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More Women Promoted

Katy McFee

Are you an ambitious woman who's been stuck at the sr. manager or director level, watching peers advance despite your consistently stellar performance? Do you find yourself drowning in back-to-back meetings, unable to carve out time for lunch, much less time for professional development?

You are not alone. Breaking through to the executive level isn't about working harder—it's about transforming how others perceive your leadership.

Join Katy McFee, a former tech executive and Forty under 40 winner turned leadership coach. Through her leadership programs, Forbes.com writing and keynote speaking, she's empowered hundreds of women to secure promotions and thrive in their roles. When she's not helping over 100,000 women on social media crush their career goals, she's raising 3 kids and running ultramarathons—proving that resilience isn't just a buzzword, it's a lifestyle.

Each week on More Women Promoted, dive into practical strategies for navigating career challenges: advancing to the next level, overcoming gender bias, balancing motherhood, preventing burnout, and thriving as an executive—on your terms. Learn how to transform from a go-to executor to a respected, confident strategic leader who belongs in the boardroom.

Through targeted leadership development, strategic career planning, and professional empowerment techniques, you'll unlock your executive potential and redefine workplace success.

Ready to redefine success and claim your seat at the leadership table? Hit play, and let's do this together.

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S3 · E15
Monday · 27 min
Saying Yes to Everything Might Be Why You're Not Getting Promoted
I show you how to tell promotable work from the busy work people hand you, and how to push back on it in a way that still feels good to you. Grab the free task audit template: morewomenpromoted.com/audit Your workload is full, you're constantly busy, and you're still not being considered for that next promotion. Or you're already a leader, and you're somehow still the go-to person for taking notes, ordering lunch, or planning the Christmas party. What if saying yes to everything is the exact reason? Women spend up to 200 more hours a year on non-promotable tasks. That's a whole month of extra work with zero career payoff. In this episode, I walk you through why this happens, how to pick the work that actually moves your career forward, and how to push back on the rest in a way that still feels good to you. Hard work is not what creates upward mobility. Strategic work is. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN Why bias and social conditioning mean women are asked to take on more non-promotable work and are more likely to say yes A simple test for telling promotable tasks from the red-flag ones, including a committee that turned out to be strategic How to run a task audit that shows you where your week is really going A three-part framework for pushing back, including when the ask comes from your boss or your CEO Why every yes is a no to something else, and the mindset shift that makes saying no strategic, not selfish RESOURCES MENTIONED Task audit template: morewomenpromoted.com/audit Harvard research on women and non-promotable tasks: hbr.org/2018/07/why-women-volunteer-for-tasks-that-dont-lead-to-promotions Connect with Katy on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/katy-mcfee-3880b4a Weekly newsletter: morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter Curious what it’s like to work together? Send me a message on LinkedIn or Instagram (Katy McFee) and tell me what you are working toward, and we can take it from there. Not sure if you're ready for VP? Take the free assessment and find out at morewomenpromoted.com/quiz Remember, there's room for all of us at the table.
S3 · E14
November 2 · 25 min
Your Calendar Is Your Strategy - Own Your Time Like a VP
Your calendar is telling leadership a story about you, and it may not be the one you want. I break down what changes when you own it, the three beliefs stealing your time, and where to start. Free workshop: morewomenpromoted.com/calender Pull up your calendar for next week. If it's back-to-back meetings from nine to five, with Slack pings in between and your real work pushed to the evenings, what story is that calendar telling about you? The higher you go, the less you're paid to execute and the more you're paid to think. And you are never going to have a strategic insight in the two minutes between Zoom calls. I lived this as a director: I was running from meeting to meeting and felt really useful, but when my boss asked me a strategic question about the direction of the business, I didn't have an answer. In this episode, I talk about why your calendar is one of the most strategic things you can own for your career. This isn't about time management hacks. It's about deciding what deserves your time as a leader and protecting it. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN What actually changes when you protect time to think, and why it's one of the clearest signals you're ready for the next level Why the leaders who seem great at thinking on their feet have usually just thought about it ahead of time The three beliefs that let other people's priorities take over your week How to figure out which work only you can do Where to start this week, including the promotion question to ask yourself about what should come off your plate RESOURCES MENTIONED Free workshop: Own Your Calendar to Be a Strategic Leader, Monday, November 9 at noon ET: morewomenpromoted.com/calender MWP Podcast - 3 Delegation Mistakes Keeping You From Exec Leadership (And How to Fix Them Today): podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/3-delegation-mistakes-keeping-you-from-exec-leadership/id1799258767?i=1000747664044 Connect with Katy on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/katy-mcfee-3880b4a Weekly newsletter: morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter Curious what it’s like to work together? Send me a message on LinkedIn or Instagram (Katy McFee) and tell me what you are working toward, and we can take it from there. Not sure if you're ready for VP? Take the free assessment and find out at morewomenpromoted.com/quiz Remember, there's room for all of us at the table.
