456 episodes
- Being the person that everyone relies on feels like a good thing.
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You know the answers. You solve the problems. You get things done.
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But what if the exact habit that made you valuable is also keeping you stuck?
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In this episode of Ordinary to Badass, Marie breaks down the hidden downside of becoming the go-to person at work—and why constantly solving everyone else’s problems can quietly hurt your chances of moving into bigger leadership roles.
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You’ll learn why answering every question can train the people around you to depend on you, how doing everything yourself can make it harder for your boss to picture you at the next level, and what strong leaders do instead. Marie also shares simple ways to start stepping back, asking better questions, delegating more, and helping the people around you build their own judgment.
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Because leadership isn’t measured by how fast you can solve every problem.
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It’s measured by what happens when you’re not in the room.
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If you’re stepping into leadership—or getting ready to—DM “90 days” to @ordinarytobadass on Instagram and Marie will send you her free guide, Your First 90 Days as a Supervisor. - Getting into the room doesn’t mean everyone has the same path forward. And sometimes, working harder isn’t enough to change what happens next.
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In Part 2, Marie explores four more women whose stories offer powerful lessons for navigating your career and leading with intention: Mileva Marić, Taylor Swift, Sheryl Sandberg, and Harriet Tubman.
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From understanding the unwritten rules of opportunity to building leverage after a setback, these stories challenge the idea that leadership is about having all the answers or waiting until you feel confident.
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You’ll learn why access and opportunity aren’t always the same thing, how to focus on what you can control when someone else makes a decision you hate, why you shouldn’t negotiate against yourself before anyone else has said no, and how preparation makes decisive leadership possible.
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Whether you’re working toward a promotion, navigating a predominantly male industry, or learning to lead people, this episode is a reminder that you don’t have to become someone else to get where you want to go. You need to understand the room, build your evidence, create options, and be ready to move when the opportunity comes.
Leadership isn’t a personality type. It’s a strategy.
To your Badassery,
Marie - What can Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Oprah Winfrey, Hedy Lamarr, and Rosalind Franklin teach us about leadership?
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A lot more than “be brave” and “keep going.”
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In Part 1 of this two-part episode, I’m breaking down four leadership lessons from women who changed the room—and the strategy behind how they did it.
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We’re talking about influence, leverage, perception, visibility, and why doing great work is not always enough.
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You’ll learn why being right doesn’t automatically make you influential, why building options matters, how other people’s perception can affect your opportunities, and why your work does not always speak for itself.
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These aren’t just history lessons.
They’re leadership lessons you can use right now.
And this is only the first four.
Part 2 is coming next with four more women and four more lessons that might completely change the way you think about leadership. - Most people start preparing for a promotion when the position opens.
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That’s already too late.
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In this episode, I’m breaking down how to start preparing before the opportunity shows up—so you’re not scrambling to prove you’re ready at the last minute.
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We’ll talk about:
What your job announcement is actually telling you
How to identify the skills and experience leadership is looking for
My Have It, Prove It, Build It method
How to create a 6–12 month promotion plan
Why you shouldn’t automatically disqualify yourself when you don’t check every box
How to start building the experience, relationships, and proof that make you a stronger candidate
Because the goal isn’t to suddenly look ready when the promotion opens.
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It’s to spend the months before it opens becoming the obvious choice.
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Want more help with promotions and leadership? Join me on Sundays at 6 PM PST @OrdinarytoBadass community for LIVE weekly Q&As and coaching.
To your Badassery,
Marie - What if the biggest thing holding you back at work isn't your ability… it's the way you talk about your ability?
In this episode, I sit down with engineer, consultant, and creator Kim Porter to talk about imposter syndrome, leading in male-populated industries, and the subtle ways women unintentionally give away their power at work.
We dive into:
Why saying "I think" can quietly undermine your credibility
How to communicate with more confidence without pretending to know everything
Why great leaders admit mistakes instead of hiding them
The power of leading with data instead of emotion
How to build trust with your team before making changes
What it really means to keep your power in difficult conversations
Whether you're stepping into leadership, navigating imposter syndrome, or simply trying to speak with more confidence, this episode is packed with practical advice you can put to work immediately.
If this episode resonates with you, share it with another woman who's building her career in a predominantly male industry.
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About Ordinary To Badass
A podcast for women who are capable—but tired of being overlooked in rooms not built for them. Hosted by Marie Sonneman, a law enforcement lieutenant turned leadership coach, this podcast delivers unfiltered conversations, practical career advice, and leadership strategies for women in predominantly male industries.
From quiet confidence to strategic visibility, you’ll hear how women rise without shrinking or burning out—and how to build a life that doesn’t disappear in the process. If you’re ready to be unmistakable at work and protect what matters outside of it, you’re in the right place.
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