Lady Startup

How important is it to ‘drink the koolaid’ at work? Today Em Vernem and Soph Hirst explain why this argument is flawed, and what you do need to do to get ahead.Plus we deep dive into career development plans and will teach you how to be the architect, not the passenger, of your own career. And finally we asked you on our Biz instagram about the most unhinged thing a boss has said to you and we are APPALLED. You won’t believe some of the answers we share.Welcome to BIZ Inbox, where we turn your anonymous workplace questions into actionable advice. Think of us as your career group chat. Consider this your chance to get free career advice from people who've been there.Sign up to the BIZ newsletter here to get Soph’s framework for reaching your career development goals. If you want your work life issue solved, send us a voice note or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au. You can be anon!THE END BITSSupport independent women's mediaFollow the Biz Instagram, Michelle’s startup Sunroom an

Whether you're looking to earn extra cash or dream of quitting your day job, this conversation delivers the practical blueprint you've been searching for.We meet creative entrepreneur Georgia Norton Lodge who offers brutally honest advice about what it actually takes to build a sustainable side hustle. She shares the exact steps that helped her transform a $35 product into a $500 one, and how a single email to her database once made her $16,000.Plus you’ll learn:- the Venn diagram approach to identifying your perfect side hustle- six practical steps to get started (even with no time or budget)- realistic timelines and expectations- when to know if your side hustle is working (or when to let it go)Check out Georgia’s courses and workshops, and you can follow her on LinkedIn and Insta.Sign up to the BIZ newsletter hereYou might be interested in our episodes on:How To Talk So People Listen To YouHow To Be More Productive (Without Trying Too Hard)Time Blocking Doesn't Work (Until You Do It Right)How T

Ever shared something awkward with the big boss and immediately regretted it? This week we're solving the ultimate workplace etiquette dilemma – whether it's appropriate to mention your CEO's personal LinkedIn posts in real life. And if you're eyeing the exit door, stick around for our top three tips on how to resign without burning bridges or making things painfully awkward. Welcome to BIZ Inbox, your workplace advice hotline where writer and podcaster Em Vernem teams up with entrepreneur Michelle Battersby tackle the workplace questions you've secretly googled in incognito mode! If you want your work life issue solved, send us a voice note or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au.Sign up to the BIZ newsletter hereTHE END BITSSupport independent women's mediaFollow the Biz Instagram, Michelle’s startup Sunroom and Soph’s career coaching business Workbaby.HOSTS: Michelle Battersby and Em VernemEXEC PRODUCER: Georgie PageAUDIO PRODUCER: Leah Porges Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of

Ever felt that full-body cringe when someone suggests "let's network"? You're not alone. In this episode of BIZ, career powerhouses Michelle Battersby and Soph Hirst completely redefine networking for people who hate networking. Michelle reveals how she flipped the script with her genius "Anti-Network" events, while Soph shares how she built one of tech's most valuable professional networks... from a gutter (yes, really).Get their exact scripts for cold LinkedIn outreach that won't make you die inside, learn exactly where to stand at a networking event so you don’t waste your time, and discover which networking style actually works for your personality.Sign up to the BIZ newsletter hereYou might be interested in our episodes on:How To Talk So People Listen To YouHow To Be More Productive (Without Trying Too Hard)Time Blocking Doesn't Work (Until You Do It Right)How To Ask For More Money (Without Dying From Awkwardness)THE END BITSSupport independent women's media.Follow the Biz Instagram, Michelle&

This week we're advocating for the unsung heroes of the corporate world – EAs, PAs, and Assistants, you know the people who do it all – with practical tips on how to showcase your true value beyond "just" scheduling. Plus, the definitive guide to work trip etiquette (can your partner tag along in the company-paid hotel?), and Michelle reveals exactly when new business owners should make their big announcement.Welcome to BIZ Inbox, where Em Vernem and Michelle Battersby turn your anonymous workplace questions into actionable advice. Think of us as your career group chat. Consider this your chance to get free career advice from people who've been there.Writer and podcaster Em Vernem teams up with entrepreneur Michelle Battersby to tackle your trickiest workplace dilemmas.If you want your work life issue solved, send us a voice note or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au.Sign up to the BIZ newsletter hereTHE END BITSSupport independent women's mediaFollow the Biz Instagram, Michelle’s startup Su

