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Rebecca Houghton | AI and Burnout: Why Middle Managers Are Under Siege

Rebecca Houghton | AI and Burnout: Why Middle Managers Are Under Siege

by | Jun 16, 2025 | Blog, Burnout, Female Leaders, Podcast For Women, Transformational Change

A revealing conversation about AI, burnout and a phrase coined by Rebecca Houghton – the B-Suite. Just why are middle managers under siege?

In this episode of the Power Of Women Podcast, Di Gillett sits down with BoldHR founder and middle management expert Rebecca Houghton—and together they dismantle the outdated myths surrounding one of the most critical (and ignored) leadership layers in business today.

🔹 82% of middle managers feel invisible.
🔹 1 in 3 are burning out.
🔹 AI is coming for the middle.

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Rebecca introduces her groundbreaking concept: The B-Suite — a new generation of high-impact leaders who operate with C-Suite influence from the centre of an organisation.

Whether you’re managing teams, navigating change, or bracing for AI disruption — this episode will change how you lead, hire, and survive the next era of work.

In this episode, we interrogate:

  • The shocking truth behind middle manager burnout
  • Why the “career ladder” is officially broken
  • How to become a B-Suite Leader with real influence
  • The surprising ways AI is already reshaping leadership
  • Why visibility is no longer optional for women leaders
  • How emotional intelligence is your greatest career advantage

 

New episodes drop every Monday to power your week.

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Find Rebecca Houghton at:

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-houghton/

Website http://www.boldhr.com/

💬 What do you believe to be the level of influence from the middle?

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Prof. Esther Charlesworth | Building a Better World Through Architecture

Prof. Esther Charlesworth | Building a Better World Through Architecture

by | Jun 9, 2025 | Blog, Change Makers, Female Leaders, Female Podcast, Podcast For Women

What if architecture wasn’t just about buildings—but about building a better world.

In this episode of the Power of Women Podcast, Di Gillett speaks with Professor Esther Charlesworth AM, a humanitarian architect, academic, and changemaker whose work sits at the powerful intersection of design, ethics, and social justice.

From war-torn cities like Mostar and Beirut to domestic violence shelters in Melbourne, Esther’s global career challenges everything we think we know about architecture. She shares the founding story of Architects Without Frontiers, a not-for-profit delivering civil infrastructure projects for the world’s most vulnerable communities, and opens up about what it means to design for fragility in an era of climate change, conflict, and chronic displacement.

 

In his episode, we explore:

  • How architecture can be a tool for peace, equity, and resilience
  • What it takes to lead in a system that still undervalues social impact design
  • Why the future of rebuilding—post-disaster and post-conflict—must include the people who live there
  • Why temporary housing often fails—and how we can do better
  • The myth of prefab as a “silver bullet” in Australia’s housing crisis.

 

New episodes drop every Monday to power your week.

Connect with Di:

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Contact Di

 

Find Prof. Esther Charlesworth at:

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/esther-charlesworth/

Architects Without Frontiers https://www.architectswithoutfrontiers.com.au/

 

💬 How would you address Australia’s housing crisis? Share your ideas in the comments.

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Megan Draper | The CEO Turning Discarded Furniture into Human Dignity

Megan Draper | The CEO Turning Discarded Furniture into Human Dignity

by | May 26, 2025 | Blog, Change Makers, Female Entrepreneur, Female Leaders, Podcast For Women

DescriptionIn this episode of the Power Of Women Podcast, host Di Gillett speaks with Megan Draper, Founder and CEO of Furniture Reuse Solutions (FRS) — a 100% female-owned environmental company that has quietly redefined what it means to lead with purpose.

Megan was raised to believe that women were meant to be subservient to men — homemakers in the background, while men took the lead as breadwinners. A chance encounter at a gas station led her into the world of recycling and environmental logistics. Today, she leads a company that has redirected more than £60 million worth of surplus furniture to over 200 nonprofits and humanitarian organisations — avoiding landfill and transforming lives in the process.