S3 · E13
October 26 · 21 min
VPs Aren't That Special (and That's Good News!)
I bust the three myths that make VPs look like a different species: you need an MBA, another decade of experience, or 60 to 80-hour weeks. See how close you really are with the free Are You VP Ready? quiz: morewomenpromoted.com/quiz Are you great at your job, maybe even a little bored, and still convinced there's a big gap between you and the VP table? We put VPs on a pedestal. Even as a senior director, sitting in the same meetings, it's easy to assume they know something you don't. I did this for years. And when I finally got to the VP table, and later the EVP table, I realized my colleagues were just regular people figuring it out and doing their best. The pedestal gets built from a distance, and when you can't see what VPs do day to day, you fill the gap with assumptions. In this episode, I bust the three myths behind those assumptions, share what happened when I discovered what the highest-paid VP on my team was doing differently, and show you what the real gap usually looks like. The good news is that it's a lot smaller than you think, and it's 100% learnable. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN Why an MBA isn't what stands between you and the next level, and how to build business acumen right where you are Why more years in the same seat doesn't create readiness, and what boredom in your current role is telling you Why VPs are paid for their judgment, not their hours, and what to hand off this month so you can start acting like one The mindset work that matters more than any productivity hack What the real gap between senior director and VP usually looks like RESOURCES MENTIONED W. Chan Kim & Renée Mauborgne’s book Blue Ocean Strategy: https://a.co/d/085ZdGCI Geoffrey A. Moore’s book Crossing the Chasm: https://a.co/d/02SBtFuM Clayton M. Christensen’s book The Innovator’s Dilemma: https://a.co/d/0ezMXSGc Stanford economist John Pencavel’s journal article: “The Productivity of Working Hours”: https://doi.org/10.1111/ecoj.12166 Are You VP Ready? Quiz: morewomenpromoted.com/quiz Connect with Katy on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/katy-mcfee-3880b4a Weekly newsletter: morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter Curious what it’s like to work together? Send me a message on LinkedIn or Instagram (Katy McFee) and tell me what you are working toward, and we can take it from there. Not sure if you're ready for VP? Take the free assessment and find out at morewomenpromoted.com/quiz Remember, there's room for all of us at the table.
S3 · E12
October 19 · 20 min
From Terrified to Taking the Stage: How I Learned to Love Public Speaking
I went from a beet-red 12th grader who couldn't get the words out to someone who is energized by being on stage. I share the three things that got me there, and none of them are about building confidence. Weekly newsletter: morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter Does your face go hot and your heart start pounding the second you have to speak up in front of a room? You're not alone, and it does not mean you're not leadership material. The higher you go, the more of your job requires speaking publicly: sharing your point of view in a leadership meeting, presenting a recommendation to the exec team, updating the board, leading an all-hands. At the VP level, people form their opinion of you in those moments, and if you freeze or ramble, your thinking never gets seen, no matter how good the idea is. In this episode, I take you back to the day in grade 12 when I couldn't choke the words out, and walk through the three specific things that took me from there to energized on stage. Public speaking is not a personality trait. It's a muscle you can build, and it is 100% learnable. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN Why nerves are your body treating the spotlight like a threat, and what actually convinces it you're safe Where to get low-stakes practice speaking in front of people, and the habit to build in your regular meetings so the moment never gets bigger in your head How to over-prepare on purpose, including what to script word for word and what to have ready for impromptu questions The shift that takes the spotlight off you, and why most people aren't judging you nearly as much as you think Why needing to prepare doesn't mean you're not a natural RESOURCES MENTIONED Own the Room summit: owntheroomsummit.com Connect with Katy on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/katy-mcfee-3880b4a Weekly newsletter: morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter Curious what it’s like to work together? Send me a message on LinkedIn or Instagram (Katy McFee) and tell me what you are working toward, and we can take it from there. Not sure if you're ready for VP? Take the free assessment and find out at morewomenpromoted.com/quiz Remember, there's room for all of us at the table.
