High Heels Higher Standards

Ashley Werner
  • 4.8 (20)
  • Careers

High Heels, Higher Standards is a bold, unfiltered podcast where two executive women get real about power, purpose, and the pressure to play small in careers, relationships and life. Ashley & Heidi blend ambition with authenticity and humor with hard-hitting advice to help high-achieving women own their voice, set the bar higher,  live unapologetically, and level up. 

  1. 1d ago

    Negotiating When You're the Only Woman at the Table

    You're not bad at negotiating. You're negotiating a harder game. Heidi breaks down the visibility tax, the double bind, and the five moves that actually work. You did the research. You know the market rate. You walked in prepared. And you still left money on the table. If you've ever wondered why negotiating feels fundamentally harder for you than it seems to for everyone else in the room — you're not imagining it. In this episode, Heidi and Ashley break down exactly what's happening, why it's not a confidence problem, and what actually works when you're the only woman at the table. This is the tactical episode of July's series "Money, Power & the Stories We Inherited" — and it goes well beyond the standard salary negotiation scripts you've already read. What's covered in this episode: The visibility tax — why women in negotiation aren't just negotiating the deal, they're simultaneously managing the optics of a woman who negotiates, and what that extra cognitive load actually costs you in the room The double bind — the documented research on why women are penalized for negotiating assertively and penalized for not negotiating assertively, and how to stop wasting energy looking for the version of yourself that won't trigger it Heidi's real story — years as the only woman in highly technical, male-dominated leadership rooms, what "approved capacity" versus full capacity actually looks like, and the moment that changed how much of herself she brought to the table The five-move playbook built specifically for this dynamic — prepare beyond the number, name the invisible work, stop negotiating against yourself before anyone says a word, use silence, and know the difference between "no" and "not yet" Ashley's psychological layer — what the exhaustion after these negotiations actually is, why misdiagnosing it as weakness is costing you future negotiations, and how to stop letting an accurate exhaustion become an inaccurate story about your capability This episode is for the woman who has talked herself down from her number before the meeting even started. For the woman who left a negotiation feeling drained despite getting what she asked for. For the woman who has been told to "just be more confident" and wanted to throw something across the room. The room may not have been designed with you in mind. But that table? You belong at it. This month on High Heels Higher Standards: Ep 1 — The First Money Memory That's Still Running Your LifeEp 2 — Negotiating When You're the Only Woman at the Table (you're here)Ep 3 — Abundance Mindset Isn't Toxic Positivity — Here's the DifferenceEp 4 — What Generational Wealth Actually Looks Like for Women Building From ScratchFind us on TikTok and Instagram @high.heels.higher 🎙️ New episodes every week. Follow so you never miss one. Keywords woven for SEO: how to negotiate salary as a woman, salary negotiation tips for women, women in male dominated industries, negotiation skills career women, how to ask for a raise, women in STEM leadership, gender pay gap negotiation, how to negotiate a job offer, women corporate negotiation, confidence in salary negotiation, how to negotiate without being aggressive, women leadership podcast, career advice women 20s 30s, professional development women, negotiation tactics women, how to know your worth salary, women in finance negotiation, imposter syndrome negotiation, how to handle salary pushback, equal pay negotiation strategies Support the show Until next Wednesday, keep your head, heels and standards high! Please follow along for more on TikTok and Instagram: @higherheelspodcast Thank you for listening, lovelies!

