Brave Feminine Leadership

By Melissa Hamilton

Sharing stories from amazing leaders just like you and me.

Breaking down myths of leadership, imposter syndrome & helping us all be braver.

Step by step.... more

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33 ratings

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FAQs about Brave Feminine Leadership:

How many episodes does Brave Feminine Leadership have?

The podcast currently has 227 episodes available.

Brave Feminine Leadership episodes:

December 11, 2025 #227 Melissa Hamilton - Why You Can't Explain Your Value (And How to Fix It)
Can you clearly articulate the value you create - not just what you do?
Most leaders can't. They default to listing their responsibilities, their achievements, their resume. But that's not what gets you the next opportunity, inspires your team, or proves you're essential.
This week, I challenged a room of senior leaders with three questions that have defined my success at every phase, from my first role to leading 5,000 people globally to navigating the terrifying transition that came next.

These same three questions will change how you position yourself, lead your team, and move forward:
What's the true value you bring right now?
How do you make the work matter—and if you can't, why are you doing it?
If you're a product, what's your relevance to where you're going next?

If you've ever struggled to explain why you're essential, why your work matters, or how to position yourself for what's next - this episode will give you the clarity you need.

-----------------------
Craving inspiration?
I send an email each Sunday about leadership reflection, top tips to build an intentional & sustainable life and other things that have captured my attention and are too good not to share! Sign up here: https://www.bravefeminineleadership.com/leadershipinspiration
Loving the podcast?
Leave us a short review. It takes less than 60 seconds & will inspire like-minded leaders to join the conversation!
Access Your Free Clarity Tool
Between the endless to-do lists, competing priorities, and decisions piling up, it’s easy to lose sight of what matters most. But here’s the truth: you can’t give more if you’re running on empty. That’s why we created Balance Your Brave—a free 15-minute diagnostic tool to help you regain control and clarity.
In just 15 minutes, you will:
✅ Pinpoint energy drains holding you back.
✅ Identify where to focus for the biggest impact.
✅ Walk away feeling calmer and more confident in your next steps.
Think of it as your personal roadmap to balance and alignment.
⬇️ Click here to access your free Balance Your Brave diagnostic tool.
https://www.bravefeminineleadership.com/Balance-Your-Brave

Are we friends? Connect with Us.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bravefeminineleadership
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bravefeminineleadership
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brave-feminine-leadership
...more
28min
November 27, 2025 #226 Jill Schulman - Stop Waiting to Feel Ready: A Former Marine on the Science of Bravery
Jill Schulman showed up to her first day of Marine Corps training in hot pink polka dot shorts and matching pumps. A senior Marine told her she'd never make it. She became the top-performing officer in her class.
Now a keynote speaker and author of The Bravery Effect, Jill breaks down the research on why waiting until you feel confident means waiting forever. She shares studies on stress mindset, self-efficacy, and why the kindest thing we can do as leaders isn't removing challenges - it's helping people meet them.
We talk about why she was terrified to write a book, the leadership mistake she made with her daughter that she now regrets, and what it really means to do the hard thing first.
If you've ever set goals too small to protect yourself from failure, this one's worth your time.
-----------------------
Craving inspiration?
I send an email each Sunday about leadership reflection, top tips to build an intentional & sustainable life and other things that have captured my attention and are too good not to share! Sign up here: https://www.bravefeminineleadership.com/leadershipinspiration
Loving the podcast?
Leave us a short review. It takes less than 60 seconds & will inspire like-minded leaders to join the conversation!
Access Your Free Clarity Tool
Between the endless to-do lists, competing priorities, and decisions piling up, it’s easy to lose sight of what matters most. But here’s the truth: you can’t give more if you’re running on empty. That’s why we created Balance Your Brave—a free 15-minute diagnostic tool to help you regain control and clarity.
In just 15 minutes, you will:
✅ Pinpoint energy drains holding you back.
✅ Identify where to focus for the biggest impact.
✅ Walk away feeling calmer and more confident in your next steps.
Think of it as your personal roadmap to balance and alignment.
⬇️ Click here to access your free Balance Your Brave diagnostic tool.
https://www.bravefeminineleadership.com/Balance-Your-Brave

Are we friends? Connect with Us.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bravefeminineleadership
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bravefeminineleadership
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brave-feminine-leadership
...more
48min
November 13, 2025 #225 Melissa Hamilton - Get Back in the Kitchen: When Misogyny Shows Up at Work
Glen told me to "get back in the kitchen" under one of my videos last week. I don't know Glen..
I could turn off the comments. Block him. Move on.
But here's what I can't stop thinking about: Glen has a job. He works with people. Maybe manages people.
And if he's comfortable saying that where I can see it, what's he doing in the spaces where I can't?
The eye rolls. The knowing glances. The pointed silences that are designed to be deniable.
In this episode, I'm getting real about what these moments actually do to us as leaders - and the choice we're all facing about whether to make ourselves smaller or show up anyway.

