Lady Startup

Feeling like you need to perform "interesting" at work by cramming business news and sitting in irrelevant meetings? Wondering if there's a secret timing hack for job applications that TikTok swears by? Or maybe you're the boss's unwanted favourite and it's making your work life hell? This week, we're tackling workplace performance anxiety, job application myths, and the tricky politics of being singled out by management. What you'll learn: • The Performative Workplace Trap: Why forcing yourself to seem "interesting" through business news and irrelevant meetings is exhausting and unsustainable, plus authentic ways to stand out that actually showcase your personality • Job Application Timing Truth: Debunking the TikTok theory about the "secret 24-48 hour window" and why you shouldn't game the system, plus real strategies for getting your resume noticed through referrals and connections • Unwanted Favourite Survival Guide: How to set gentle boundaries when your boss overshares and plays favourite

Public speaking. Presentations. Speaking up in meetings. It's the stuff of sweaty palms and racing thoughts, and yet, we're all expected to be good at it. Let's be honest - most of us would rather do literally anything else than stand up and speak in front of people. The pressure to "sound confident" when you're internally screaming can feel paralysing. But here's the thing: you don't have to pretend to be someone you're not to get better at this. This week, Lisa and Em get honest about the fear so many of us feel when it comes to using our voice at work. Whether it's a team meeting, a client pitch, or standing on stage with a microphone, they're sharing their own journeys - from awkward silences to the strategies that actually work. What you'll learn: • The public speaking confidence ladder - how to work your way up from "terrified to speak in meetings" to actual presentations • Why recording yourself (audio only) is genuinely life-changing practice • The "headline, proof, connection" structur

Dealing with a colleague who clearly can't stand you? Managing a scattered team across multiple cities? Or trying to function at work while your heart is completely shattered? This week, we're diving deep into three workplace situations that test your emotional intelligence - from navigating hostile colleagues to building team cohesion across state lines, plus surviving the office when you're going through the worst breakup of your life. What you'll learn: • Hostile Colleague Survival Guide: When "kill them with kindness" isn't working, how to recognise when workplace tension crosses into bullying territory, and the exact conversation to have with HR when it's affecting your performance • Multi-City Team Management Reality Check: Why your company might be setting you up to fail, the team leader structure that actually works across Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Adelaide, and how to push back when you're not given the tools for success • Heartbreak at Work Handbook: The surprising difference betwe

Let's be honest...the leadership playbook that worked five years ago is failing spectacularly right now. The world has fundamentally changed, and clinging to the old "hero leader" approach isn't just outdated, it's actively damaging your team. This week, we're ditching the pressure to have all the answers and exploring why getting curious beats being right. From why self-aware leaders crush those who think they're perfect, to choosing confidence over certainty. We explore why thinking in loops beats linear planning, tackle the self-preservation trap making leaders hoard information, and bust the myth that good leaders always know what to do. What you'll learn: • The one question that separates great leaders from terrible ones: "What's more important - being right or solving this?" • How to use the 70/20/10 planning model when your boss still wants that impossible five-year plan • Why "seeker" leaders outperform "teller" leaders every time (and how to make the switch) • The health monitor t

Been thrown into running team meetings without a clue how to actually run them? Stressing about whether to mention that decade-old school captain role on your resume? Or maybe you're overthinking the "proper" way to call in sick at 3am when you're genuinely unwell? This week, we're tackling three workplace dilemmas that will have you nodding along going "yup, I've definitely been there" - from meeting management that actually works to resume anxiety relief, plus the real protocol for sick days without the guilt. What you'll learn: • Meeting Management That Actually Works: Why agendas are your secret weapon, how to assign roles so people engage instead of zone out, and the psychology trick that makes you the facilitator, not the bad guy • Resume Reality Check: What recruiters actually scan for in 2025, why you need different versions for different roles, and how to leverage LinkedIn as your detailed story while keeping resumes conversational • Sick Day Confidence Script: The timing that actually

