Feeling exhausted, unfulfilled, and questioning everything? In this powerful episode of the Female Executive Survival Guide, host Lauren Eyles speaks with author Kathy Slack about a journey many women can relate to: climbing the career ladder only to realize it's against the wrong wall. This conversation is an essential guide for any female leader experiencing burnout or feeling lost on her path.

Kathy shares her personal story of navigating burnout and depression, and how she found rejuvenation and healing in the unexpected solace of her garden, as detailed in her book, Rough Patch: How a year in the garden brought me back to life.

Discover how the pressure to be "always on" contributes to burnout and why nature, rest, and reflection are essential for your creativity and well-being. Lauren and Kathy also offer practical advice for those considering a career change, highlighting how your existing skills are valuable assets for a new, more fulfilling direction. This episode is an inspiring reminder that it’s okay to prioritize your health and happiness above all else.

Key Discussion Points

Recognizing and Overcoming Burnout: How to identify the signs of burnout and begin your journey to recovery.

The Power of Nature and Rest: Why stepping away from the "always on" culture is critical for healing and creativity.

Career Reinvention: How to leverage your skills and experiences to pivot to a new career path that aligns with your true self.

Prioritizing Well-being: A compassionate look at why your health and happiness should be your ultimate priority.

Chapters

 00:00 Introduction to Reinvention

02:02 Kathy's Journey Through Depression

04:20 The Healing Power of Nature

07:32 Career Crossroads and Self-Discovery

10:50 The Impact of Corporate Culture

15:41 The Importance of Rest and Creativity

18:02 Recognizing Burnout and Its Signs

21:16 Connection to Nature and Self-Identity

24:08 Feminism and Personal Choices

27:29 Transferable Skills and New Beginnings

29:49 Advice for Emerging Executives

Guest bio

Kathy Slack is the author of Rough Patch: How a year in the garden brought me back to life.

It’s a fabulous memoir with a lot of delicious recipes. It explores Kathy’s journey, from the dizzying heights of being a Global Strategy Director in a London advertising agency, through the bumpiness of burnout and depression, and finding rejuvenation in nature and coming home to herself.

Reinvention is something that all of us can relate to and this could be the Eat, Pray, Love of our time.

Connect with Kathy on Instagram at @gluts_gluttony or visit kathyslack.com where you can sign up to her weekly newsletter of seasonal recipes & veg patch tales.

Buy Kathy’s books here or on Amazon:

Host bio

Lauren Eyles is a trusted guide to new and experienced Executives, helping them navigate times of growth and change as an Executive Coach and Mentor.

She loves helping leaders find calm amid chaos, using her extensive experience as a Board Chair, Non Executive Director and Executive Leader.

She started this podcast to support and inspire women in their first few years of executive leadership, as she found that being the only woman on the senior leadership team was a bit lonely.

Lauren is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has an MBA (Distinction), a Master of Sustainability and qualifications in coaching, change management, communication and project management.

Lauren would love to hear what you think of the podcast and what topics you'd like her to cover next. Please reach out via LinkedIn or Instagram.

Follow us on social 

Insta   https://www.instagram.com/femaleexecutivesurvivalguide

Facebook   https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564348226928

Or listen to the Female Executive Survival Guide playlist on itunes!

Keywords

Women in Leadership

Burnout

Female Leaders

Career Change

Self-Care

Mental Health

Career Reinvention

Overcoming Burnout

Lauren Eyles

Kathy Slack

Summary

In this episode, Lauren Eyles speaks with Viv Allanson OAM, a trailblazing CEO in the Australian aged care and health sector, about how to lead with courage and love.

Viv emphasizes the importance of knowing one's true north and the courage to speak up for what is right, especially in challenging situations. She talks about what it was like to speak up for aged care residents during the pandemic, making national headlines when she challenged the approach of the then Prime Minister.

They discuss the importance of influence in leadership, how to build your team and bring them on the journey, and the need to be courageous and challenge the status quo.

In this conversation, Viv shares her journey of commitment to sustainability in building a new nursing home, and how she plans to continue contributing to the aged care sector after retirement including supporting those who care for older Australians.

Takeaways

Chapters

Sound Bites

Keywords

leadership, influence, servant leadership, team building, sustainability, empowerment, vision, clinical oversight, excellence, mentoring, sustainability, aged care, leadership, advocacy, personal growth, innovation, crisis management, retirement, women in leadership, healthcare

Guest bio

Viv Allanson OAM is the CEO of Maroba, a large aged care organisation in Newcastle, Australia.

She is a passionate advocate for the rights and dignity of older people… You may remember seeing Viv on the news during the pandemic where she spoke up to protect age care residents. At the time, the then-Prime Minister wanted nursing homes to allow more visitors.

