Brave Feminine Leadership

Melissa Hamilton
  • 5.0 (3)
  • MANAGEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Sharing stories from amazing leaders just like you and me. Breaking down myths of leadership, imposter syndrome & helping us all be braver. Step by step.

  1. 2D AGO

    #224 Professor Didar Zowghi - Move Fast and Fix Things: Why AI Needs Human-Centered Design

    What if the biggest risk in AI isn't the technology itself, but building it without understanding the problem first? Professor Didar Zowghi leads pioneering research on diversity and inclusion in AI at CSIRO's Data61. Her DNI guidelines were incorporated into Australia's national framework for AI in government in 2024. But her path to becoming a trailblazer in AI began unexpectedly, as a young woman from Tehran who couldn't study physics in the UK because her English wasn't good enough. Computer science, they told her, had its own language. That "serendipitous path" led to decades of groundbreaking work in human-centered technology design, over 300 published articles, and a leadership philosophy built on empathy, courage, and lifting others up. In this conversation, Didar shares her "don't think, just do" attitude through discrimination and doubt, why she advocates for "move fast and fix things" rather than "break things," and why 87% of AI projects fail. She reveals why organisations must understand the problem before chasing solutions, why equity and inclusion are safety issues, and how her mentors taught her which battles to fight in a male-dominated world. This one's for leaders who want to build technology, and lead teams,that truly serve humans. ----------------------- Craving inspiration? I send an email each Sunday about leadership reflection, top tips to build an intentional & sustainable life and other things that have captured my attention and are too good not to share! Sign up here: https://www.bravefeminineleadership.com/leadershipinspiration   Loving the podcast? Leave us a short review. It takes less than 60 seconds & will inspire like-minded leaders to join the conversation!   Access Your Free Clarity Tool Between the endless to-do lists, competing priorities, and decisions piling up, it’s easy to lose sight of what matters most. But here’s the truth: you can’t give more if you’re running on empty. That’s why we created Balance Your Brave—a free 15-minute diagnostic tool to help you regain control and clarity. In just 15 minutes, you will: ✅ Pinpoint energy drains holding you back. ✅ Identify where to focus for the biggest impact. ✅ Walk away feeling calmer and more confident in your next steps. Think of it as your personal roadmap to balance and alignment. ⬇️ Click here to access your free Balance Your Brave diagnostic tool. https://www.bravefeminineleadership.com/Balance-Your-Brave   Are we friends? Connect with Us. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bravefeminineleadership Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bravefeminineleadership LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brave-feminine-leadership

    31 min

  2. OCT 16

    #223 Marilla Akkermans - Swim in the Doubt: The Trust Behind a Four-Day Work Week and 90% Retention

    What if the key to 90% staff retention was radical trust from day one? Marilla Akkermans launched Equality Media and Marketing while raising her first child, after experiencing her own worth drop when she became a mother. She decided to build something different: a business with a four-day work week that actually works, 19 inclusive care policies, and trust given upfront, not earned. In this conversation, Marilla shares how they ran a three-month trial of the four-day work week to prove it could work for everyone involved, why efficiency should be rewarded with time back (not more work), and why tracking mouse movements is lazy leadership. She gets real about the grit required, swimming in doubt, and her vision for true equality in an industry where women make up 51% of the workforce but only 30% of leadership. This one's for anyone who's ever thought: there has to be a better way. ----------------------- Craving inspiration? I send an email each Sunday about leadership reflection, top tips to build an intentional & sustainable life and other things that have captured my attention and are too good not to share! Sign up here: https://www.bravefeminineleadership.com/leadershipinspiration Loving the podcast? Leave us a short review. It takes less than 60 seconds & will inspire like-minded leaders to join the conversation! Access Your Free Clarity Tool Between the endless to-do lists, competing priorities, and decisions piling up, it’s easy to lose sight of what matters most. But here’s the truth: you can’t give more if you’re running on empty. That’s why we created Balance Your Brave—a free 15-minute diagnostic tool to help you regain control and clarity. In just 15 minutes, you will: ✅ Pinpoint energy drains holding you back. ✅ Identify where to focus for the biggest impact. ✅ Walk away feeling calmer and more confident in your next steps. Think of it as your personal roadmap to balance and alignment. ⬇️ Click here to access your free Balance Your Brave diagnostic tool. https://www.bravefeminineleadership.com/Balance-Your-Brave   Are we friends? Connect with Us. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bravefeminineleadership Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bravefeminineleadership LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brave-feminine-leadership