There's one moment that can completely transform your career trajectory, the job interview. Yet most of us approach it with outdated advice, generic answers, and crossed fingers. We rock up thinking we can wing it, hoping they won't ask about our biggest weakness and secretly panicking about whether we've done enough research. Meanwhile, there's always that one candidate who seems to have it all figured out, asking thoughtful questions and making genuine connections. What's their secret? The truth is, interviewing is a skill that can be mastered. And when you get it right, it opens doors you never thought possible. This week on BIZ, we're breaking down how to turn interview anxiety into interview advantage. Whether you're re-entering the workforce, changing careers, or climbing the ladder, this is your roadmap to interview success. Here's what we're covering: • The strategic research that sets you apart before you even walk through the door • Four powerful questions that demonstrate you're seri

Got a boss who's lovely but completely useless at giving feedback? Dreading every Monday morning and wondering how everyone else makes their nine-to-five look so Instagram-worthy? Or maybe you've been added to the office gossip Slack channel and don't know whether to stay in the drama or make your escape? This week, we're tackling three workplace situations that'll feel painfully familiar - from getting constructive feedback when your manager won't give it, to romanticising your work life when you've lost that loving feeling, plus navigating the ultimate office drama dilemma. What you'll learn: • Feedback-Free Boss Solutions: Why your manager thinks about you way less than you think, how to schedule monthly feedback meetings that actually work, and why seeking feedback from peers and other leaders is just as valuable • Work Life Romance Revival: How to tell the difference between normal work slumps and serious burnout, why those aesthetic work TikToks are total BS, and practical ways to fall back in

Let's be honest...thinking you can just pick up where you left off after maternity leave is like expecting to run a marathon after taking a year off training. Everything's changed - including you. This week, we're tackling the messy, meaningful reality of returning to work after maternity leave and how to keep growing your career when your priorities have completely shifted. From navigating the emotional whirlwind of feeling like a different person at work, to mastering the art of being visible when you're working part-time. We explore why the "mental load" hits harder than anyone warns you about, tackle the confidence crisis that comes with feeling like people are doing you a favour by giving you part-time work, and bust the myth that career growth stops when you start working flexibly. What you'll learn:  How to have the pre-return conversation that prevents you from drowning in an impossible workload • The salary negotiation reality check - if you were on $100k full-time, that budget still exis

Feeling like the office weakest link in your new role? Your partner's "work wife / husband" making you seriously uncomfortable? Or maybe you're just trying to master the art of looking busy on those "done by lunch" WFH Fridays? This week, we're serving up the exact strategies and scripts you need to handle these sticky situations - from reframing new role anxiety to having that awkward work wife conversation, plus tactical Friday WFH hacks. What you'll learn: • New Role Confidence Toolkit: Why the "drowning" feeling means you're doing it right, plus how to reframe imposter syndrome using the HP study that shows men apply at 60% qualified • Friday WFH Survival Tactics: Specific strategies for spreading workload, scheduling emails, and staying available without being glued to your desk • The Work Wife Conversation Script: Exact approaches for discussing boundaries with your partner and red flags to watch for when workplace friendships cross the line Welcome to BIZ Inbox, your go-to workplace advi

Let's be honest...waiting until you feel "ready" to make a career move is like waiting for the perfect weather to start exercising. It's never going to happen, and meanwhile, everyone else is getting ahead. This week, we're diving deep into why learning isn't just nice-to-have anymore - it's career insurance. Our guest Andrea Clark has spent her career helping people adapt fast, and she doesn't believe in waiting until you're ready to grow. From recognizing when that "mutual value exchange" with your employer has run its course, to spotting signals of change before they become obvious to everyone else. We explore why Andrea invested $3,000 in an AI course back in 2017 (spoiler: it paid off massively) and tackle the biggest blocker to career growth - thinking you need to feel 100% confident before taking action. What you'll learn: • The "mutual value exchange" test to know when it's time to move on • How to spot signals of change 5 years before your industry • Micro-learning strategies for

