Ever been promoted into a leadership role during a crisis with little support, sky-high expectations, and the odds stacked against you? That’s the glass cliff, a phenomenon where women (and minority leaders) are more likely to be handed risky roles when failure feels inevitable.

In this fiery episode, I unpack why this happens, what the research shows, and most importantly, how women can protect themselves by building the missing 33%: the business, financial, and strategic acumen that too often gets overlooked in leadership development.

You’ll learn:

- Why some companies put women in crisis roles and how it sets them up for failure

- The three dimensions of leadership success, and where women are most underestimated

- Four practical, everyday habits to strengthen your business and strategic skills

- How to communicate with impact so your leadership is seen and valued

If you’re ambitious, capable and ready to step into leadership with confidence – not crisis – this episode will give you the tools to thrive.

Mentioned in this episode:

There Are 3 Keys to Career Success—But Women Are Only Taught 2 of Them

The Missing 33%: Has Anything Changed?

Glass Cliff: Definition, Research, Examples, Vs. Glass Ceiling

How Women End Up on the “Glass Cliff”

Join LeadWell Academy

A self-paced leadership development experience for people who want to lead with confidence, clarity, and courage.

Join the Conversation:

Subscribe to the LeadWell fortnightly newsletter for leadership insights, tools, and inspiration delivered directly to your inbox. Subscribe here.

Connect with Me:

Instagram: @LeadWellwithJacqui

LinkedIn: Jacqui Butler

Website: www.academy.leadwellco.com.au

If you found this episode helpful, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast and leave a review to help others discover LeadWell with Jacqui!

Your personal brand isn’t just your LinkedIn profile or what you wear to work – it’s every micro habit, every interaction and the way you consistently make people feel. In this conversation with career strategist and Kinda Planned podcast host Alex Cuttiford, we unpack the real meaning of personal brand, how it connects to executive presence, and how to make it both authentic and strategic. We talk: values, first impressions, strengths and why action (not overthinking) is the secret to clarity and confidence.

Alex Cuttiford is career development obsessed and passionate about helping young professionals navigate their careers with confidence, purpose and impact. With a background spanning trades, youth work, career development, and government, Alex understands the reality of a “messy” career, and sees that journey as a superpower.

Over the past eight years, Alex has designed and delivered strategic career initiatives and coached individuals through transitions both big and small. His work focuses on helping people uncover their values, strengths and skills so they can make career decisions that are not only smart but also deeply meaningful. Alex believes in the importance of holding space for authentic conversations and harnessing the power of curiosity to unlock new opportunities.

Mentioned in this episode:

Article: The New Rules of Executive Presence

Connect with Alex Cuttiford:

Kinda Planned podcast

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/alex-cuttiford

Join the Conversation:

Subscribe to the LeadWell fortnightly newsletter for leadership insights, tools, and inspiration delivered directly to your inbox. Subscribe here.

Connect with Me:

Instagram: @LeadWellwithJacqui

LinkedIn: Jacqui Butler

Website: www.leadwellco.com.au

If you found this episode helpful, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast and leave a review to help others discover LeadWell with Jacqui!

Let’s be honest, most performance reviews are a tick-the-box exercise. Fill in the form, book the meeting, read it aloud, get a signature… done. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

In this episode, I unpack how to transform your mid-year or end-of-cycle performance conversations into something meaningful, something that actually matters. We’ll talk about how to make it a real conversation (not a monologue), why there should be no “new news,” and how to balance feedback with forward planning. Plus, I’ll share practical tips to help your team feel seen, supported, and motivated to grow.

If you’ve ever felt a bit awkward or unsure about what to say in a performance review, this episode is perfect for you. Let’s turn your next review into a leadership moment and not just another meeting.

Mentioned in this episode:

Only 14% Of Employees Are Inspired By Their Performance Reviews

More Harm Than Good: The Truth About Performance Reviews

Join the Conversation:

Subscribe to the LeadWell fortnightly newsletter for leadership insights, tools, and inspiration delivered directly to your inbox. Subscribe here.