We explore the growing intersection of sustainability, circular economy principles, and social responsibility — and how impact-led leadership is no longer optional in today’s business landscape. This episode is for anyone building something bigger than themselves — especially women navigating leadership, visibility, and purpose in a world that still questions their right to take the lead.

In this episode we reveal:

  • The truth about leading in a male-dominated industry
  • How one desk or chair can transform a child’s future
  • The power of circular economy thinking in business
  • Why real leadership today must include social impact

New episodes drop every Monday to power your week.

Connect with Di:

Connect with Di on LinkedIn

Follow Power Of Women on LinkedIn

Follow Di on Instagram

The Power Of Women Podcast Instagram

Contact Di

 

Find Megan Draper at:

LinkedIn

Website

Kerry Henwood | What To Expect In 2025 [Part 1]

Kerry Henwood | What To Expect In 2025 [Part 1]

by | Jan 29, 2025 | Blog, Female Leaders, Female Podcast, Transformational Change

2025 will be a year of transformation, renewal and greater awareness.

Di is joined by internationally recognised intuitive healer, inspirational speaker and teacher, Kerry Henwood. Having consulted her global network, Kerry outlines the significance of the Lunar New Year. The transformative energy of 2025 will be characterised by collaboration, leadership and the rise of empathy in technology.

Together they explore the importance of mentorship, the role of elders, and the need for adaptability in a rapidly changing world. The conversation emphasises the collective consciousness and the potential for positive change and growth as we navigate the challenges and opportunities of the new year.

Ep.32 Shirley Wardle | How To Navigate Your Way From Burnout To Balance

Ep.32 Shirley Wardle | How To Navigate Your Way From Burnout To Balance

by | Oct 28, 2024 | Blog, Career Change Over 50, Female Empowerment, Female Entrepreneur, Female Leaders, Health & Wellbeing, Managing Menopause, Women Over 50, Women's Health

We’re diving into something so many of us have faced at some point in our lives: Burnout. It can creep in and take a serious toll on our health and well-being as well as impact those around us. In this episode of the Power Of Women podcast, I engage in a candid discussion with Shirley Wardle, an Australian-born, UK-based female executive who has navigated a remarkable career across multiple industries—including telecommunications, media & broadcast, and cybersecurity. Despite her impressive achievements, the relentless pace and high-stakes demands of corporate life took their toll, leading her to the brink of burnout. Shirley opens up about her journey through the corporate ranks, the warning signs she ignored, and the turning point that forced her to reset. The turning point is still raw & still elicits an emotional reaction when talking about it. After stepping away from her executive role, she discovered a new path to balance and well-being. Shirley has just launched a rejuvenating Pilates oasis in the heart of Kent, UK—a project that symbolises her commitment to both physical and mental health.

Tune in to hear how Shirley transformed burnout into a fresh start, what she learned about maintaining well-being in high-pressure environments, and how she’s using her experience to help others find balance in their own lives.

Shirley Wardle

Ep.29 Gill Moakes | Radical Authenticity: How to be the best version of you

Ep.29 Gill Moakes | Radical Authenticity: How to be the best version of you

by | Oct 7, 2024 | Blog, Champion, Female Empowerment, Female Entrepreneur, Female Leaders, Women Supporting Women

I don’t think anyone could be more radically authentic than Gill Moakes. On this episode of the Power Of Women podcast, Di gets into the weeds with the award winning business coach, writer, speaker and the host of the Heads Together podcast. Having both made a commitment to no more sugar, they explore the importance of prioritising ourselves, the concept of rewilding and the benefits of cutting away what no longer serves us. Gill works with freedom-seeking, risk-taking women to help them grow phenomenal businesses. She believes that when you’re brave enough to do things your way and you’re outstanding at what you do, you deserve a life of infinite possibilities. They also shine a light on the privilege it is, to love what you do. That’s empowering.

Gill Moakes