Workplace oversharing making you cringe? Your messy ex just applied to work at your company? And someone definitely overheard you venting about colleagues to your husband? This week, we're tackling the most awkward workplace situations that have you lying awake at 3am wondering how to fix them. We decode the delicate art of telling a colleague they share way too much personal information, reveal what to do when your romantic history collides with your professional life, and share the exact words to use when your private conversation becomes very public. What you'll discover: • The Oversharer's Dilemma: How to address a colleague who won't stop talking about their period and sex life without becoming the office prude • The Ex-Files: Real strategies for when your messy breakup threatens to invade your workplace (plus Em's brutal confession about sabotaging an ex's job application) • The Overheard Conversation: Exactly what to say when someone catches you venting about work to your spouse • T

Let's be honest...stuff like "personal branding" and "networking" can feel so cringey. But this kind of work - building relationships, putting yourself out there, making sure people know what you do - isn't optional anymore. This week, we're tackling the awkward space between wanting recognition and not wanting to feel like you're constantly selling yourself. We explore why 70% of Australian jobs happen through the "hidden job market" and how making your "invisible work" visible is key to career growth without the cringe factor. From the difference between visible work (what's in your job description) and invisible work (the relationships you build and unique perspective you bring) to navigating LinkedIn's evolution from professional networking to... whatever it is now. We unpack how to do it in a way that feels like you - not like you're selling yourself - plus practical ways to start showing up without feeling like a walking LinkedIn post. What you'll learn: Why "idea promotion" feels so much better than s

Do networking events make you want to hide in the bathroom? Your colleagues keep dumping their disasters on your desk? And everyone's talking about "conscious unbossing" like it's the career move of the century? This week, we're diving deep into the workplace trends that are reshaping how we think about success. We decode the viral conscious unbossing movement that's got Gen Z turning down promotions (and whether it's genius or career suicide), plus we tackle the networking game without sounding desperate and reveal the diplomatic ways to tell colleagues their chaos isn't your problem. What you'll discover: • The Conscious Unbossing Reality Check: Why turning down promotions might be the smartest move you never considered • The Zookeeper's Power Move: How one woman refused every promotion to stay happy (and why her boss loved it) • The Networking Breakthrough: The one question that transforms awkward coffee chats into real connections • The Boundary Setting Bible: Diplomatic ways to say "t

Ever suggest something new at work only to hear "that's just how we do things here" and watch the energy completely deflate? Yeah, we've all been there. This week, we're chatting with Wade Kingsley about breaking free from status quo thinking and actually getting your ideas heard without being shut down or laughed at (been there too). Wade breaks down why most workplaces are set up to reward playing it safe, how to identify whether you're a Dreamer, Doer, or Doubter on your team, and the genius strategy of testing ideas in kitchen conversations before you pitch them to the boss. Plus, we dive into why creativity isn't about having the most artistic job - it's about getting curious and asking "but what if we tried this instead?" when everyone else just accepts the way things are. What you'll learn: The Three Creative Types and why your team needs all of them (spoiler: it's not just about the big idea people) Why you should never pitch your brilliant idea to the boss first - and who to talk to instead The 'Fiv

Your boss just stole your brilliant idea. Again. While you're sitting there feeling invisible, they're presenting "their" genius solution to the entire leadership team. Sound familiar? You're not alone. Idea theft is alive and well in Australian offices, and this week we're giving you the tools to fight back. We're also tackling the mortifying moment we've all had - crying at work - and helping a millennial navigate the tricky waters of managing a team of boomers. This week we're solving workplace dilemmas that hit close to home, from generational clashes to protecting your intellectual property! What you'll learn: • The Authority Paradox: How to earn respect when you're the youngest person in charge • The Credit Protection System: Simple tactics to stop your boss stealing your ideas • The Crying Recovery Plan: How to bounce back professionally after showing emotion at work • The Generational Bridge: Why adapting your style (temporarily) isn't selling out • The Paper Trail S