Connect with Me:

Instagram: @LeadWellwithJacqui

LinkedIn: Jacqui Butler

Website: https://www.leadwellco.com.au

If you found this episode helpful, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast and leave a review to help others discover LeadWell with Jacqui!

We’ve been sold a version of happiness that says “you’ll be happy when…”

When you earn more.

Achieve more.

Look a certain way.

Live a certain life.

But what if that version is completely wrong?

In this episode, I’m joined by Declan Edwards – happiness researcher and founder of BU Happiness College – to unpack what real happiness looks like. We talk about why chasing success won’t make you happy, how to act now to avoid regret in the future, and why happiness is actually a set of learnable skills (yes, really).

This episode is for you if you’ve ever asked “shouldn’t I be happier by now?” Expect science, storytelling, and practical tools to help you feel more like you – fulfilled, resilient, and back in the driver’s seat.

Declan Edwards is a happiness researcher, author, and the founder of BU Happiness College; a for-purpose organisation dedicated to helping people and workplaces thrive by developing the practical, evidence-based skills of happiness.

With a background in health and a Master’s in Applied Positive Psychology, Declan has spent the past decade working with thousands of individuals and organisations to turn the science of happiness into real-world impact. His work bridges personal growth and professional performance, supporting leaders, teams, and everyday people to show up more fully both at work and in life.

Declan believes that leadership today is no longer about hierarchy, it’s about humanity. And when we empower people with the skills to be happier and more emotionally intelligent, we build not just better leaders, but better cultures, communities, and organisations.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Top Five Regrets of Dying - book

Regrets of the Dying - blog article

Connect with Declan on your favourite social media platform by searching 'Declan Edwards' or 'That Happiness Guy'.

Subscribe to Declan's Podcast "How to Be Happy" on SPOTIFY

Subscribe to Declan's Podcast "How to Be Happy" on APPLE PODCASTS

Join the waitlist for Declan's upcoming book here

Find out more about bringing the skills and science of happiness to your workplace at BU Happiness College

Discover your personal happiness score here

Join the Conversation:

Subscribe to the LeadWell fortnightly newsletter for leadership insights, tools, and inspiration delivered directly to your inbox. Subscribe here.

Connect with Me:

Instagram: @LeadWellwithJacqui

LinkedIn: Jacqui Butler

Website: www.leadwellco.com.au

If you found this episode helpful, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast and leave a review to help others discover LeadWell with Jacqui!

Are you standing at a career crossroads and feeling ready for change but unsure what that looks like?

In this episode, I’m joined by career coach, Bronwyn Wilson, to explore what it means to take back the steering wheel in your career. We talk about how to make intentional decisions that reflect your values, life stage and future goals, and not just your past experience.

From getting clear on what you actually want, to building a personal brand that positions you for what’s next, Bronwyn shares practical advice for job seekers who are ready to move with purpose. We also dive into LinkedIn strategies, resume tips, and the difference between applying vs. networking your way into a role.

This episode will help you to see that your next step doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to be intentional.

Bronwyn Wilson is an experienced human resources professional utilising her skills in recruitment and business partnering to work with individuals who are seeking a change in their career. Bronwyn has a supportive coaching style, providing clients with clarity on their transferable skills and aligning those with a career suited to the individual’s values, preferred working style, leadership approach and team culture. Bronwyn also supports clients through the recruitment journey from resume writing, LinkedIn profiles, job applications, interview preparation and negotiation of employment contracts. Utilising her degrees in psychology, human resources and yoga teaching, Bronwyn is well placed to help her clients transition to their next career step prioritising authenticity and joy for life.

Mentioned in this episode:

Jacqui’s values webinar and worksheet

Connect with Bronwyn Wilson:

Website: www.sharpenupresumes.com.au

LinkedIn: @sharpenupresumes

Instagram: @sharpenupresumes

Join the Conversation:

Subscribe to the LeadWell fortnightly newsletter for leadership insights, tools, and inspiration delivered directly to your inbox. Subscribe here.