Described as “a CEO who never accepts the status quo”, Viv has been recognised as the Australian Game Changer of the Year three times, as well as Visionary CEO of the Year.

Her leadership skills were forged in acute and aged care nursing and leadership roles over several decades, and she has been a CEO for 24 years.

Now Viv leads a team of 220, with a focus on teaching, strong clinical oversight and a commitment to excellence.

Viv Allanson on LinkedIn

Maroba Caring Communities 

Host Bio 

An Executive Coach and Mentor, Lauren Eyles is a trusted guide to new and experienced Executives, helping them navigate times of growth and change. She also helps leaders find calm amid chaos, bringing extensive experience as a Board Chair, Non Executive Director and Executive Leader, having worked across the ports and logistics, utilities, health and medical research, NFP and tourism sectors. 

Lauren is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has Masters degrees in business and sustainability and qualifications in coaching, change management, communication and project management.

Lauren would love to hear what you think of the podcast and what topics you'd like her to cover next. Please reach out via LinkedIn or Instagram.

Follow us on social 

Insta   https://www.instagram.com/femaleexecutivesurvivalguide

Facebook   https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564348226928

Host Bio 

An Executive Coach and Mentor, Lauren Eyles is a trusted guide to new and experienced Executives, helping them navigate times of growth and change. She also helps leaders find calm amid chaos, bringing extensive experience as a Board Chair, Non Executive Director and Executive Leader, having worked across the ports and logistics, utilities, health and medical research, NFP and tourism sectors. 

Lauren is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has Masters degrees in business and sustainability and qualifications in coaching, change management, communication and project management.

Connect with Lauren on LinkedIn or Instagram

Find out about Lauren's coaching and mentoring

In this episode of the Female Executive Survival Guide podcast, Lauren Eyles discusses the importance of visibility in leadership with Dr. Sherman Chan, Chief Economist at Business NSW. They explore Sherman's journey in economics, the significance of effective communication, and the challenges faced by women in executive roles. The conversation also touches on financial literacy and the importance of having a support network while navigating one's career.

Guest Bio 

Dr Sherman Chan is the Chief Economist for Business NSW, the voice of business for the state. A respected economist who makes big numbers easy to understand – quite an art!

Sherman grew up in Hong Kong and Sydney and earned a PhD from the University of New South Wales, focusing on financial exclusion and household access to Australian financial services.

She has informed strategies and policies across the public and private sectors and lectures in economics at UNSW.

Her witty sense of humour and sharp insights, sell out business events across the state. People line up to speak to Sherman after each event – a rock star reception for a rock star economist!

Connect with Sherman on LinkedIn

Host Bio 

An Executive Coach and Mentor, Lauren Eyles is a trusted guide to new and experienced Executives, helping them navigate times of growth and change. She also helps leaders find calm amid chaos, bringing extensive experience as a Board Chair, Non Executive Director and Executive Leader, having worked across the ports and logistics, utilities, health and medical research, NFP and tourism sectors. 

Lauren is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has Masters degrees in business and sustainability and qualifications in coaching, change management, communication and project management.

Connect with Lauren on LinkedIn or Instagram

Find out about Lauren's coaching and mentoring

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Visibility and Leadership

Takeaways

Sound Bites

Follow us on social 

Insta                 https://www.instagram.com/femaleexecutivesurvivalguide

Facebook          https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564348226928

1. Share your ideas for the podcast

Do you have a burning question for our podcast guests, or is there a challenge that you’d like advice on? Email Lauren at https://laureneyles.com.au/contact

2. Join Lauren’s monthly newsletter here: https://tinyurl.com/livingheartfully

Every month Lauren writes about how to slow down and focus on what really matters to you, in a world that keeps speeding up. From reigniting your passion and purpose, to bringing people on the journey, to thriving as a woman in business. It’s called “Living Heartfully” and it’s written with heart and fueled by a flat white (Lauren’s favourite coffee).

Keywords

visibility, leadership, economics, communication, financial literacy, female executives, personal finance, support network, overcoming challenges, career growth

In this episode of the Female Executive Survival Guide podcast, Lauren Eyles speaks with Sarah Pantaleo, a Melbourne business leader and Chair of the Women on Boards Cultural Diversity Committee, about why cultural diversity is good for business and how to be an effective ally.

They explore Sara's career journey as an Italian-Australian woman, why culturally diverse teams can make better decisions and how to lead in an inclusive way.

The discussion highlights the significance of addressing discrimination and creating supportive environments for all employees, particularly women and those from diverse backgrounds.

Guest bio: Sara Pantaleo

Sara Pantaleo is a successful business person and Chair of the Women on Boards (WOB) Cultural Diversity Committee.

