Power Shift

Sandra Colhando
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Welcome to Power Shift. A podcast hosted by Sandra Colhando — executive coach and co-founder of TransforMe Learning & Leadership Solutions. She has spent decades working with women navigating the most complex and least-talked-about phase of professional life. Season 1 is built around a single theme: The Inflection Point. Women who faced a moment that changed everything, and how they pivoted. This show exists because there's almost no content built specifically for women in their 40s who are still building. Not winding down. Not ascending. Standing tall in the middle of a career that has 20 more years in it — grappling with fears and identity questions that most leadership content, still largely built around men, doesn't know how to address. The 43-year-old CHRO wondering if the rules she played by still apply. The senior leader who was passed over and is figuring out what comes next. The founder who left corporate in her 40s and is still making sense of what that cost and what it gave her. The one who chose motherhood in her 40s while navigating a leadership role. This show is built for them. Sandra isn't an outsider to this conversation. She's walked this road herself, and alongside hundreds of women she's coached. She doesn't interview — she becomes a confidante. Subscribe to catch every conversation.

Episodes

  1. 4d ago

    You don't have to be a superwoman | Simrat Gahlot | Sandra Colhando

    In today’s episode, you’re going to hear a story about what it takes to walk away from a life that no longer feels right, rebuild your sense of self, and learn to recognise when someone around you may be struggling. Sandra Colhando sits down with Simrat Gahlot, an award-winning Learning and Development leader, for one of the most personal conversations on Power Shift. Simrat opens up about an 18-year marriage, the pressure to keep up appearances, the fear of being judged, and the difficult process of recognising that staying was no longer an option. She shares the moment she finally decided to choose herself, what helped her move forward, and the people who became part of her support system along the way. But this conversation goes beyond her own story. Simrat and Sandra explore why we often hide what we are going through, how easily personal struggles can remain invisible at work, and why someone who looks completely fine may be carrying something very different beneath the surface. They also talk about boundaries, saying no, asking for help, listening beyond someone’s words, and the importance of having people who genuinely show up for you. One of the most powerful parts of the conversation is Simrat’s story about an everyday coffee conversation with a colleague that revealed just how much someone can be carrying behind a confident exterior. In this episode, you’ll learn about: The pressure to maintain a facade when life is falling apartWhy people can stay in difficult situations longer than they expectWhat finally gave Simrat the courage to choose herselfThe role of boundaries and learning to say noWhy everyone needs people who believe in themHow to recognise when someone at work may not be okayWhy listening means going beyond the words someone saysHow small, everyday conversations can make a much bigger difference than we realiseThe importance of creating spaces where people feel safe asking for helpBy the end of this episode, you’ll understand why sometimes the person who looks like they have everything together may be the person who needs someone to simply ask, “Are you okay?” We’re grateful to Simrat for sharing a deeply personal part of her story with us. Content note: This episode discusses domestic abuse and depression. (00:00) - Welcome to PowerShift (02:52) - Simrath’s Biggest Power Shift (04:48) - The Facade We Learn to Maintain (08:15) - “You’re Not a Tree. Walk Away.” (09:09) - Why She Stayed for So Long (13:39) - 18 Years of Marriage and Abuse (16:25) - The Moment She Finally Said “I Don’t Care” (19:49) - The People Who Helped Her Start Again (23:11) - When Someone at Work Isn’t Okay (26:19) - What Leaders Can Do When Someone Is Struggling (28:04) - The Power of an Everyday Conversation

    You don't have to be a superwoman | Simrat Gahlot | Sandra Colhando

  2. Oct 15

    From being Type A to prioritising contentment | Dr Rachna Chhachhi | Sandra Colhando

    What happens when the life you’ve built no longer works for you? Dr. Rachna Chhachhi knows what that feels like. At 35, Rachna was living the kind of life many people spend years working toward. She was leading business development for a Fortune 50 company, travelling, winning major deals and awards, and moving at full speed. Then her body forced her to stop. After being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, Rachna went from a high-powered corporate career to being bedridden and living with severe pain. What followed became the biggest inflection point of her life. In this episode of Power Shift, Sandra Colhando sits down with Rachna to talk about what happens when your body, your identity and the life you’ve built no longer seem to fit together. Rachna shares the moment she realised she could not continue living the way she had been, the changes she made to her life, and the journey that eventually took her from corporate leadership to work focused on wellbeing, research and helping others. But this conversation is about much more than health. It is about identity, success, exhaustion, expectations and the question many of us eventually have to ask: Who am I when I stop being who everyone expects me to be? In this episode, you’ll learn: Why success can sometimes come at the cost of yourselfWhat your body might be trying to tell you when you refuse to slow downHow a major life disruption can become an opportunity to rethink everythingWhy sleep, slow mornings and consistency can matter more than constantly pushing harderWhat happens when you stop defining yourself by your career and achievementsWhy women over 40 may need to rethink what success and wellbeing look likeHow to question the expectations you have inherited from the people around youWhy discovering who you are can begin with something as simple as putting pen to paperHow to move from constantly chasing happiness towards a deeper sense of contentmentAnd by the end of this conversation, Rachna leaves us with a question worth sitting with: Are you living as the person you truly are, or as the person the world expects you to be? Sometimes, an inflection point isn't something you choose. Sometimes, it is the moment that finally gives you permission to choose yourself. (00:00) - Welcome to Power Shift (02:40) - When Your Body Forces You to Stop (05:40) - From Fortune 50 Executive to Bedridden (09:00) - The Moment Rachna Took Control (12:20) - The Inflection Point: From Hustle to Healing (16:10) - When Healing Became a New Purpose (20:30) - 19 Years in Remission: What Changed? (24:00) - From Corporate Power to Contentment (28:00) - Why Women Over 40 Need to Slow Down (32:00) - What to Do When You’re Successful but Exhausted (36:00) - Who Are You Beyond the Roles You Play?