  2. Jul 8

    The First Money Memory That's Still Running Your Life

    Your money habits aren't a discipline problem. They're a memory problem. Heidi and Ashley trace your financial behavior back to the moment it actually started. You can know your worth on a spreadsheet and still flinch every time you talk about money out loud. That's not a confidence problem. That's not a strategy problem. That's a story problem — and it started long before your first paycheck. Welcome to July on High Heels Higher Standards. This month's theme is Money, Power & the Stories We Inherited — and we're not doing budget tips. We're going straight to the operating system underneath your financial behavior: the unconscious beliefs formed before you were old enough to earn a dollar, that are still quietly driving every salary conversation, invoice, and spending decision you make today. In this episode, Heidi breaks down the real psychology behind why high-achieving women can check every financial box and still feel like they're one bad month from disaster — and Ashley tells the story she's never told on mic before: the checkout line moment at eight years old that shaped how she priced her work for decades without ever knowing it. What you'll get in this episode: The "money scripts" framework — the four unconscious belief systems financial psychologists have identified, and how to hear which one has your name on itWhy your money story wasn't taught — it was observed, absorbed, and installed before you had language for itHow a single repeated emotional moment in childhood becomes the template your brain applies to every financial decision in adulthoodAshley's real story: how a grocery store checkout line at age eight quietly drove years of undercharging — and the exact moment it clickedHeidi's story: how watching financial facades collapse in her family wired her for Money Vigilance — and why vigilance that once kept you safe can cost you the ability to enjoy what you've actually builtThe one question to ask yourself this week — not to analyze it to death, but to finally name the decision you've been living insideThis isn't the "charge your worth" episode. It's the episode that explains why "charge your worth" never quite landed the way it was supposed to. For the woman who negotiated the raise and still felt like a fraud when it hit her account. For the woman who under-charged for years and couldn't figure out why. For the woman who is excellent at making money and terrible at feeling safe with it. For anyone who has ever sat at a table talking about money and felt like a seven-year-old who wandered into the wrong room. This one's the foundation. The rest of the month builds on it. This month on High Heels Higher Standards: Ep 1 — The First Money Memory That's Still Running Your Life (you're here)Ep 2 — Negotiating When You're the Only Woman at the TableEp 3 — Abundance Mindset Isn't Toxic Positivity — Here's the DifferenceEp 4 — What Generational Wealth Actually Looks Like for Women Building It NowStiletto Syndicate — we want yours. What's your checkout line? DM us or find us on TikTok and Instagram @high.heels.higher. We're reading every one, and the best may make it into a future episode — anonymously, with your permission. 🎙️ New episodes every week. Follow so you never miss one. Keywords woven for SEO: money mindset women, financial trauma healing, women and money psychology, why women underprice themselves, money scripts therapy, financial anxiety high achievers, imposter syndrome money, women salary negotiation mindset, wealth psychology podcast, financial identity women, women entrepreneurs pricing, money beliefs childhood, abundance mindset women, financial therapy concepts, women and financial confidence, high achieving women burnout money, female breadwinner psychology Support the show Until next Wednesday, keep your head, heels and standards high! Please follow along for more on TikTok and Instagram: @higherheelspodcast Thank you for listening, lovelies!

