She Leads Collective: Women, Leadership and What It Takes to Thrive at Work

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As we look towards the future of gender equity, we often focus our attention on women and girls. But boys and girls don’t grow up in separate worlds — they learn together, socialise together, challenge one another, and eventually work and lead together. So if we want a future that is safer and more equitable for women, we must also understand the boys who will become the men of tomorrow.

In this special bonus episode, I’m joined by Lee Chambers, organisational psychologist, founder of Male Allies UK, and one of the UK’s most respected voices on allyship, masculinity and inclusive cultures. Lee recently led a major new study — The Voice of the Boys Report — capturing the lived experiences of 1,000 boys aged 11 to 16 across the UK.

Together, we explore some of the most surprising, hopeful and confronting findings from the research:

• why boys say they care deeply about others — even though it’s rarely reflected in media narratives
• how online influence is shaping identity formation, masculinity and belonging
• the disappearing physical spaces boys say they need to feel emotionally safe
• the tension boys feel between supporting feminism yet believing boys “have it harder now”
• why parents’ fears don’t always match boys’ lived reality
• and how the attitudes and wellbeing of boys today will directly shape the future of gender equality

This is a reflective, nuanced conversation about identity, adolescence, media narratives, parenting and social change. Whether you are a parent, a leader or someone passionate about creating inclusive cultures, this episode offers insight into the next generation — and the shared responsibility we all hold in shaping their world.

To download and read the Voice of the Boys Report go to: https://www.maleallies.co.uk/voice-of-the-boys-report/

To connect with Lee:

Male Allies UK - https://www.maleallies.co.uk/contact/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/leechambers-1/

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 ✨ Produced by Mary Gregory Leadership Coaching

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In this Season One finale of the She Leads Collective Podcast, Mary Gregory shares five powerful leadership lessons that will shape the future of work in 2026. Drawing on 26 episodes and 24 remarkable guests, Mary reflects on the themes of humanity, allyship, visibility, the undiscussables, and the evolving definition of power in leadership.

Season One of the She Leads Collective Podcast began as a 10-episode idea and grew into 26 conversations exploring inclusive leadership, women’s leadership, men as allies, workplace culture, and the "undiscussables" that shape our careers and confidence.

In this season finale, Mary Gregory brings together the five key leadership lessons that will shape 2026. Drawing on insights from CEOs, founders, activists, authors and change-makers, she reflects on the themes that emerged across the season:

1) The Power of Voice and Visibility
How leaders amplify diverse voices — and make space for the ones not yet heard.

2) Leading With Humanity — The Feminine Rising
Why qualities like empathy, collaboration and intuition are becoming essential drivers of performance and belonging.

3) The Courage to Name the Undiscussables
From menopause and domestic abuse to grief, mental health and financial vulnerability — and why truth-telling transforms workplaces.

4) Reimagining Systems and Allyship
What it takes for men and women to transform organisational cultures together.

5) Redefining Power, Success and Legacy
Why the future of leadership is shifting from control to contribution.

Whether you’re a senior leader, a woman in business, an ally, or an advocate for more human workplaces, these lessons offer insight and inspiration for the year ahead.

Thank you for listening, for sharing, and for joining this growing movement of real, heart-centred leaders.

Season Two returns on 21 January 2026.

Until then — keep leading bravely, and keep leading together.

🔗 Connect with Mary: marygregory.com

📣 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marygregory

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What if the talent your organisation needs isn’t in plain sight? Creative maverick,  coach, producer and writer Fiona Lindsay joins me to unpack radical non-judgment, deep listening and the power of story to help people feel seen, speak with impact and thrive.

This week I’m joined by Fiona Lindsay—founder of Awaken Her, creative producer, writer and globally acclaimed coach who blends psychology, performance and storytelling to unlock potential. We explore Fiona’s philosophy of radical non-judgment—how a childhood of constant change and a career in theatre taught her to ask why, what, and how come before making assumptions. She shares the persuasion, belief and behind-the-scenes courage it took to shake up the RSC, why confidence ebbs and flows, and how to build it by acting on what you truly value. We discuss creating safe spaces at work, Fiona’s “Work Well” drop-in coaching model, and a moving project supporting young women post-prison into paid media roles—proof that the extraordinary often hides in the ordinary. If you’re leading teams, coaching others, or simply want to be greater later, this one’s rich with practical wisdom and heart.