    From being Type A to prioritising contentment | Dr Rachna Chhachhi | Sandra Colhando

  3. Oct 9

    How to build your own power prototype | Tiffanie Mallard | Sandra Colhando

    What if the ceiling someone set for you was never yours to accept? Tiffanie Mallard knows what it feels like to be told what she can’t become. As a teenager, a school counselor told her mother that college probably wasn’t going to be possible for Tiffanie. She didn’t have the grades or extracurricular activities to stand out. Tiffanie decided to prove them wrong. That moment became one of the earliest inflection points in her life, shaping the way she approached her career, leadership and the limits other people placed on her. Today, Tiffanie is the Vice President of Human Resources at Carrier HVAC, leading across one of Carrier’s largest and most geographically complex businesses across Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa. But this conversation isn't just about career success. In this episode of Power Shift, Sandra Colhando and Tiffanie talk about what happens when you become your own biggest critic, how to build a leadership identity that actually feels like you, and why success doesn't have to mean constantly sacrificing yourself. Tiffanie opens up about moving across countries, navigating identity, being different in the room, building a life with a partner who supports her ambition, and learning to rest without feeling guilty. And then there is the idea that sits at the heart of this conversation: your power prototype. What makes you uniquely you? What are you naturally good at? What do people come back to you for? And how do you build your leadership around those strengths instead of trying to become someone else? In this episode, you'll learn: How to stop accepting other people's limits as your ownWhy you can be your own biggest criticHow to identify the strengths that make you uniquely valuableWhat a “power prototype” is and how to build yoursWhy authenticity can become a source of powerHow to stay true to yourself when you are the person who looks, sounds or leads differentlyWhy successful women often struggle to rest without guiltHow to balance ambition with actually enjoying the journeyWhat it takes to build a true partnership when both people have ambitious careersWhy your 40s can be a time to use your voice more, not shrink itHow to build a legacy without losing yourself along the wayAnd by the end of this conversation, you'll be left with three powerful reminders from Tiffanie: Enjoy the journey.Know what's most important to you.Don't lose your voice. Because your journey is yours. And the ceiling someone handed you, even if that someone is you, doesn't have to become the limit of your life. (00:00) - Welcome to Power Shift (04:02) - The Counsellor Who Told Her She Couldn’t Do It (07:21) - When You Reject Yourself Before Anyone Else Can (11:46) - Finding Belonging When You’re the Outsider (15:01) - When Ambition and Enjoying Life Collide (19:27) - You Deserve the Break (22:27) - What Is Your Power Prototype? (24:24) - The Leadership Qualities That Make You Different (28:17) - How to Build Your Own Power Prototype

    How to build your own power prototype | Tiffanie Mallard | Sandra Colhando

  4. Sep 25

    She stopped being the good student. | Clémentine Al Elimat | Sandra Colhando

    In this episode, you’re going to hear a story about what it takes to walk away from a life that no longer feels right, rebuild your sense of self, and learn to recognise when someone around you may be struggling. Sandra Colhando sits down with Simrat Gahlot, an award-winning Learning and Development leader, for one of the most personal conversations on Power Shift. Simrat opens up about an 18-year marriage, the pressure to keep up appearances, the fear of being judged, and the difficult process of recognising that staying was no longer an option. She shares the moment she finally decided to choose herself, what helped her move forward, and the people who became part of her support system along the way. But this conversation goes beyond her own story. Simrat and Sandra explore why we often hide what we are going through, how easily personal struggles can remain invisible at work, and why someone who looks completely fine may be carrying something very different beneath the surface. They also talk about boundaries, saying no, asking for help, listening beyond someone’s words, and the importance of having people who genuinely show up for you. One of the most powerful parts of the conversation is Simrat’s story about an everyday coffee conversation with a colleague that revealed just how much someone can be carrying behind a confident exterior. In this episode, you’ll learn about: The pressure to maintain a facade when life is falling apartWhy people can stay in difficult situations longer than they expectWhat finally gave Simrat the courage to choose herselfThe role of boundaries and learning to say noWhy everyone needs people who believe in themHow to recognise when someone at work may not be okayWhy listening means going beyond the words someone saysHow small, everyday conversations can make a much bigger difference than we realiseThe importance of creating spaces where people feel safe asking for helpBy the end of this episode, you’ll understand why sometimes the person who looks like they have everything together may be the person who needs someone to simply ask, “Are you okay?” We’re grateful to Simrat for sharing a deeply personal part of her story with us. Content note: This episode discusses domestic abuse and depression. (00:00) - Ambition Without the Rush (02:21) - The Moments That Changed Her Career (04:37) - From Being a Good Student to Owning Her Agenda (08:08) - HR Is a Business Role, Not Just a Function (10:37) - How to Earn Trust in the Room (16:04) - When Being Yourself Gets Difficult (18:20) - The Helicopter Trick for Managing Emotions (21:26) - When Should You Slow Down? (24:00) - How Your Relationship With Ambition Changes (28:41) - You Cannot Sprint for Forty Years