Are your emails undermining your authority without you even realising it? In this episode, we dive into the fascinating psychology behind how we communicate at work and how gendered email habits might be holding you back at work. Learn the simple word swaps that instantly make you sound more confident, the shocking truth about exclamation marks (hint: they might be sabotaging you), and the military communication technique that gets faster responses every time. Whether you're managing up, collaborating with colleagues, or building client relationships, these practical communication hacks will save you time and boost your professional reputation. Let's make 2025 the year we all communicate better.You might be interested in our episodes on:How To Talk So People Listen To YouHow To Be More Productive (Without Trying Too Hard)Time Blocking Doesn't Work (Until You Do It Right)How To Ask For More Money (Without Dying From Awkwardness) Sign up to the BIZ newsletter hereTHE END BITSSupport independent women's media.Fo

Today we teach you how to stay motivated when you don’t love your job, plus we have a controversial take on work calendar etiquette. Plus career coach Soph Hirst lets us in on one of the questions she’s most often asked about micro-mangers (we’ve all had one). Welcome to BIZ Inbox, your new workplace group chat where we answer all the awkward workplace scenarios you've been dying to solve, hosted by Em Vernem and Soph Hirst.Em is loving Michelle and Sophie’s Task Pebbles strategy, hear how do to it and how to effectively time block  - which she is doing too here.If you want your work life issue solved, send us a voice note or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au (you can be anon!) Sign up to the BIZ newsletter here and follow the Biz Instagram here. THE END BITSSupport independent women's mediaFollow Michelle's startup Sunroom and Soph’s career coaching business Workbaby.HOSTS: Soph Hirst and Em VernemEXEC PRODUCER: Kimberly BraddishAUDIO PRODUCER: Leah PorgesMamamia ackn

Ever wondered what building a business is REALLY like behind those glossy Instagram posts? In this must-listen episode, Michelle Battersby (Sunroom founder) pulls back the curtain on entrepreneurship's harsh realities with the 8 business mantras she learned the hard way that apply whether you're a founder or climbing the corporate ladder. Learn why perfectionism kills products, how to approach competitors, the surprising way to attract investors, and what to do when employees literally steal from you.Whether you're dreaming of starting something or leading a team, this episode is your essential guide to avoiding startup mistakes that nobody warns you about!Here is Michelle’s 75-question Questionnaire to help ascertain if you have found your founder fit!Sign up to the BIZ newsletter hereTHE END BITSSupport independent women's media.Follow the Biz Instagram, Michelle’s startup Sunroom and Soph’s career coaching business Workbaby.Got a work life dilemma? Send us all the questions you definitely

Today we tackle some extra juicy workplace dilemmas that are all submitted by you anonymously! If you’re saddled with a slack coworker, we’ll tell you the sentence to use with your boss to instigate change. Plus we’ll discuss how to deal with a manager’s vague instruction and the dodgy desk etiquette we hate. Welcome to BIZ Inbox, your new workplace group chat where we answer the burning questions you definitely can't ask your boss. Writer and podcaster Em Vernem teams up with super career coach Soph Hirst to tackle your trickiest workplace dilemmas. If you want your work life issue solved, send us a voice note or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au.  Sign up to the BIZ newsletter here and follow the Biz Instagram here. See Em’s list of 23 workplace rules you’re definitely breaking.THE END BITSSupport independent women's mediaFollow Michelle's startup Sunroom and Soph’s career coaching business Workbaby.If you would like to participate in our brand uplift study fo

This episode will completely transform how you'll think about managing your time, as we deep dive into the often misunderstood practice of time blocking with productivity expert Deb Ho.If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by your to-do list or struggled to focus on deep work; join Em Vernem, Michelle Battersby and Soph Hirst to learn practical solutions that don't require you to become a "productivity robot". And if you’re time blocking skeptic or have tried and abandoned it before, this episode will give you the clear, precise direction you need to transform your workday. Trust us, you’ll soon understand why you need to be spending more time in your calendar than your inbox! Check out Deb Ho’s amazing Time Block Planner and other Productivity Resources.Sign up to the BIZ newsletter hereTHE END BITSSupport independent women's media.Follow the Biz Instagram, Michelle’s startup Sunroom and Soph’s career coaching business Workbaby.Got a work life dilemma? Send us all the questions

