Birth2Boardroom Podcast - Empowering Women to Lead. Thrive. Succeed

What happens when you stop following the script and start writing your own?In this episode of Birth 2 Boardroom, host Deb Kowalski and co-host Natalie sit down with the remarkable Alison Goldie — a leader, connector, and self-described career rule-breaker who swapped the classroom for the boardroom and never looked back.Alison's journey from secondary school teacher to senior IT sales leader is anything but conventional. She was often the only woman in the room, navigating a male-dominated industry with authenticity, humor, and an unshakable belief in herself. And it paid off — in more ways than one.In this episode, we cover:Why Alison left teaching and said yes to an industry she knew nothing aboutThe sideways move that saved a failing multimillion-pound contract — and lasted four yearsHow she walked into a high-stakes pitch and won with four words: "We are pure dead brilliant"Why the corporate ladder is a male construct — and what to do insteadOvercoming the fear of judgment and learning to let go of what you can't controlHer love note to her former self (and why she's always been proud of her)The D:Ream song that carried her through one of the hardest moments of her lifeAlison's motto for life and leadership:"There are two things in life — things you can control, and things you can't. You'd be mad not to control the things you can and completely ignore the things you can't."Whether you're navigating a career pivot, fighting for your seat at the table, or just trying to lead with more heart — this episode is for you.🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations with women who lead boldly, creatively, and on their own terms.🌐 Visit us at www.birth2boardroom.com💬 Join the conversation and share this episode with a woman who needs to hear it.Chapters:00:00 – Welcome to Birth 2 Boardroom02:00 – Introducing Alison Goldie04:00 – From teaching to tech: Alison's unconventional start10:00 – Leading as the only woman in the room18:00 – The sideways move that changed everything28:00 – Love note to her former self32:00 – Humor, creativity, and "Pure Dead Brilliant"40:00 – Overcoming fear of judgment44:00 – Resilience in the face of uncertainty48:00 – Control what you can50:00 – Song of the journey: Things Can Only Get Better#Birth2Boardroom #WomenInLeadership #AlisonGoldie #LeadershipPodcast #WomenInTech #Podcast #AuthenticLeadership #CareerAdvice #WomenEmpowerment #ControlWhatYouCan #PureDeadBrilliant #Consulting #RedefiningSuccess

n a world full of uncertainty, what's the one mindset shift that changes everything? Alison Goldie has lived by this simple but powerful philosophy her entire career — and it's what's carried her through every challenge, risk, and leap of faith. 💡 Watch the full episode of Birth2Boardroom on Tuesday, July 7th 🎙️ New episodes weekly — subscribe so you never miss an inspiring story.#MindsetShift #WomenLeaders #Leadership #Birth2Boardroom #PersonalGrowth #WomenEmpowerment #CareerAdvice

What do you do when you're handed a failing multimillion-pound contract in a city you don't work in, an industry you've never touched, with no clear reason why they chose you? You say yes. Alison Goldie shares the bold sideways move that reshaped her entire career — and the one question that made it all possible. Watch the full conversation on Birth2Boardroom on Tuesday, July 7th. 🎙️ Subscribe for weekly episodes with trailblazing women.#CareerPivot #WomenInLeadership #NonTraditionalCareer #Birth2Boardroom #WomenInBusiness #TakeTheLeap

What happens when a Glaswegian walks into a high-stakes pitch room full of skeptical men and throws out the script entirely? 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Alison Goldie shares the moment she stopped performing and started winning — by being unapologetically herself. Watch the full episode of Birth2Boardroom to hear how authenticity became her secret weapon in business. 🎙️ Full episode dropping Tuesday, July 7th. Subscribe so you don't miss one.#Leadership #WomenInBusiness #Authenticity #Birth2Boardroom #CareerAdvice #WomenEmpowerment

What if the fear you feel at work isn't a warning — it's a signal that something important is at stake?In this episode of Birth 2 Boardroom, host Deb Kowalski and co-host Natalie Griffith sit down with leadership coach and executive development specialist Marissa McCourry for a powerful conversation about what it truly means to be brave at work.Marissa brings a rare 360-degree perspective on leadership — from corporate theater and academia to global Fortune 500 consulting and executive coaching. Her message is clear: courage isn't a personality trait. It's a skill you can learn, and a daily decision you can practice.In this episode, you'll discover:Why bravery doesn't mean having no fear — and what it actually meansHow to recognize when your values are being stepped on (and what to do about it)The difference between feeling ready and being willingMarissa's 3-step process (Explore → Game Plan → Take Action) for building everyday courageWhy "clarity comes through action" — and how small brave steps lead to big onesThe gym analogy that will change how you think about building your courage muscleWhy courage in emergencies is too late — and what to do insteadMarissa also shares the love note she wrote to her younger self, the moment she finally mustered the courage to speak up at work, and how that one act of bravery led her to bet on herself and step into full-time entrepreneurship.Whether you're an individual contributor, a senior leader, or somewhere in between — this conversation is your reminder that you don't have to be fearless to be brave.🎵 Marissa's anthem: "Brave" by Sara Bareilles💻 Visit us at www.birth2boardroom.com📣 Share this episode and join our global community of empowered womenBirth 2 Boardroom celebrates women who don't wait for permission — women who step into their power and lead with purpose.