S3 · E11
October 12 · 50 min
Why Smart, Capable Women Freeze (and What to Do About It)
I sit down with negotiation expert Attia Qureshi to break down why smart, capable women freeze in high-stakes conversations, and the science-backed techniques that get you unstuck. Weekly newsletter: morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter You're in a meeting, or a salary conversation, or a moment where you need to advocate for yourself. You know exactly what to say. You've practiced it. And then the moment comes, and you freeze. That's not a confidence problem or a competence problem. It's a biological response, and it's costing smart, capable women the raises, the promotions, and the seats at the table they've already earned. In this episode, negotiation and influence expert Attia Qureshi joins me to break down exactly what happens in your body when you freeze, why it hits women differently, and what to do about it, both in the moment and long before you ever walk into the room. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN The exact biological reason your brain goes blank under pressure, and why the fog lasts longer for women than for men The breathing pattern Attia uses to calm her nervous system in seconds, with no one able to tell she's doing it What to do in the two minutes after you've already frozen, so you can get back in the room Why women get labeled difficult for the same directness that reads as confident in men, and the framing that works instead The internal negotiation most women skip, and how putting it off for years can cost you two raises instead of one RESOURCES MENTIONED Attia Qureshi's free guide, Why You Freeze: attiaqureshi.com/freeze Attia Qureshi's free Emotion Wheel tool: attiaqureshi.com/emotionwheel Attia Qureshi's book, Never Settle: Persuasion and Negotiation Skills to get what you want: amazon.ca/Never-Settle-Persuasion-Negotiation-Skills/dp/1668070375 Connect with Attia on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/attiaq Sheryl Sandberg’s book Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead: amazon.ca/Lean-Women-Work-Will-Lead/dp/0385349947 Connect with Katy on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/katy-mcfee-3880b4a Weekly newsletter: morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter Curious what it’s like to work together? Send me a message on LinkedIn or Instagram (Katy McFee) and tell me what you are working toward, and we can take it from there. Not sure if you're ready for VP? Take the free assessment and find out at morewomenpromoted.com/quiz Remember, there's room for all of us at the table.
S3 · E10
October 5 · 28 min
Women Are Not Small Men - Let's Stop Leading Like We Are
I break down why the leadership playbook was built for someone who isn't us, and why leaning into how women actually lead is your biggest competitive advantage. Weekly newsletter: morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter When you picture a leader, who comes to mind? For most of us, it's an image shaped by decades of one type of person being in charge, and that person built the whole playbook. Executive presence. Be more assertive. Project more confidence. So much of the feedback women get is really just "lead more like a man." And when we try, it doesn't work, because it isn't who we are. In this episode, I break down the research showing women actually lead differently, why that difference is a measurable competitive advantage, and why having other women in your corner is what makes it possible to lead this way with confidence. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN The leadership style that's proven to build more trust and better performance, and why most of us were never taught it The real data behind why companies with more women in the C-suite and boardroom significantly outperform What the COVID crisis leadership numbers revealed about countries led by women Why being over-mentored and under-sponsored keeps so many capable women stuck, and the difference between the two The specific skill I teach that lets you be direct without losing what makes your leadership style work RESOURCES MENTIONED Stacy Sims: drstacysims.com/ Caroline Criado Perez’s book, Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men: https://a.co/d/05KjbMcH Connect with Katy on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/katy-mcfee-3880b4a Weekly newsletter: morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter Curious what it’s like to work together? Send me a message on LinkedIn or Instagram (Katy McFee) and tell me what you are working toward, and we can take it from there. Not sure if you're ready for VP? Take the free assessment and find out at morewomenpromoted.com/quiz Remember, there's room for all of us at the table.