Connect with Fiona on:

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/fiona-lindsay-49227a17/

Instagram: @fionalindsaycoaching, @fionalindsayco, @asliceoflife_thepodcast

or her website https://www.awaken-her.com

🔗 Connect with Mary: marygregory.com

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In this short International Men’s Day bonus episode, Mary reflects on why women cannot create systemic gender equity alone — and why understanding and engaging men is essential for real change.

This special bonus episode marks International Men’s Day with a powerful reflection on the vital role men play in creating gender-equitable workplaces. Drawing on conversations with four podcast guests — Daniele Fiandaca, Robert Baker, Zeenat Ahmed-Peto and Craig McMurrough — Mary explores the emotional pressures men face, the leadership behaviours that accelerate inclusion, and why women leaders can’t carry this work alone.

In this episode Mary explores:

• Why the system is “broken for men too”
• Daniele Fiandaca’s insight that 97% of men who lean in become better leaders and better humans
• Robert Baker’s belief that allyship is a leadership behaviour, not a side project
• Zeenat Ahmed-Peto’s perspective on male vulnerability and emotional conditioning
• Craig McMurrough as an example of compassionate, purpose-led masculinity
• How women and men can move forward together

A short, thoughtful, actionable episode designed to spark meaningful conversations on International Men’s Day and beyond.

🔗 Connect with Mary: marygregory.com

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What happens when someone who never liked football ends up helping to change the game—forever? Karen Dobres, former Lewes FC director and author of Pitch Invasion, joins me to share how “Equality FC” became the first club to equally resource their men’s and women’s teams, and what that taught her about leadership, allyship, and challenging the status quo.

Love it or loathe it, football shapes our culture. In this episode, Karen Dobres—former director at Lewes FC and author of Pitch Invasion—tells the story of how a community-owned club on England’s south coast made global headlines by equally resourcing their men’s and women’s teams.

We explore:

• How an “outsider’s eye” became a superpower for change
• The business case AND moral case for equality in sport
• Building new audiences (and why Prosecco on tap and oat milk matter!)
• Allyship that actually shifts culture
• Reframing “imposter” feelings and staying resourced in tough boardrooms
• Why women’s football is charting a different, more inclusive fan culture
• Equality → Equity → Emancipation: what might need to happen next

Karen’s book Pitch Invasion is a witty, heartfelt account of this journey—available via Amazon, Waterstones and all good bookshops.

Connect with Karen: 

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-dobres-07a54b176/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/karendobres?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

If this episode resonates, follow the show, leave a quick review, and share with a colleague who cares about gender equity at work.

🔗 Connect with Mary: marygregory.com

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What if the very system we’ve been trained to succeed in is holding all of us back? Inclusive leadership and male-allyship specialist Daniele Fiandaca joins me to explore healthier masculinity, practical ways to include men in DEI, and why empathy is a leadership muscle—not a “female” trait.

In this conversation, Daniele (founder of Token Man and co-founder of Hard as Nails) explains why he avoids the word “patriarchy” when engaging men, how “the man box” harms everyone, and what shifts actually move cultures beyond policy into day-to-day inclusion. We also discuss his upcoming Masculinity in the Workplace event at Conway Hall, London, 19 November (theme: Supporting Boys to Men to Role Models).

We cover:

• Meeting men where they are (and why language matters)
• The “man box” and its costs—at work and at home
• Hard as Nails: nail polish as a catalyst for empathy and reflection
• Coaching senior men: feelings, vulnerability and accountability
• A simple first step leaders can take this week
• Why 97% of men who lean in report becoming better leaders/humans

Listen if you’re: a leader, DEI sponsor, or ally who wants practical, human ways to bring men into the inclusion journey.

Connect with Daniele on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielefiandaca/

Book Masculinity in the Workplace Conference 19th November 13.00-18.00 - https://www.conwayhall.org.uk/whats-on/event/masculinity-in-the-workplace/

🔗 Connect with Mary: marygregory.com

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What would change if you gave yourself full permission—not just to lead—but to speak with courage, clarity and intention? In this uplifting conversation, lawyer-turned-coach, TEDx licence holder and “Queen of Joy” Ronke Kokoruwe shares how women can stop waiting to “feel confident” and start speaking from intention, presence and joy.

We trace Ronke’s journey from the law to coaching, unpack the myth of confidence, and explore practical ways to move from freeze to flow. Ronke introduces powerful prompts (“Why am I talking?” and “Why am I there?”), the role of breathwork, journaling and visualisation, and how “permission” unlocks action—on stages, in meetings and in life. We also discuss inside-out communication, naming our saboteurs, and why levitas (lightness) belongs alongside gravitas in leadership. If your voice has been hovering at the edge of the room, this episode will nudge it centre stage—joyfully.