Connect with Me:

Instagram: @LeadWellwithJacqui

LinkedIn: Jacqui Butler

Website: www.leadwellco.com.au

If you found this episode helpful, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast and leave a review to help others discover LeadWell with Jacqui!

Are you still telling yourself, "It’s just quicker if I do it myself"?

Tired of feeling like the only one who can get it done?

In this episode, I’m blending the hard-won lessons from my own leadership journey with practical frameworks you can use today. You’ll discover why letting go is a smart move (even when it feels quicker to do it yourself), how I assess readiness with Skill vs Will, and the step-by-step Watch–Do–Teach method that’s turned delegation into my leadership superpower.

Tune in to learn how you can stop doing it all and start elevating your entire team.

Mentioned in this episode:

Skills vs Will matrix

Why see one, do one, teach one teaching methods works

Join the Conversation:

Subscribe to the LeadWell fortnightly newsletter for leadership insights, tools, and inspiration delivered directly to your inbox. Subscribe here.

Connect with Me:

Instagram: @LeadWellwithJacqui

LinkedIn: Jacqui Butler

Website: www.leadwellco.com.au/

If you found this episode helpful, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast and leave a review to help others discover LeadWell with Jacqui!

In this powerful conversation with business psychologist Andrea Levinson, we explore what it really means to lead with authenticity, especially as a woman in today's workplaces. Andrea shares why hustle culture often disconnects us from our true selves, how the pressure to conform impacts leadership presence, and why embracing flexibility doesn't mean abandoning authenticity. We also unpack the "authority gap," the hidden cost of performance personas, and how experimentation can be a powerful tool for evolving your leadership style. If you've ever felt like you're constantly performing or struggling with the "shoulds" of leadership, this episode will leave you feeling seen and inspired to lead more intentionally, on your terms.

Andrea is a Business Psychologist, Coach, Facilitator and Speaker with over two decades helping leaders, teams and organisations maximise their humanness to achieve remarkable outcomes. With a Masters in Organisational Psychology and experience working with leading organisations, Andrea brings a unique blend of evidence-based approaches and intuitive insights. After leaving behind the classic hard hustle, she redefined success on her terms and now builds her own business from the beautiful Sunshine Coast. From there, she focuses on catalysing executive women to break ingrained patterns of being, so they can rebuild their relationship with work and success from the inside out. She is guided by the core belief that we get to love our work, and have it love us back beyond the economic exchange.

Connect with Andrea Levinson:

Instagram: @andrealevinsoncoach

LinkedIn: Andrea Levinson

Mentioned in this episode:

The Freedom Formula

Take the Joy Meter Quiz here

Join the Conversation:

Subscribe to the LeadWell fortnightly newsletter for leadership insights, tools, and inspiration delivered directly to your inbox. Subscribe here.

Connect with Me:

Instagram: @LeadWellWithJacqui

LinkedIn: Jacqui Butler

Website: www.leadwellco.com.au

If you found this episode helpful, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and leave a review to help others discover LeadWell with Jacqui!

What if the key to becoming a more effective leader is doing less? In this episode of LeadWell with Jacqui, I sit down with Jonno White, a leadership coach, author of Step Up or Step Out, and founder of Clarity Consulting, to unpack the power of delegation in avoiding burnout, building trust, and empowering your team to thrive.

We explore Jonno' practical delegation framework (including the Square of Delegated Responsibility), how to balance skill versus will, and why letting go can be the most strategic move a leader makes. If you're ready to stop carrying it all and start growing your leadership impact, this conversation is for you.

Jonno White is an Executive Team Retreat Specialist, CEO and Head of School Coach, and Co-Founder of Clarity Group Global, a consultancy based in Brisbane, Australia. Known for his hands-on approach to leadership development, Jonno partners closely with CEOs and Heads of Schools to help their teams grow healthier, clarify their purpose, and align their strategies for success. He is highly regarded for his facilitation skills, guiding executive retreats in locations such as San Diego, Napier, and Brisbane to foster breakthrough insights and stronger collaboration.

