If Not You, Then Who? Taking Charge of Your Career and Aiming for the C-Suite" with Tracey Newell
03/08/25 • 35 min
In this empowering episode of You Got This, I sit down with Tracey Newell, board member, former president, and executive coach, to discuss how women can step into leadership, claim their ambition, and break into the C-suite. Drawing from her extensive corporate experience and insights from her new book Hers for the Taking: Your Path to the C-Suite and Beyond, Tracey shares practical strategies for career acceleration, overcoming self-doubt, and building a leadership presence that commands recognition.
If you've ever felt stuck in middle management or unsure how to step into executive leadership, this episode is for you!
What You'll Learn
✔️ Why women aren’t reaching the C-suite fast enough—and how we can change that.
✔️ How to shift from playing small to owning your expertise and stepping into leadership.
✔️ The importance of mentorship, sponsorship, and networking for career success.
✔️ Key strategies to position yourself for the next leadership opportunity.
✔️ How organizations can better support female leadership advancement.
✔️ Practical steps for taking charge of your career trajectory and setting yourself apart.
About Tracey Newell
Tracey Newell has over 30 years of leadership experience in global tech companies, including Informatica, Proofpoint, Polycom, and Cisco. She serves on multiple corporate boards and is dedicated to mentoring women in leadership. Her book Hers for the Taking is a blueprint for breaking into executive leadership—offering real-world strategies, career roadmaps, and inspiring stories for ambitious women looking to advance.
Key Moments in This Episode
⏳ 00:01 | Tracey’s Journey – How she transitioned from corporate leadership to empowering women executives.
⏳ 02:15 | Why Women Are Underrepresented in the C-Suite – The biggest barriers and how to overcome them.
⏳ 10:25 | Mindset Shifts for Career Growth – How to move from self-doubt to self-advocacy.
⏳ 18:40 | Building a Powerful Career Strategy – How to plan your leadership journey and leverage sponsorship.
⏳ 26:05 | Personal Reflections & Advice – The biggest lessons from Tracey’s career and what she hopes every woman takes away from her book.
Resources Mentioned
📖 Book: Hers for the Taking: Your Path to the C-Suite and Beyond – Pre-Order Here
💡 Masterclass: “Leadership in Action: Making Decisions and Leading with Confidence” April 6th 10AM CET Sign up here
Call-to-Action
Are you ready to step into leadership and own your ambition?
📌 Listen now and share your biggest takeaway! Screenshot this episode, tag us on LinkedIn, and tell us one action you’re taking to accelerate your career.
👉 Follow Tracey Newell on LinkedIn: Tracey's Profile
👉 Book: Hers for the
📩 If this episode resonates with you, share it on LinkedIn and tag us!
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe to YOU GOT THIS! so you never miss an update. For more leadership and career inspiration, follow Katharina on LinkedIn and visit her website for additional resources. Don’t forget to share the podcast with the women in your life who are ready to step into their leadership roles with confidence.
Contact: [email protected]
In this empowering episode of You Got This, I sit down with Tracey Newell, board member, former president, and executive coach, to discuss how women can step into leadership, claim their ambition, and break into the C-suite. Drawing from her extensive corporate experience and insights from her new book Hers for the Taking: Your Path to the C-Suite and Beyond, Tracey shares practical strategies for career acceleration, overcoming self-doubt, and building a leadership presence that commands recognition.
If you've ever felt stuck in middle management or unsure how to step into executive leadership, this episode is for you!
What You'll Learn
✔️ Why women aren’t reaching the C-suite fast enough—and how we can change that.
✔️ How to shift from playing small to owning your expertise and stepping into leadership.
✔️ The importance of mentorship, sponsorship, and networking for career success.
✔️ Key strategies to position yourself for the next leadership opportunity.
✔️ How organizations can better support female leadership advancement.
✔️ Practical steps for taking charge of your career trajectory and setting yourself apart.
About Tracey Newell
Tracey Newell has over 30 years of leadership experience in global tech companies, including Informatica, Proofpoint, Polycom, and Cisco. She serves on multiple corporate boards and is dedicated to mentoring women in leadership. Her book Hers for the Taking is a blueprint for breaking into executive leadership—offering real-world strategies, career roadmaps, and inspiring stories for ambitious women looking to advance.
Key Moments in This Episode
⏳ 00:01 | Tracey’s Journey – How she transitioned from corporate leadership to empowering women executives.
⏳ 02:15 | Why Women Are Underrepresented in the C-Suite – The biggest barriers and how to overcome them.
⏳ 10:25 | Mindset Shifts for Career Growth – How to move from self-doubt to self-advocacy.
⏳ 18:40 | Building a Powerful Career Strategy – How to plan your leadership journey and leverage sponsorship.
⏳ 26:05 | Personal Reflections & Advice – The biggest lessons from Tracey’s career and what she hopes every woman takes away from her book.
Resources Mentioned
📖 Book: Hers for the Taking: Your Path to the C-Suite and Beyond – Pre-Order Here
💡 Masterclass: “Leadership in Action: Making Decisions and Leading with Confidence” April 6th 10AM CET Sign up here
Call-to-Action
Are you ready to step into leadership and own your ambition?
📌 Listen now and share your biggest takeaway! Screenshot this episode, tag us on LinkedIn, and tell us one action you’re taking to accelerate your career.
👉 Follow Tracey Newell on LinkedIn: Tracey's Profile
👉 Book: Hers for the
📩 If this episode resonates with you, share it on LinkedIn and tag us!
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe to YOU GOT THIS! so you never miss an update. For more leadership and career inspiration, follow Katharina on LinkedIn and visit her website for additional resources. Don’t forget to share the podcast with the women in your life who are ready to step into their leadership roles with confidence.