  3. Jul 1

    Hard-Wired or Conditioned? What We Were Taught About Being Enough

    You weren't too much. Somebody just needed you smaller. Ashley and Heidi get personal about the conditioning that's still running your career — and how to finally update it. You've been following a rulebook you didn't write. This week, we're finding out where it came from. In the June finale of High Heels Higher Standards' "Lead From the Inside Out" series, Ashley and Heidi close out the by going somewhere they've never gone on mic before — back to the beginning. The moments, the rooms, the throwaway comments from people who didn't think twice, that quietly installed the beliefs still running your professional life today. This episode is about the difference between what's hard-wired and what's conditioned — and why that distinction changes everything about how you lead, how you speak up, and how much space you're willing to take. In this episode: Why your nervous system treats social rejection like a physical threat — and what that has to do with why you soften every directive into a questionThe science behind hard-wired survival instincts versus learned conditioning (and the simple test to tell the difference)Ashley and Heidi's unfiltered origin stories — the exact moments they made decisions about themselves they've spent years unwindingWhy you can't out-strategize a belief your body thinks is keeping you safeWhat they actually do now, in real time, when the old pattern kicks in — the pre-meeting body check, the rewrite-before-you-say-it rule, and why neither of them is "past this"This isn't a fix-it episode with a five-step framework. It's the one where we look honestly at where the wiring came from — because you cannot lead from the inside out if you don't know what's actually inside versus what somebody handed you and told you was yours. For the ambitious woman who has ever left a meeting wondering why she didn't say the thing she walked in planning to say. For the woman who was told she was "too much" and spent years trying to figure out how much smaller she was supposed to be. For the woman performing a version of "professional" that someone else defined forty years ago and never questioned. This one's for you. Stiletto Syndicate — we want to hear from you. What's the one line you were told that you're still unwinding? DM us or drop it in the comments on TikTok and Instagram @high.heels.higher. 🎙️ New episodes every week. Follow so you never miss one. Keywords: women's leadership podcast, imposter syndrome women, self-worth career, high achieving women burnout, women in STEM leadership, female leadership development, confidence women corporate, people pleasing at work, inner critic career, psychology of ambition, women's mindset podcast, professional development women, lead authentically, identity and career, conditioning vs personality Support the show Until next Wednesday, keep your head, heels and standards high! Please follow along for more on TikTok and Instagram: @higherheelspodcast Thank you for listening, lovelies!

  4. Jun 24

    Why Women Are Promoted for Performance But Men Are Promoted for Potential

    Why Women Are Promoted for Performance While Men Are Promoted for Potential | High Heels, Higher StandardsHave you ever been the person who keeps the team running, solves every problem, exceeds expectations, and still gets passed over for a promotion? You're not imagining it. In this episode of High Heels, Higher Standards, Ashley and Heidi tackle one of the most frustrating realities facing ambitious women in the workplace: why women are often evaluated based on proven performance while men are evaluated based on perceived potential. From the "competence trap" to the hidden rules of career advancement, we're unpacking the research, leadership psychology, workplace dynamics, and career strategies that can determine who gets promoted—and who gets overlooked. If you've ever wondered: Why am I not getting promoted despite being a high performer?How do women advance into leadership roles?Why do less qualified people get promoted?How can I increase my visibility at work?What leadership skills actually lead to career growth?How do I advocate for myself without feeling arrogant?This conversation is for you. Ashley and Heidi discuss: ✔️ The difference between performance-based and potential-based promotion decisions ✔️ The hidden cost of becoming the person who fixes everything ✔️ Why competence alone doesn't guarantee career advancement ✔️ The leadership perception gap facing women in corporate environments ✔️ How confidence and visibility impact promotion opportunities ✔️ Why women often wait until they're "100% ready" before pursuing leadership roles ✔️ How to communicate your impact in the language of business ✔️ Creating a "brag file" that helps position you for promotion ✔️ The difference between being valuable and being promotable Whether you're navigating corporate leadership, working toward your next promotion, building executive presence, or simply trying to understand why your hard work isn't translating into advancement, this episode offers practical strategies to help you take control of your career. Because the goal isn't to become the best-kept secret in your company. The goal is to become impossible to overlook. Keywords: Women in Leadership, Career Growth, Career Advice for Women, Corporate Leadership, Executive Presence, Promotion Advice, Professional Development, Women in Business, Leadership Skills, Workplace Confidence, Career Advancement, Women at Work, High Performing Women, Corporate Career, Leadership Development, Career Strategy, Self-Advocacy, Ambitious Women, Personal Growth, Professional Growth Support the show Until next Wednesday, keep your head, heels and standards high! Please follow along for more on TikTok and Instagram: @higherheelspodcast Thank you for listening, lovelies!