An accomplished author and podcast host, Jonno's book Step Up or Step Out has sold over 10,000 copies worldwide, offering leaders practical tools for managing challenging team dynamics. His Leadership Conversations podcast, featuring over 230 episodes and guests like Guy Kawasaki, reaches listeners in more than 150 countries.

Connect with Jonno:

Jonno's website: www.consultclarity.org

Podcast: The Leadership Conversations Podcast

Mentioned in this episode:

Jonno's Book: Step Up or Step Out

Join the conversation:

Subscribe to the LeadWell fortnightly newsletter for leadership insights, tools, and inspiration delivered directly to your inbox. Subscribe here.

Connect with me:

Instagram: @LeadWellwithJacqui

LinkedIn: Jacqui Butler

Website: www.leadwellco.com.au

If you found this episode helpful, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and leave a review to help others discover LeadWell with Jacqui!

In this episode, I sit down with Dr Sue McNamara, Regional Director of Six Seconds Asia Pacific, to explore the powerful role of emotional intelligence (EQ) in both leadership and personal development.

We unpack the core pillars of emotionally intelligent leadership, including:

- How EQ shapes trust, collaboration, and success within organisations

- Why it is so important that leaders use emotions as data to guide decision-making

- The role of leaders in modeling emotionally intelligent behaviour

- Building trust and psychological safety within teams

- The key behaviours that signal high EQ leadership

- The critical role of feedback in fostering growth

We also dive deep into the three components of empathy: emotional, cognitive, and action empathy, and discuss how curiosity strengthens connections and deepens understanding across teams. Along the way, we bust common EQ myths and share practical strategies for developing emotional intelligence, no matter where you're starting from.

Dr Sue McNamara is a strategic leader, executive coach, and corporate consultant specialising in emotional intelligence, leadership development, and organisational transformation. As the Regional Director of Six Seconds for Asia Pacific, she leads initiatives that embed learnable, measurable, and scientifically grounded emotional intelligence skills into businesses, enabling leaders and teams to drive performance, engagements, and sustainable success.

Connect with Dr Sue McNamara:

Instagram: @6secondseqasiapacific

LinkedIn: Sue McNamara or Emotional Intelligence Network

Website: www.6seconds.org

Resources:

Sue's book recommendation: The Vital Organisation (Joshua Freedman)

Putchik's Wheel

Join the conversation:

Subscribe to the LeadWell fortnightly newsletter for leadership insights, tools, and inspiration delivered directly to your inbox. Subscribe here.

Connect with me:

Instagram: @LeadWellwithJacqui

LinkedIn: Jacqui Butler

Website: www.leadwellco.com.au

If you found this episode helpful, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and leave a review to help others discover LeadWell with Jacqui!

Success isn't a fixed destination. It's a continuous journey of self-discovery, mindset shifts, and embracing what truly matters to you. In this episode, I sit down with Jacqui Toumbas to explore what it means to define success on your own terms.

We dive into:

- Navigating imposter syndrome and self-doubt

- The power of community, mentorship, and masterminds

- Letting go of the myth of hard work and shifting mindsets

- The challenge and freedom of outsourcing and refining your craft

- Why vulnerability, self-reflection, and connection are key to growth

Jacqui Toumbas shares her personal evolution, including what she's learned about stepping outside her comfort zone, embracing the "messy" middle, and trusting her unique path. If you've ever questioned your version of success, this episode is for you.

Connect with Jacqui Toumbas:

Instagram: @jacquitoumbas

Website: www.jacquitoumbas.com

Join Jacqui's Mastermind

Join the conversation:

Subscribe to the LeadWell fortnightly newsletter for leadership insights, tools, and inspiration delivered directly to your inbox. Subscribe here.

Connect with me:

Instagram: @LeadWellwithJacqui

LinkedIn: Jacqui Butler

Website: www.leadwellco.com.au