-----------------------
Craving inspiration?
I send an email each Sunday about leadership reflection, top tips to build an intentional & sustainable life and other things that have captured my attention and are too good not to share! Sign up here: https://www.bravefeminineleadership.com/leadershipinspiration

Loving the podcast?
Leave us a short review. It takes less than 60 seconds & will inspire like-minded leaders to join the conversation!

Access Your Free Clarity Tool
Between the endless to-do lists, competing priorities, and decisions piling up, it’s easy to lose sight of what matters most. But here’s the truth: you can’t give more if you’re running on empty. That’s why we created Balance Your Brave—a free 15-minute diagnostic tool to help you regain control and clarity.
In just 15 minutes, you will:
✅ Pinpoint energy drains holding you back.
✅ Identify where to focus for the biggest impact.
✅ Walk away feeling calmer and more confident in your next steps.
Think of it as your personal roadmap to balance and alignment.
⬇️ Click here to access your free Balance Your Brave diagnostic tool.
https://www.bravefeminineleadership.com/Balance-Your-Brave

Are we friends? Connect with Us.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bravefeminineleadership
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bravefeminineleadership
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brave-feminine-leadership
...more
17min
October 30, 2025 #224 Professor Didar Zowghi - Move Fast and Fix Things: Why AI Needs Human-Centered Design
What if the biggest risk in AI isn't the technology itself, but building it without understanding the problem first?

Professor Didar Zowghi leads pioneering research on diversity and inclusion in AI at CSIRO's Data61. Her DNI guidelines were incorporated into Australia's national framework for AI in government in 2024. But her path to becoming a trailblazer in AI began unexpectedly, as a young woman from Tehran who couldn't study physics in the UK because her English wasn't good enough. Computer science, they told her, had its own language.

That "serendipitous path" led to decades of groundbreaking work in human-centered technology design, over 300 published articles, and a leadership philosophy built on empathy, courage, and lifting others up.

In this conversation, Didar shares her "don't think, just do" attitude through discrimination and doubt, why she advocates for "move fast and fix things" rather than "break things," and why 87% of AI projects fail.

She reveals why organisations must understand the problem before chasing solutions, why equity and inclusion are safety issues, and how her mentors taught her which battles to fight in a male-dominated world.

This one's for leaders who want to build technology, and lead teams,that truly serve humans.

-----------------------
Craving inspiration?
I send an email each Sunday about leadership reflection, top tips to build an intentional & sustainable life and other things that have captured my attention and are too good not to share! Sign up here: https://www.bravefeminineleadership.com/leadershipinspiration

Loving the podcast?
Leave us a short review. It takes less than 60 seconds & will inspire like-minded leaders to join the conversation!

Access Your Free Clarity Tool
Between the endless to-do lists, competing priorities, and decisions piling up, it’s easy to lose sight of what matters most. But here’s the truth: you can’t give more if you’re running on empty. That’s why we created Balance Your Brave—a free 15-minute diagnostic tool to help you regain control and clarity.
In just 15 minutes, you will:
✅ Pinpoint energy drains holding you back.
✅ Identify where to focus for the biggest impact.
✅ Walk away feeling calmer and more confident in your next steps.
Think of it as your personal roadmap to balance and alignment.
⬇️ Click here to access your free Balance Your Brave diagnostic tool.
https://www.bravefeminineleadership.com/Balance-Your-Brave