S3 · E9
September 28 · 29 min
Why Women Leaders Are Burning Out and Leaving
I burned out in 2021, and earlier this year I felt those same warning signs creeping back in. In this episode, I break down why so many women leave senior leadership right after they get there, and what actually prevents it. Weekly newsletter: morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter For every one woman who becomes a director, two leave. Women's representation at the VP and C-suite level has been stuck at around 30 percent for years, and it is not because women aren't getting there. It's because once they arrive, too many decide it isn't worth staying. I know this firsthand. At the end of 2021, I hit a wall I had never experienced before: crying every day, disengaged, convinced I was losing my mind. It took me almost a year to feel like myself again. And earlier this year, I noticed those same warning signs creeping back in, so this topic is personal, not theoretical. In this episode, I break down why women are leaving senior leadership right when they get there, what's actually driving it, and what I did differently the second time around to catch it before it became a crisis again. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN The three root causes behind burnout at the senior level, and why working fewer hours isn't automatically the fix Why an invisible caregiving load, plus midlife changes like perimenopause, quietly compound the pressure on women executives specifically The daily, non-negotiable habits I use to catch burnout before it becomes a crisis, not a once-a-year trip to Mexico Why not feeling aligned causes more burnout than people realize, and how I used an energizing versus de-energizing list to find mine The support audit I recommend before you take on, or stay in, a senior role RESOURCES MENTIONED Connect with Katy on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/katy-mcfee-3880b4a Weekly newsletter: morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter Curious what it’s like to work together? Send me a message on LinkedIn or Instagram (Katy McFee) and tell me what you are working toward, and we can take it from there. Not sure if you're ready for VP? Take the free assessment and find out at morewomenpromoted.com/quiz Remember, there's room for all of us at the table.
S3 · E8
September 21 · 29 min
Toxic Boss or Difficult Manager? How to Know If It's Time to Quit
I once worked for a boss who couldn't stand me, and it taught me the real difference between a difficult manager and a genuinely toxic one. In this episode, I break down how to tell them apart and what to do either way. Sign up for my newsletter to keep getting weekly insights like this: morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter Ever been convinced your boss just doesn't like you? You're not imagining it, and you're also not stuck. "Toxic boss" gets thrown around for almost anything now: tough feedback, a manager who plays favourites, someone who changes their mind. But a difficult manager and an actually toxic one call for completely different responses, and mixing them up can keep you stuck in a relationship that's actually worth fixing, or keep you staying somewhere you should have left a long time ago. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN The exact pattern of behaviour that separates a toxic boss from a difficult one, and why lumping them together backfires Three ways to actually strengthen a rocky relationship with a manager who isn't your biggest fan How to keep growing your career even when your boss isn't championing you The clear signs it's time to stop trying and start job searching Why building a personal relationship with a difficult manager changes everything, even if grabbing lunch with them is the last thing you want to do RESOURCES MENTIONED Connect with Katy on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/katy-mcfee-3880b4a Weekly newsletter: morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter Curious what it’s like to work together? Send me a message on LinkedIn or Instagram (Katy McFee) and tell me what you are working toward, and we can take it from there. Not sure if you're ready for VP? Take the free assessment and find out at morewomenpromoted.com/quiz Remember, there's room for all of us at the table.
S3 · E7
September 14 · 40 min
My best advice on getting to VP (Katy's guest appearance on The Career Diet podcast)
I sat down with Anna Belyaeva on The Career Diet podcast to break down the mistakes that kept me stuck at director for five years, and what I'd do instead. Looking for more? One week left to join my fall cohort: https://insightstoactioncc.com/signup I was reporting straight to the CEO, running an entire function, and there was no VP above me. I still couldn't get the title. I had no idea what I was doing wrong. I was working harder than anyone, my team loved me, I knew the leadership team well, and none of it moved the needle. That was five years of my life as a director before I finally figured out what was actually missing, and it wasn't more hustle. In this episode, I'm doing something a little different. Instead of a solo teaching episode, I'm sharing the conversation I had as a guest on my friend Anna Belyaeva's podcast, The Career Diet. She asked me the questions I get asked the most: what were the biggest mistakes I made trying to move from director to VP, and what would I tell a woman today who wants to make that move in the next six months. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN Why grinding harder actually works against you once you're aiming for VP, and the two-part audit (calendar and task) I use to reclaim real strategic thinking time The exact language shift that turns "what do you think?" into "here's my recommendation, any concerns?", and why the second version gets you promoted Why confidence gets read as competence whether you like it or not, and the Harvard Business Review research behind it How to build a real stakeholder map instead of relying on people who just "like" you The three moves I'd make this week if I were trying to go from director to VP in the next six months RESOURCES MENTIONED The Career Diet podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-career-diet-podcast/id1759430848 Own Your Seat at the Table - fall cohort (one week left to enroll): https://insightstoactioncc.com/signup Connect with Katy on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/katy-mcfee-3880b4a Weekly newsletter: morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter Curious what it’s like to work together? Send me a message on LinkedIn or Instagram (Katy McFee) and tell me what you are working toward, and we can take it from there. Not sure if you're ready for VP? Take the free assessment and find out at morewomenpromoted.com/quiz Remember, there's room for all of us at the table.