WOB is an amazing advocate not only for gender diversity on boards, but for greater cultural diversity. WOB is also highlighting the barriers that culturally diverse women face in leadership.

Sara started her career in IT in the banking industry, before moving into hospitality and transforming a family business, La Porchetta, from a 12 restaurant chain into Australia’s largest franchised a-la-carte restaurant group.

Sara is also a Non Executive Director in the health and small business sectors. Her IT and business qualifications include a Master of Leadership from Deakin University.

Connect with Sara

LinkedIn

Women on Boards Cultural Diversity Committee

Affari SP

Host Bio: Lauren Eyles

An Executive Coach and Mentor, Lauren Eyles is a trusted guide to Executives, helping them navigate times of growth and change. She brings extensive experience as a Board Chair, Non Executive Director and Executive Leader, having worked across Australia’s ports, utilities, health and medical research, NFP and tourism sectors. 

Lauren is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has Masters degrees in business and sustainability and qualifications in coaching, change management, communication and project management.

Connect with Lauren

LinkedIn

Learn about Lauren's coaching and mentoring work 

Follow the Female Executive's Survival Guide on social 

Insta                 https://www.instagram.com/femaleexecutivesurvivalguide

Facebook          https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564348226928

Takeaways

Sound Bites

Keywords

leadership, cultural diversity, women in business, allyship, inclusion, workplace bias, diversity strategies, personal journey, gender equality, community support, diversity, leadership, gender equality, workplace culture, emotional intelligence, inclusivity, women in leadership, cultural diversity, discrimination, empowerment

In this conversation, Lauren Eyles and Holly Martin discuss the challenges and triumphs of navigating a career as a woman in business. They explore the importance of commitment, learning from mistakes, and the entrepreneurial journey, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Holly shares her insights on leadership, the value of mentorship, and the significance of building a transparent team culture. The discussion emphasizes the need for women to support each other and learn from diverse experiences in their career paths.

Tune in to learn how Holly became an entrepreneur, how to lead in a way that engages people and support and advice for aspiring executives.

Guest bio

Holly Martin is a successful entrepreneur who is skilled at turning challenges into opportunities. As Founder and Managing Director of a specialist marketing agency, the Marketing GP, Holly Martin has grown the business from a team of 1 to 15.

Holly is also a Non Executive Director and is the Senior Vice President of Business Hunter, the peak body for Australia’s largest regional economy.

Host bio

As an Executive Coach and Mentor, Lauren Eyles is a trusted guide to new and experienced Executives, helping them navigate times of growth and change. She also helps leaders find calm amid chaos, bringing extensive experience as a Board Chair, Non Executive Director and Executive Leader, having worked across the ports and logistics, utilities, health and medical research, NFP and tourism sectors. 

She is particularly passionate about inspiring and supporting women during their first few years as an executive, knowing from experience that the experience can be lonely.  

Lauren is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has Masters degrees in business and sustainability and qualifications in coaching, change management, communication and project management.

Chapters

00:00                  Introduction to Life's Lessons

03:07                  Juggling Commitments and Responsibilities

05:59                  The Entrepreneurial Journey

09:01                  Learning from Mistakes

11:55                  Building a Transparent Team Culture

15:02                  Navigating Growth During COVID-19

18:04                  Reflections on Leadership and Growth

20:52                  The Importance of Mentorship

23:58                  Advice for Aspiring Executives

Web                  https://themarketinggp.com.au/

LinkedIn            https://www.linkedin.com/in/justholly/ 

Lauren Eyles (Host and Executive Coach & Mentor):

Web                  https://laureneyles.com.au/

LinkedIn            https://www.linkedin.com/in/laureneyles/

Insta                 https://www.instagram.com/lauren.eyles

The Female Executive’s Survival Guide

Insta                 https://www.instagram.com/femaleexecutivesurvivalguide

Facebook          https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564348226928

1. Join Lauren’s monthly newsletter here: https://tinyurl.com/livingheartfully

Every month Lauren writes about how to slow down and focus on what really matters to you, in a world that keeps speeding up. From reigniting your passion and purpose, to bringing people on the journey, to thriving as a woman in business. It’s called “Living Heartfully” and it’s written with heart and fuelled by a flat white (Lauren’s favourite coffee).

2. Share this episode 

3. Share your ideas for the podcast

Do you have a burning question for our podcast guests, or is there a challenge that you’d like advice on? Email Lauren at https://laureneyles.com.au/contact

In this episode of the Female Executive Survival Guide podcast, Lauren Eyles speaks with Jennifer Geary, a seasoned executive and author, about the intricacies of leadership in the C-suite. They discuss the importance of understanding business strategy, culture, and execution for new executives, as well as the challenges faced by women in leadership roles. Jennifer shares her journey to becoming a Chief Operating Officer (COO), the skills necessary for navigating change, and the significance of self-care in maintaining balance and effectiveness as a leader. The conversation also touches on overcoming imposter syndrome and the importance of continuous learning and adaptation in executive roles.