Are we friends? Connect with Us.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bravefeminineleadership
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bravefeminineleadership
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brave-feminine-leadership
...more
32min
October 16, 2025 #223 Marilla Akkermans - Swim in the Doubt: The Trust Behind a Four-Day Work Week and 90% Retention
What if the key to 90% staff retention was radical trust from day one?
Marilla Akkermans launched Equality Media and Marketing while raising her first child, after experiencing her own worth drop when she became a mother. She decided to build something different: a business with a four-day work week that actually works, 19 inclusive care policies, and trust given upfront, not earned.
In this conversation, Marilla shares how they ran a three-month trial of the four-day work week to prove it could work for everyone involved, why efficiency should be rewarded with time back (not more work), and why tracking mouse movements is lazy leadership. She gets real about the grit required, swimming in doubt, and her vision for true equality in an industry where women make up 51% of the workforce but only 30% of leadership.
This one's for anyone who's ever thought: there has to be a better way.
-----------------------
Craving inspiration?
I send an email each Sunday about leadership reflection, top tips to build an intentional & sustainable life and other things that have captured my attention and are too good not to share! Sign up here: https://www.bravefeminineleadership.com/leadershipinspiration
Loving the podcast?
Leave us a short review. It takes less than 60 seconds & will inspire like-minded leaders to join the conversation!
Access Your Free Clarity Tool
Between the endless to-do lists, competing priorities, and decisions piling up, it’s easy to lose sight of what matters most. But here’s the truth: you can’t give more if you’re running on empty. That’s why we created Balance Your Brave—a free 15-minute diagnostic tool to help you regain control and clarity.
In just 15 minutes, you will:
✅ Pinpoint energy drains holding you back.
✅ Identify where to focus for the biggest impact.
✅ Walk away feeling calmer and more confident in your next steps.
Think of it as your personal roadmap to balance and alignment.
⬇️ Click here to access your free Balance Your Brave diagnostic tool.
https://www.bravefeminineleadership.com/Balance-Your-Brave

Are we friends? Connect with Us.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bravefeminineleadership
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bravefeminineleadership
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brave-feminine-leadership
...more
38min
October 02, 2025 #222 Dr. Alison Fragale - The Likeable Badass Framework: Add, Don't Subtract
Dr. Alison Fragale, organisational psychologist and author of "Likeable Badass," reveals why women don't need to choose between being liked and being respected, they need both, and the science proves it.
Alison explains how "status" (how much others respect you) is more foundational than power for career success, and why it comes from demonstrating two qualities simultaneously: warmth and assertiveness. She shares the McKinsey moment that taught her self-promotion works even for the unqualified, her "add don't subtract" principle for showing both dimensions without changing who you are, and the "collecting no's" exercise that proves people say yes far more than we assume.
Why you should listen: If you've been told you lack "executive presence" or been called "too aggressive" when you finally spoke up, this conversation offers a research-backed framework for building genuine influence without performing someone else's version of leadership.

-----------------------
Craving inspiration?
I send an email each Sunday about leadership reflection, top tips to build an intentional & sustainable life and other things that have captured my attention and are too good not to share! Sign up here: https://www.bravefeminineleadership.com/leadershipinspiration

Loving the podcast?
Leave us a short review. It takes less than 60 seconds & will inspire like-minded leaders to join the conversation!

Access Your Free Clarity Tool
Between the endless to-do lists, competing priorities, and decisions piling up, it’s easy to lose sight of what matters most. But here’s the truth: you can’t give more if you’re running on empty. That’s why we created Balance Your Brave—a free 15-minute diagnostic tool to help you regain control and clarity.
In just 15 minutes, you will:
✅ Pinpoint energy drains holding you back.
✅ Identify where to focus for the biggest impact.
✅ Walk away feeling calmer and more confident in your next steps.
Think of it as your personal roadmap to balance and alignment.
⬇️ Click here to access your free Balance Your Brave diagnostic tool.
https://www.bravefeminineleadership.com/Balance-Your-Brave

Are we friends? Connect with Us.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bravefeminineleadership
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bravefeminineleadership
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brave-feminine-leadership
...more
41min
September 18, 2025 #221 Justine Robbins - No One Size Career Fits All
Justine Robbins, CEO of Heartweb, dismantles the myth that successful careers follow one path. After feedback calling her "not a team player" and "not strategic" stopped her for six months, she learned to question input constructively and discovered career is a "team sport." She reveals how to build your personal "board of directors" and why sometimes feedback simply isn't true.
Why you should listen: If you're navigating a non-linear career or struggling with challenging feedback as a senior leader, Justine offers hard-won strategies for authentic influence.
-----------------------
Craving inspiration?
I send an email each Sunday about leadership reflection, top tips to build an intentional & sustainable life and other things that have captured my attention and are too good not to share! Sign up here: https://www.bravefeminineleadership.com/leadershipinspiration

Loving the podcast?
Leave us a short review. It takes less than 60 seconds & will inspire like-minded leaders to join the conversation!

