The Secret Stairs to Leadership: How Women Rise Without the Corporate Ladder
Episode Description
What if the path to leadership was never meant to be a straight climb?
In this powerful episode of Exponentially Elevate Your Leadership Impact, Dr. Stephanie Duguid welcomes Dr. Diana for a transformative conversation on redefining leadership for women. Drawing from her research, The Secret Stairs, Dr. Diana shares the hidden strategies women use to rise into leadership roles—often without clear guidance, support, or access to traditional pathways.
Together, they explore:
- Why the “corporate ladder” is often missing steps for women
- The difference between mentorship and sponsorship—and why it matters
- How imposter syndrome shows up (even at the highest levels)
- The power of trusting your intuition and leading with emotional intelligence
- How COVID reshaped leadership, connection, and opportunity for women
- Practical strategies to advocate for yourself and increase visibility
This episode is a reminder that leadership is not about fitting into a mold—it’s about creating your own path with clarity, courage, and connection.
If you’ve ever felt overlooked, uncertain, or unsure of your next step… this conversation will meet you exactly where you are—and help you move forward with purpose.
Listen in and discover how to take your next step—your way.
🎧 Listen now: https://www.drstephanieduguid.com/podcast
Guest Info:
Dr. Diana James, The Secret Stairs
Public Speaker/Founder of The Secret Stairs
Dr. Diana James is uniquely qualified to help women grow into confident, capable leaders because she has lived every layer of the leadership journey - from earning a PhD in Leadership Studies that generated published research focused on gender equity in the workplace to over 3 decades of experience leading corporate teams. Dr. James has navigated career reinventions and coached individuals through personal transformation while building a career across multiple industries, all rooted in empowering others to succeed.
Social Links and Websites
Guest: Dr. Diana James, Founder of the Secret Stairs
Website: www.secretstairs.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/diana-james-phd
Instagram: @djames0919
My keynote address/workshops and book: The Secret Stairs: An Alternative Pathway for Women in Leadership. The corporate ladder is not just broken - it was never built with women in mind.
Host: Dr. Stephanie Duguid, Owner, Do Good Leadership
Website: www.drstephanieduguid.com
Facebook (Personal): https://www.facebook.com/stephanie.rectorduguid
Facebook (Group): https://www.facebook.com/DoGoodLeadership