Blog

The best material from The Gravitas Project, Amanda's conversations with women in the C-Suite and new original work.

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  • Business Etiquette
  • Career
  • Networking
  • Tales of the C-Suite
Amanda Maclean Sabbaticals

Episode #20

When was the last time you gave yourself time to pause, to reflect?

Episode #19

Balance, it seems, has left the building… and collectively we have moved from working at home, to living at work.

Episode #18

Response to redundancy and life transitions.

Episode #17

Lean in? I’m struggling to stand up!

Episode #16

How to network when you’re not networking (an introvert’s guide to networking at a distance)

Episode #15

Your Personal Board of Directors

Episode #14

How to be a flamingo in a flock of pigeons

Episode #13

Unprecedented times – a unique opportunity

Episode #12

Why dressing like a man is crucial to your career success

Episode #11

Confidence, we know when we have it and we know when it is absent, but have you ever given thought to how ‘it’ arrives and disappears?

Episode #10

Listen Up! You need to give these four-letter-words the flick, pronto. Because these words shout to the world “I’m not ready for that promotion, no matter what I say.”

Episode #9

The current fashion for pleated skirts and the seasonal strong winds are not a match made in heaven. How to respond when your humanness (and your knickers) are exposed in a Marilyn Monroe moment.

Episode #8

It’s that time of year when many of us have started watching our favourite charming, entertaining and sometimes horrifying festive films.

Episode #7

Have you ever experienced the abject frustration of being spoken over, interrupted and overlooked in meetings? You can be heard and make your opinions count. Here's how.

Episode #6

Didn’t get the promotion? Wondering what more you can possibly do? Questioning whether you really belong in your career? Read the 3 sure-fire signs that you are in your perfect career.

Episode #5

A breath of experience – operational experience, travel, working at global or national levels, gets you out of your comfort zone and gives you a bigger picture. Let me tell you why.

Episode #4

Have you ever wondered what it really takes to make it in the C-Suite?

Episode #3

"My empathy chip has been removed when it comes to women in middle management" said a seasoned Chief Operating Officer over dinner on a Wednesday evening. This conversation revealed some home truths about the things that hold women back in their career.

Episode #2

We all have stories to tell. This is one of mine.

Episode #1

My tale begins when I was a debilitatingly shy schoolgirl, the youngest of six girls in a family that did not see beyond traditional roles for women. Through my own story and my conversations with women in the C-Suite, I explore the secrets to success in the corporate world.

Personal Due Diligence for Aspiring Female Directors

For female executives and professionals, pursuing a career as a director can be a professionally and personally rewarding choice. However, those planning such a transition need to review their career strategy and put in place the appropriate plans well in advance.

Workplace Sexual Harassment, the Power Pinch, and Don’t be One of Those Girls

John Oliver's piece on Workplace Sexual Harassment is mandatory viewing for women and men.

Why One Piggy Bank is Not Enough

The piggy bank is without a doubt the most common gift children are given to help them make their first steps into the world of money.

How do I get my organisation to support my development?

(And get financial support to attend training and development activities)

Women, Confidence and Alternatives to Faking it ’til You Make It

Confidence, we know when we have it and we know when it is absent but have you ever given thought to how ‘it’ arrives and disappears?

Business Is Not Leisure But Might Be Pleasure!

One of the biggest mistakes that are made socially can be miss reading the difference between leisure and pleasure.

Help, I Have A Work Dinner To Attend!

Work dinners are tricky to navigate.

Making Small Talk That Is Not Small Talk At All!

Do you marvel at those people who just always have something to say that’s insightful and precise and makes you feel really understood and heard? This is the art of small talk.

What’s in a word? Tips on how to improve your cover letters and CV

Last year I advertised a position vacant on one of the well-known online job search sites. Did the successful applicant do anything differently?

Didn’t get the promotion? 3 sure-fire signs that you are on the right career path.

Didn't get the promotion? Feeling like an impostor? Here are three sure-fire signs that you are on the right career path to the C-Suite, the boardroom and beyond.

Transitioning from Executive to Non Executive: 5 Things Women Must Know

Every corporate career has a beginning, a middle and an exit point. For senior executive women, exiting their corporate career can mean downsizing, retiring, or preparing for a second career.

Best Ways to Acknowledge Births, Deaths and Marriages of your Colleagues

Remembering and then appreciating life’s milestones and changes is a fundamental sign of respect towards those we interact with throughout our business life. I have faced the sad reality of the death of a valued client – too young and too soon for an accomplished businesswoman with so much still to contribute. This sad event […]

Hello, Hello. How to Introduce People in a Business Context

It may seem old fashioned, yet respect, warmth, charm and common courtesy will be noticed by your clients, prospective clients and business partners.

How a Second Career can Provide for Long Term Employability, Security & Lifestyle

For senior executive women, the first part of their career is determined by the natural forces in the workplace, the second by the choices they make.

The Best is Yet to Come! How to Get Out of the Corporate World and INTO the Best Part of Your Career

This post gives you a step by step guide on how to transition out of corporate life.

Five essential attributes to secure your seat at the boardroom table

Have you ever wondered what it takes to get ‘a place at the table’?

Consulting + Board Member = A Leveraged Career

You’re in your mid 40s or early 50s – you’re a senior executive and great at what you do, but a little voice in the back of your head is wondering what the next step should be.

Soar, Swim or Sink? Five Helpful Tips to Networking Success

Why is it that some people have that ‘it ’ factor from the get go, and in others it does not quite develop?