In this episode of Everyone Has a Story: Lessons, Leadership and Legacy, we sit down with TEDx speaker, author, and communications expert Sneha Villalva, author of Cut to the Essence: What Remains When We Subtract.

Together, we explore the power of doing less—but with greater intention. Inspired by How Women Rise by Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith and its chapter on the habit of “Too Much,” this conversation examines how women leaders can move beyond over-explaining, overcommitting, and carrying the pressure to prove themselves. Sneha shares how subtraction can create more clarity, confidence, presence, and purpose.

If you are ready to release what no longer serves you and focus on what truly matters, this episode is for you.

Find Sneha's book here: https://www.snehav.com/

https://www.snehav.com/book

Connect with Tess and Judy -

https://thetrainingring.com/

https://www.thestorywithincoaching.com/

The Women's Leadership Accelerator beginning January is open now.

Or check out The Leadership Shift webinars.

Tess and Judy are back, and we are tackling one of the sneakiest ways high-performing women unintentionally undermine their authority: Habit 9: Minimizing, straight from Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith's invaluable book, How Women Rise.

In this episode, we unpack the linguistic traps and subtle habits that keep capable leaders sounding smaller than they actually are, and more importantly, how to step fully into your power without hesitation.

• The Words That Shrink You: We examine the everyday vocabulary and linguistic qualifiers that dilute your message and project unnecessary hesitation.

• The Power of Direct Speech: Why learning to say exactly what you mean—without preamble, over-explaining, or softening—is an essential leadership muscle.

• Redefining Credit: How to shift out of a false "lose-lose" dynamic by enthusiastically giving your team the credit they've earned while proudly owning your role as the strategic architect and oversight of the project.

• Presence vs. Fragmentation: A practical look at staying "where your feet are," letting go of the myth of effective multitasking, and how undivided focus changes the room.

• Habit vs. Character: A crucial reminder to take a deep breath—these behaviors are learned structural habits, not inherent flaws in who you are.

Ready to move past these invisible barriers and step into true strategic authority? We are thrilled to invite you to join our brand-new Leadership Shift Workshops.

Check out the links below in the show notes to explore upcoming sessions, secure your spot, and reach out to us directly if you have any questions or want to bring these conversations back to your team.

Learn more and register here!

👉 Register for the full series ($250): https://lnkd.in/gipBKqdZ

👉 Register for October 7 — Own Your Story, Amplify Your Influence ($95): https://lnkd.in/gND8NQS5

👉 Register for November 4 — The Power of No ($95): https://lnkd.in/gqpDjecF

👉 Register for December 2 — Difficult Conversations, Confident Leadership ($95): https://lnkd.in/gEFGTynv

• Connect with us:

  https://thetrainingring.com

  https://www.thestorywithincoaching.com

Subscribe, share this episode with a leader who needs to hear it, and join us next time as we continue untangling the habits holding you back from the impact you're meant to make.

What We Cover in This Episode:Step Into Your Next Level

What if the desire to be helpful, agreeable, and liked is quietly holding you back? You will want to listen to the end of this one and share it with your people pleasing co-workers.

In this important episode of our How Women Rise series, we explore Habit 8: The Disease to Please. People-pleasing can look like kindness, collaboration, or being a team player—but when we consistently prioritize everyone else’s needs, opinions, and comfort over our own, the cost can be significant. The Habits are credited to Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith's book, How Women Rise.

We discuss how the disease to please can lead to overcommitment, burnout, resentment, weak boundaries, difficulty making decisions, and missed opportunities to advocate for yourself. Most importantly, we explore how women can remain compassionate and collaborative without abandoning their own priorities, values, voices, or ambitions.

You can be kind without being constantly available. You can care about others without needing everyone’s approval. And you can disappoint someone without doing something wrong.

This may be our most important conversation yet because learning to stop people-pleasing is not about becoming less caring—it’s about becoming a more authentic, confident, and empowered leader.

Visit us online:

• The Story Within Coaching: thestorywithincoaching.com

• The Training Ring, LLC: thetrainingring.com

• Join the Accelerator: https://paperbell.me/trainingring

  Want to order the book. Ask at your local book store or order it from one of our favorites in Minneapolis:

  https://www.magersandquinn.com/product/How-Women-Rise-Break-the-12-Habits-Holding-You-Back-from-Your-Next-Raise,-Promotion,-or-Job/2252810

“When excellence becomes a trap: releasing perfectionism without lowering your standards.”

On this episode of Everyone has a Story: Lessons, Leadership and Legacy, Judy Ring and Tess Hobson tackle Habit 7—This one is for you if you are a perfectionist...or work with or for one. Cheyenne Lambley from the recent Women's Leadership Accelerator joins us to talk through real life perfectionism.

We discuss how perfectionism affects delegation, team development, decision speed, innovation and burnout.

Credit to Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith authors of the How Women Rise. 

Join us: Looking for more support? Our Women’s Leadership Accelerator begins September 9th. These are small cohorts, so sign up early to guarantee your seat at the table.

