My best advice on getting to VP (Katy’s guest appearance on The Career Diet podcast)

September 14, 2026

I was reporting straight to the CEO, running an entire function, and there was no VP above me. I still couldn't get the title. I had no idea what I was doing wrong.

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Episode Summary

I sat down with Anna Belyaeva on The Career Diet podcast to break down the mistakes that kept me stuck at director for five years, and what I'd do instead. Looking for more? One week left to join my fall cohort: https://insightstoactioncc.com/signup

I was reporting straight to the CEO, running an entire function, and there was no VP above me. I still couldn't get the title. I had no idea what I was doing wrong. I was working harder than anyone, my team loved me, I knew the leadership team well, and none of it moved the needle.

That was five years of my life as a director before I finally figured out what was actually missing, and it wasn't more hustle.

In this episode, I'm doing something a little different. Instead of a solo teaching episode, I'm sharing the conversation I had as a guest on my friend Anna Belyaeva's podcast, The Career Diet. She asked me the questions I get asked the most: what were the biggest mistakes I made trying to move from director to VP, and what would I tell a woman today who wants to make that move in the next six months.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

  • Why grinding harder actually works against you once you're aiming for VP, and the two-part audit (calendar and task) I use to reclaim real strategic thinking time
  • The exact language shift that turns "what do you think?" into "here's my recommendation, any concerns?", and why the second version gets you promoted
  • Why confidence gets read as competence whether you like it or not, and the Harvard Business Review research behind it
  • How to build a real stakeholder map instead of relying on people who just "like" you
  • The three moves I'd make this week if I were trying to go from director to VP in the next six months
RESOURCES MENTIONED

Join me live in Ottawa, Canada, on October 23rd. Save your seat at owntheroomsummit.com.

Not sure if you're ready for VP? Take the free assessment and find out at morewomenpromoted.com/quiz

 

…LET’S CONTINUE THE CONVO!

Curious what it’s like to work together? Send me a DM on LinkedIn or Instagram (Katy McFee) and tell me what you are working toward and we can take it from there.

Remember, there’s room for all of us at the table.

Hi, I’m Katy McFee
A former VP and EVP who knows how hard it is to break into executive leadership. After years of feeling stuck, I figured it out and now, as a certified executive coach, I help other women do the same. I’ve supported hundreds in landing the promotions they deserve with strategies that make success achievable, without the years of trial and error.