S3 · E6
September 7 · 50 min
Build Your Career Like a Brand: 3 Marketing Concepts Every Woman Needs
You have a personal brand at work whether you're intentional about it or not. The question is whether it's working for you. Steal the playbook from brand marketing: three concepts that drive market share and apply them to your career. morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter Most women I know are heads-down doing good work and assuming that's enough. It's not. The women who get promoted to VP and beyond aren't just talented. They've built a career brand, and they've done it intentionally. In this episode, I sit down with Shea Cole, CMO at Field Effect and former VP at FullScript, to break down the three brand marketing fundamentals that drive market share and show you exactly how they apply to your career. If you want to be the name that comes up when a big opportunity opens, this episode is your playbook. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN Why your personal brand is just your reputation and how to start building it intentionally, even if you have zero social media presence How differentiation works in your career: what makes you different doesn't have to be what you're best at today; it just has to be authentic and sustainable The two-part framework for "meaning," including the part about making people want you in the room (and what happens when strong opinions get mislabeled as difficult) What top-of-mind awareness actually means in a workplace context and why a single standout project isn't enough to get you on the succession plan The one habit Shea's former boss swore by: "merchandise your work" and why doing it benefits your boss as much as it benefits you RESOURCES MENTIONED Shea Cole on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sheacole Shea's brand strategy course through Electives: electives.io Connect with Katy on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/katy-mcfee-3880b4a Weekly newsletter: morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter Lewis Howes School of Greatness podcast: lewishowes.com/school-of-greatness More Women Promoted Podcast S3 Ep2: Why Your Boss Can't Promote You (Even If They Want To) Curious what it’s like to work together? Send me a message on LinkedIn or Instagram (Katy McFee) and tell me what you are working toward, and we can take it from there. Not sure if you're ready for VP? Take the free assessment and find out at morewomenpromoted.com/quiz Remember, there's room for all of us at the table.
S3 · E5
August 31 · 28 min
Stop Trying to Reinvent the Wheel - It's Holding You Back
I spent years trying to figure out leadership on my own, then more years asking the wrong people for help. Here's what changed everything, and how you can start building your own circle: morewomenpromoted.com/masterclass Have you ever gotten advice that was completely wrong for your situation, from someone who genuinely wanted to help? That disconnect isn't random. It usually means you asked the right person the wrong question, or the wrong person entirely. I used to believe that once I made it to director, I was supposed to have all the answers. So when I got stuck, I either tried to solve it alone, or I asked whoever happened to be successful, whether or not their life looked anything like mine. Both mistakes kept me spinning my wheels for years. In this episode, I break down the two advice mistakes that quietly stall careers, and the exact process I now use to find people who can actually help. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN Why asking for help gets harder the higher you climb, and what it's actually costing you The difference between getting bad advice and getting no advice at all (and why bad advice can set you back further) How to spot when you're asking someone who simply doesn't share your context, even if they're smart and successful The 3-step process I use to find the right people before I even need them What the research says about why women with strong peer networks are more likely to reach senior leadership RESOURCES MENTIONED Free Masterclass: morewomenpromoted.com/masterclass Connect with Katy on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/katy-mcfee-3880b4a Weekly newsletter: morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter Curious what it’s like to work together? Send me a message on LinkedIn or Instagram (Katy McFee) and tell me what you are working toward, and we can take it from there. Not sure if you're ready for VP? Take the free assessment and find out at morewomenpromoted.com/quiz Remember, there's room for all of us at the table.
S3 · E4
August 24 · 25 min
Why You're Stuck at Director (It's Not What You Think)
I was stuck as a director for five years. And the whole time, I was already doing the VP job. Reporting to the CEO, running the function, on the senior leadership team, no VP above me. I kept waiting for the title to follow. It never did. If you're in that waiting place, here's what I wish someone had told me sooner: it's not because you're not good enough, not because you're not working hard enough, and not because you need another certification. It's a perception problem, not a talent problem. And the good news is that perception is fixable once you can see it. Want help spotting which gap is yours? I'm running a free masterclass on September 8th: morewomenpromoted.com/masterclass WHAT YOU'LL LEARN Why being stuck at director is almost always a perception problem, not a talent or qualifications one The most common gap I see: doing strategic work but only communicating execution, and how to flip it Why flawless execution can quietly typecast you as "she handles things" instead of "she's our next VP" How VP promotions actually get decided, and why your manager's advocacy alone leaves you exposed The stakeholder-mapping move that gets the right leaders talking about you in rooms you're not in RESOURCES MENTIONED Free masterclass, September 8th: the 3 things keeping you stuck from VP and how to fix them - morewomenpromoted.com/masterclass More Women Promoted Podcast S3 Ep2: Why Your Boss Can't Promote You (Even If They Want To) Connect with Katy on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/katy-mcfee-3880b4a Weekly newsletter: morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter Curious what it’s like to work together? Send me a message on LinkedIn or Instagram (Katy McFee) and tell me what you are working toward, and we can take it from there. Not sure if you're ready for VP? Take the free assessment and find out at morewomenpromoted.com/quiz Remember, there's room for all of us at the table.
