What happens when a women's leadership coach starts working with male leaders? In this eye-opening episode of The Potentialite Podcast, Laura Weldy shares behind-the-scenes insights from her recent shift into coaching men after eight years of exclusively coaching women.

Laura explores the fascinating differences she's observed in coaching styles, emotional processing, and self-perception between men and women in leadership—and how those differences reflect deeper systemic dynamics. She unpacks the "emotional labor gap," the competence confidence gap, and why gender-aware coaching spaces are still critical in 2025.

Whether you're a woman seeking validation in your workplace experiences or a leader curious about how coaching impacts development, this episode offers a refreshing, vulnerable look at what happens when we challenge our norms and evolve our approach.

• How coaching male leaders shifted Laura's perspective on workplace dynamics

• Key gender-based differences in how people approach leadership and self-awareness

• Why women often integrate life and work more deeply than men

• The "competence gap" and how it affects confidence and overthinking

• How coaching styles vary—and why neither is "better"

• Why women still need dedicated spaces for support and leadership growth

00:00 Welcome to The Potentialite Podcast
00:00:31 Laura's behind-the-scenes leadership experiment
00:01:29 What changed when men started seeking coaching
00:03:41 Coaching style differences: Women vs. Men
00:05:00 The "emotional labor gap" and integrative thinking
00:06:17 The competence vs. confidence dynamic
00:07:16 Coaching men: Strategy-focused vs. narrative-focused
00:09:16 The ideal coaching mindset: Combine reflection with direct action
00:11:04 Why women still benefit from gender-specific coaching spaces
00:12:08 Research-backed reasons women's careers differ from men's
00:13:35 Final takeaways and what this experiment revealed

• Download the High Potential Pack – A free career guide packed with tools to boost your visibility and develop your leadership strengths: lauraweldy.com/free

• Research cited: Women in the Workplace 2023 & studies on gendered leadership experiences

• Connect with Laura on Instagram or LinkedIn and share which insight from Laura's leadership experiment resonated most with you

This episode is a reminder that coaching is powerful—not just for the individual, but for reshaping how we understand leadership at large. Whether you're a woman navigating leadership challenges or a man ready to reflect more deeply, intentional coaching creates room for lasting change.

Leadership is not about being perfect—it's about being present, self-aware, and adaptable.

Until next time, keep showing up and keep thriving.