UNSHAKEABLE HER: Real-World Leadership, Influence and Promotion for Ambitious Women.

Caroline Esterson: Leadership, Influence and Promotion Coach.
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You're already leading. So why aren't you the one getting promoted? UNSHAKEABLE HER is the podcast for ambitious women in leadership who want promotion, not just praise, through building influence, strategy and confidence.  Every week we get into the real science of leadership confidence, the unwritten rules of influence, and how to build the kind of presence that makes promotion inevitable. Hosted by Caroline Esterson, a career strategist with 30 years inside hundreds of organisations, who knows exactly why brilliant women get overlooked and what to do about it. This podcast offers practical, repeatable ways to build influence, confidence, and career momentum. Each week you'll learn: ·  How to build the visibility and strategic positioning that gets you noticed for the     roles you want. ·  How to lead with more influence without losing yourself in the process. ·  The real science behind imposter syndrome in leadership, and what actually shifts it for good. With new episodes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, Unshakeable Her delivers stories, strategy, and insight to help you become someone nobody can shake. Start with fan-favourite #86 to understand the real cost of invisible work and learn why doing more isn't always the path to greater career progression and workplace recognition. https://inspireyourgenius.com/podcast

  1. 11h ago

    #129 | The Science Of The Hidden Mental Load Draining Ambitious Women As Their Careers Start To Accelerate: Leadership, Influence & Promotion

    What if the thing draining your capacity at work isn’t a lack of ambition, capability, or commitment—but the invisible mental load you’re carrying outside of work? As your career accelerates, family and household demands can accelerate at exactly the same time. The result isn't simply “too much to do.” It’s the cognitive cost of constantly anticipating, planning, coordinating, deciding, and monitoring what needs to happen—and that cost can compound when you’re also trying to grow your career. In this episode, we explore the science behind the hidden mental load, why women disproportionately carry the invisible work of anticipating and monitoring, and why guilt can be a systemic response rather than evidence that you’re doing something wrong. You’ll also learn why asking for “more help” often doesn’t solve the problem—and what a more specific approach to renegotiating responsibility can look like. You’ll learn how to: Recognize the hidden cognitive cost of carrying the mental load alongside a demanding career, so you can distinguish being overloaded from being less capable.Reframe career-related guilt by understanding the social expectations and structural pressures that can create it, rather than automatically turning it into self-criticism.Renegotiate responsibilities more effectively by moving from vague requests for help to clear ownership of specific tasks, responsibilities, and territories.Listen to the episode to understand the hidden mental load draining your capacity—and discover how to respond more resourcefully as your career accelerates. New episodes are released every Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. Stuck, simmering, or onto something juicy? I want to hear it. Drop me a line at caroline@inspireyourgenius.com - I read them all. And here is the Spotify Playlist to accompany UnShakeable Her. Unshakeable Her is the podcast for women in leadership who are ready to build real influence, earn the promotion they deserve, and lead with confidence in systems that weren't built for them. Each episode tackles the challenges that shape leadership from the inside out, including imposter syndrome, resilience, credibility, boundaries, conflict, and feedback, while unpacking how pressure, workplace politics, strategic thinking, decision-making, and visibility affect the way ambitious women grow, lead, and get promoted without losing themselves in the process.

  2. 2d ago

    #128 | How Career Success Creates An Overwhelming Guilt Nobody Warns Ambitious Women in Leadership About: Leadership, Influence & Promotion

