She Leads Collective Podcast: stories, allyship and confidence tools for women

S3 Ep6: Women, Money and Financial Confidence with Yasmine El Mehairy

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2489643/fan_mail/new] So much of the conversation around women and money focuses on gaps — pay gaps, pension gaps, investment gaps and funding gaps. But what if the deeper issue is also about confidence, exposure, access and invitation? In this episode, Mary is joined by Yasmine El Mehairy, entrepreneur, educator and fintech leader, for the first in a three-part mini-series exploring women and finance. Yasmin shares her journey from computer science in Egypt to entrepreneurship, fintech and financial education in the UK. She speaks honestly about building and closing businesses, losing money through poor financial advice, navigating identity and difference, and why women need to see themselves as investors far earlier than many currently do. This is a conversation about money, but it is also about agency, self-belief, role models, risk, privilege, and creating more choices for women. Connect with Yasmine on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/yasmineelmehairy/ 🔗 Connect with Mary: marygregory.com [https://marygregory.com] 📣 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marygregory [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marygregory?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BW4x6Jp3MT2SOdG3BzSansQ%3D%3D]  📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mary_gregory/  📰 Newsletter: Subscribe on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7029410958645059584  🎙 Want to be a guest? Get in touch!  ⭐ Subscribe, share & leave a review  ✨ Produced by Mary Gregory Leadership Coaching

S3 Ep5: Women in STEM, Neurodivergence and Quiet Leadership with Akua Opong

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2489643/fan_mail/new] What does leadership look like when you do not fit the traditional mould? In this episode of the She Leads Collective Podcast, Mary is joined by Akua Opong, Senior Engineer at the London Stock Exchange Group, advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion, mentor, volunteer and powerful role model for women in STEM. Akua shares her journey from wanting to become a paediatrician, to studying computer science, working with Rolls-Royce and BMW, and building a career in technology. She talks honestly about being a Black woman in STEM, being neurodivergent, managing her energy as an introvert, and choosing to lead and influence without becoming someone she is not. This is a conversation about quiet leadership, representation, allyship, social mobility, mentoring, and the importance of creating environments where different people can thrive. In this episode, we explore: How Akua found her way into STEM  - Why representation matters in technology and leadership  - What it means to be a quiet but powerful leader  - Neurodivergence, ADHD, dyslexia and managing energy  - The importance of mentors, sponsors and allies  - Why organisations need to look harder at the data on women in STEM  - How small acts of contribution can make a real difference Akua’s message is clear: you do not have to change who you are to make an impact. Your difference may be part of your strength. Connect with Akua on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/akua-opong/ 🔗 Connect with Mary: marygregory.com [https://marygregory.com] 📣 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marygregory [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marygregory?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BW4x6Jp3MT2SOdG3BzSansQ%3D%3D]  📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mary_gregory/  📰 Newsletter: Subscribe on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7029410958645059584  🎙 Want to be a guest? Get in touch!  ⭐ Subscribe, share & leave a review  ✨ Produced by Mary Gregory Leadership Coaching

S3 Ep4: It’s Not a Confidence Problem: Lauren Neal on Bias, Leadership and Women in STEM

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2489643/fan_mail/new] What if the problem isn’t your confidence, but the system you’re trying to succeed in? In this episode of the She Leads Collective Podcast, Mary Gregory is joined by Lauren Neal, chartered engineer, chartered project professional, founder of Valued at Work and author of the book of the same name. Lauren has spent nearly two decades delivering complex projects in the energy sector, and in this honest and powerful conversation, she shares her experiences of both blatant and subtle workplace bias — from being set up to fail early in her career, to being told she didn’t fit the “tribe” of project management because she didn’t drink, swear or behave like the men around her. Together, Mary and Lauren explore why this is not simply about individual confidence, but about culture, systems, leadership and belonging. They discuss: *  How bias shows up in male-dominated environments  *  Why women are often told to change themselves rather than the system changing  *  The hidden “club” that shapes opportunity and progression  *  What real allyship looks like in meetings and decision-making  *  Why inclusive leadership is central to performance  *  What women can do to hold onto their value when the culture around them undermines it  This episode is for women navigating bias at work, leaders who want to understand what inclusion really requires, and anyone committed to building workplaces where people are truly valued. Connect with Lauren on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenneal/ Buy Laurens book Valued At Work - https://amzn.eu/d/01pUbhvf 🔗 Connect with Mary: marygregory.com [https://marygregory.com] 📣 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marygregory [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marygregory?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BW4x6Jp3MT2SOdG3BzSansQ%3D%3D]  📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mary_gregory/  📰 Newsletter: Subscribe on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7029410958645059584  🎙 Want to be a guest? Get in touch!  ⭐ Subscribe, share & leave a review  ✨ Produced by Mary Gregory Leadership Coaching