    She stopped being the good student. | Clémentine Al Elimat | Sandra Colhando

  5. Sep 25

    Didn’t fake it, still made it | Bhavna Batra | Sandra Colhando

    What if the person who needs the biggest piece of you is actually you? In today’s episode, you’re going to hear a conversation about what it means to keep showing up for everyone else while slowly realising that your own energy, boundaries, and wellbeing need attention too. Sandra Colhando sits down with Bhavna Batra for an honest conversation about ambition, energy, asking for help, and knowing when you need to pause. Bhavna talks about the difference between being alone and feeling lonely, the pressure to keep giving, and why constantly being there for everyone else can come at a cost. She shares what she has learnt about energy, why it needs to be replenished, and the importance of recognising when you have reached your limit. The conversation also gets into something many of us find difficult: asking for help. Bhavna speaks openly about putting ego aside, accepting that you need support, and understanding that asking for help does not make you any less capable. They also talk about boundaries and the importance of being able to say, “I’m not in that space right now. I need a timeout.” In this episode, you’ll learn about: The difference between loneliness and being aloneWhy constantly giving can leave you running on emptyWhy energy needs to be replenished, not just managedThe importance of recognising your own limitsWhy asking for help requires vulnerabilityHow ego can sometimes stop us from accepting supportWhy saying no can be an act of self-awarenessThe importance of taking a timeout when you need oneWhy you don't have to carry everything on your ownHow to make space for yourself while still showing up for othersBy the end of this episode, you may find yourself thinking differently about what it means to be strong. Sometimes strength is not about continuing to push through. Sometimes it is knowing when to stop, ask for help, and give yourself the space you need. We’re grateful to Bhavna for sharing this conversation with such honesty and openness. Content note: This episode includes conversations around loneliness, emotional wellbeing, asking for help, and personal boundaries. (00:00) - Welcome to Power Shift (01:41) - You Don’t Need to Fake It to Make It (02:44) - When Being the New Person Becomes Your Superpower (04:50) - Stop Hiding What Makes You Different (06:40) - The Loneliness Nobody Talks About (08:04) - The Cost of Always Choosing Work (13:19) - You Can Feel Lonely Even When You Have Everything (15:43) - Loneliness and Being Alone Are Not the Same (16:00) - The Four Buckets in Your Support System (22:18) - Being a Successful Single Woman in India (41:33) - Bhavna’s Power Shift Formula

    Didn’t fake it, still made it | Bhavna Batra | Sandra Colhando

  6. Sep 23

    Welcome to Power Shift: Women Redefining Leadership After 40

    At 25, they tell you, “You’re worth it.” At 55, they’ll ask you to worry about your Vitamin D levels. But the woman you are in your 40s? The fierce leader, perhaps the designated caregiver, perhaps the boss, they warn everyone about—Nobody built anything or any content around this version of you. The one who is running a team, holding up your family and is done answering questions no one would dare ask a man. There's no playbook for this stage of your career and life.  So we set out to create one with women like you. For women like us.  Welcome to Power Shift. Coming soon on Youtube, Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

    Welcome to Power Shift: Women Redefining Leadership After 40
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About

Welcome to Power Shift. A podcast hosted by Sandra Colhando — executive coach and co-founder of TransforMe Learning & Leadership Solutions. She has spent decades working with women navigating the most complex and least-talked-about phase of professional life. Season 1 is built around a single theme: The Inflection Point. Women who faced a moment that changed everything, and how they pivoted. This show exists because there's almost no content built specifically for women in their 40s who are still building. Not winding down. Not ascending. Standing tall in the middle of a career that has 20 more years in it — grappling with fears and identity questions that most leadership content, still largely built around men, doesn't know how to address. The 43-year-old CHRO wondering if the rules she played by still apply. The senior leader who was passed over and is figuring out what comes next. The founder who left corporate in her 40s and is still making sense of what that cost and what it gave her. The one who chose motherhood in her 40s while navigating a leadership role. This show is built for them. Sandra isn't an outsider to this conversation. She's walked this road herself, and alongside hundreds of women she's coached. She doesn't interview — she becomes a confidante. Subscribe to catch every conversation.

Information

  • Creator
    Sandra Colhando
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    6
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Sandra Colhando