  5. Jun 17

    The Nervous System Is Your Leadership Tool | Leadership, Burnout Recovery, Boundaries & Emotional Intelligence for Women

    The Nervous System Is Your Leadership Tool | Leadership, Burnout Recovery, Boundaries & Emotional Intelligence for Women What if the biggest thing holding you back at work isn't a lack of skills, confidence, or ambition—but a dysregulated nervous system? In this episode of High Heels, Higher Standards, Heidi interviews Ashley to explore why so many high-achieving women struggle with burnout, people-pleasing, perfectionism, overworking, and setting boundaries, even when they know exactly what they should do. Drawing from 15 years in corporate leadership and 15 years studying psychology and human behavior, Ashley breaks down the hidden connection between nervous system regulation, emotional intelligence, executive presence, decision-making, and sustainable success. If you've ever found yourself stuck in hustle mode, constantly proving your worth through achievement, avoiding difficult conversations, or feeling exhausted despite being successful, this conversation is for you. You'll learn: • How your nervous system impacts leadership, confidence, and performance • Why burnout is often a biological issue—not a productivity problem • The surprising link between perfectionism, people-pleasing, and stress responses • How chronic stress affects decision-making and workplace relationships • Why emotional regulation is becoming a competitive advantage in modern leadership • Practical tools to stay calm, grounded, and effective under pressure • How to create better boundaries without guilt • Why the most powerful leaders aren't always the busiest leaders Whether you're leading a team, building a career, navigating a major life transition, or simply trying to stop feeling overwhelmed, this episode will help you understand why lasting success starts from the inside out. Because leadership isn't just about managing others—it's about learning how to lead yourself. Connect with High Heels, Higher Standards: Follow the podcast for weekly conversations on women's leadership, career growth, emotional intelligence, confidence, boundaries, personal development, workplace success, and creating a life that feels as good as it looks. #WomenInLeadership #CareerDevelopment #BurnoutRecovery #EmotionalIntelligence #LeadershipSkills #PeoplePleasing #Perfectionism #WomenInBusiness #PersonalGrowth #WorkLifeBalance Support the show Until next Wednesday, keep your head, heels and standards high! Please follow along for more on TikTok and Instagram: @higherheelspodcast Thank you for listening, lovelies!

  6. Jun 10

    Career Advice: What Corporate doesn’t teach you about Power & Leadership

    In this episode of High Heels, Higher Standards, we’re pulling back the curtain on the leadership lessons corporate America rarely teaches women. If you’ve ever wondered why the hardest-working person isn’t always the one getting promoted, why executive presence seems so difficult to define, or how workplace influence really works, this conversation is for you. Ashley sits down with executive leader Heidi Hushak to discuss the hidden dynamics of power, authority, and leadership in corporate environments. Together, they explore why women are often taught to focus on performance while men are socialized to understand positioning, visibility, and influence. We discuss: • Why hard work alone doesn’t guarantee career advancement  • The difference between competence and influence  • Executive presence and why it matters for leadership success  • How women unintentionally diminish their authority at work  • The role of confidence, communication, and emotional regulation in leadership  • The unwritten rules of office politics and workplace dynamics  • Why being respected and being liked are not the same thing  • Practical leadership strategies for women seeking promotions and career growth  • How to stop over-explaining and start communicating with authority  • Building credibility, influence, and confidence in professional settings Whether you’re an aspiring leader, mid-career professional, executive, entrepreneur, or woman navigating workplace challenges, this episode offers practical career advice and leadership insights to help you take up space, increase your influence, and accelerate your professional growth. Because leadership isn’t just about achievement—it’s about identity. Grab your beverage of choice and join us for a conversation about executive presence, workplace power, career advancement, women in leadership, and what corporate never taught you about influence. Follow, download, and share High Heels, Higher Standards for weekly conversations on women’s leadership, career development, confidence, psychology, professional success, and living aligned. Support the show Until next Wednesday, keep your head, heels and standards high! Please follow along for more on TikTok and Instagram: @higherheelspodcast Thank you for listening, lovelies!