S3 Ep3 The Mental Load at Home: Steph Douglas on Equality, Relationships and Women’s Leadership

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2489643/fan_mail/new] Why do so many high-performing women still carry the invisible weight of running everything at home? In this second conversation with Steph Douglas, we shift the focus from business to what’s happening behind the scenes — and why it matters more than we often acknowledge. In this follow-up episode, Mary continues the conversation with Steph Douglas, founder of Don’t Buy Her Flowers, to explore the reality of the mental load — the invisible planning, organising and emotional labour that many women continue to carry. Together, they unpack how traditional roles still shape modern relationships, why equality at home is often harder than it looks, and how this hidden load directly impacts women’s careers, energy and progression. Steph shares her own honest experience of navigating resentment, difficult conversations and redefining partnership with her husband — and what has helped them move towards a more balanced way of living and working. They also explore what organisations can do differently, why role modelling matters, and how small shifts at home can create bigger shifts at work. This is a practical, honest and deeply relevant conversation for anyone who cares about leadership, gender equity and what it really takes to create sustainable success. Connect with Steph on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephdouglas/ Visit Don't Buy Her Flowers - https://www.dontbuyherflowers.com/ Listen to Stephs podcast or read her blog - https://www.dontbuyherflowers.com/blog 🔗 Connect with Mary: marygregory.com [https://marygregory.com] 📣 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marygregory [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marygregory?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BW4x6Jp3MT2SOdG3BzSansQ%3D%3D]  📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mary_gregory/  📰 Newsletter: Subscribe on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7029410958645059584  🎙 Want to be a guest? Get in touch!  ⭐ Subscribe, share & leave a review  ✨ Produced by Mary Gregory Leadership Coaching

S3 Ep2: Steph Douglas on Building Don’t Buy Her Flowers: From New Mum Insight to Acquisition

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2489643/fan_mail/new] What if the best business ideas don’t come from grand strategy, but from noticing something small that others simply accept? In this episode, Mary speaks with Steph Douglas, founder of Don’t Buy Her Flowers, about how a deeply personal experience as a new mum became the starting point for a thoughtful, values-led gifting business. After receiving multiple bouquets of flowers after the birth of her first child, Steph Douglas found herself wondering why we so often send gifts that are well-meant, but not always what someone truly needs. That insight became the seed for Don’t Buy Her Flowers, a business built around care, empathy and practical support. In this conversation, Steph shares how her background in brand and marketing helped her understand customers, how a blog and community became the foundation for the business, and what it took to grow, adapt and eventually navigate acquisition. Mary and Steph also explore the realities of leadership behind the scenes: rapid growth during Covid, the pressure of financial uncertainty, the emotional toll of running a business, and the importance of staying connected to what matters most. This is a conversation about thoughtful leadership, customer insight, resilience, motherhood, business growth and what it really means to lead with care. Connect with Steph on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephdouglas/ Visit Don't Buy Her Flowers - https://www.dontbuyherflowers.com/ Listen to Stephs podcast or read her blog - https://www.dontbuyherflowers.com/blog 🔗 Connect with Mary: marygregory.com [https://marygregory.com] 📣 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marygregory [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marygregory?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BW4x6Jp3MT2SOdG3BzSansQ%3D%3D]  📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mary_gregory/  📰 Newsletter: Subscribe on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7029410958645059584  🎙 Want to be a guest? Get in touch!  ⭐ Subscribe, share & leave a review  ✨ Produced by Mary Gregory Leadership Coaching