More Women Promoted

Katy McFee
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Are you an ambitious woman who's been stuck at the sr. manager or director level, watching peers advance despite your consistently stellar performance? Do you find yourself drowning in back-to-back meetings, unable to carve out time for lunch, much less time for professional development?  You are not alone. Breaking through to the executive level isn't about working harder—it's about transforming how others perceive your leadership. Join Katy McFee, a former tech executive and Forty under 40 winner turned leadership coach. Through her leadership programs, Forbes.com writing and keynote speaking, she's empowered hundreds of women to secure promotions and thrive in their roles. When she's not helping over 100,000 women on social media crush their career goals, she's raising 3 kids and running ultramarathons—proving that resilience isn't just a buzzword, it's a lifestyle. Each week on More Women Promoted, dive into practical strategies for navigating career challenges: advancing to the next level, overcoming gender bias, balancing motherhood, preventing burnout, and thriving as an executive—on your terms. Learn how to transform from a go-to executor to a respected, confident strategic leader who belongs in the boardroom. Through targeted leadership development, strategic career planning, and professional empowerment techniques, you'll unlock your executive potential and redefine workplace success. Ready to redefine success and claim your seat at the leadership table? Hit play, and let's do this together.

  1. 6d ago

    My best advice on getting to VP (Katy's guest appearance on The Career Diet podcast)

    I sat down with Anna Belyaeva on The Career Diet podcast to break down the mistakes that kept me stuck at director for five years, and what I'd do instead. Looking for more? One week left to join my fall cohort: https://insightstoactioncc.com/signup I was reporting straight to the CEO, running an entire function, and there was no VP above me. I still couldn't get the title. I had no idea what I was doing wrong. I was working harder than anyone, my team loved me, I knew the leadership team well, and none of it moved the needle. That was five years of my life as a director before I finally figured out what was actually missing, and it wasn't more hustle. In this episode, I'm doing something a little different. Instead of a solo teaching episode, I'm sharing the conversation I had as a guest on my friend Anna Belyaeva's podcast, The Career Diet. She asked me the questions I get asked the most: what were the biggest mistakes I made trying to move from director to VP, and what would I tell a woman today who wants to make that move in the next six months. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN Why grinding harder actually works against you once you're aiming for VP, and the two-part audit (calendar and task) I use to reclaim real strategic thinking timeThe exact language shift that turns "what do you think?" into "here's my recommendation, any concerns?", and why the second version gets you promotedWhy confidence gets read as competence whether you like it or not, and the Harvard Business Review research behind itHow to build a real stakeholder map instead of relying on people who just "like" youThe three moves I'd make this week if I were trying to go from director to VP in the next six monthsRESOURCES MENTIONED The Career Diet podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-career-diet-podcast/id1759430848Own Your Seat at the Table - fall cohort (one week left to enroll): https://insightstoactioncc.com/signupConnect with Katy on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/katy-mcfee-3880b4a Weekly newsletter: morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter Curious what it’s like to work together? Send me a message on LinkedIn or Instagram (Katy McFee) and tell me what you are working toward, and we can take it from there. Join me live in Ottawa, Canada, on October 23rd. Save your seat at owntheroomsummit.com. Not sure if you're ready for VP? Take the free assessment and find out at morewomenpromoted.com/quiz Remember, there's room for all of us at the table.

  2. Sep 7

    Build Your Career Like a Brand: 3 Marketing Concepts Every Woman Needs

    You have a personal brand at work whether you're intentional about it or not. The question is whether it's working for you. Steal the playbook from brand marketing: three concepts that drive market share and apply them to your career. morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter  Most women I know are heads-down doing good work and assuming that's enough. It's not. The women who get promoted to VP and beyond aren't just talented. They've built a career brand, and they've done it intentionally. In this episode, I sit down with Shea Cole, CMO at Field Effect and former VP at FullScript, to break down the three brand marketing fundamentals that drive market share and show you exactly how they apply to your career. If you want to be the name that comes up when a big opportunity opens, this episode is your playbook. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN Why your personal brand is just your reputation and how to start building it intentionally, even if you have zero social media presenceHow differentiation works in your career: what makes you different doesn't have to be what you're best at today; it just has to be authentic and sustainableThe two-part framework for "meaning," including the part about making people want you in the room (and what happens when strong opinions get mislabeled as difficult)What top-of-mind awareness actually means in a workplace context and why a single standout project isn't enough to get you on the succession planThe one habit Shea's former boss swore by: "merchandise your work" and why doing it benefits your boss as much as it benefits youRESOURCES MENTIONED Shea Cole on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sheacole Shea's brand strategy course through Electives: electives.io Connect with Katy on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/katy-mcfee-3880b4a Weekly newsletter: morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter Lewis Howes School of Greatness podcast: lewishowes.com/school-of-greatness More Women Promoted Podcast S3 Ep2: Why Your Boss Can't Promote You (Even If They Want To)Curious what it’s like to work together? Send me a message on LinkedIn or Instagram (Katy McFee) and tell me what you are working toward, and we can take it from there. Join me live in Ottawa, Canada, on October 23rd. Save your seat at owntheroomsummit.com. Not sure if you're ready for VP? Take the free assessment and find out at morewomenpromoted.com/quiz Remember, there's room for all of us at the table.

