The job market feels uncertain, but promotions aren’t off the table. In this episode, I’m sharing why I’m still hopeful about women getting promoted, what I’m seeing behind the scenes, and how to think differently about your next move right now.

Download my free guide 5 Simple Shifts for Strategic Thinking to start positioning yourself for senior leadership: https://morewomenpromoted.com/shifts/

In this first episode of Season 2, I’m sharing a mix of personal updates, what’s coming next for the podcast, and why I’m genuinely hopeful about career growth for women — even in today’s job market.

We’ll talk honestly about layoffs, AI, and uncertainty, and I’ll walk you through what I’m actually seeing happen for women who are positioning themselves intentionally for senior leadership.

What You’ll Learn

• Why senior leadership roles aren’t disappearing even in a volatile market
• Why blind online applications are no longer enough (and what works better)
• What recent promotion stories reveal about standing out right now
  
  
  

Curious what it's like to work together? Send me a DM on LinkedIn or Instagram (Katy McFee) and tell me what you are working toward and we can take it from there.

Remember, there's room for all of us at the table.

You're smart, strategic, and full of ideas… so why aren’t they landing? In this episode, I share why storytelling is the missing leadership skill that elevates your influence and builds real trust.

What you'll learn from this episode:

• How storytelling creates instant credibility and connection
• Why you don’t need “big stories” to be compelling and what to use instead
• The four keys to telling stories that make your message stick

Curious what it's like to work together? Send me a DM on LinkedIn or Instagram (Katy McFee) and tell me what you are working toward and we can take it from there.

Remember, there's room for all of us at the table.

Have you ever been put on the spot in a meeting and asked for a decision you were not prepared to make? In this Encore episode, I walk you through why these moments can feel so uncomfortable and the exact language you can use to stay confident and credible even when you need more time to think.

You will learn how to buy yourself time without losing authority, how to make a strong recommendation with incomplete information, and how to strengthen the decisiveness that senior leaders are known for.

If you want support applying this in your own role, send me a DM and we can talk about what it could look like to work together.

What You’ll Learn

• The three reasons we struggle with on the spot decisions and how to identify your own pattern
• Why the leaders who seem great at thinking on their feet have actually prepared in advance
• Phrases you can use to sound confident while asking for more time or making a preliminary recommendation

If this episode resonated with you, share it with another woman who would benefit from these tools. The more we support each other, the more women we get into senior leadership.

Remember, there is room for everyone at the table.

Curious what it's like to work together? Send me a DM on LinkedIn or Instagram (Katy McFee) and tell me what you are working toward and we can take it from there.

Remember, there's room for all of us at the table.

If you've ever wondered what coaching actually looks like behind the scenes, this episode is for you. I'm answering real questions from women in my community about annual reviews, credit-stealing coworkers, and how to think strategically when you have zero support. Have a question for me? Send me a note on Linkedin - I love hearing from you.

Episode Summary

In this Ask Katy episode, I pull back the curtain on three common career challenges I see over and over again in my coaching program and community. You'll hear how I coach women through frustrating annual reviews, peers and managers who seem to take credit for their work, and the pressure to be strategic when you're still doing everything yourself.

I walk you through the exact questions to ask your manager so your next annual review reflects your true impact, how to protect your strategic ideas without damaging relationships, and how to balance high-level thinking with the tactical work on your plate. If you're a senior manager or director on the path to VP, this is a powerful window into the kind of support that helps you move faster and feel less alone.

What You'll Learn

• The specific questions to ask now so your annual review is clear, fair, and aligned with your goals
• How to handle coworkers or managers who seem to be taking credit for your ideas while still protecting your leadership brand
• Practical ways to create visibility for your work so people actually see your impact
• How to act like a strategic leader even when you don't have a team yet, including how to use time blocking to protect your deep work
• Why so many high-performing women feel isolated in their roles and how the right community can change that

If this episode resonates, please share it with another woman in leadership who's working toward her next promotion. The more we support each other, the more women we'll see in VP and executive roles.

Curious what it's like to work together? Send me a DM on LinkedIn or Instagram (Katy McFee) and tell me what you are working toward and we can take it from there.

Remember, there's room for all of us at the table.

Want to get paid what you're worth? Download my free guide 7 Steps to Negotiate Your Next Raise to learn the exact framework I teach women to advocate for themselves with clarity and confidence: https://morewomenpromoted.com/negotiate/

Episode Summary

If you have been waiting for your company to invest in you, this is your reminder that your development is your responsibility and your biggest competitive advantage.
 In this encore episode, I revisit a listener favorite that explores why relying on corporate training often slows your growth, and how taking ownership of your development is the fastest way to become VP ready. I share what high performing women do differently to move into senior leadership and why choosing to invest in yourself often unlocks the visibility, confidence, and momentum you need to advance.