S3 · E3
August 17 · 28 min
What I Would Do Differently If I Were Starting My VP Push Today
My corporate career looks great on paper. VP, then EVP. But the road to get there was so much messier than it needed to be. Here's the part that still gets me. The skills were already there. My strategic thinking, my expertise, my talent, none of that changed when I finally broke through. What changed was how I was showing up. Today I'm not teaching a framework. I'm telling you the truth about the four things I'd do differently if I were starting my VP push today, knowing what I know now. And if you want help spotting which one is holding you back, I'm running a free masterclass on September 8: morewomenpromoted.com/masterclass WHAT YOU'LL LEARN Why slowing down, as in doing less, is what actually accelerated my leadership career The simple weekly habit that turns your manager into your best advocate in the promotion room How the way you treat yourself as a human shows up in whether you're seen as VP-ready The kind of value I left on the table for years by staying quiet in the room, and how to stop Why the skills that keep you stuck at director are rarely the real problem RESOURCES MENTIONED Free masterclass, September 8: the 3 things keeping you stuck from VP and how to fix them - morewomenpromoted.com/masterclass Connect with Katy on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/katy-mcfee-3880b4a Weekly newsletter: morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter Curious what it’s like to work together? Send me a message on LinkedIn or Instagram (Katy McFee) and tell me what you are working toward, and we can take it from there. Not sure if you're ready for VP? Take the free assessment and find out at morewomenpromoted.com/quiz Remember, there's room for all of us at the table.
S3 · E2
August 10 · 26 min
Why Your Boss Can't Promote You (Even If They Want To)
Your boss loving your work is not enough to get you promoted. Not at the senior level. Most of us believe that if we impress our manager and make ourselves indispensable, the promotion will follow. But once you're being considered for director, VP, and beyond, your boss is rarely the only person deciding. Promotions at that level are made by committee. And if the leaders in that room don't know you, your boss is fighting an uphill battle on your behalf. Ready to get in the room? Get VP-ready in my free masterclass: morewomenpromoted.com/masterclass WHAT YOU'LL LEARN How senior-level promotions actually get decided, and why it's almost never a one-person call Why "my boss loves me" can be the exact thing keeping you stuck at director The three things that make it easy for your boss to win the room when your name comes up How to build real visibility with leaders outside your function without feeling braggy or political The single mindset shift that separates the women who get promoted from the ones who stay stuck RESOURCES MENTIONED Get VP-ready: free masterclass - morewomenpromoted.com/masterclass Connect with Katy on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/katy-mcfee-3880b4a Weekly newsletter: morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter Curious what it’s like to work together? Send me a message on LinkedIn or Instagram (Katy McFee) and tell me what you are working toward, and we can take it from there. Not sure if you're ready for VP? Take the free assessment and find out at morewomenpromoted.com/quiz Remember, there's room for all of us at the table.
S3 · E1
August 3 · 30 min
3 Entrepreneur Lessons That Would Have Made Me a Better Executive
If you're waiting for your company to invest in your growth, send you to leadership training, or map out your path to VP, you're going to be waiting a long time. The lessons I've learned in four years of entrepreneurship would have made me a better executive a decade ago, and you can use them without leaving your job. Since becoming an entrepreneur, I've grown more in four years than I did in the previous fifteen. And what's wild is realizing how many of the things that have helped me build a successful business are the exact same things that would have helped me get promoted faster, lead better, and be way less stressed in my corporate roles. The best part is you don't need to start a business to use them. They're available to you right now, wherever you are in your career. I just gave you the cheat code. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN Why being intentional about your career is the same skill as running a business, and how to start treating yourself as the CEO of your own path The investment in yourself I avoided for years (and the actual number I now spend annually because the ROI is undeniable) What "find your people" really means at the senior leadership level, and the kind of room that gave me permission to take bigger swings The mindset shift that costs nothing and changes everything, plus how to tell when your brain is lying to you about whether you belong at the table The flywheel: how intentionality, the right people, and mindset reinforce each other to change the trajectory of your career RESOURCES MENTIONED Connect with Katy on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/katy-mcfee-3880b4a Weekly newsletter: morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter Curious what it’s like to work together? Send me a message on LinkedIn or Instagram (Katy McFee) and tell me what you are working toward, and we can take it from there. Not sure if you're ready for VP? Take the free assessment and find out at morewomenpromoted.com/quiz Remember, there's room for all of us at the table.