    37 min

  3. OCT 2

    #222 Dr. Alison Fragale - The Likeable Badass Framework: Add, Don't Subtract

    Dr. Alison Fragale, organisational psychologist and author of "Likeable Badass," reveals why women don't need to choose between being liked and being respected, they need both, and the science proves it. Alison explains how "status" (how much others respect you) is more foundational than power for career success, and why it comes from demonstrating two qualities simultaneously: warmth and assertiveness. She shares the McKinsey moment that taught her self-promotion works even for the unqualified, her "add don't subtract" principle for showing both dimensions without changing who you are, and the "collecting no's" exercise that proves people say yes far more than we assume. Why you should listen: If you've been told you lack "executive presence" or been called "too aggressive" when you finally spoke up, this conversation offers a research-backed framework for building genuine influence without performing someone else's version of leadership.   ----------------------- Craving inspiration? I send an email each Sunday about leadership reflection, top tips to build an intentional & sustainable life and other things that have captured my attention and are too good not to share! Sign up here: https://www.bravefeminineleadership.com/leadershipinspiration   Loving the podcast? Leave us a short review. It takes less than 60 seconds & will inspire like-minded leaders to join the conversation!   Access Your Free Clarity Tool Between the endless to-do lists, competing priorities, and decisions piling up, it’s easy to lose sight of what matters most. But here’s the truth: you can’t give more if you’re running on empty. That’s why we created Balance Your Brave—a free 15-minute diagnostic tool to help you regain control and clarity. In just 15 minutes, you will: ✅ Pinpoint energy drains holding you back. ✅ Identify where to focus for the biggest impact. ✅ Walk away feeling calmer and more confident in your next steps. Think of it as your personal roadmap to balance and alignment. ⬇️ Click here to access your free Balance Your Brave diagnostic tool. https://www.bravefeminineleadership.com/Balance-Your-Brave   Are we friends? Connect with Us. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bravefeminineleadership Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bravefeminineleadership LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brave-feminine-leadership

    41 min

  4. SEP 18

    #221 Justine Robbins - No One Size Career Fits All

    Justine Robbins, CEO of Heartweb, dismantles the myth that successful careers follow one path. After feedback calling her "not a team player" and "not strategic" stopped her for six months, she learned to question input constructively and discovered career is a "team sport." She reveals how to build your personal "board of directors" and why sometimes feedback simply isn't true. Why you should listen: If you're navigating a non-linear career or struggling with challenging feedback as a senior leader, Justine offers hard-won strategies for authentic influence. ----------------------- Craving inspiration? I send an email each Sunday about leadership reflection, top tips to build an intentional & sustainable life and other things that have captured my attention and are too good not to share! Sign up here: https://www.bravefeminineleadership.com/leadershipinspiration   Loving the podcast? Leave us a short review. It takes less than 60 seconds & will inspire like-minded leaders to join the conversation!   Access Your Free Clarity Tool Between the endless to-do lists, competing priorities, and decisions piling up, it’s easy to lose sight of what matters most. But here’s the truth: you can’t give more if you’re running on empty. That’s why we created Balance Your Brave—a free 15-minute diagnostic tool to help you regain control and clarity. In just 15 minutes, you will: ✅ Pinpoint energy drains holding you back. ✅ Identify where to focus for the biggest impact. ✅ Walk away feeling calmer and more confident in your next steps. Think of it as your personal roadmap to balance and alignment. ⬇️ Click here to access your free Balance Your Brave diagnostic tool. https://www.bravefeminineleadership.com/Balance-Your-Brave   Are we friends? Connect with Us. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bravefeminineleadership Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bravefeminineleadership LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brave-feminine-leadership

