Meetings don’t need more sticky notes; they need better thinking. We sit down with Cate Sefton to explore how structured play — especially Lego Serious Play — turns flat brainstorms into 3D strategy, elevates quiet voices, and surfaces ideas that actually move teams forward. Kate breaks down why hands-on metaphors matter, how great facilitation changes the questions we ask, and why joy is not a luxury but a performance edge.

From there, we zoom out to the tectonic shift happening with AI. Brand isn’t fading; it’s becoming the filter that gets you found and remembered. We unpack how emotional connection helps a brand cut through algorithmic sameness, and what that means for personal branding on LinkedIn when fewer than one percent post. AI can prime the pump, but your specifics, tone and lived evidence do the heavy lifting. We talk practical ways to sound like yourself, not a template, and how to keep showing up with clarity and conviction.

Cate also shares the human side of a big career: being the breadwinner across countries, the power of a supportive partner, and the boundaries that protect what matters — from Friday night no-call rules to small rituals that reset you from corporate mode to present parent. We confront judgement around non-traditional roles, the sting when it comes from other women, and the antidote of solidarity. Finally, we tackle ageism, confidence dips and the tendency to discount decades of experience because of a new tool. The reminder is simple and strong: you’re not alone. Find your wing women, name your value, and ask for help.

If the conversation sparked something for you, follow the show, share it with a woman who’d benefit, and leave a quick review so these stories reach more ears. Ready to shape a braver 2026? Visit balanceinstitute.com and let’s build it together.

Thank you for joining us today on the Balance and Beyond Podcast. We're so glad you carved out this time for yourself!

If you’re keen to dive deeper into our world, here are our socials where you can discover more about the toolkit that has helped thousands of women create a life of balance.

Website: www.balanceinstitute.com
Podcast Website: https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast
Email: jo@balanceinstitute.com
LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/stonejoanne
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterbalanceinstitute/
Instagram: @betterbalanceinstitute

Thanks again for tuning in, and we'll see you next time on the Balance & Beyond Podcast!

Ever felt the sting of doing everything “right” only to be told you’re too direct, not ready, or simply invisible? We dig into how good girl conditioning collides with workplace reality, why women are penalised more for risk, and how to speak up without burning bridges. With leadership strategist and author Dr Jodi Vandenberg-Daves, we trade vague advice for a concrete playbook built on values, allies, and smart timing.

We start by naming the bias: men are often rewarded for potential and maverick moves; women are measured on flawless performance and punished harder when bets go sideways. Instead of pretending the game isn’t rigged, Jodi offers a practical reset—anchor in your values to choose the battles that matter, craft asks that serve your mission, and enlist an amplification crew who backs your ideas in the room. We share tactics like pre-meeting side conversations, planned support from someone with clout, and post-meeting recovery if things go off-script. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s impact with less collateral damage.

From there, we widen the lens. Younger cohorts—Millennials and Gen Z—bring autonomy, purpose, and an insistence on mental health that many of us were never allowed to name. Rather than dismissing them as soft, we ask what can be learned: how clear values fuel motivation, why questions drive better systems, and how two-way mentoring turns friction into progress. We also confront midlife ageism, where seasoned women are asked to lift more without authority or are sidelined altogether. Jodi’s counsel: move from heavy lifting to leverage, protect your energy, keep mentors at every age, and stop downgrading yourself because you’re not the most tech fluent person in the room. Your edge is systems thinking, ethics, relationships, and results.

This conversation is a guide for values-led women who want to change their corner of the world without sacrificing themselves to it. Expect research-backed insight, field-tested strategies, and real examples of structural wins—from lactation spaces to transparent advancement—that prove culture can move.

To follow Dr Jodi's work, visit https://www.jodivandenberg-daves.com/

Thank you for joining us today on the Balance and Beyond Podcast. We're so glad you carved out this time for yourself!

If you’re keen to dive deeper into our world, here are our socials where you can discover more about the toolkit that has helped thousands of women create a life of balance.

Website: www.balanceinstitute.com
Podcast Website: https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast
Email: jo@balanceinstitute.com
LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/stonejoanne
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterbalanceinstitute/
Instagram: @betterbalanceinstitute

Thanks again for tuning in, and we'll see you next time on the Balance & Beyond Podcast!

Bullying often hides in plain sight, wrapped in polished charm and shifting rules that leave you doubting your memory. Author, executive and consultant, Jane Phipps joins me to pull the mask off toxic and narcissistic leadership and get practical about how to spot the patterns, protect your energy, and keep your team safe without sacrificing your career.

We start by naming the behaviours that erode confidence: gaslighting disguised as “feedback,” image management that crumbles under stress, and mood-driven standards that keep everyone on edge. Jane shares how early life dynamics can prime high-performing women to normalise dysfunction, then walks through simple, effective tools: short confirmation emails that anchor facts, body cues that signal a line has been crossed, and candid check-ins with trusted peers to counter isolation. We dig into gendered nuances—overt versus covert tactics—and why hybrid work can amplify manipulation when there are fewer witnesses and weak feedback loops.

From there, we pivot to solutions at two levels. Individually, we use the umbrella test to decide when loyalty becomes self-harm and how to exit with clarity. Organisationally, we challenge the promotion of high-image, low-empathy operators and argue for better screening for emotional intelligence, 360 feedback, and leadership coaching that builds genuine relational skill. The alternative isn’t soft; it’s heart-centred leadership: showing up as a real human, setting firm boundaries, assuming positive intent, and creating psychological safety so people can do their best work.

If you’ve ever left a meeting second-guessing your reality, this conversation offers language, tools, and courage. Subscribe for more candid, research-informed conversations about work, leadership, and wellbeing, share this with someone who needs backup today, and leave a quick review to help these stories reach more women.

Thank you for joining us today on the Balance and Beyond Podcast. We're so glad you carved out this time for yourself!

If you’re keen to dive deeper into our world, here are our socials where you can discover more about the toolkit that has helped thousands of women create a life of balance.

Website: www.balanceinstitute.com
Podcast Website: https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast
Email: jo@balanceinstitute.com
LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/stonejoanne
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterbalanceinstitute/
Instagram: @betterbalanceinstitute

Thanks again for tuning in, and we'll see you next time on the Balance & Beyond Podcast!