  7. Jun 3

    Adult Friendships, Boundaries, Brunch Disasters and the Return of Social Season

    Patio season is back. Group chats are suddenly active. Brunch reservations are impossible to get. And somehow everyone has plans again after disappearing all winter. In this funny episode of *High Heels, Higher Standards*, Ashley and Heidi dive into the return of social season and the surprisingly complicated dynamics that come with it. From seasonal friendships and flaky group plans to public behavior, brunch disasters, and social burnout, we're talking about the things everyone notices—but few people say out loud. Why do some friendships feel effortless while others leave you emotionally exhausted? How do you manage adult friendships without taking every canceled plan personally? And at what point does "having fun" become a lack of self-awareness? Together, we unpack: * How to navigate adult friendships and changing social dynamics * The difference between core friends, social friends, and seasonal friends * Why group plans often create unnecessary stress and disappointment * Healthy boundaries for protecting your time and energy * The surprising role self-awareness plays in social settings * Friendship red flags that become more obvious with age * How to enjoy social season without overcommitting yourself Whether you're feeling overwhelmed by invitations, reevaluating friendships, or simply wondering why everyone forgets how to act when the weather gets nice, this episode offers a relatable, honest, and humorous look at modern social life. Because raising your standards isn't just about who you date—it's also about who gets access to your time, energy, and table. Follow *High Heels, Higher Standards* for weekly conversations on women's empowerment, personal growth, boundaries, relationships, leadership, confidence, and navigating modern life with intention. **Keywords:** adult friendships, friendship boundaries, toxic friendships, social burnout, group chats, brunch culture, friendship red flags, emotional maturity, social anxiety, people pleasing, healthy relationships, women supporting women, personal growth, self-awareness, friendship advice, social season, relationship boundaries, female friendships, mental wellness, confidence Support the show Until next Wednesday, keep your head, heels and standards high! Please follow along for more on TikTok and Instagram: @higherheelspodcast Thank you for listening, lovelies!

  8. May 27

    Closet Crisis: Who Told You That Looked Good?

    Closet Crisis: Who Told You That Looked Good? | Spring Fashion Identity, Personal Style & Closet Reset The coats come off, the panic sets in… and suddenly you’re standing in front of a full closet convinced you have absolutely nothing to wear. In this episode of High Heels, Higher Standards, Heidi and Ashley dive into the annual spring closet crisis—the emotional spiral that hits the second the weather warms up. From panic shopping and identity shifts to trend overload and personal branding, this conversation is equal parts hilarious, relatable, and surprisingly practical. Why does everything in your closet suddenly feel wrong every spring? Why do we buy clothes for fantasy versions of ourselves? And how do you build a wardrobe that actually reflects who you are now? Heidi and Ashley unpack: The psychology behind the “nothing to wear” meltdownWhy spring fashion feels more emotionally exposing than winterThe danger of trend-chasing without a personal styleShopping for your real life vs. your aspirational Pinterest identityHow defining your personal brand simplifies getting dressedCloset reset tips that don’t require buying an entirely new wardrobeFashion identity shifts in your 30s and 40sHow social media and TikTok trends influence personal styleCreating a polished, intentional wardrobe without losing yourselfWhether you’re rebuilding your style, cleaning out your closet, trying to stop emotional shopping, or just wondering who approved last year’s outfits… this episode is for you. Grab your bubbles, open your closet doors, and let’s unpack the fashion identity crisis together. If you loved this episode, make sure to follow, rate, review, and share it with the friend who says “I have nothing to wear” every single spring. Support the show Until next Wednesday, keep your head, heels and standards high! Please follow along for more on TikTok and Instagram: @higherheelspodcast Thank you for listening, lovelies!

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4.8
out of 5
20 Ratings

About

High Heels, Higher Standards is a bold, unfiltered podcast where two executive women get real about power, purpose, and the pressure to play small in careers, relationships and life. Ashley & Heidi blend ambition with authenticity and humor with hard-hitting advice to help high-achieving women own their voice, set the bar higher,  live unapologetically, and level up. 

Information

  • Creator
    Ashley Werner
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    53
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 High Heels Higher Standards
  • Show Website
    High Heels Higher Standards