S2 · E32
June 29 · 49 min
Treat Your Job Search Like a $7M Business Deal with Anna Belyaeva
The strategies that got you your last few roles will not get you your next one if it's at the VP level. Career strategist Anna Belyaeva joins me to reframe senior job search as closing a seven-figure deal, not submitting an application. Sign up for my newsletter to keep getting weekly insights like this: morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter Have you been told the job market is brutal? That you should just keep applying and shoot more shots? Today's guest is going to flip that script. Anna Belyaeva is a career strategist and founder of The Career Diet. She works with high-achieving mid-to-senior professionals landing $150K to $300K+ roles. She's been on every side of the table: navigating senior job search herself, pivoting industries, and leading recruitment for some of the top employers in Canada. We've been in the same mastermind for years, and I trust her insight on this market completely. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN Why your senior job search should be treated like closing a seven-figure deal, not customizing a PDF The "target company" framework that builds your pipeline 6 months before the role is posted How to send a cold LinkedIn message at the VP level that actually books the meeting Why "fake jobs" aren't actually fake (they're posted because of policy, but the candidate is already chosen) and what that means for your strategy The two non-negotiable priorities that should be on your calendar every week if you're job searching, with Anna's recurring time block rule RESOURCES MENTIONED Anna Belyaeva on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annabelyaeva Anna on Instagram: @thecareerdiet The Career Diet Podcast: Episode 54 - How much time should you really dedicate to interview prep | Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi Connect with Katy on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/katy-mcfee-3880b4a Weekly newsletter: morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter MOST LOVED EPISODES S1 E1: Why 'Working Harder' Is Keeping You Stuck in Middle Management | Apple | Spotify S1 E5: My Morning Routine (And Why It Changed Everything) | Apple | Spotify S1 E6: Should You Stay or Should You Go? 3 Signs It's Time to Leave Your Job | Apple | Spotify S1 E8: How to Ask for More Money: The Negotiation Episode Every Woman Needs to Hear | Apple | Spotify S1 E9: How to Be Assertive Without Being Labeled "Aggressive" | Apple | Spotify S1 E10: Ask Like an Executive: The 3 Cs Framework for Business Requests That Get Approved | Apple | Spotify S2 E25: Stop Worrying About Your Non Traditional Background - Here's How to Frame It | Apple | Spotify S2 E28: What Your Boss' Feedback Really Means | Apple | Spotify S2 E29: Are You Actually VP Ready? | Apple | Spotify S2 E30: You're Visible, But for the Wrong Things! | Apple | Spotify Curious what it’s like to work together? Send me a message on LinkedIn or Instagram (Katy McFee) and tell me what you are working toward, and we can take it from there. Not sure if you're ready for VP? Take the free assessment and find out at morewomenpromoted.com/quiz Remember, there's room for all of us at the table.
S2 · E31
June 22 · 34 min
When You're Growing and the People Around You Aren't
You're growing and feeling distance from the people around you - friends, your partner, your family. The advice online says cut them off. The real answer is more nuanced. Join me on June 23rd for my Visibility & Recognition Workshop morewomenpromoted.com/workshop. Have you been told to "level up and leave them behind"? Or to "find your tribe" and let the rest go? That advice is everywhere online, and it's a little too black-and-white for me. I share the three truths to hold at once when you're changing faster than the people you love. Here's the truth most growth content gets wrong: when you're growing faster than the people around you, the answer isn't "cut them off" or "pretend nothing has changed." It's three things at once, and they're easier to hold than you'd think. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN Why expecting one person (especially your partner) to serve every purpose in your life is the recipe for resentment nobody warns you about The reframe that turns frustration with your partner's lack of growth into deep gratitude (and how this changed how I think about my marriage) Why the friendships with the deepest roots are worth protecting even when they can't relate to every part of your current life How to know when a friendship is actually pulling you backward (and the Mel Robbins quote that gave me permission to let one go) Where to actively find women on the same growth path as you, and why proximity is the key RESOURCES MENTIONED Connect with Katy on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/katy-mcfee-3880b4a Weekly newsletter: morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter Curious what it’s like to work together? Send me a message on LinkedIn or Instagram (Katy McFee) and tell me what you are working toward, and we can take it from there. Not sure if you're ready for VP? Take the free assessment and find out at morewomenpromoted.com/quiz Remember, there's room for all of us at the table.
