Why Being “Too Much” Could Be Your Biggest Career Asset with Jenny Wood

May 25, 2026

If you've been told you're too much, too direct, or too ambitious, this episode is for you. I sit down with bestselling author Jenny Wood to flip three labels women have been taught to avoid and show how they actually get you promoted.

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Episode Summary

If you've been told you're too much, too direct, or too ambitious, this episode is for you. I sit down with bestselling author Jenny Wood to flip three labels women have been taught to avoid and show how they actually get you promoted. Newsletter: morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

  • The three fears keeping ambitious women small at work, and the "spotlight effect" that fuels every one of them
  • How to reframe "manipulative" as building influence through empathy, plus the Monday Manifesto Jenny swears by
  • Why being "brutal" with your time, your words, and your priorities is the skill senior leaders are looking for in their next promotion
  • The GRAB framework for getting what you want in the first 90 seconds of any high-stakes meeting
  • How to push past imposter syndrome and stop "toning yourself down" at work

CONNECT WITH JENNY

Jenny Wood is a New York Times bestselling author, former Google executive, and sought-after keynote speaker. Over 18 years at Google, she rose from entry-level to COO roles, led teams that drove billions in revenue, and founded Own Your Career, a program that reached 56,000 employees across 100 countries. She's been featured in Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and CNBC, and now helps leaders and teams thrive under pressure with courage, influence, and impact.
RESOURCES MENTIONED

 

…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.