Access Your Free Clarity Tool
Between the endless to-do lists, competing priorities, and decisions piling up, it’s easy to lose sight of what matters most. But here’s the truth: you can’t give more if you’re running on empty. That’s why we created Balance Your Brave—a free 15-minute diagnostic tool to help you regain control and clarity.
In just 15 minutes, you will:
✅ Pinpoint energy drains holding you back.
✅ Identify where to focus for the biggest impact.
✅ Walk away feeling calmer and more confident in your next steps.
Think of it as your personal roadmap to balance and alignment.
⬇️ Click here to access your free Balance Your Brave diagnostic tool.
https://www.bravefeminineleadership.com/Balance-Your-Brave

Are we friends? Connect with Us.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bravefeminineleadership
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bravefeminineleadership
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brave-feminine-leadership
...more
31min
September 04, 2025 #220 Dr Kate Mason - Powerfully Likeable Leadership
Dr. Kate Mason, executive communications coach and author of "Powerfully Likeable," dismantles the myth that you have to choose between being powerful or being liked as a leader.
Kate reveals why the traditional "leadership persona" is exhausting and challenges the Miranda Priestley vs. people-pleaser binary that traps high-achieving women. She shares her simple exercise to map your power-up and power-down moments, explains why thinking about confidence is the worst way to build it, and offers strategies for handling feedback without triggering threat responses.

Why you should listen: If you're tired of performing a leadership role that doesn't feel authentic, or struggling with vague feedback about needing more "executive presence," this conversation provides concrete tools to lead powerfully while staying true to who you are.
-----------------------

Inside My CEO Calendar: How I Led A Team of 5k+ Without Getting Pulled Back Into the Weeds
A behind-the-scenes private podcast for senior female leaders and CEOs who don’t need fluff—just sharper thinking, smarter moves, and more time for what matters.
You don’t have time for another 60-minute webinar.
But you do have 15 minutes while you’re driving into the office or grabbing your mid-day coffee. Listen here: https://www.bravefeminineleadership.com/BFL-Private-Podcast

-----------------------
Craving inspiration?
I send an email each Sunday about leadership reflection, top tips to build an intentional & sustainable life and other things that have captured my attention and are too good not to share! Sign up here: https://www.bravefeminineleadership.com/leadershipinspiration

Loving the podcast?
Leave us a short review. It takes less than 60 seconds & will inspire like-minded leaders to join the conversation!

Access Your Free Clarity Tool
Between the endless to-do lists, competing priorities, and decisions piling up, it’s easy to lose sight of what matters most. But here’s the truth: you can’t give more if you’re running on empty. That’s why we created Balance Your Brave—a free 15-minute diagnostic tool to help you regain control and clarity.
In just 15 minutes, you will:
✅ Pinpoint energy drains holding you back.
✅ Identify where to focus for the biggest impact.
✅ Walk away feeling calmer and more confident in your next steps.
Think of it as your personal roadmap to balance and alignment.
⬇️ Click here to access your free Balance Your Brave diagnostic tool.
https://www.bravefeminineleadership.com/Balance-Your-Brave

Are we friends? Connect with Us.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bravefeminineleadership
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bravefeminineleadership
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brave-feminine-leadership
...more
41min
August 21, 2025 #219 Florence Potter - Why Generational Tension Is a Gift
Baby Boomers are technophobes. Gen Z are lazy and entitled. Millennials want everything handed to them. Gen X are just... forgotten.
Florence Potter, Founding Director of No Umbrellas, is calling out every single stereotype. For the first time in history, five generations are working side by side, and most leaders are missing the biggest opportunity hiding in plain sight.
Florence reveals why generational tension isn't your problem, it's your competitive advantage. From challenging the broken "Golden Rule" to creating brave spaces that unlock collective intelligence, she shares the leadership shifts that actually work in today's multi-generational workplace.
Discover why measuring hours kills productivity, the real story behind quiet quitting, and the simple question that transforms team dynamics instantly.
Why you should listen: The leadership playbook is changing fast. This conversation gives you the future-proof skills to turn generational differences into your team's greatest strength, before your competitors figure it out.
-----------------------

