteem as maths — how to stack the moments that feel good 23:58 | What Morgan is building now and why the wellness space is calling her 27:31 | What hits different about operating at CEO level — for good and for bad 32:06 | Why female leaders need to be visible — and what transparency actually gives other women 36:19 | One thing Morgan wishes she'd learned sooner: the power of recovery Resources mentioned:Morgan on LinkedIn Morgan on Instagram: @morgan.fowls

  3. 05/23/2025

    409: Building, bootstrapping and becoming with Emily Lincoln Gordon

    Women Who Lead is more than a podcast—it’s a movement, a mindset, and a space for transformation. It’s a platform for real, raw, and radically honest conversations with women who are redefining leadership on their own terms. Rooted in the belief that true leadership begins within, these Women Who Lead invite us to break free from outdated models of power and success. Through storytelling, coaching, and a soulful newsletter that follows the rhythm of the seasons, it supports women to rise—courageously, unapologetically, and as their whole selves. This is a space for women ready to lead with more self-trust, more softness, and more power. Learn more at https://ourtimetobloom.com.   Season 4, Episode 9: Building, bootstrapping and becoming with Emily Lincoln Gordon This week, I’m joined by the brilliant and fiercely honest Emily Lincoln Gordon—former General Counsel turned COO, board director, executive coach, and founder ofTable Eight. Emily has spent over a decade building and running founder-led, high-growth startups—leading across legal, ops, people, talent, finance, and even product. She’s scaled what needed scaling, stepped into what needed shaping, and grown alongside every challenge. Now, she works with senior leaders as an executive coach, helping them do the same. She partners with VCs to deliver operations-focused founder bootcamps. Through Table Eight, she’s built a private network for outspoken women in senior leadership. And through it all, she brings radical clarity, real talk, and a fierce commitment to growth that doesn’t come at the cost of self. To stay updated on future episodes, make sure you subscribe on your favourite podcast platform. I’d love to hear what resonates—so feel free to leave a review or reach out on social media. And if this episode moved you, inspired you, or made you feel seen, please consider sharing it with someone else who might need to hear it.   Timestamps: 01:31 | What does it mean to you to be ‘in Bloom’ in work and life? 02:59 | How did you create and maintain confidence and authenticity in environments where those traits might be tested? 07:34 | What’s your relationship like with your feminine energy? How do you balance masculine and feminine energies in leadership? 10:34 | What advice would you give to women on building confidence and asking for what they deserve? 13:36 | Which season of your career shaped you the most, and how did it impact you? 18:26 | What challenges did you face as a woman in the male-dominated world of work, and how did you navigate them? 27:53 | What are your top strategies for preventing burnout while staying driven?   Resources mentioned: Table Eight The Run Club Emily on LinkedIn Just the right amount, actually – SubstackEmail Emily at emily@tableeight.io or DM her on LinkedIn.

