In this episode, Kathryn Sandford, Co-owner and Director of M2M Coaching, shares her expertise on helping professional women over 40 navigate crossroads in their careers. Kathryn and host Paige Rene dive into self-promotion myths, personal branding, overcoming limiting beliefs, and crafting strategies for impactful leadership. Kathryn also reveals her transformative coaching programs and how women can position themselves for long-term success.

Takeaways:

1. Embrace self-promotion as a strength, not a myth.
2. Explore personal values to create clarity in your career goals.
3. Tailor your LinkedIn profile and career strategy to stand out.
4. Future-proof your career by staying aligned with your unique talents and purpose.

In this episode:

[00:00:00] Introduction to Kathryn Sandford and M2M Coaching.
[00:01:00] Kathryn's work with women at career crossroads.
[00:04:00] The "self-promotion myth" and its impact on women.
[00:07:00] Understanding and managing limiting beliefs.
[00:10:00] The power of unlearning societal rules.
[00:15:00] Identifying personal values and their role in leadership.
[00:20:00] Future-proofing careers through personal branding.
[00:28:00] Narrowing down transferable skills for career shifts.
[00:34:00] Kathryn’s programs: Personal Brand Cohort Group and Elevate.
[00:35:00] What it means to be a woman in the arena.

Resources

1. Connect with Kathryn Sandford on LinkedIn
2. M2M Recruitment
3. The Women In The Arena
4. Listen on Apple
5. Listen on Spotify
6. Watch on YouTube

Quotes

1. "Your CV gets you to the door, but your personal brand opens it and takes you into the future." - Kathryn Sandford
2. "Life comes first, and work follows. This is how we truly align ourselves." - Kathryn Sandford
3. "If you don’t ask, the answer is always no." - Paige Rene

Episode 35 | In this episode, Paige Rene unpacks her seven career pivots, sharing lessons on evaluating energy, refining vision, and taking action.

From athletics to executive coaching, Paige’s journey reveals how reinvention builds on past experiences to inspire growth and confidence.

Takeaways:

1. Evaluate your energy by identifying projects that excite or drain you while listening to feedback about your strengths.

2. Refine your vision by revisiting and adjusting goals regularly to align with your evolving aspirations.

3. Take action by experimenting and moving forward, even when uncertain, to create clarity and progress.

In this episode:

[00:00:00] Introduction: Paige introduces the episode and her journey through seven career pivots.

[00:01:14] Pivot #1: From selling apartments to joining college athletics.

[00:03:15] Pivot #2: Discovering her calling in coaching through cognitive behavioral therapy and personal life coaching.

[00:05:15] Pivot #3: Niching down to elite mental training for athletes.

[00:06:28] Pivot #4: Embracing brand coaching during the COVID-19 pandemic.

[00:09:15] Pivot #5: Navigating the “flailing era” while refining her Elevate Framework.

[00:13:52] Pivot #6: Business coaching—identifying gaps in the online coaching space.

[00:20:07] Pivot #7: Focusing on executive performance and branding coaching for women in corporate spaces.

[00:23:00] Final Advice: Paige shares three key takeaways for pivoting with confidence.

Resources

1. The Women In The Arena

2. Listen on Apple Podcasts

3. Listen on Spotify

4. Watch on YouTube

5. Insights Coaching Program

6. Elevate Framework

Quotes

1. “You’re not stuck. These three takeaways are going to help you pivot in the direction that you're meant to go in.” – Paige on overcoming stagnation

2. “Your magic is all about you, what you do, what you bring to the table, and your gifts and strengths.” – Paige on understanding personal value

3. “Take action. Do something, for God’s sake. This is the mechanics. I’m telling you, you’ve got to move.” – Paige on the importance of taking bold steps

Episode 34 | In this episode of The Women in the Arena, host Paige Rene chats with Rachel Burr, executive coach and founder of Catamentum Leadership Coaching. Rachel, a people expert with over 20 years of experience, dives into the intricacies of authentic leadership, the importance of building trust, and the challenges leaders face in managing people effectively.

Takeaways:

1. Building authentic leadership means understanding yourself as a leader and aligning actions with your core values. Authenticity helps leaders influence and inspire teams more effectively.
2. Creating trust in new roles starts with listening. Leaders joining new teams can establish trust by truly understanding team members and their needs.
3. Using effective communication involves asking open-ended questions like “Help me understand.” This approach prevents defensiveness and promotes open, constructive dialogue.
4. Approaching leadership as experimentation allows growth as a journey, giving leaders the freedom to try new approaches and learn from each experience.

In this episode:

[00:01:00] Rachel outlines three challenges leaders commonly face: transitioning into strategy, needing an external thought partner, and developing people skills.

[00:05:59] Paige asks about building trust as a new leader, prompting Rachel’s insights on listening, understanding team culture, and respecting established workflows.

[00:08:10] Rachel recounts a story of coaching a high-performing leader who struggled with people management, demonstrating the importance of self-awareness.

[00:11:24] Rachel discusses the gap between leadership intent and team perception, encouraging leaders to bridge this by understanding how their actions impact others.

[00:21:00] Rachel provides actionable advice on active listening and emotional regulation in challenging conversations.

[00:28:33] Paige and Rachel reflect on curiosity, highlighting the value of admitting “I don’t know” to encourage openness and mutual learning.

[00:38:00] Rachel shares two key leadership lessons: the value of hiring people who challenge you and embracing constant learning.

Resources

1. The Women In The Arena

2. Rise Facebook Community

3. Listen on Apple Podcasts

4. Listen on Spotify

5. Watch on YouTube

6. Catamentum Leadership Coaching: Visit Rachel's website

7. Rachel’s upcoming book, Butterfly Goo: The Down and Dirty Truth of Transformation

8. Follow Paige on Instagram: @paige_rene15

9. Leadership is Language Book

10. Leadership Circle 360

11. Follow Rachel Burr on LinkedIn

Quotes

1. “As a leader, you may have something you need to work through. It’s not ready to talk through to maybe your leader or definitely not the board, if you’re the CEO. It’s not something you want to talk with your team about, it’s just not appropriate.” – Rachel on the importance of having a confidential thought partner

2. “Own the ‘I don’t know’…if you’re outside your comfort zone and you’re stepping out there, taking risks, doing new things, if you already know everything, you’re not outside your comfort zone.” – Rachel on embracing growth