Connect with Ronke on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronke-kokoruwe/

🔗 Connect with Mary: marygregory.com

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Are women-only leadership programmes a solution—or part of the problem? Dr Rob Sayers Brown joins me to explore leadership identity, human vs social capital, and why inclusive design must go deeper than “fix the woman.”

In this candid conversation, occupational psychologist Dr Rob Sayers Brown unpacks what actually helps women (and other under-represented leaders) thrive. Drawing on his professional doctorate research into women-only leadership programmes—and his lived experience as a gay man—Rob explains why leadership is still shaped by narrow, gendered and heteronormative norms, and what to do about it.

We explore the difference between human capital (confidence, clarity, psychological wellbeing, leadership identity) and social capital (networks, advocacy, visibility)—and why the second is still harder to access if you don’t fit the “default” mould. Rob shares a practical Identity Map tool that reframes lived experience into recognised strengths, and we dig into programme design that avoids the “fix the woman” trap through intersectionality, strengths-based psychology, and acceptance & commitment coaching.

We also tackle the often-ignored gate at the start: how participants are selected. Rob argues for transparent, inclusive criteria that prioritise predictors of growth (drive, curiosity, self-awareness, interpersonal skill) over tenure or tap-on-the-shoulder nominations.

You’ll learn:
• Why women-only spaces still matter—and how to pair them with ally/line-manager learning
• How identity collisions can forge leadership strengths (resilience, empathy, systems awareness)
• Practical ways to design programmes that build authentic confidence and real transfer of learning
• A simple reframe organisations can adopt today: move from “we are inclusive” to “we’re working on it—honestly”

Connect with Rob on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/robsayersbrown/

And also at Kiddy & Partners - https://gateleyplc.com/people/dr-rob-sayers-brown/

🔗 Connect with Mary: marygregory.com

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This week on the She Leads Collective Podcast, host Mary Gregory is joined by Vanessa White, accredited Relationship and Divorce Master Coach, to mark Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Together they open up an important and often hidden conversation: how abuse at home can impact confidence, performance, and leadership at work.

Vanessa shares her lived experience of domestic abuse and how it shaped her mission to support others through recovery, resilience, and rediscovery. The conversation explores:

• The subtle signs of abuse and coercive control — and why they’re so easily missed
• How trauma can show up in confidence, behaviour, and leadership
• What leaders and organisations can do to create trauma-informed, compassionate workplaces
• Why emotional safety and trust are at the heart of recovery and empowerment

This powerful and sensitive episode invites us all to lead with greater empathy, awareness, and humanity.

Connect with Vanessa on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-white-332a03287/

Or on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/vanessawhitecoaching/

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, please reach out for help:
 📞 National Domestic Abuse Helpline – 0808 2000 247
🌐 nationaldahelpline.org.uk

🔗 Connect with Mary: marygregory.com

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Released the week of World Menopause Day (18 October), this episode features Helen Tomlinson, the UK’s first Menopause Employment Champion. She shares why midlife isn’t a decline—it’s a power stage—and how employers can move from token gestures to real culture change. 

What happens when a musical-theatre dream becomes a mission to transform workplaces for millions of women? Helen Tomlinson—Head of Inclusion at Adecco and the UK’s first Menopause Employment Champion—has used her voice to shift policy, challenge stigma and help organisations get practical about women’s health.

In this conversation, Helen shares her unconventional career path and the people-first thread that runs through it—from recruitment leadership to national advocacy. We explore the biggest misconceptions about menopause (hint: brain fog outranks hot flushes), why “policy PDFs” aren’t enough, and her four pillars of cultural change: education, allyship (and advocacy), lived experience and leadership. Helen also explains how inclusive, intergenerational cultures support midlife women to thrive, and why self-care and lifestyle changes are as critical as any workplace intervention.

We cover:

• Why midlife can be your most productive, purpose-filled season
• How to build psychologically safe spaces for male allies to learn and help
• Practical steps for menopause action plans that actually change behaviour
• Connecting inclusion with employability so more women over 50 can (re)enter work with confidence

Connect with Helen on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-tomlinson-4a954211/

If this resonates, check out my programme Exploding the Confidence Myth—details in the show notes.

🔗 Connect with Mary: marygregory.com

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 ✨ Produced by Mary Gregory Leadership Coaching