S2 · E30
June 15 · 22 min
You're Visible, But for the Wrong Things!
Being visible isn't the same as being visible for the right things. If your name comes up but you're known as "so reliable" or "the fixer," you have a visibility problem. Join my strategic visibility workshop on June 23: morewomenpromoted.com/workshop Have you been told you're "so reliable"? Or that "we couldn't do this without you"? Those compliments feel great, but they may be exactly what's keeping you stuck at director. Here's the truth about visibility most leaders won't tell you: you can be very visible and still not get promoted. The leadership team can know your name, your kids' names, your hobbies, and still not picture you at the next level. Because visibility without strategic positioning just means they know you as a person. It doesn't mean they're thinking of you for what's next. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN The 3 visibility traps that quietly keep smart, high-performing women stuck at director level Why being the most reliable executor on the team is a ceiling, not a ladder What strategic visibility actually looks like, and the 4 specific moves to start making this month How to shift your visibility from being known for your doing to being known for your thinking The reframe that takes you from "great team manager" to "business leader" in how leadership perceives you RESOURCES MENTIONED Visibility Workshop, June 23: morewomenpromoted.com/workshop Connect with Katy on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/katy-mcfee-3880b4a Weekly newsletter: insightstoactioncc.com/newsletter Curious what it’s like to work together? Send me a message on LinkedIn or Instagram (Katy McFee) and tell me what you are working toward, and we can take it from there. Not sure if you're ready for VP? Take the free assessment and find out at morewomenpromoted.com/quiz Remember, there's room for all of us at the table.
S2 · E29
June 8 · 31 min
Are You Actually VP Ready?
Being VP-ready and being seen as VP-ready are two very different things, and the gap is rarely what you think it is. Take my free quiz to find out exactly where you stand: morewomenpromoted.com/quiz Have you ever been told you need to be "more strategic"? Or that you need to "demonstrate more readiness" before that next promotion? Vague feedback like this is exactly what kept me stuck for years as a director. Here's the truth most leaders won't tell you: VP readiness has almost nothing to do with how well you're doing your current job. The skills that got you to director are table stakes at the next level. What gets you the role is a completely different set of skills that nobody has explicitly taught you. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN Why being VP-ready and being seen as VP-ready are two completely different things (and which one is actually keeping you stuck) The four specific areas leadership uses to evaluate whether you're ready, broken down with concrete examples The most common ways high-performing women unintentionally signal "not ready" without realizing it What strategic thinking actually looks like at the VP level (and why getting more certifications won't get you there) Where to start if you've been investing in the wrong skills and didn't know it RESOURCES MENTIONED Are You VP Ready? - free quiz: morewomenpromoted.com/quiz Connect with Katy on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/katy-mcfee-3880b4a Weekly newsletter: morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter Curious what it’s like to work together? Send me a message on LinkedIn or Instagram (Katy McFee) and tell me what you are working toward, and we can take it from there. Not sure if you're ready for VP? Take the free assessment and find out at morewomenpromoted.com/quiz Remember, there's room for all of us at the table.
S2 · E28
June 1 · 23 min
What Your Boss’ Feedback Really Means
You've been told to "be more strategic" but no one ever explains what that means. In this episode, I decode three of the most common pieces of vague promotion feedback and tell you what your boss is really saying. Newsletter: morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN What your boss really means when they tell you to "be more strategic" and the three specific shifts that close the gap fast The three drivers of executive presence you can actually control, no matter how vague the feedback feels Why "keep doing what you're doing" with no promotion conversation might be the most dangerous feedback you can get How being the indispensable "go-to person" is quietly making you unpromotable, and what to do about it Why this is a perception problem, not a talent problem, and what that means for your next move RESOURCES MENTIONED Weekly newsletter from Katy: morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter Connect with Katy on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/katy-mcfee-3880b4a Curious what it’s like to work together? Send me a message on LinkedIn or Instagram (Katy McFee) and tell me what you are working toward, and we can take it from there. Not sure if you're ready for VP? Take the free assessment and find out at morewomenpromoted.com/quiz Remember, there's room for all of us at the table.

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