She Leads Collective Podcast: stories, allyship and confidence tools for women

Mary Gregory
  • 0.0 (0)
  • PERSONAL JOURNALS
  • SERIES

Bold conversations with women leaders & allies.   Real stories, leadership insights, and the “undiscussables” shaping how we work today.    Each season of the She Leads Collective Podcast features three powerful themes:     Real Models – conversations with inspiring women leaders and business owners who share the truth behind their success—the bias they’ve faced, the doubts they’ve overcome, and the wisdom they’ve gained.   Allies – honest insights from men and women who are actively championing gender equity, revealing what true allyship looks like in action.   The Undiscussables – the topics no one talks about, but everyone is impacted by—emotions at work, wholistic leadership, womens health needs, mental health, baby loss, domestic violence—and how they shape our workplaces and leadership.     I’m Mary Gregory—Executive Coach, Author and host of She Leads Collective. My mission is to enable women to step into their full leadership potential and create workplaces where everyone can thrive.   Let’s change the conversation—together.   And if you’re a woman leader who’s ever doubted your confidence, explore my programme “Exploding the Confidence Myth” → https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/exploding-the-confidence-myth-tickets-1617750698889?aff=oddtdtcreator

See All

  1. EPISODE 1

    S3 Ep1 Women at Work: Progress, Reality & What Still Needs to Change | Season 3 Opening with Mary Gregory

    Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Season 3 of the She Leads Collective Podcast. In this opening episode, I explore a question that sits at the heart of this season: If progress for women at work is real… why do so many day-to-day experiences still feel unchanged? The picture isn’t simple. There is progress—and that matters. And there are still realities happening every day that tell a very different story. This season sits in that tension. You’ll continue to hear conversations across our three core themes: Real models of leadershipAllies creating changeThe undiscussables shaping how we show up at work And coming up this season:  The mental load and the reality behind success  How organisations support care and life beyond work A mini-series on women and financeBias in STEM and leadership And the issues we don’t talk about enough—but should What emerges isn’t one story, but many.  Progress and pressure. Challenge and possibility. If you care about leadership, gender equity, and creating workplaces where people can truly thrive, this season will give you insight—and perspective. Follow, share, and be part of the conversation. Because change happens through conversation 🔗 Connect with Mary: marygregory.com 📣 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marygregory  📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mary_gregory/  📰 Newsletter: Subscribe on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7029410958645059584  🎙 Want to be a guest? Get in touch!  ⭐ Subscribe, share & leave a review  ✨ Produced by Mary Gregory Leadership Coaching

    13 min
  2. S3 Ep2: Steph Douglas on Building Don’t Buy Her Flowers: From New Mum Insight to Acquisition

    EPISODE 2

    S3 Ep2: Steph Douglas on Building Don’t Buy Her Flowers: From New Mum Insight to Acquisition

    Send us Fan Mail What if the best business ideas don’t come from grand strategy, but from noticing something small that others simply accept? In this episode, Mary speaks with Steph Douglas, founder of Don’t Buy Her Flowers, about how a deeply personal experience as a new mum became the starting point for a thoughtful, values-led gifting business. After receiving multiple bouquets of flowers after the birth of her first child, Steph Douglas found herself wondering why we so often send gifts that are well-meant, but not always what someone truly needs. That insight became the seed for Don’t Buy Her Flowers, a business built around care, empathy and practical support. In this conversation, Steph shares how her background in brand and marketing helped her understand customers, how a blog and community became the foundation for the business, and what it took to grow, adapt and eventually navigate acquisition. Mary and Steph also explore the realities of leadership behind the scenes: rapid growth during Covid, the pressure of financial uncertainty, the emotional toll of running a business, and the importance of staying connected to what matters most. This is a conversation about thoughtful leadership, customer insight, resilience, motherhood, business growth and what it really means to lead with care. Connect with Steph on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephdouglas/ Visit Don't Buy Her Flowers - https://www.dontbuyherflowers.com/ Listen to Stephs podcast or read her blog - https://www.dontbuyherflowers.com/blog 🔗 Connect with Mary: marygregory.com 📣 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marygregory  📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mary_gregory/  📰 Newsletter: Subscribe on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7029410958645059584  🎙 Want to be a guest? Get in touch!  ⭐ Subscribe, share & leave a review  ✨ Produced by Mary Gregory Leadership Coaching

    52 min
  3. S3 Ep3 The Mental Load at Home: Steph Douglas on Equality, Relationships and Women’s Leadership