    How does career success change the way you show up for the people you love—and why can that success leave you feeling guilty? When your career finally clicks, the guilt can arrive quietly. You miss a swimming lesson, arrive late to a school performance, or realize you're physically present at home while mentally still at work. For ambitious women in leadership, the challenge isn't necessarily choosing between career and family. It's recognizing when the balance you've created no longer works—and having the courage to renegotiate it. In this episode, you'll hear a relatable story about the moment career momentum collided with family life, and discover why ambition guilt is different from ordinary guilt. You'll also learn why trying to prove you can "manage everything" can create unnecessary pressure, burnout, and expectations nobody actually asked you to meet. You'll learn how to: Recognize ambition guilt and understand why it often comes from the gap between your expectations and your reality—not from anyone explicitly blaming you.Renegotiate what "enough" looks like so you can protect the parts of your life that matter without abandoning your professional ambition.Create a more sustainable version of success by having honest, ongoing conversations with yourself, your family, and your workplace.Listen to the episode to learn how to stop treating guilt as evidence that you're failing and start using it as a signal that something needs to be renegotiated. New episodes are released every Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. Stuck, simmering, or onto something juicy? I want to hear it. Drop me a line at caroline@inspireyourgenius.com - I read them all. And here is the Spotify Playlist to accompany UnShakeable Her. Unshakeable Her is the podcast for women in leadership who are ready to build real influence, earn the promotion they deserve, and lead with confidence in systems that weren't built for them. Each episode tackles the challenges that shape leadership from the inside out, including imposter syndrome, resilience, credibility, boundaries, conflict, and feedback, while unpacking how pressure, workplace politics, strategic thinking, decision-making, and visibility affect the way ambitious women grow, lead, and get promoted without losing themselves in the process.

  3. 5d ago

    #127 | The Surprisingly Simple Leadership Moves Most People Avoid That Could Build The Allies You Need To Elevate Your Influence & Promotion Opportunities

    What if the person who could change the trajectory of your leadership career is already around you—but you're too hesitant to make the first move? Building meaningful professional relationships doesn't always require networking harder, being more visible, or making a big strategic move. Sometimes, it starts with something much simpler: identifying someone you trust, making an honest low-pressure ask, and being willing to build the relationship one small interaction at a time. If you're stepping into a new leadership role and feeling isolated, or you're wondering how to develop the allies who will challenge you, support you, and tell you the truth, this episode gives you a practical way forward. By listening, you'll learn how to: Make an honest, low-pressure opening that can turn a promising professional connection into a genuine ally relationship—without making the awkward “Will you be my ally?” ask.Stop interpreting silence or lukewarm responses as a verdict on your worth, so you can reach out without letting overthinking keep you isolated.Build trust through reciprocity and intentional connection, strengthening the relationships that can support your leadership influence and career over the long term.Listen to the episode and discover the surprisingly simple leadership moves that can help you stop managing alone and start building the allies you need to move your career forward. New episodes are released every Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. Stuck, simmering, or onto something juicy? I want to hear it. Drop me a line at caroline@inspireyourgenius.com - I read them all. And here is the Spotify Playlist to accompany UnShakeable Her. Unshakeable Her is the podcast for women in leadership who are ready to build real influence, earn the promotion they deserve, and lead with confidence in systems that weren't built for them. Each episode tackles the challenges that shape leadership from the inside out, including imposter syndrome, resilience, credibility, boundaries, conflict, and feedback, while unpacking how pressure, workplace politics, strategic thinking, decision-making, and visibility affect the way ambitious women grow, lead, and get promoted without losing themselves in the process.

  4. Sep 9

    #126 | These 3 Leadership Blind Spots Are Making You Miss The Very People Who Could Accelerate Your Career Influence & Promotion Opportunities

    Who are you overlooking because you’re too focused on the people above you? Leadership blind spots can quietly limit your influence and promotion opportunities—not because you lack ambition, but because your brain is naturally wired to scan upward for threats, approval, and opportunity. In this episode, we explore why you may be overlooking the colleagues and allies already around you, how familiarity makes reliable people fade into the background, and why exhaustion can make these blind spots even stronger. You’ll discover: How to recognize the people who are already on your side and may have valuable insights, feedback, or influence to offer.Why hierarchy, habituation, and salience bias can distort where you focus your attention—and cause you to prioritize titles over substance.How to rebuild your capacity to notice and engage with the people around you, creating stronger relationships that can support your influence and career progression.Listen to the episode to uncover the leadership blind spots that may be keeping you from seeing the very people who could accelerate your career influence and promotion opportunities. New episodes are released every Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. Stuck, simmering, or onto something juicy? I want to hear it. Drop me a line at caroline@inspireyourgenius.com - I read them all. And here is the Spotify Playlist to accompany UnShakeable Her. Unshakeable Her is the podcast for women in leadership who are ready to build real influence, earn the promotion they deserve, and lead with confidence in systems that weren't built for them. Each episode tackles the challenges that shape leadership from the inside out, including imposter syndrome, resilience, credibility, boundaries, conflict, and feedback, while unpacking how pressure, workplace politics, strategic thinking, decision-making, and visibility affect the way ambitious women grow, lead, and get promoted without losing themselves in the process.