Find us:

https://www.thestorywithincoaching.com/work-with-me

https://thetrainingring.com/

Are you mastering your daily tasks so well that you're sabotaging your own career progression?

On this episode of Everyone has a Story: Lessons, Leadership and Legacy, Judy Ring and Tess Hobson tackle Habit 6—the tendency for high-achieving women to prioritize immediate execution over long-term strategy. We discuss why women often feel guilty about seeking upward mobility and how to overcome the fear of being "disloyal" to your team by looking for new opportunities.Learn why the world needs your ambition and how to start thinking like a leader, not just a task-master.

Credit to Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith authors of the How Women Rise.

Join us: Looking for more support? Our Women’s Leadership Accelerator begins September 9th. These are small cohorts, so sign up early to guarantee your seat at the table.

Find us:

https://www.thestorywithincoaching.com/work-with-me

https://thetrainingring.com/#top

In this episode, we’re closing the chapter on our latest Women’s Leadership Accelerator with a look at the transformative power of community. As we reflect on the breakthroughs and milestones our cohort achieved over the last few months, we’re diving deep into a critical leadership barrier: Habit 5 from How Women Rise—"Failing to Enlist Allies from Day One."

Too often, we believe that hard work alone is enough to get us where we want to go. But as we explore in today’s conversation, rising in your career is a team sport.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Accelerator Effect: Why dedicated space for reflection is the first step toward lasting change.

• The Allyship Shift: How to move from "doing it all yourself" to building a intentional network of advocates who support your vision.

• Practical Strategies: How to start enlisting allies early, whether you’re starting a new role, launching a project, or aiming for that next promotion.

• Leading from the Inside Out: Why building authentic relationships is not just a career tactic, but a fundamental pillar of sustainable leadership.

Whether you’re an Accelerator graduate or a leader looking to expand your impact, this episode provides the framework you need to stop going it alone and start building the bench you deserve.

Join the conversation: We want to hear your story. Who has been your greatest ally, and how did you build that connection? Reach out on LinkedIn and let us know!

[email protected]

[email protected]

Want to learn more??

https://app.paperbell.com/provider/packages/217970

https://www.thestorywithincoaching.com

https://thetrainingring.com/

Being a great connector is a strength—but if you never ask for help, you’re missing out on the power of your own network. This week, we’re tackling Habit 4 of How Women Rise. We’re moving past the guilt of being "transactional" and learning how to intentionally leverage our professional relationships to create, move, and grow. Tune in to learn how to bridge the gap between being a supportive leader and an empowered force in your industry.

Learn more about the Women's Accelerator? Want to connect on coaching? Need a speaker, or program or someone to connect with?

Reach us here:

[email protected]

[email protected]

Episode Summary:

In this inspiring episode of Everyone Has a Story: Lessons, Leadership, and Legacy, hosts Judy and Tess are joined by three incredible guests from the inaugural cohort of the Women’s Leadership Accelerator.

Tune in as these dynamic leaders pull back the curtain on their professional journeys, sharing the profound lessons they have learned and the powerful shifts they’ve experienced—both in their leadership styles and their lives—since joining the program. If you’ve ever wondered what happens when women are given the tools, community, and architecture to break down silos and step into their full potential, this conversation is for you.

• Real Lessons from the Field: Our guests share the raw, real-time insights gained from navigating leadership challenges.

• The Shift: Discover what changes when you move from day-to-day management into visionary leadership.

• The Power of Cohort Community: How a tight-knit network of peers accelerates personal and professional growth.

The doors are opening soon for the Fall 2026 Women's Leadership Accelerator! If you are ready to experience your own shift, build lasting legacy, and join a community of high-impact leaders, we want to hear from you.

How to connect with Tess and Judy:

• Connect with us on LinkedIn to send a direct message.

• Email Judy directly at: [email protected]

• Email Tess directly at: [email protected]

Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review if you enjoyed today’s stories of leadership and legacy!

This episode we welcome Sam Markman to our podcast. We dive into Habit 3 from "How Women Rise" by Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith.

Interesting conversation on when you dive too deep into where you are in your current job. Sam, Tess and Judy discuss the pitfalls of what can happen when you are looking for a promotion.

You will learn about the 5 people you need to have in your life, the importance of being a good listener and a great connector.

Look for the Women's Leadership Accelerator beginning September 9th, 2027 to be part of a small cohort of emerging and dynamic leaders as they grow from within.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/judylring/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tesshobson/

https://www.thestorywithincoaching.com/work-with-me

https://thetrainingring.com

[email protected]

[email protected]

Your story is meant to be shared. Habit 2 from How Women Rise by Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith, puts many of us in an uncomfortable position. Tess and Judy dive into the chapter on what happens when we use the head down method of work or just work as hard as you can and hope you are noticed.

We would love to have you on our podcast.

Interested in Leadership training. The Women's Accelerator is available on our websites.

Ask us about custom programs for your team.

Coaching? We can do that. Judy and Tess are both ICF Certified Coaches.

You can find us both on LinkedIn and our websites:

https://www.thestorywithincoaching.com/about

https://brand.site/trainingring