This week we are navigating searching for a job while pregnant, firing someone and whether you invite your colleagues to your wedding. Welcome to BIZ Inbox, your new workplace group chat where we answer the burning questions you definitely can't ask your boss. Writer and podcaster Em Vernem teams up with business powerhouse Michelle Battersby to tackle your trickiest workplace dilemmas.If you want your work life issue solved, send us a voice note or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au. Sign up to the BIZ newsletter here and follow the Biz Instagram here. THE END BITSSupport independent women's mediaFollow Michelle's startup Sunroom and Soph’s career coaching business Workbaby.If you would like to participate in our brand uplift study for Hubspot for a chance t win $50, click HEREHOSTS: Michelle Battersby and Em VernemEXEC PRODUCER: Kimberly BraddishAUDIO PRODUCER: Leah PorgesMamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora

This episode will demolish everything you thought you knew about mentorship. Our career coaches Michelle Battersby and Soph Hirst will let you in on a fresh approach to professional development, moving away from the traditional "one perfect mentor" model to a more flexible, inclusive strategy - think less marriage proposal, more dating. Plus you’ll hear the five-sentence email template that's going to help you land that dream mentor conversation. Sign up to the BIZ newsletter hereTHE END BITSSupport independent women's media.Follow the Biz Instagram, Michelle’s startup Sunroom and Soph’s career coaching business Workbaby.If you wanna see three of our favourite girl bosses in action, Mamamia Out Loud is going on tour! Jessie, Mia, Holly and BIZ’s own Em Vernem are heading to Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney in May to celebrate 10 years of Australia’s #1 women’s podcast. Buy tickets to The Mamamia Out Loud LIVE ALL OR NOTHING TOUR here.Got a work life dilemma? Send us al

Ever found yourself stuck in the coffee line with your CEO and suddenly forgetting how to form sentences? Or wondering how to ask for feedback without seeming desperate?Welcome to BIZ Inbox, your new workplace group chat where we answer all the awkward workplace scenarios you've been dying to solve. Writer and podcaster Em Vernem gets career coach extraordinaire Soph Hirst’s foolproof strategy for making small talk with the big boss. Plus you’ll learn why asking for feedback actually shows confidence and get simple but effective ways to make friends at work.If you want your work life issue solved, send us a voice note or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au. Sign up to the BIZ newsletter here and follow the Biz Instagram here. THE END BITSSupport independent women's mediaFollow Michelle's startup Sunroom and Soph’s career coaching business Workbaby.HOSTS: Soph Hirst and Em VernemEXEC PRODUCER: Kimberly BraddishAUDIO PRODUCER: Leah PorgesMamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of

Whether you're navigating a redundancy right now or just want to be prepared, we’re going to change your perspective of redundancy. Mia Freedman takes us behind the headlines of her very public redundancy that led her to founding Mamamia (you won’t believe the job they offered her instead…).You'll hear Mia in conversation with Michelle Battersby and then insight from our career coach Soph Hirst, and you'll get practical advice on how to create a narrative that positions you perfectly for your next role and how to rebuild your confidence and reputation after a career setback.If you want your work life issue solved, send us a voice note or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au. Sign up to the BIZ newsletter here and follow the Biz Instagram here. THE END BITSSupport independent women's mediaFollow Michelle's startup Sunroom and Soph’s career coaching business Workbaby.HOSTS: Michelle Battersby, Soph Hirst and Em VernemEXEC PRODUCER: Kimberly BraddishAUDIO PRODUCER: Leah Porges Ma

Can I line up a personal holiday off the back of a work-funded trip? How do I make sure I'm on my game after a long-haul flight? Should I tell a future employer I have a planned trip? And can I just work from a cafe if I work remotely? Welcome to BIZ Inbox, your new workplace group chat where we answer the burning questions you definitely can't ask your boss.Writer and podcaster Em Vernem teams up with entrepreneur Michelle Battersby to tackle your trickiest workplace dilemmas.If you want your work life issue solved, send us a voice note or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au.Sign up to the BIZ newsletter hereTHE END BITSSupport independent women's mediaFollow the Biz Instagram, Michelle’s startup Sunroom and Soph’s career coaching business Workbaby.HOSTS: Michelle Battersby and Em VernemEXEC PRODUCER: Kimberley BraddishAUDIO PRODUCER: Leah PorgesMamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our resp