What You'll Learn

• Why an MBA or formal program might not be the path you actually need
• The difference between what companies typically offer and what truly moves your career forward
• How learning inside a community can accelerate your leadership growth
• The mindset shifts that help you show up as a strategic, influential leader long before you have the title

If this episode resonates, please share it with another woman working toward her next promotion. The more we support each other, the more women we will see in VP and executive roles.

Curious what it's like to work together? Send me a DM on LinkedIn or Instagram (Katy McFee) and tell me what you are working toward and we can take it from there.

Remember, there's room for all of us at the table.

You’re delivering results but still questioning if you’re really ready for executive leadership. In this encore episode, I’ll show you why you already belong at the table and what it takes to finally believe it.

You’re great at what you do. But when you look at the people at the executive table, it still feels out of reach. If you keep telling yourself “I’m just not ready yet,” this episode will show you why that story feels so real and what to do about it.

In this encore episode, I break down the three hidden traps that keep smart women from going after the VP seat, the belief shift that changed everything for me, and why you don’t need more certifications or an MBA to be seen as leadership material.

If you want to be seen as more strategic, grab my free guide 5 Simple Shifts for Strategic Thinking here. https://morewomenpromoted.com/shifts/

What You’ll Learn

• Why seeing yourself as a senior leader is often harder than doing the job
• The three traps that fuel the “I’m not ready” story
• How to separate valid feedback from bias
• The belief shift that helped me finally see myself as VP material

Curious what it's like to work together? Send me a DM on LinkedIn or Instagram (Katy McFee) and tell me what you are working toward and we can take it from there.

Remember, there's room for all of us at the table.

When you're already burning out as a director, the thought of pursuing VP can feel completely overwhelming…yet staying stuck is equally unsatisfying. If you want to make the shift without working harder, grab my free guide 5 Simple Shifts for Strategic Thinking here. 

In this encore episode, I’m sharing the three pivotal mindset shifts that helped me go from an exhausted, overlooked director to a confident executive so you can start leading at the level you’re aiming for.

What You’ll Learn

• Why being the go-to person who gets things done might actually be holding you back
• The three areas you must focus on to be seen as executive material
• The weekly habit every aspiring executive needs to adopt

Get my guide 5 Simple Shifts for Strategic Thinking at https://morewomenpromoted.com/shifts

Curious what it's like to work together? Send me a DM on LinkedIn or Instagram (Katy McFee) and tell me what you are working toward and we can take it from there.

Remember, there's room for all of us at the table.

Season One has been packed with practical, no-fluff tips to help women land – and thrive in – VP roles. In this episode, I’m sharing the biggest takeaways from the season, why I’m so excited about what’s coming next, and two upcoming opportunities that could transform your leadership journey: my first-ever live summit Own the Room and my year-long group program, Own Your Seat at the Table.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:

• The most in-demand skills women leaders are being told to build right now
• How to increase your influence and executive presence so people listen and remember you
• What’s inside the upcoming summit and how it’s designed to level up your career fast

Curious what it's like to work together? Send me a DM on LinkedIn or Instagram (Katy McFee) and tell me what you are working toward and we can take it from there.

Remember, there's room for all of us at the table.

Being kind isn't the problem, but being too nice at work is. Learn how to use "kind candour" to grow your influence and credibility. If this feels familiar, book a call with my team and learn how I can support your leadership development.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• Why over-functioning and saying yes to everything keeps you stuck in support roles
• The "kind candour" framework for giving feedback that lands without damaging relationships
• How to set boundaries and push back professionally while still being seen as collaborative
• Why avoiding difficult conversations actually hurts your leadership credibility
• Practical scripts for challenging ideas and giving constructive feedback

Curious what it's like to work together? Send me a DM on LinkedIn or Instagram (Katy McFee) and tell me what you are working toward and we can take it from there.

Remember, there's room for all of us at the table.

Tired of being told you're "not strategic enough" without any guidance? In this episode, I walk you through the four-part model that finally breaks it down, plus a cheat sheet to help you apply it fast.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN FROM THIS EPISODE:

• Why “you’re not strategic enough” isn’t real feedback—and what to do instead
• The 4-part Strategic Leadership Model to start using tomorrow
• Exactly how to bring strategic insights to the table
• How to frame your ideas so people listen and act
• The one habit every aspiring VP needs to protect their time

Curious what it's like to work together? Send me a DM on LinkedIn or Instagram (Katy McFee) and tell me what you are working toward and we can take it from there.

Remember, there's room for all of us at the table.