High Heels Higher Standards
High Heels, Higher Standards is a bold, unfiltered podcast where two executive women get real about power, purpose, and the pressure to play small in careers, relationships and life. Ashley & Heidi blend ambition with authenticity and humor with hard-hitting advice to help high-achieving women own their voice, set the bar higher, live unapologetically, and level up.
High Heels Higher Standards
Career Advice: What Corporate doesn’t teach you about Power & Leadership
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In this episode of High Heels, Higher Standards, we’re pulling back the curtain on the leadership lessons corporate America rarely teaches women.
If you’ve ever wondered why the hardest-working person isn’t always the one getting promoted, why executive presence seems so difficult to define, or how workplace influence really works, this conversation is for you.
Ashley sits down with executive leader Heidi Hushak to discuss the hidden dynamics of power, authority, and leadership in corporate environments. Together, they explore why women are often taught to focus on performance while men are socialized to understand positioning, visibility, and influence.
We discuss:
• Why hard work alone doesn’t guarantee career advancement
• The difference between competence and influence
• Executive presence and why it matters for leadership success
• How women unintentionally diminish their authority at work
• The role of confidence, communication, and emotional regulation in leadership
• The unwritten rules of office politics and workplace dynamics
• Why being respected and being liked are not the same thing
• Practical leadership strategies for women seeking promotions and career growth
• How to stop over-explaining and start communicating with authority
• Building credibility, influence, and confidence in professional settings
Whether you’re an aspiring leader, mid-career professional, executive, entrepreneur, or woman navigating workplace challenges, this episode offers practical career advice and leadership insights to help you take up space, increase your influence, and accelerate your professional growth.
Because leadership isn’t just about achievement—it’s about identity.
Grab your beverage of choice and join us for a conversation about executive presence, workplace power, career advancement, women in leadership, and what corporate never taught you about influence.
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Until next Wednesday, keep your head, heels and standards high! Please follow along for more on TikTok and Instagram: @higherheelspodcast
Thank you for listening, lovelies!