  5. Sep 7

    #125 | The Ally Who Will Support Your Next Promotion Is NOT Your Boss (And You Are Probably Totally Ignoring Them): Leadership, Influence & Promotion

    Who’s already telling you the truth—and are you actually listening? When you’re thinking about your next promotion, it’s natural to focus on your boss, senior leaders, mentors, and sponsors. But what if one of the most valuable people in your career is someone you’re not looking up to at all? Cara discovers this through an unexpected ally, Lynn, whose simple observation gives her a completely different understanding of what her job actually is. You’ll hear why allies are different from mentors and sponsors—and why organizations often overlook this powerful career relationship. In this episode, you’ll learn: How to recognize the colleague who sees your potential clearly before you overlook what they’re trying to tell you. Why allies can give you career-changing insight without having anything to gain from your success.How to stop deflecting useful feedback and turn honest observations into leadership growth and greater influence.Listen to discover the one question that can help you identify the allies already around you—and hear what they’ve been trying to tell you. New episodes are released every Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. Stuck, simmering, or onto something juicy? I want to hear it. Drop me a line at caroline@inspireyourgenius.com - I read them all. And here is the Spotify Playlist to accompany UnShakeable Her. Unshakeable Her is the podcast for women in leadership who are ready to build real influence, earn the promotion they deserve, and lead with confidence in systems that weren't built for them. Each episode tackles the challenges that shape leadership from the inside out, including imposter syndrome, resilience, credibility, boundaries, conflict, and feedback, while unpacking how pressure, workplace politics, strategic thinking, decision-making, and visibility affect the way ambitious women grow, lead, and get promoted without losing themselves in the process.

  6. Sep 4

    #124 | How High-Impact Leaders Know When To Push, When To Recover & When To Learn From Others: Leadership, Influence and Promotion

    What if the key to becoming a more impactful leader isn’t pushing harder—but knowing exactly when to stop? You don't need to be “on” at full intensity all the time to perform at your best. In fact, constantly pushing can drain the energy, clarity, and presence you need when the moments that matter arrive. This episode explores how to recognize your limits, build recovery into your working rhythm, and make small adjustments that change how others experience you. You'll learn: How to audit your highest-intensity interactions and build recovery time around the moments that demand the most from you. How saying less can increase your impact, using the 40-second rule to communicate with greater conviction. How to create a simple recovery ritual that helps your nervous system switch off so you can return ready to lead. Listen to the episode and discover how recovering—not constantly pushing—is what allows you to lead at your highest level. New episodes are released every Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. Stuck, simmering, or onto something juicy? I want to hear it. Drop me a line at caroline@inspireyourgenius.com - I read them all. And here is the Spotify Playlist to accompany UnShakeable Her. Unshakeable Her is the podcast for women in leadership who are ready to build real influence, earn the promotion they deserve, and lead with confidence in systems that weren't built for them. Each episode tackles the challenges that shape leadership from the inside out, including imposter syndrome, resilience, credibility, boundaries, conflict, and feedback, while unpacking how pressure, workplace politics, strategic thinking, decision-making, and visibility affect the way ambitious women grow, lead, and get promoted without losing themselves in the process.