  4. 05/16/2025

    408: Scaling people, purpose and potential with Michelle Cheng

    Women Who Lead is more than a podcast—it’s a movement, a mindset, and a space for transformation. It’s a platform for real, raw, and radically honest conversations with women who are redefining leadership on their own terms. Rooted in the belief that true leadership begins within, these Women Who Lead invite us to break free from outdated models of power and success. Through storytelling, coaching, and a soulful newsletter that follows the rhythm of the seasons, it supports women to rise—courageously, unapologetically, and as their whole selves. This is a space for women ready to lead with more self-trust, more softness, and more power. Learn more at https://ourtimetobloom.com.   Season 4, Episode 8: Scaling people, purpose and potential with Michelle Cheng This week, I’m joined by the brilliant Michelle Cheng—Director of Talent at Notion Capital, former strategy consultant at Accenture, and someone who has spent her career at the intersection of purpose, growth, and people. Michelle grew up helping her parents run a market stall in Calgary. Today, she helps early-stage founders scale their companies with intention—building teams, culture, and leadership structures that are as human as they are high-performing. In this conversation, we explore what it means to lead with both empathy and excellence. Michelle shares the lessons she’s learned from consulting to venture capital, the personal growth behind the professional strategy, and how we can all think differently about success, power, and what it means to truly thrive. To stay updated on future episodes, make sure you subscribe on your favourite podcast platform. I’d love to hear what resonates—so feel free to leave a review or reach out on social media. And if this episode moved you, inspired you, or made you feel seen, please consider sharing it with someone else who might need to hear it.   Timestamps: 01:49 | What does it mean to you to be ‘in Bloom’ in work and life?04:39 | How do you define success without sacrificing well-being?07:17 | What challenges did you face as a woman in the male-dominated world of work, and how did you navigate them?14:45 | How did you create and maintain confidence and authenticity in environments where those traits might be tested?19:27 | We can’t possibly Bloom all of the time, how do you bounce back from setbacks or failures stronger than before?23:38 | Which season of your career shaped you the most, and how did it impact you?25:16 | What advice would you give to women on building confidence and asking for what they deserve?   Resources mentioned: Michelle Cheng on LinkedInNotion Capital

  5. 05/09/2025

    407: Authenticity, alignment and amplifying voices with Ness Monsequeira

    Women Who Lead is more than a podcast—it’s a movement, a mindset, and a space for transformation. It’s a platform for real, raw, and radically honest conversations with women who are redefining leadership on their own terms. Rooted in the belief that true leadership begins within, these Women Who Lead invite us to break free from outdated models of power and success. Through storytelling, coaching, and a soulful newsletter that follows the rhythm of the seasons, it supports women to rise—courageously, unapologetically, and as their whole selves. This is a space for women ready to lead with more self-trust, more softness, and more power. Learn more at https://ourtimetobloom.com.   Season 4, Episode 7: Authenticity, alignment and amplifying voices with Ness Monsequeira This week, I’m joined by the vibrant and visionary Ness Monsequeira—business psychologist, accidental technologist, and VP of People at Gorilla, a fast-growing Series B SaaS scaleup. Ness is a leader who brings equal parts heart and precision to the way we build cultures that actually work—for the humans inside them. She’s held leadership roles at Miro, Deloitte, PwC and Philips. She’s scaled culture in global tech. She’s redesigned learning strategies for some of the most complex corporate transformations in history. And through it all, she’s stayed grounded in one thing: human connection. In this episode, we talk about what it means to lead with integrity in fast-moving, high-growth spaces. Ness shares how her “corporate hippy” approach challenges traditional norms and invites something deeper—something more sustainable. To stay updated on future episodes, make sure you subscribe on your favourite podcast platform. I’d love to hear what resonates—so feel free to leave a review or reach out on social media. And if this episode moved you, inspired you, or made you feel seen, please consider sharing it with someone else who might need to hear it.   Timestamps: 01:23 | What does it mean to you to be ‘in Bloom’ in work and life? 02:48 | We can’t possibly Bloom all of the time, how do you bounce back from setbacks or failures stronger than before? 04:31 | How has understanding the connection between mind and body influenced your life and career growth? 08:03 | Which season of your career shaped you the most, and how did it impact you? 12:13 | What challenges did you face as a woman in the male-dominated world of work, and how did you navigate them? 15:33 | What’s your relationship like with your feminine energy? How do you balance masculine and feminine energies in leadership? 22:40 | What are your top strategies for preventing burnout while staying driven? 31:16 | What advice would you give to women on building confidence and asking for what they deserve?   Resources mentioned: Ness on LinkedIn Ness Monsequeira Illustrations The Nature of Leadership + Career Newsletter

