Future Women Leadership Series

Hosted by FW

Business

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Episodes

100

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

EN-AU

About the show

Leadership takes courage and resilience. Host and founder of Future Women, Helen McCabe shares insights from some of the most influential women on the sometimes complex challenges faced by women on the path to senior leadership. Leadership thought-leaders will inform and at times challenge your thinking on what it means to be leader and advise you on how to build respect and loyalty from your team members. Future Women is a club for women to connect, learn and lead. To find out more go to futurewomen.com

Listen to episodes

60 recent

June 10, 202633 min

Sophie McCarthy's guide to all things mentoring

What are common mistakes people make when they want to seek out a mentor?  Sophie McCarthy is the CEO of McCarthy Mentoring, a company that helps to match leaders with a network of coaches. In this episode, she speaks with FW Founder Helen McCabe about mentors, how to find one and her ‘glass half full’ approach to leading. Plus, this season Helen McCabe is answering your leadership questions. Wait to the end of the episode to hear her take on sick day oversharing. If you have any leadership dilemmas, send them her way by emailing hello@futurewomen.com.  Join the movement to fast-track your professional development. Become an FW member today. Keep up with @futurewomen on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Threads See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

June 3, 202628 min

Nathalie McNeil on people, pressure and progress

Nathalie McNeil is one of the most accomplished leaders in Australia’s healthcare sector. A pharmacist by training, today she is the VP and General Manager ANZ at Abbvie. In this episode, she speaks with FW Founder Helen McCabe about the shift from technical expert to people leader, and what it takes to lead with clarity, trust and self-regulation.  Plus, this season Helen McCabe is answering your leadership questions. Wait until the end of the episode to hear her advice. If you have any leadership dilemmas, send them her way by emailing hello@futurewomen.com.  Join the movement to fast-track your professional development. Become an FW member today. Keep up with @futurewomen on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Threads See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 27, 202639 min

Sarah Moran on why leaders must learn to ignore stuff

What if leadership is about all the little things you choose to overlook?  Sarah Moran is the founder of Girl Geek Academy, an organisation that’s encouraging more women to stay in tech careers. In this episode, she speaks with FW Founder Helen McCabe about AI, hustlers and the importance of ignoring stuff as a leader.  Plus, this season Helen McCabe is answering your leadership questions. Wait to the end of the episode to hear her take on managing older employees. If you have any leadership dilemmas, send them her way by emailing hello@futurewomen.com.  Join the movement to fast-track your professional development. Become an FW member today. Keep up with @futurewomen on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Threads See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 20, 202637 min

Dr Siri Chilazi on how to hire the best

What is the best and fairest way to find top talent?  Dr Siri Chilazi is a senior researcher at the women and public policy program at Harvard Kennedy School. She looks at research-backed ways to boost fairness and gender equality in the workplace. In this episode, she speaks with series producer Odessa Blain about the most common hiring mistakes and leaders should set about fixing them.  Plus, this season Helen McCabe is answering your leadership questions. Wait to the end of the episode to hear her take on managing older employees. If you have any leadership dilemmas, send them her way by emailing hello@futurewomen.com.  Join the movement to fast-track your professional development. Become an FW member today. Keep up with @futurewomen on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Threads See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 13, 202630 min

How to futureproof your career

What are some of the best ways to remain relevant in the age of AI? This panel discussion, recorded live at the FW Leadership Summit, will help you to identify the skills required to futureproof your career and avoid being left behind. With Jobs and Skills Australia's Cliff Bingham, CSIRO's Stefan Hajkowicz and Hudson's Kimberley Hubble. Moderated by journalist Leila McKinnon.  Join the movement to fast-track your professional development. Become an FW member today. Keep up with @futurewomen on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Threads See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 6, 202638 min

Jasmin Bedir on why you should hire the diva

Why are organisations so often afraid of taking on a challenging, passionate employee?  Jasmin Bedir is a powerhouse creative and CEO of advertising agency Innocean. In this episode, she speaks with Helen McCabe about innate influence, hiring and being a self-described "annoying" employee.  Plus, this season Helen McCabe is answering your leadership questions. Wait to the end of the episode to hear her take on managing friends and lateness. If you have any leadership dilemmas, send them her way by emailing hello@futurewomen.com.  Join the movement to fast-track your professional development. Become an FW member today. Keep up with @futurewomen on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Threads See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

April 29, 202623 min

How to move past redundancy shame

This panel discussion, recorded live at the FW Leadership Summit, examines how to recover from redundancy and complex workplace situations. With actor/author/podcaster Mary Coustas, The Lantern Group's managing director Victoria Buchan and FW’s learning design and content specialist Briana Blackett. Moderated by FW Founder Helen McCabe.  Join the movement to fast-track your professional development. Become an FW member today. Keep up with @futurewomen on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Threads See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

April 23, 202636 min

Kerri Hartland on how to keep leadership secrets

Kerri Hartland leads Australia’s most secret organisation. She oversees our network of spies and intelligence officers as the first-ever female Director-General of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS). But this highly-respected and accomplished leader has also had anything but a linear career path. In this episode, she speaks with FW's Helen McCabe about career pivots, keeping secrets and the three Cs that guide her leadership philosophy. Plus, this season Helen McCabe is answering your leadership questions. Wait to the end of the episode to hear her take on public speaking. If you have any leadership dilemmas, send them her way by emailing hello@futurewomen.com.  Join the movement to fast-track your professional development. Become an FW member today. Keep up with @futurewomen on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Threads See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

April 15, 202628 min

How to fix workplace culture killers

From passive aggressive emails to a 'not my job' mentality, there are corporate habits that might seem small but can creep up and create a toxic company culture. This panel discussion, recorded live at the FW Leadership Summit, will help you identify workplace culture killers and give you the tools to set about eliminating them.  With The Mathpath's Aubrey Blanche, disability advocate Anja Christoffersen, FW’s Head of Business Expansion, Ruby Leahy Gatfield and Gippsland Critical Minerals CEO Michelle Wood. Moderated by journalist and presenter Leila McKinnon.  Join the movement to fast-track your professional development. Become an FW member today. Keep up with @futurewomen on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Threads See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

April 13, 202632 min

BONUS FW series: Melanie Silva was "too excited"

For years, in every performance review, Melanie Silva was told she was “too excited”. Too passionate. Not serious enough. Then she joined Google and, suddenly, that enthusiasm was exactly what was wanted. In this episode, Briana Blackett speaks with Mel – now the Vice President and Managing Director of Google Australia and New Zealand – about taking pay cuts to chase opportunities and why she's grateful she didn't get her dream job the first time around. This is a conversation about pivoting sideways and, even, backward. Because sometimes the best way up is not straight ahead.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.