Working your way up isn't just about putting in more hours or waiting your turn. It's about being strategic, being visible, and knowing how to navigate the messy middle - like relationships, timing, and office politics. This week, we're giving you the exact playbook to stop waiting around for someone to tell you that you're ready for a promotion and how to actually make it happen instead. We dig into how to know if you're actually ready to move up (spoiler: time in seat doesn't equal readiness), the art of asking for advancement without sounding pushy or awkward, and how to build the kind of reputation that makes people want to champion your career. Plus, we tackle what to do when you tick all the boxes but still don't get the promotion - and why that might actually be the best thing that could happen to you. What you'll learn: The Readiness Reality Check: How to get honest feedback about where you stand and what a "10 out of 10" performance actually looks like The Promotion Conversation Reframe: Why you sho

The hardest worker in the office used to get ahead. Now they just get... tired. While you're burning out at your desk, your colleagues are booking year-long "micro retirements" and somehow still getting promoted. This week we're cracking the code on why grinding harder isn't working anymore - and revealing what actually gets you ahead instead. We decode the viral micro retirement trend that's got twenty and thirty-somethings quitting their jobs to travel (spoiler: it's not for everyone), plus we tackle the corporate jargon takeover and expose a workplace trick that's stealing your paycheck. What you'll discover: • The Hard Worker's Trap: Why staying late is sabotaging your success • The Micro Retirement Test: Should you quit your job to travel? (The honest answer) • The Deathbed Reality Check: What people actually regret about their careers • The Jargon Shutdown: How to kill corporate speak without looking difficult • The Part-Time Scam: The simple trick

Going from mate to manager can get weird, fast. One day you're in the group chat laughing with your colleagues, the next day they might be laughing at you behind your back. This week, we're tackling one of the trickiest workplace transitions: becoming the boss of your former teammates. We dig into why this shift feels so bloody awkward (spoiler: it's not just you), how to navigate the immediate identity crisis when suddenly nobody wants to gossip with you anymore, and the art of setting expectations without turning into a micromanager overnight. Plus, we reveal the coaching trick that gets people to solve their own problems, why letting your team do "B plus work" is actually good leadership, and when to recognise that management might not be for you - and that's completely okay. What you'll learn: The Reset Conversation: How to acknowledge the shift without making it weird The B Plus Work Philosophy: Why perfectionist managers fail their teams The Question Technique: The coaching trick that creates ownership

When workplace flirting gets dangerously hot, should you risk everything for a colleague you can't stop thinking about? This week we tackle the steamiest workplace dilemma we've ever received: months of "dangerous flirting" that's reached breaking point. Then we solve what happens when your dream job becomes a nightmare faster than you can update your LinkedIn, and reveal why three weeks is the worst possible time to make any career decisions, plus the one conversation that could save you from a massive mistake. Plus, is there a colleague at work who makes you feel like the awkward new kid while they're the popular one everyone knows? We tackle workplace insecurity head-on, revealing the simple strategy that transforms your biggest workplace threat into your secret career weapon. What you'll learn:  The Insecurity Antidote: How to transform workplace jealousy into career advancement The 3-Week Rule: Why this timeline is too early to judge any new role (and what to do instead) The Safety vs Challenge Fra

"Be prepared to stretch and take yourself out of your comfort zone - there is incredible learning and growth in that." In this special episode, Em had the opportunity to get online with Sarah Harden, (the Australian powerhouse who co-founded Reese Witherspoon's $100 million media empire Hello Sunshine) reveals the career strategies that transformed her from a Melbourne politics graduate into one of Hollywood's most influential female executives. No theoretical fluff—just the exact mindset shifts and strategic moves that built the company behind Big Little Lies, The Morning Show, and Little Fires Everywhere. Listening to this episode will teach you: The specific career move that accelerates everything (and why most women never make it) How to replace self-doubt with curiosity when evaluating opportunities Why stepping into discomfort is the fastest path to exponential career growth The exact framework for turning consumer insights into multi-million dollar business decisions How to build authentic compa