  6. 05/02/2025

    406: Investing, innovation and inner knowing with Maria Shiao

    Women Who Lead is more than a podcast—it’s a movement, a mindset, and a space for transformation. It’s a platform for real, raw, and radically honest conversations with women who are redefining leadership on their own terms. Rooted in the belief that true leadership begins within, these Women Who Lead invite us to break free from outdated models of power and success. Through storytelling, coaching, and a soulful newsletter that follows the rhythm of the seasons, it supports women to rise—courageously, unapologetically, and as their whole selves. This is a space for women ready to lead with more self-trust, more softness, and more power. Learn more at https://ourtimetobloom.com.   Season 4, Episode 6: Investing, innovation and inner knowing with Maria Shiao This week, I’m joined by the brilliant Maria Shiao—angel investor, tech strategist, and advisor to some of the world’s most innovative early-stage companies. Maria’s career spans decades of leadership in telecoms, finance, and emerging tech. She now operates at the intersection of innovation and impact, backing founders who are reshaping the future—and doing it with purpose. Her unique lens as an engineer-turned-investor is grounded in both rigour and intuition. In this conversation, we explore what it means to lead with conviction, to trust your inner knowing, and to navigate complexity without abandoning yourself in the process. Maria brings wisdom, clarity, and a quiet fierceness that makes this episode one to return to again and again. To stay updated on future episodes, make sure you subscribe on your favourite podcast platform. I’d love to hear what resonates—so feel free to leave a review or reach out on social media. And if this episode moved you, inspired you, or made you feel seen, please consider sharing it with someone else who might need to hear it.   Timestamps: 01:59 | What does it mean to you to be ‘in Bloom’ in work and life? 03:11 | How did you create and maintain confidence and authenticity in environments where those traits might be tested? 06:18 | How has understanding the connection between mind and body influenced your life and career growth? 10:01 | We can’t possibly Bloom all of the time, how do you bounce back from setbacks or failures stronger than before? 11:50 | What challenges did you face as a woman in the male-dominated world of work, and how did you navigate them? 18:32 | What advice would you give to women on building confidence and asking for what they deserve? 24:08 | Which season of your career shaped you the most, and how did it impact you? 26:12 | What’s your relationship like with your feminine energy? How do you balance masculine and feminine energies in leadership?   Resources mentioned: Maria Shiao on LinkedIn Columbia University Club of London

  7. 04/25/2025

    405: Mentorship, mobility and making change with Leila Thomas

    Women Who Lead is more than a podcast—it’s a movement, a mindset, and a space for transformation. It’s a platform for real, raw, and radically honest conversations with women who are redefining leadership on their own terms. Rooted in the belief that true leadership begins within, these Women Who Lead invite us to break free from outdated models of power and success. Through storytelling, coaching, and a soulful newsletter that follows the rhythm of the seasons, it supports women to rise—courageously, unapologetically, and as their whole selves. This is a space for women ready to lead with more self-trust, more softness, and more power. Learn more at https://ourtimetobloom.com.   Season 4, Episode 5: Mentorship, mobility and making change with Leila Thomas This week, I’m joined by the brilliant Leila Thomas—CEO and founder of Urban Synergy, an award-winning charity that’s transforming the lives of young people through mentorship and opportunity. Leila’s own career started in tech, working as a network engineer before moving into the City and eventually founding Urban Synergy while working at the BBC. What began as a passion project quickly became a powerful platform for change—one that’s now impacted thousands of lives across the UK. In this episode, we explore the power of mentorship, the importance of representation, and what it takes to build bridges for the next generation of leaders. Leila shares how her own lived experience shaped her mission, how she navigated male-dominated industries, and why she believes every young person deserves access to role models who reflect their potential. To stay updated on future episodes, make sure you subscribe on your favourite podcast platform. I’d love to hear what resonates—so feel free to leave a review or reach out on social media. And if this episode moved you, inspired you, or made you feel seen, please consider sharing it with someone else who might need to hear it. Timestamps: 01:31 | What does it mean to you to be ‘in Bloom’ in work and life?07:48 | What challenges did you face as a woman in the male-dominated world of work, and how did you navigate them?10:24 | How did you create and maintain confidence and authenticity in environments where those traits might be tested?11:20 | How has understanding the connection between mind and body influenced your life and career growth?13:31 | Which season of your career shaped you the most, and how did it impact you?17:12 What are your top strategies for preventing burnout while staying driven?21:27 | What advice would you give to women on building confidence and asking for what they deserve?   Resources mentioned: urbansynergy.com Leila Thomas on LinkedIn