    Build Your Career Like a Brand: 3 Marketing Concepts Every Woman Needs

  3. Aug 31

    Stop Trying to Reinvent the Wheel - It's Holding You Back

    I spent years trying to figure out leadership on my own, then more years asking the wrong people for help. Here's what changed everything, and how you can start building your own circle: morewomenpromoted.com/masterclass  Have you ever gotten advice that was completely wrong for your situation, from someone who genuinely wanted to help? That disconnect isn't random. It usually means you asked the right person the wrong question, or the wrong person entirely. I used to believe that once I made it to director, I was supposed to have all the answers. So when I got stuck, I either tried to solve it alone, or I asked whoever happened to be successful, whether or not their life looked anything like mine. Both mistakes kept me spinning my wheels for years. In this episode, I break down the two advice mistakes that quietly stall careers, and the exact process I now use to find people who can actually help. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN Why asking for help gets harder the higher you climb, and what it's actually costing youThe difference between getting bad advice and getting no advice at all (and why bad advice can set you back further)How to spot when you're asking someone who simply doesn't share your context, even if they're smart and successfulThe 3-step process I use to find the right people before I even need themWhat the research says about why women with strong peer networks are more likely to reach senior leadershipRESOURCES MENTIONED Free Masterclass: morewomenpromoted.com/masterclass Connect with Katy on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/katy-mcfee-3880b4a Weekly newsletter: morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter Curious what it’s like to work together? Send me a message on LinkedIn or Instagram (Katy McFee) and tell me what you are working toward, and we can take it from there. Join me live in Ottawa, Canada, on October 23rd. Save your seat at owntheroomsummit.com. Not sure if you're ready for VP? Take the free assessment and find out at morewomenpromoted.com/quiz Remember, there's room for all of us at the table.

  4. Aug 24

    Why You're Stuck at Director (It's Not What You Think)

    I was stuck as a director for five years. And the whole time, I was already doing the VP job. Reporting to the CEO, running the function, on the senior leadership team, no VP above me. I kept waiting for the title to follow. It never did. If you're in that waiting place, here's what I wish someone had told me sooner: it's not because you're not good enough, not because you're not working hard enough, and not because you need another certification. It's a perception problem, not a talent problem. And the good news is that perception is fixable once you can see it. Want help spotting which gap is yours? I'm running a free masterclass on September 8th: morewomenpromoted.com/masterclass WHAT YOU'LL LEARN Why being stuck at director is almost always a perception problem, not a talent or qualifications oneThe most common gap I see: doing strategic work but only communicating execution, and how to flip itWhy flawless execution can quietly typecast you as "she handles things" instead of "she's our next VP"How VP promotions actually get decided, and why your manager's advocacy alone leaves you exposedThe stakeholder-mapping move that gets the right leaders talking about you in rooms you're not inRESOURCES MENTIONED Free masterclass, September 8th: the 3 things keeping you stuck from VP and how to fix them - morewomenpromoted.com/masterclassMore Women Promoted Podcast S3 Ep2: Why Your Boss Can't Promote You (Even If They Want To)Connect with Katy on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/katy-mcfee-3880b4a Weekly newsletter: morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter Curious what it’s like to work together? Send me a message on LinkedIn or Instagram (Katy McFee) and tell me what you are working toward, and we can take it from there. Join me live in Ottawa, Canada, on October 23rd. Save your seat at owntheroomsummit.com. Not sure if you're ready for VP? Take the free assessment and find out at morewomenpromoted.com/quiz Remember, there's room for all of us at the table.