Where in your work life do you want to have more courage and influence?

Claim your free 30-min consultation with Marissa: https://www.icf-coaching.org/mfluence/

Connect with Marissa: linkedin.com/in/marissamccourry

Stop waiting to feel ready — start being willingMarissa reframes one of the biggest obstacles holding women back in leadership: waiting until the moment feels right. Courage isn't about being ready, it's about being willing — willing to step out of your comfort zone, willing to be seen before you're polished. A mindset shift that hits hard in under 60 seconds.As we continue to grow the Birth2Boardroom community, I would love to hear from you! What topics, conversations, or challenges would you like us to explore that would inspire and empower women around the world?Your feedback helps shape the conversations we bring forward. Whether it’s leadership, entrepreneurship, confidence, career growth, overcoming obstacles, work-life balance, or a topic close to your heart, I want to hear from you.And if you know an incredible woman in your network who has a story to share, lessons to teach, or experiences that could inspire others, please send them my way. We are always looking for amazing voices to join us and share their wisdom.Together, we are building a movement of women supporting women—one story, one conversation, and one connection at a time. ✨Send me your ideas, your recommendations, and your amazing guests!#Birth2Boardroom #WomenSupportingWomen #WomenInLeadership #EmpoweredWomen

You don't need to be fearless to be braveLeadership coach Marissa McCourry reads a powerful letter to her younger self — a message every woman in business needs to hear. "Ready is a myth. Do the thing scared anyhow. You don't need to be fearless to be brave." Honest, emotional, and deeply relatable for any woman navigating uncertainty in her career.As we continue to grow the Birth2Boardroom community, I would love to hear from you! What topics, conversations, or challenges would you like us to explore that would inspire and empower women around the world?Your feedback helps shape the conversations we bring forward. Whether it’s leadership, entrepreneurship, confidence, career growth, overcoming obstacles, work-life balance, or a topic close to your heart, I want to hear from you.And if you know an incredible woman in your network who has a story to share, lessons to teach, or experiences that could inspire others, please send them my way. We are always looking for amazing voices to join us and share their wisdom.Together, we are building a movement of women supporting women—one story, one conversation, and one connection at a time. ✨Send me your ideas, your recommendations, and your amazing guests!#Birth2Boardroom #WomenSupportingWomen #WomenInLeadership #EmpoweredWomen

Finding the courage to speak up when your values are on the lineMarissa McCourry shares the raw, real moment she finally mustered the courage to speak out against leadership that violated her core values — even when she was afraid of the consequences. She reveals the physical and emotional relief of acting in alignment with who you are, and how that one brave act gave her the clarity to bet on herself and step into full-time entrepreneurship.As we continue to grow the Birth2Boardroom community, I would love to hear from you! What topics, conversations, or challenges would you like us to explore that would inspire and empower women around the world?Your feedback helps shape the conversations we bring forward. Whether it’s leadership, entrepreneurship, confidence, career growth, overcoming obstacles, work-life balance, or a topic close to your heart, I want to hear from you.And if you know an incredible woman in your network who has a story to share, lessons to teach, or experiences that could inspire others, please send them my way. We are always looking for amazing voices to join us and share their wisdom.Together, we are building a movement of women supporting women—one story, one conversation, and one connection at a time. ✨Send me your ideas, your recommendations, and your amazing guests!#Birth2Boardroom #WomenSupportingWomen #WomenInLeadership #EmpoweredWomen

You CAN Have It All — Just Not All at the Same TimeWhat if "having it all" was never meant to happen all at once? In this powerful clip from Birth2Boardroom, meteorologist April Warnecke reframes ambition, gratitude, and the seasons of life — and explains why letting go of "what could have been" is actually the key to confidence in the decisions you've already made.🎙️ Full episode drops on Tuesday, June 9th. Listen in!YouCanHaveItAll #WomenEmpowerment #Birth2Boardroom #Gratitude #SeasonOfLife #WomenWhoLead #Mindset

Work-Life Balance Is a Myth — And This TV Anchor Isn't Afraid to Say After 20 years in morning television, April Warnecke has a refreshingly honest take on work-life balance: it doesn't exist. Not the way we're sold it, anyway. In this clip from Birth2Boardroom, April gets real about juggling a high-visibility career, two kids, and a marriage — and why some days work wins, some days family wins, and that's okay.🎙️ Full episode drops on Tuesday, June 9th. Take a listen!WorkLifeBalance #MomLife #WomenInMedia #Birth2Boardroom #MorningTV #RealTalk #WomenWhoLead