Contact: [email protected]
Previous Episode
Authentic Storytelling: How to Build Your Brand and Inspire Confidence with Melanie Schröder
Summary:
In this episode, Katharina Engelhardt interviews Melanie Schröder, founder of Contentheldin.de, about the transformative power of storytelling in leadership and personal branding. Melanie shares her journey from industrial mechanics to content marketing, revealing how authentic storytelling can help women in leadership enhance their visibility and confidence. Together, they discuss practical strategies for using LinkedIn to build a strong personal brand and embrace one's unique story.
Key Takeaways:
✔️ Storytelling is a powerful tool for emotional connection and leadership impact.
✔️ Many women hold back from sharing their achievements due to societal expectations.
✔️ Authenticity in storytelling can lead to career transformation and personal empowerment.
✔️ LinkedIn is a critical platform for building a visible and credible personal brand.
✔️ Empowering others to be themselves is a fundamental part of leadership.
✔️ Practicing storytelling can enhance interview performance and career opportunities.
✔️ Women should not fear being visible and celebrating their successes.
✔️ Starting a business requires belief in oneself and taking action.
Sound Bites:
🎙️ “A memorable story has to be felt.”
🎙️ “Empower people to be themselves.”
🎙️ “You have to believe in yourself.”
🎙️ “Just do it. Just try it out.”
🎙️ “Start posting on LinkedIn.”
Chapters:
⏱ 00:00 Introduction to Storytelling in Leadership
⏱ 05:43 The Importance of Storytelling
⏱ 10:25 Transforming Careers Through Storytelling
⏱ 16:24 Empowering Authenticity in Professional Life
⏱ 21:07 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
⏱ 26:05 Encouraging Women to Share Their Stories
🎧 If you want to stand out, share your story, and boost your leadership presence, this episode is for you!
Where to find Melanie
https://www.contentheldin.de and (3) Melanie Schröder | LinkedIn
Your story is your strength—start telling it today!
Resources Mentioned:
- Masterclass: Being Visible at Work: Authenticity as a Career Booster
Register 👉here. - Blog Post: VISIBILITY FRUSTRATION (and the solution) — Katharina Engelhardt I Career coach for women
- Recommended Reading: Presence by Amy Cuddy, Brag! by Peggy Klaus
📩 Have questions or want to collaborate? Contact me at [email protected]
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe to YOU GOT THIS! so you never miss an update. Share this episode with women in your network who are ready to build their personal brand and leadership presence!
📩 If this episode resonates with you, share it on LinkedIn and tag us!
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe to YOU GOT THIS! so you never miss an update. For more leadership and career inspiration, follow Katharina on LinkedIn and visit her website for additional resources. Don’t forget to share the podcast with the women in your life who are ready to step into their leadership roles with confidence.
Contact: [email protected]
Next Episode
Humanizing Data: Creativity and Leadership with Tiankai Feng
In this episode, I sit down with Tiankai Feng, a data leader, musician, and author of Humanizing Data Strategy. With over a decade of experience in data analytics, governance, and digital transformation, Tiankai brings a fresh perspective on how creativity can transform leadership in data-driven industries.
From blending storytelling with analytics to leveraging music for engagement, Tiankai shares how leaders can make data more relatable and empower their teams through collaboration and communication. Whether navigating the complexities of tech leadership or exploring ways to balance technical expertise with emotional intelligence, this episode is full of actionable insights.
What You’ll Learn:
- How storytelling and music can humanize data and make it more engaging.
- The importance of collaboration in building a data-driven culture.
- Why mindset and diversity are essential for attracting women to data and tech roles.
- Leadership advice for empowering teams in the evolving digital landscape.
- The role of critical thinking and responsible AI in the future of work.
Key Moments:
- [00:34] Tiankai’s journey from a pianist to a creative data leader.
- [03:12] The inspiration behind his book Humanizing Data Strategy and its impact on leadership.
- [08:45] How to attract and retain more women in data and tech roles.
- [14:18] The intersection of creativity and analytics: Why storytelling matters in data communication.
- [20:09] Leading in the age of AI: The balance between technical knowledge and critical thinking.
- [28:07] Tiankai’s vision for the future of work: Collaboration over competition.
Sound Bites:
- “Data is about people. Without connection, the numbers lose meaning.”
- “The best leaders combine creativity with technical expertise.”
- “It’s not just about AI—it’s about asking the right questions and using it responsibly.”
Resources Mentioned:
- Book: Humanizing Data Strategy by Tiankai Feng
- Follow Tiankai Feng: LinkedIn Profile, YouTube Channel (featuring Tiankai’s creative data videos)
Call-to-Action:
If this episode resonated with you, take a moment to reflect on how you can integrate creativity into your leadership style.
Let’s transform how we think about leadership and data—together!
Keywords: leadership, creativity, storytelling, data strategy, AI, critical thinking, women in tech, innovation, career growth, digital transformation
📩 If this episode resonates with you, share it on LinkedIn and tag us!
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe to YOU GOT THIS! so you never miss an update. For more leadership and career inspiration, follow Katharina on LinkedIn and visit her website for additional resources. Don’t forget to share the podcast with the women in your life who are ready to step into their leadership roles with confidence.
Contact: [email protected]
If you like this episode you’ll love
Episode Comments
Generate a badge
Get a badge for your website that links back to this episode
<a href="https://goodpods.com/podcasts/you-got-this-career-and-leadership-coaching-for-women-629124/if-not-you-then-who-taking-charge-of-your-career-and-aiming-for-the-c-87004874"> <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/goodpods-images-bucket/badges/generic-badge-1.svg" alt="listen to if not you, then who? taking charge of your career and aiming for the c-suite" with tracey newell on goodpods" style="width: 225px" /> </a>
Copy