She was told she couldn’t lead. Now she coaches leaders.

In this powerful episode of the Hero Up Podcast, I sit down with leadership coach Monika Malan, founder of She Leads Boldly, to discuss how women can step into leadership with confidence, without burning out or compromising their values.

With over 18 years in corporate leadership, Monika has seen it all: imposter syndrome, gender bias, toxic cultures, and self-doubt. She’s lived it, led through it, and now she’s on a mission to help other women rise on their own terms.

In this conversation, we cover:
How to overcome self-doubt and find your voice as a female leader

• Why EQ is the secret edge in male-dominated industries
• The importance of aligning your career with your personal values
• Setting boundaries that protect your sanity and your team
• The impact of cycle-based leadership (yes, really)
• What to do when you’re working somewhere that doesn’t “get” you
• How parenting made her a better leader

Whether you're new to leadership or coaching others yourself, this episode is packed with insight, real talk, and practical wisdom.

Takeaways

• Mentorship is crucial for developing future leaders.
• Women often face unique challenges in leadership roles.
• Company culture significantly impacts leadership effectiveness.
• Aligning personal values with corporate values is essential for job satisfaction.
• Setting boundaries is vital to prevent burnout.
• Empowering others can enhance your own leadership skills.
• Imposter syndrome is a common struggle for many leaders.
• Parenting can teach valuable lessons about leadership.
• Women should support each other in their leadership journeys.
• Self-care is important for effective leadership.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background

04:13 Leadership Journey and Mentorship

06:37 Navigating Challenges in IT Leadership

09:09 Company Culture and Gender Dynamics

11:42 Difficult Decisions and Leadership Mistakes

13:39 Coaching Philosophy and Supporting Women

16:18 Imposter Syndrome and Self-Doubt

18:39 Aligning Values with Career Choices

21:23 The Importance of Emotional Intelligence

24:00 Conclusion and Future Aspirations

36:49 Revolutionary Insights on Women's Health and Leadership

40:26 Setting Boundaries to Prevent Burnout

44:23 Balancing Career and Family Responsibilities

50:39 Lessons in Patience and Empowerment from Parenting

54:59 Navigating Corporate Values and Personal Integrity

59:27 Ideal Clients and the Ripple Effect of Coaching

01:01:16 Valuable Lessons from Mentees

01:05:22 Advice to My Younger Self

01:08:10 Being a Hero to Young Women

Want to connect with Monika?

Website: https://www.sheleadsboldly.com
Take her free quiz: https://www.sheleadsboldly.com/quiz
Follow Monika on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monikamalan

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#SheLeadsBoldly #WomenInLeadership #LeadershipCoach
#ConfidenceForWomen #OvercomingSelfDoubt #FemaleEntrepreneur
#WorkingMoms #EmpoweredWomen #EmotionalIntelligence #LeadershipDevelopment #WomenInTech #HeroUpPodcast

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Thank you for listening! If you found value in this episode, please comment, like and subscribe depending what platform you're on. And if you have requests for guests, send me a message. - Tony Stark