Guest Bio

Jennifer Geary has not only held Chief Operating Officer roles, she has written FIVE books about the C-Suite including ‘How to be a Chief Operating Officer’. She is also the host of the C-Suite Framework podcast.

Jennifer started her career in finance and investment banking, before moving into C-Suite roles (Managing Director, COO, CRO) across banking, fintech, and NFP organisations. She also has a passion for AI and sustainability.

Host bio

As an Executive Coach and Mentor, Lauren Eyles is a trusted guide to new and experienced Executives, helping them navigate times of growth and change. She also helps leaders find calm amid chaos, bringing extensive experience as a Board Chair, Non Executive Director and Executive Leader, having worked across the ports and logistics, utilities, health and medical research, NFP and tourism sectors. 

She is particularly passionate about inspiring and supporting women during their first few years as an executive, creating and sharing resources to help them thrive.

Lauren is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has Masters degrees in business administration (MBA) and sustainability (MSUS) and qualifications in coaching, change management, communication and project management.

Takeaways

Chapters

00:00     Introduction to Leadership and Success

01:52     The Journey to the C-Suite

05:01     Key Pillars for New Executives

07:59     Navigating Change in Leadership

09:52     Experiences as a Woman in Leadership

12:04     The Importance of Self-Care

16:27     Reflections on Early Leadership Roles

19:11     Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

21:26     Resources for Aspiring Executives

Sound Bites

Connect with Jennifer

Books

Connect with Lauren 

Website

LinkedIn

Instagram

The Female Executive's Survival Guide

Instagram

Facebook

Key words

leadership, C-suite, executive coaching, women in leadership, imposter syndrome, self-care, business strategy, organizational culture, career development, executive success

In this episode of the Female Executive Survival Guide podcast, Lauren Eyles and guest Dr Kirsten Molloy discuss the unique challenges faced by women in executive roles, including feelings of isolation, the importance of building confidence, and navigating unwritten rules of success. They explore the significance of feedback, the dynamics of team interactions, and the necessity of curiosity in leadership. The conversation also touches on the advocacy for gender equality in business and the evolution of leadership styles over time. In this conversation, Kirsten shares her journey and insights on gender equity, diversity, and leadership. She emphasizes the necessity of speaking up about gender inequities and the importance of creating inclusive environments. Kirsten reflects on her experiences in leadership roles, the challenges faced, and the need for self-compassion and support. The discussion highlights the significance of data in driving change and the role of mentors in personal and professional growth.

Guest Bio

Dr Kirsten Molloy is an experienced Board Chair and Non Executive Director with a range of organisations including private companies, not-for-profits, mutual member based organisations and government-owned companies. Before becoming a CEO, she held executive roles in global resources, manufacturing and logistics companies.

She is also a great advocate for diversity and inclusion, engaging business leaders to be part of the change.

Host bio

As an Executive Coach and Mentor, Lauren Eyles is a trusted guide to new and experienced Executives, helping them navigate times of growth and change. She also helps leaders find calm amid chaos, bringing extensive experience as a Board Chair, Non Executive Director and Executive Leader, having worked across the ports and logistics, utilities, health and medical research, NFP and tourism sectors. 

She is particularly passionate about inspiring and supporting women during their first few years as an executive, knowing from experience that the experience can be lonely.  

Lauren is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has Masters degrees in business and sustainability and qualifications in coaching, change management, communication and project management.

Key Themes

Chapters

Sound Bites

Connect with Kirsten

LinkedIn

Verity Leadership Breakfasts (Newcastle AU) 

Connect with Lauren 

Website

LinkedIn

Instagram

The Female Executive's Survival Guide

Instagram

Facebook

Women on Boards (WOB)

WOB Cultural Diversity Reports

Key words

leadership, women in business, executive roles, confidence, feedback, team dynamics, diversity, inclusion, unwritten rules, gender equality, gender equity, diversity, inclusion, leadership, women in business, mentorship, safe spaces, self-compassion, career growth, advocacy

Welcome to the Female Executive's Survival Guide podcast!

Meet your host, Lauren Eyles, an Executive Coach and Mentor, and find out how she'll help you thrive at work.

Lauren previews three amazing guests who you'll meet on December 10:

Chapter list

00:00 Introduction to the Female Executive Survival Guide

Send your questions through

Lauren wants to know what's keeping you up at night, what questions do you have for our guests and how can we help you thrive in your career. Email [email protected].