    30 min

  5. SEP 4

    #220 Dr Kate Mason - Powerfully Likeable Leadership

    Dr. Kate Mason, executive communications coach and author of "Powerfully Likeable," dismantles the myth that you have to choose between being powerful or being liked as a leader. Kate reveals why the traditional "leadership persona" is exhausting and challenges the Miranda Priestley vs. people-pleaser binary that traps high-achieving women. She shares her simple exercise to map your power-up and power-down moments, explains why thinking about confidence is the worst way to build it, and offers strategies for handling feedback without triggering threat responses. Why you should listen: If you're tired of performing a leadership role that doesn't feel authentic, or struggling with vague feedback about needing more "executive presence," this conversation provides concrete tools to lead powerfully while staying true to who you are. -----------------------   Inside My CEO Calendar: How I Led A Team of 5k+ Without Getting Pulled Back Into the Weeds A behind-the-scenes private podcast for senior female leaders and CEOs who don’t need fluff—just sharper thinking, smarter moves, and more time for what matters. You don’t have time for another 60-minute webinar. But you do have 15 minutes while you’re driving into the office or grabbing your mid-day coffee. Listen here: https://www.bravefeminineleadership.com/BFL-Private-Podcast   ----------------------- Craving inspiration? I send an email each Sunday about leadership reflection, top tips to build an intentional & sustainable life and other things that have captured my attention and are too good not to share! Sign up here: https://www.bravefeminineleadership.com/leadershipinspiration   Loving the podcast? Leave us a short review. It takes less than 60 seconds & will inspire like-minded leaders to join the conversation!   Access Your Free Clarity Tool Between the endless to-do lists, competing priorities, and decisions piling up, it’s easy to lose sight of what matters most. But here’s the truth: you can’t give more if you’re running on empty. That’s why we created Balance Your Brave—a free 15-minute diagnostic tool to help you regain control and clarity. In just 15 minutes, you will: ✅ Pinpoint energy drains holding you back. ✅ Identify where to focus for the biggest impact. ✅ Walk away feeling calmer and more confident in your next steps. Think of it as your personal roadmap to balance and alignment. ⬇️ Click here to access your free Balance Your Brave diagnostic tool. https://www.bravefeminineleadership.com/Balance-Your-Brave   Are we friends? Connect with Us. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bravefeminineleadership Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bravefeminineleadership LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brave-feminine-leadership

    41 min

  6. AUG 21

    #219 Florence Potter - Why Generational Tension Is a Gift

    Baby Boomers are technophobes. Gen Z are lazy and entitled. Millennials want everything handed to them. Gen X are just... forgotten. Florence Potter, Founding Director of No Umbrellas, is calling out every single stereotype. For the first time in history, five generations are working side by side, and most leaders are missing the biggest opportunity hiding in plain sight. Florence reveals why generational tension isn't your problem, it's your competitive advantage. From challenging the broken "Golden Rule" to creating brave spaces that unlock collective intelligence, she shares the leadership shifts that actually work in today's multi-generational workplace. Discover why measuring hours kills productivity, the real story behind quiet quitting, and the simple question that transforms team dynamics instantly. Why you should listen: The leadership playbook is changing fast. This conversation gives you the future-proof skills to turn generational differences into your team's greatest strength, before your competitors figure it out. -----------------------   Inside My CEO Calendar: How I Led A Team of 5k+ Without Getting Pulled Back Into the Weeds A behind-the-scenes private podcast for senior female leaders and CEOs who don’t need fluff—just sharper thinking, smarter moves, and more time for what matters. You don’t have time for another 60-minute webinar. But you do have 15 minutes while you’re driving into the office or grabbing your mid-day coffee. Listen here: https://www.bravefeminineleadership.com/BFL-Private-Podcast   ----------------------- Craving inspiration? I send an email each Sunday about leadership reflection, top tips to build an intentional & sustainable life and other things that have captured my attention and are too good not to share! Sign up here: https://www.bravefeminineleadership.com/leadershipinspiration   Loving the podcast? Leave us a short review. It takes less than 60 seconds & will inspire like-minded leaders to join the conversation!   Access Your Free Clarity Tool Between the endless to-do lists, competing priorities, and decisions piling up, it’s easy to lose sight of what matters most. But here’s the truth: you can’t give more if you’re running on empty. That’s why we created Balance Your Brave—a free 15-minute diagnostic tool to help you regain control and clarity. In just 15 minutes, you will: ✅ Pinpoint energy drains holding you back. ✅ Identify where to focus for the biggest impact. ✅ Walk away feeling calmer and more confident in your next steps. Think of it as your personal roadmap to balance and alignment. ⬇️ Click here to access your free Balance Your Brave diagnostic tool. https://www.bravefeminineleadership.com/Balance-Your-Brave   Are we friends? Connect with Us. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bravefeminineleadership Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bravefeminineleadership Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brave-feminine-leadership

    55 min

  7. AUG 7

    #218 Tom Mutch - The 30-Second Test: Are You Really Ready for the Boardroom?