Inside My CEO Calendar: How I Led A Team of 5k+ Without Getting Pulled Back Into the Weeds
A behind-the-scenes private podcast for senior female leaders and CEOs who don’t need fluff—just sharper thinking, smarter moves, and more time for what matters.
You don’t have time for another 60-minute webinar.
But you do have 15 minutes while you’re driving into the office or grabbing your mid-day coffee. Listen here: https://www.bravefeminineleadership.com/BFL-Private-Podcast

-----------------------
Craving inspiration?
I send an email each Sunday about leadership reflection, top tips to build an intentional & sustainable life and other things that have captured my attention and are too good not to share! Sign up here: https://www.bravefeminineleadership.com/leadershipinspiration

Loving the podcast?
Leave us a short review. It takes less than 60 seconds & will inspire like-minded leaders to join the conversation!

Access Your Free Clarity Tool
Between the endless to-do lists, competing priorities, and decisions piling up, it’s easy to lose sight of what matters most. But here’s the truth: you can’t give more if you’re running on empty. That’s why we created Balance Your Brave—a free 15-minute diagnostic tool to help you regain control and clarity.
In just 15 minutes, you will:
✅ Pinpoint energy drains holding you back.
✅ Identify where to focus for the biggest impact.
✅ Walk away feeling calmer and more confident in your next steps.
Think of it as your personal roadmap to balance and alignment.
⬇️ Click here to access your free Balance Your Brave diagnostic tool.
https://www.bravefeminineleadership.com/Balance-Your-Brave

Are we friends? Connect with Us.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bravefeminineleadership
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bravefeminineleadership
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brave-feminine-leadership
...more
56min
August 07, 2025 #218 Tom Mutch - The 30-Second Test: Are You Really Ready for the Boardroom?
Tom Mutch, a board and C-suite headhunter specialising in APAC appointments, reveals his infamous "30-second elevator pitch test" that exposes why 90% of aspiring board directors aren't actually ready for the boardroom.
From his accidental journey from PhD in Physics to becoming one of the most recommended board search consultants, Tom shares the real-world insights that matter: his four-ingredient recipe for building a memorable personal brand, why intellectual curiosity beats credentials every time, and the biggest myths experienced executives believe about board appointments.
Tom also opens up about how the 2008 financial crisis taught him that business is ultimately about people, not transactions, and why asking "stupid questions" makes the best board directors.
Why you should listen: Whether you're eyeing your first board appointment, wondering why you keep coming second in selection processes, or simply want to build more authentic professional relationships, this episode delivers the candid, actionable advice you need to stand out in a competitive market and create genuine pathways between people and opportunities.
-----------------------

Inside My CEO Calendar: How I Led A Team of 5k+ Without Getting Pulled Back Into the Weeds
A behind-the-scenes private podcast for senior female leaders and CEOs who don’t need fluff—just sharper thinking, smarter moves, and more time for what matters.
You don’t have time for another 60-minute webinar.
But you do have 15 minutes while you’re driving into the office or grabbing your mid-day coffee. Listen here: https://www.bravefeminineleadership.com/BFL-Private-Podcast

-----------------------
Craving inspiration?
I send an email each Sunday about leadership reflection, top tips to build an intentional & sustainable life and other things that have captured my attention and are too good not to share! Sign up here: https://www.bravefeminineleadership.com/leadershipinspiration

Loving the podcast?
Leave us a short review. It takes less than 60 seconds & will inspire like-minded leaders to join the conversation!

Access Your Free Clarity Tool
Between the endless to-do lists, competing priorities, and decisions piling up, it’s easy to lose sight of what matters most. But here’s the truth: you can’t give more if you’re running on empty. That’s why we created Balance Your Brave—a free 15-minute diagnostic tool to help you regain control and clarity.
In just 15 minutes, you will:
✅ Pinpoint energy drains holding you back.
✅ Identify where to focus for the biggest impact.
✅ Walk away feeling calmer and more confident in your next steps.
Think of it as your personal roadmap to balance and alignment.
⬇️ Click here to access your free Balance Your Brave diagnostic tool.
https://www.bravefeminineleadership.com/Balance-Your-Brave

Are we friends? Connect with Us.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bravefeminineleadership
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bravefeminineleadership
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brave-feminine-leadership
...more
50min

FAQs about Brave Feminine Leadership:

How many episodes does Brave Feminine Leadership have?

The podcast currently has 227 episodes available.

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