  5. Aug 17

    What I Would Do Differently If I Were Starting My VP Push Today

    My corporate career looks great on paper. VP, then EVP. But the road to get there was so much messier than it needed to be. Here's the part that still gets me. The skills were already there. My strategic thinking, my expertise, my talent, none of that changed when I finally broke through. What changed was how I was showing up. Today I'm not teaching a framework. I'm telling you the truth about the four things I'd do differently if I were starting my VP push today, knowing what I know now. And if you want help spotting which one is holding you back, I'm running a free masterclass on September 8: morewomenpromoted.com/masterclass  WHAT YOU'LL LEARN Why slowing down, as in doing less, is what actually accelerated my leadership careerThe simple weekly habit that turns your manager into your best advocate in the promotion roomHow the way you treat yourself as a human shows up in whether you're seen as VP-readyThe kind of value I left on the table for years by staying quiet in the room, and how to stopWhy the skills that keep you stuck at director are rarely the real problemRESOURCES MENTIONED Free masterclass, September 8: the 3 things keeping you stuck from VP and how to fix them - morewomenpromoted.com/masterclass Connect with Katy on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/katy-mcfee-3880b4a Weekly newsletter: morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter Curious what it’s like to work together? Send me a message on LinkedIn or Instagram (Katy McFee) and tell me what you are working toward, and we can take it from there. Join me live in Ottawa, Canada, on October 23rd. Save your seat at owntheroomsummit.com. Not sure if you're ready for VP? Take the free assessment and find out at morewomenpromoted.com/quiz Remember, there's room for all of us at the table.

  6. Aug 10

    Why Your Boss Can't Promote You (Even If They Want To)

    Your boss loving your work is not enough to get you promoted. Not at the senior level. Most of us believe that if we impress our manager and make ourselves indispensable, the promotion will follow. But once you're being considered for director, VP, and beyond, your boss is rarely the only person deciding. Promotions at that level are made by committee. And if the leaders in that room don't know you, your boss is fighting an uphill battle on your behalf. Ready to get in the room? Get VP-ready in my free masterclass: morewomenpromoted.com/masterclass  WHAT YOU'LL LEARN How senior-level promotions actually get decided, and why it's almost never a one-person call Why "my boss loves me" can be the exact thing keeping you stuck at directorThe three things that make it easy for your boss to win the room when your name comes upHow to build real visibility with leaders outside your function without feeling braggy or politicalThe single mindset shift that separates the women who get promoted from the ones who stay stuckRESOURCES MENTIONED Get VP-ready: free masterclass - morewomenpromoted.com/masterclass Connect with Katy on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/katy-mcfee-3880b4a Weekly newsletter: morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter Curious what it’s like to work together? Send me a message on LinkedIn or Instagram (Katy McFee) and tell me what you are working toward, and we can take it from there. Join me live in Ottawa, Canada, on October 23rd. Save your seat at owntheroomsummit.com. Not sure if you're ready for VP? Take the free assessment and find out at morewomenpromoted.com/quiz Remember, there's room for all of us at the table.

  7. Aug 3

    3 Entrepreneur Lessons That Would Have Made Me a Better Executive

    If you're waiting for your company to invest in your growth, send you to leadership training, or map out your path to VP, you're going to be waiting a long time. The lessons I've learned in four years of entrepreneurship would have made me a better executive a decade ago, and you can use them without leaving your job. Since becoming an entrepreneur, I've grown more in four years than I did in the previous fifteen. And what's wild is realizing how many of the things that have helped me build a successful business are the exact same things that would have helped me get promoted faster, lead better, and be way less stressed in my corporate roles. The best part is you don't need to start a business to use them. They're available to you right now, wherever you are in your career. I just gave you the cheat code. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN Why being intentional about your career is the same skill as running a business, and how to start treating yourself as the CEO of your own pathThe investment in yourself I avoided for years (and the actual number I now spend annually because the ROI is undeniable)What "find your people" really means at the senior leadership level, and the kind of room that gave me permission to take bigger swingsThe mindset shift that costs nothing and changes everything, plus how to tell when your brain is lying to you about whether you belong at the tableThe flywheel: how intentionality, the right people, and mindset reinforce each other to change the trajectory of your careerRESOURCES MENTIONED Connect with Katy on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/katy-mcfee-3880b4aWeekly newsletter: morewomenpromoted.com/newsletterCurious what it’s like to work together? Send me a message on LinkedIn or Instagram (Katy McFee) and tell me what you are working toward, and we can take it from there. Join me live in Ottawa, Canada, on October 23rd. Save your seat at owntheroomsummit.com. Not sure if you're ready for VP? Take the free assessment and find out at morewomenpromoted.com/quiz Remember, there's room for all of us at the table.