  8. 04/18/2025

    404: Burnout, boundaries and bold leadership with Kelly Swingler

    Women Who Lead is more than a podcast—it’s a movement, a mindset, and a space for transformation. It’s a platform for real, raw, and radically honest conversations with women who are redefining leadership on their own terms. Rooted in the belief that true leadership begins within, these Women Who Lead invite us to break free from outdated models of power and success. Through storytelling, coaching, and a soulful newsletter that follows the rhythm of the seasons, it supports women to rise—courageously, unapologetically, and as their whole selves. This is a space for women ready to lead with more self-trust, more softness, and more power. Learn more at https://ourtimetobloom.com/. Season 4, Episode 4: Burnout, boundaries and bold leadership with Kelly Swingler  This week, I’m joined by the fierce, no-fluff force that is Kelly Swingler—global burnout educator, executive coach, and founder of The Burnout Academy. After two devastating burnouts—one that wrecked her health, the other that nearly ended her life—Kelly made a decision: this ends here. Now she’s on a mission to challenge everything we’ve been told about success, productivity, and performance culture. She trains the world’s leading burnout coaches and works with organisations to move beyond lip-service wellbeing. No tick boxes. No fluffy fixes. Just real, lasting change. In this conversation, we talk about how we got here—glamourising stress and normalising self-sacrifice—why burnout is not a personal failure, how to lead without losing yourself, and what it means to build bold, burnout-aware leadership from the inside out. To stay updated on future episodes, make sure you subscribe on your favourite podcast platform. I’d love to hear what resonates—so feel free to leave a review or reach out on social media. And if this episode moved you, inspired you, or made you feel seen, please consider sharing it with someone else who might need to hear it. Timestamps: 01:13 | What does it mean to you to be ‘in Bloom’ in work and life?  02:14 | How do you define success without sacrificing well-being?  04:01 | Which season of your career shaped you the most, and how did it impact you?  06:18 | What challenges did you face as a woman in the male-dominated world of work, and how did you navigate them?  07:44 | How did you create and maintain confidence and authenticity in environments where those traits might be tested?  09:39 | What advice would you give to women on building confidence and asking for what they deserve?  11:17 | What’s your relationship like with your feminine energy? How do you balance masculine and feminine energies in leadership?  13:10 | What are your top strategies for preventing burnout while staying driven?  15:02 | We can’t possibly Bloom all of the time, how do you bounce back from setbacks or failures stronger than before?  16:38 | How has understanding the connection between mind and body influenced your life and career growth?   Resources mentioned: https://www.kellyswingler.com/ Mind The Gap → https://amzn.eu/d/dFoulwQ F*ck Burnout → Buy here](https://amzn.eu/d/46Fqdl8 Kelly on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyswingler/

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About

Women Who Lead Hosted by Ruth Penfold Real, unfiltered conversations with women who are redefining what leadership looks like — from the inside out. Every episode, I sit down with a brilliant woman and ask her the things that don't usually make it into the highlight reel. The seasons that shaped her. The moments she nearly didn't make it. The version of herself she had to become to get where she is. This isn't about performing success. It's about the truth underneath it. If you're a woman who's brilliant at what you do and still sometimes wonders why it feels so hard — this show is for you. New episodes weekly. Come as you are. Learn more at ourtimetobloom.com

Information

  • Creator
    Ruth Penfold
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    97
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Ruth Penfold | Our Time to Bloom LLC
  • Show Website
    Women Who Lead