  7. Sep 2

    #123 | Why High-Intensity Leadership Is Quietly Draining Your Influence, Presence & Promotion Potential

    What if the intensity you bring to every meeting is actually costing you the influence you’re trying to create? High-stakes conversations, back-to-back meetings, constant camera time, and the pressure to perform can leave your nervous system running at full capacity. And when your battery is empty, pushing yourself to be more present doesn’t necessarily create better connection—it can create the opposite. In this episode, you’ll explore the science behind High-Intensity Leadership Is Quietly Draining Your Influence, including the nervous system, performance anxiety, and the specific fatigue created by video communication. You’ll learn: Why interaction intensity creates a real physiological cost—and why feeling depleted isn’t a personal weakness. How pressure to perform can reduce your available cognitive resources, making it harder for your best thinking to come through naturally. How to build an immediate recovery framework into your diary so you can protect your energy, presence, and influence. Listen to the episode to understand the hidden cost of interaction intensity and start creating the recovery your leadership actually requires. New episodes are released every Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. Stuck, simmering, or onto something juicy? I want to hear it. Drop me a line at caroline@inspireyourgenius.com - I read them all. And here is the Spotify Playlist to accompany UnShakeable Her. Unshakeable Her is the podcast for women in leadership who are ready to build real influence, earn the promotion they deserve, and lead with confidence in systems that weren't built for them. Each episode tackles the challenges that shape leadership from the inside out, including imposter syndrome, resilience, credibility, boundaries, conflict, and feedback, while unpacking how pressure, workplace politics, strategic thinking, decision-making, and visibility affect the way ambitious women grow, lead, and get promoted without losing themselves in the process.

  8. Aug 31

    #122 | The Overlooked Leadership Mistake That Makes Smart, Ambitious Leaders Look “Too Keen” When They’re Trying To Get Promoted: Leadership, Influence & Promotion

    Have you ever worked so hard to get your message right that the effort itself became the thing people noticed? Smart, ambitious leaders often respond to high-stakes moments by preparing harder, rehearsing more, and giving every interaction 110%. But when preparation turns into intensity, your audience may feel how much you need the moment to go well before they ever hear the value of what you have to say. In this episode, you’ll explore the difference between intensity and impact, through Cara’s experience of having a genuinely valuable insight overshadowed by how much she wanted to get it right. You’ll learn: How to recognize interaction debt — the specific kind of exhaustion that comes from spending your full cognitive and emotional reserves in every interaction.Why preparation and presence are different — and why burning all your energy before you enter the room can leave you with nothing but your need to succeed.How to shift from intensity to impact by becoming more aware of where your energy goes and creating space to actually connect with the people in the room.Listen to the episode to understand why intensity isn’t the same as impact—and why steady presence may be more powerful than trying harder. New episodes are released every Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. Stuck, simmering, or onto something juicy? I want to hear it. Drop me a line at caroline@inspireyourgenius.com - I read them all. And here is the Spotify Playlist to accompany UnShakeable Her. Unshakeable Her is the podcast for women in leadership who are ready to build real influence, earn the promotion they deserve, and lead with confidence in systems that weren't built for them. Each episode tackles the challenges that shape leadership from the inside out, including imposter syndrome, resilience, credibility, boundaries, conflict, and feedback, while unpacking how pressure, workplace politics, strategic thinking, decision-making, and visibility affect the way ambitious women grow, lead, and get promoted without losing themselves in the process.

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You're already leading. So why aren't you the one getting promoted? UNSHAKEABLE HER is the podcast for ambitious women in leadership who want promotion, not just praise, through building influence, strategy and confidence.  Every week we get into the real science of leadership confidence, the unwritten rules of influence, and how to build the kind of presence that makes promotion inevitable. Hosted by Caroline Esterson, a career strategist with 30 years inside hundreds of organisations, who knows exactly why brilliant women get overlooked and what to do about it. This podcast offers practical, repeatable ways to build influence, confidence, and career momentum. Each week you'll learn: ·  How to build the visibility and strategic positioning that gets you noticed for the     roles you want. ·  How to lead with more influence without losing yourself in the process. ·  The real science behind imposter syndrome in leadership, and what actually shifts it for good. With new episodes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, Unshakeable Her delivers stories, strategy, and insight to help you become someone nobody can shake. Start with fan-favourite #86 to understand the real cost of invisible work and learn why doing more isn't always the path to greater career progression and workplace recognition. https://inspireyourgenius.com/podcast

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