Dreaming of quitting your 9-5 to launch that business idea? Before you hand in your resignation, our BIZ career coaches Michelle Battersby and Soph Hirst reveal what it really takes to succeed on your own. Join Em Vernem to discover if entrepreneurship is truly for you, or if you're better suited to thrive elsewhere. Plus Michelle will share her crucial practical 3-step framework to validate your business idea before risking your savingsWhether you're contemplating your first side hustle or seriously considering going all-in on your startup dream, this episode delivers the unfiltered advice you need to make smarter career decisions—minus the entrepreneurial fairy tales.Resources:- Here is the site that Michelle used to make her questionnaire- Here is Sunroom’s early ideation survey from 2020 and Sunroom’s creator research and feedback form, plus here is the Tiktok content she posted.  - Here is the link to Tech Ready Women that Soph was discussing. Sign up to the BIZ news

How do I be taken more seriously? Is it ok to cc someone's boss into a thread if you're trying to escalate an issue? And should you wear Crocs in the office?Welcome to BIZ Inbox, your new workplace group chat where we answer the burning questions you definitely can't ask your boss.Writer and podcaster Em Vernem teams up with career coach Soph Hirst to tackle your trickiest workplace dilemmas.If you want your work life issue solved, send us a voice note or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au.Sign up to the BIZ newsletter hereTHE END BITSSupport independent women's mediaFollow the Biz Instagram, Michelle’s startup Sunroom and Soph’s career coaching business Workbaby.HOSTS: Soph Hirst and Em VernemEXEC PRODUCER: Kimberley BraddishAUDIO PRODUCER: Leah PorgesMamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island

Do you know we ALL should strive to be part personality hire?! Join Em Vernem as we learn about building rapport and ‘vibes’ at work from Biz career coaches Michelle Battersby and Soph Hirst.You’ll learn the surprising science behind why workplace energy matters (yep there's actual research on this!); how to ‘learn’ one character trait that will make you more likeable; and how to bring your full self to work without crossing professional boundaries.Plus we meet Sana from Canva whose job title literally includes the word "vibes" and learn how her department is revolutionising workplace culture.This ep is perfect for anyone questioning their workplace identity, managers trying to build better teams, or anyone who just wants work to be that bit more fun! Sign up to the BIZ newsletter hereTHE END BITSSupport independent women's media.Follow the Biz Instagram, Michelle’s startup Sunroom and Soph’s career coaching business Workbaby.If you wanna see three of our favouri

Do I need to keep my resume up to date? When is the worst time to schedule a work meeting? And how do I handle a coworker who is just plain rude?!Welcome to BIZ Inbox, your new workplace group chat where we answer the burning questions you definitely can't ask your boss.Writer and podcaster Em Vernem teams up with career coach Soph Hirst to tackle your trickiest workplace dilemmas.If you want your work life issue solved, send us a voice note or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au.Sign up to the BIZ newsletter hereTHE END BITSSupport independent women's mediaFollow the Biz Instagram, Michelle’s startup Sunroom and Soph’s career coaching business Workbaby.HOSTS: Soph Hirst and Em VernemEXEC PRODUCER: Kimberly BraddishAUDIO PRODUCER: Leah PorgesMamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Revenge Quitting is going to be 2025’s biggest trend - but what is it, should you do it, and how can it be done with grace? Em Vernem enlists Biz career coaches Michelle Battersby and Soph Hirst to teach us how to quit the right way and how to avoid the wrong way.Plus HR expert Nikola Squires will share how to know when it's time to go, plus the most professional exit strategies.Sign up to the BIZ newsletter hereTHE END BITSSupport independent women's media.Follow the Biz Instagram, Michelle’s startup Sunroom and Soph’s career coaching business Workbaby.Got a work life dilemma? Send us all the questions you definitely can't ask your boss for our Biz Inbox episodes - send us a voice note or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au.HOSTS: Michelle Battersby, Soph Hirst and Em VernemEXEC PRODUCER: Kimberly BraddishAUDIO PRODUCER: Leah PorgesMamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elde