    Tom Mutch, a board and C-suite headhunter specialising in APAC appointments, reveals his infamous "30-second elevator pitch test" that exposes why 90% of aspiring board directors aren't actually ready for the boardroom. From his accidental journey from PhD in Physics to becoming one of the most recommended board search consultants, Tom shares the real-world insights that matter: his four-ingredient recipe for building a memorable personal brand, why intellectual curiosity beats credentials every time, and the biggest myths experienced executives believe about board appointments. Tom also opens up about how the 2008 financial crisis taught him that business is ultimately about people, not transactions, and why asking "stupid questions" makes the best board directors. Why you should listen: Whether you're eyeing your first board appointment, wondering why you keep coming second in selection processes, or simply want to build more authentic professional relationships, this episode delivers the candid, actionable advice you need to stand out in a competitive market and create genuine pathways between people and opportunities. -----------------------   Inside My CEO Calendar: How I Led A Team of 5k+ Without Getting Pulled Back Into the Weeds A behind-the-scenes private podcast for senior female leaders and CEOs who don’t need fluff—just sharper thinking, smarter moves, and more time for what matters. You don’t have time for another 60-minute webinar. But you do have 15 minutes while you’re driving into the office or grabbing your mid-day coffee. Listen here: https://www.bravefeminineleadership.com/BFL-Private-Podcast   ----------------------- Craving inspiration? I send an email each Sunday about leadership reflection, top tips to build an intentional & sustainable life and other things that have captured my attention and are too good not to share! Sign up here: https://www.bravefeminineleadership.com/leadershipinspiration   Loving the podcast? Leave us a short review. It takes less than 60 seconds & will inspire like-minded leaders to join the conversation!   Access Your Free Clarity Tool Between the endless to-do lists, competing priorities, and decisions piling up, it’s easy to lose sight of what matters most. But here’s the truth: you can’t give more if you’re running on empty. That’s why we created Balance Your Brave—a free 15-minute diagnostic tool to help you regain control and clarity. In just 15 minutes, you will: ✅ Pinpoint energy drains holding you back. ✅ Identify where to focus for the biggest impact. ✅ Walk away feeling calmer and more confident in your next steps. Think of it as your personal roadmap to balance and alignment. ⬇️ Click here to access your free Balance Your Brave diagnostic tool. https://www.bravefeminineleadership.com/Balance-Your-Brave   Are we friends? Connect with Us. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bravefeminineleadership Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bravefeminineleadership Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brave-feminine-leadership

    49 min

  8. JUL 31

    #217 Robbie Campo - To Have Impact, I Had to Lead

    Robbie Campo didn’t set out to become a CEO. She started in advocacy and policy, driven by purpose and a passion for change. But over time, she realised something important: real impact often requires authority. In this episode, Robbie shares her path from behind the scenes to the CEO seat, the mentors who nudged her forward, the feedback that shaped her, and the moment she chose to own her leadership. We talk visibility, confidence, and the courage it takes to step up, even when you don’t feel ready. -----------------------   Inside My CEO Calendar: How I Led A Team of 5k+ Without Getting Pulled Back Into the Weeds A behind-the-scenes private podcast for senior female leaders and CEOs who don’t need fluff—just sharper thinking, smarter moves, and more time for what matters. You don’t have time for another 60-minute webinar. But you do have 15 minutes while you’re driving into the office or grabbing your mid-day coffee. Listen here: https://www.bravefeminineleadership.com/BFL-Private-Podcast   ----------------------- Craving inspiration? I send an email each Sunday about leadership reflection, top tips to build an intentional & sustainable life and other things that have captured my attention and are too good not to share! Sign up here: https://www.bravefeminineleadership.com/leadershipinspiration   Loving the podcast? Leave us a short review. It takes less than 60 seconds & will inspire like-minded leaders to join the conversation!   Access Your Free Clarity Tool Between the endless to-do lists, competing priorities, and decisions piling up, it’s easy to lose sight of what matters most. But here’s the truth: you can’t give more if you’re running on empty. That’s why we created Balance Your Brave—a free 15-minute diagnostic tool to help you regain control and clarity. In just 15 minutes, you will: ✅ Pinpoint energy drains holding you back. ✅ Identify where to focus for the biggest impact. ✅ Walk away feeling calmer and more confident in your next steps. Think of it as your personal roadmap to balance and alignment. ⬇️ Click here to access your free Balance Your Brave diagnostic tool. https://www.bravefeminineleadership.com/Balance-Your-Brave   Are we friends? Connect with Us. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bravefeminineleadership Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bravefeminineleadership Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brave-feminine-leadership

    46 min
See All (224)

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Sharing stories from amazing leaders just like you and me. Breaking down myths of leadership, imposter syndrome & helping us all be braver. Step by step.

Information

  • Creator
    Melissa Hamilton
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2025
  • Episodes
    224
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2022 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Brave Feminine Leadership

You Might Also Like