  8. Jun 29

    Treat Your Job Search Like a $7M Business Deal with Anna Belyaeva

    The strategies that got you your last few roles will not get you your next one if it's at the VP level. Career strategist Anna Belyaeva joins me to reframe senior job search as closing a seven-figure deal, not submitting an application. Sign up for my newsletter to keep getting weekly insights like this: morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter  Have you been told the job market is brutal? That you should just keep applying and shoot more shots? Today's guest is going to flip that script. Anna Belyaeva is a career strategist and founder of The Career Diet. She works with high-achieving mid-to-senior professionals landing $150K to $300K+ roles. She's been on every side of the table: navigating senior job search herself, pivoting industries, and leading recruitment for some of the top employers in Canada. We've been in the same mastermind for years, and I trust her insight on this market completely. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN Why your senior job search should be treated like closing a seven-figure deal, not customizing a PDFThe "target company" framework that builds your pipeline 6 months before the role is postedHow to send a cold LinkedIn message at the VP level that actually books the meetingWhy "fake jobs" aren't actually fake (they're posted because of policy, but the candidate is already chosen) and what that means for your strategyThe two non-negotiable priorities that should be on your calendar every week if you're job searching, with Anna's recurring time block ruleRESOURCES MENTIONED Anna Belyaeva on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annabelyaevaAnna on Instagram: @thecareerdietThe Career Diet Podcast: Episode 54 - How much time should you really dedicate to interview prep | Listen on Spotify or Apple PodcastsNever Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi Connect with Katy on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/katy-mcfee-3880b4aWeekly newsletter: morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter MOST LOVED EPISODES  S1 E1: Why 'Working Harder' Is Keeping You Stuck in Middle Management |  Apple | SpotifyS1 E5: My Morning Routine (And Why It Changed Everything) | Apple | SpotifyS1 E6: Should You Stay or Should You Go? 3 Signs It's Time to Leave Your Job | Apple | SpotifyS1 E8: How to Ask for More Money: The Negotiation Episode Every Woman Needs to Hear | Apple | SpotifyS1 E9: How to Be Assertive Without Being Labeled "Aggressive" | Apple | SpotifyS1 E10: Ask Like an Executive: The 3 Cs Framework for Business Requests That Get Approved | Apple | SpotifyS2 E25: Stop Worrying About Your Non Traditional Background - Here's How to Frame It | Apple | SpotifyS2 E28: What Your Boss' Feedback Really Means | Apple | SpotifyS2 E29: Are You Actually VP Ready? | Apple | SpotifyS2 E30: You're Visible, But for the Wrong Things! | Apple | Spotify Curious what it’s like to work together? Send me a message on LinkedIn or Instagram (Katy McFee) and tell me what you are working toward, and we can take it from there. Join me live in Ottawa, Canada, on October 23rd. Save your seat at owntheroomsummit.com. Not sure if you're ready for VP? Take the free assessment and find out at morewomenpromoted.com/quiz Remember, there's room for all of us at the table.

    Treat Your Job Search Like a $7M Business Deal with Anna Belyaeva
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About

Are you an ambitious woman who's been stuck at the sr. manager or director level, watching peers advance despite your consistently stellar performance? Do you find yourself drowning in back-to-back meetings, unable to carve out time for lunch, much less time for professional development?  You are not alone. Breaking through to the executive level isn't about working harder—it's about transforming how others perceive your leadership. Join Katy McFee, a former tech executive and Forty under 40 winner turned leadership coach. Through her leadership programs, Forbes.com writing and keynote speaking, she's empowered hundreds of women to secure promotions and thrive in their roles. When she's not helping over 100,000 women on social media crush their career goals, she's raising 3 kids and running ultramarathons—proving that resilience isn't just a buzzword, it's a lifestyle. Each week on More Women Promoted, dive into practical strategies for navigating career challenges: advancing to the next level, overcoming gender bias, balancing motherhood, preventing burnout, and thriving as an executive—on your terms. Learn how to transform from a go-to executor to a respected, confident strategic leader who belongs in the boardroom. Through targeted leadership development, strategic career planning, and professional empowerment techniques, you'll unlock your executive potential and redefine workplace success. Ready to redefine success and claim your seat at the leadership table? Hit play, and let's do this together.

Information

  • Creator
    Katy McFee
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    67
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 More Women Promoted
  • Show Website
    More Women Promoted