    EPISODE 3

    S3 Ep3 The Mental Load at Home: Steph Douglas on Equality, Relationships and Women’s Leadership

    Send us Fan Mail Why do so many high-performing women still carry the invisible weight of running everything at home? In this second conversation with Steph Douglas, we shift the focus from business to what’s happening behind the scenes — and why it matters more than we often acknowledge. In this follow-up episode, Mary continues the conversation with Steph Douglas, founder of Don’t Buy Her Flowers, to explore the reality of the mental load — the invisible planning, organising and emotional labour that many women continue to carry. Together, they unpack how traditional roles still shape modern relationships, why equality at home is often harder than it looks, and how this hidden load directly impacts women’s careers, energy and progression. Steph shares her own honest experience of navigating resentment, difficult conversations and redefining partnership with her husband — and what has helped them move towards a more balanced way of living and working. They also explore what organisations can do differently, why role modelling matters, and how small shifts at home can create bigger shifts at work. This is a practical, honest and deeply relevant conversation for anyone who cares about leadership, gender equity and what it really takes to create sustainable success. Connect with Steph on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephdouglas/ Visit Don't Buy Her Flowers - https://www.dontbuyherflowers.com/ Listen to Stephs podcast or read her blog - https://www.dontbuyherflowers.com/blog 🔗 Connect with Mary: marygregory.com 📣 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marygregory  📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mary_gregory/  📰 Newsletter: Subscribe on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7029410958645059584  🎙 Want to be a guest? Get in touch!  ⭐ Subscribe, share & leave a review  ✨ Produced by Mary Gregory Leadership Coaching

    25 min
  4. S3 Ep4: It’s Not a Confidence Problem: Lauren Neal on Bias, Leadership and Women in STEM

    EPISODE 4

    S3 Ep4: It’s Not a Confidence Problem: Lauren Neal on Bias, Leadership and Women in STEM

    Send us Fan Mail What if the problem isn’t your confidence, but the system you’re trying to succeed in? In this episode of the She Leads Collective Podcast, Mary Gregory is joined by Lauren Neal, chartered engineer, chartered project professional, founder of Valued at Work and author of the book of the same name. Lauren has spent nearly two decades delivering complex projects in the energy sector, and in this honest and powerful conversation, she shares her experiences of both blatant and subtle workplace bias — from being set up to fail early in her career, to being told she didn’t fit the “tribe” of project management because she didn’t drink, swear or behave like the men around her. Together, Mary and Lauren explore why this is not simply about individual confidence, but about culture, systems, leadership and belonging. They discuss:  How bias shows up in male-dominated environments  Why women are often told to change themselves rather than the system changing  The hidden “club” that shapes opportunity and progression  What real allyship looks like in meetings and decision-making  Why inclusive leadership is central to performance  What women can do to hold onto their value when the culture around them undermines it This episode is for women navigating bias at work, leaders who want to understand what inclusion really requires, and anyone committed to building workplaces where people are truly valued. Connect with Lauren on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenneal/ Buy Laurens book Valued At Work - https://amzn.eu/d/01pUbhvf 🔗 Connect with Mary: marygregory.com 📣 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marygregory  📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mary_gregory/  📰 Newsletter: Subscribe on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7029410958645059584  🎙 Want to be a guest? Get in touch!  ⭐ Subscribe, share & leave a review  ✨ Produced by Mary Gregory Leadership Coaching

    51 min
See All Season 3 (4)

About

Bold conversations with women leaders & allies.   Real stories, leadership insights, and the “undiscussables” shaping how we work today.    Each season of the She Leads Collective Podcast features three powerful themes:     Real Models – conversations with inspiring women leaders and business owners who share the truth behind their success—the bias they’ve faced, the doubts they’ve overcome, and the wisdom they’ve gained.   Allies – honest insights from men and women who are actively championing gender equity, revealing what true allyship looks like in action.   The Undiscussables – the topics no one talks about, but everyone is impacted by—emotions at work, wholistic leadership, womens health needs, mental health, baby loss, domestic violence—and how they shape our workplaces and leadership.     I’m Mary Gregory—Executive Coach, Author and host of She Leads Collective. My mission is to enable women to step into their full leadership potential and create workplaces where everyone can thrive.   Let’s change the conversation—together.   And if you’re a woman leader who’s ever doubted your confidence, explore my programme “Exploding the Confidence Myth” → https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/exploding-the-confidence-myth-tickets-1617750698889?aff=oddtdtcreator

Information