More Women Promoted

More Women Promoted

3 Entrepreneur Lessons That Would Have Made Me a Better Executive

Aug 3, 2026 · 30 min · 7 segments

If you're waiting for your company to invest in your growth, send you to leadership training, or map out your path to VP, you're going to be waiting a long time. The lessons I've learned in four years…

If you're waiting for your company to invest in your growth, send you to leadership training, or map out your path to VP, you're going to be waiting a long time. The lessons I've learned in four years of entrepreneurship would have made me a better executive a decade ago, and you can use them without leaving your job. Since becoming an entrepreneur, I've grown more in four years than I did in the previous fifteen. And what's wild is realizing how many of the things that have helped me build a successful business are the exact same things that would have helped me get promoted faster, lead better, and be way less stressed in my corporate roles. The best part is you don't need to start a business to use them. They're available to you right now, wherever you are in your career. I just gave you the cheat code. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN - Why being intentional about your career is the same skill as running a business, and how to start treating yourself as the CEO of your own path - The investment in yourself I avoided for years (and the actual number I now spend annually because the ROI is undeniable) - What "find your people" really means at the senior leadership level, and the kind of room that gave me permission to take bigger swings - The mindset shift that costs nothing and changes everything, plus how to tell when your brain is lying to you about whether you belong at the table - The flywheel: how intentionality, the right people, and mindset reinforce each other to change the trajectory of your career RESOURCES MENTIONED - Connect with Katy on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/katy-mcfee-3880b4a - Weekly newsletter: morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter **Curious what it’s like to work together?** Send me a message on LinkedIn or Instagram (Katy McFee) and tell me what you are working toward, and we can take it from there. 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 Remember, there's room for all of us at the table.

If you're waiting for your company to invest in your growth, send you to leadership training, or map out your path to VP, you're going to be waiting a long time. The lessons I've learned in four years…

Opening & Show Introduction0:00 – 2:08

0:00

I was thinking about something the other day that I thought I have to share on this podcast.

0:06

Since becoming an entrepreneur, I have had some of the biggest growth experiences of my life.

0:13

And what's been really interesting is that in looking back on my corporate career through this lens and realizing how many of the things that have helped me build a successful business are the exact same things that would've helped me get promoted faster and be a better leader.

0:32

And not too long ago, I was coaching a client, and I was sharing some strategies and tactics with her just to help her work through the challenge that she was facing, and I realized that some of what I teach now, some of what I know, I did not have a clue about stepping into my first time VP role.

0:51

And it's such a shame because it would've benefited me so much to have the lessons that I've now learned.

1:00

And I think a big part of the reason that I have learned so much and grown so much in four years is that since becoming an entrepreneur, I've just become a lot more intentional about the way I'm managing my business, the way I'm managing my career, as well as the way I'm spending my time.

1:18

But these aren't just entrepreneur lessons, right? These are career lessons.

1:23

These are life lessons.

1:25

And the best part is that you don't actually have to leave corporate to learn them.

1:30

You can start learning them and using them right now wherever you are.

1:35

So today, I'm gonna share with you three of the biggest lessons that entrepreneurship has taught me and how you can apply every single one of them to your corporate career.

1:45

[upbeat music] Welcome to More Women Promoted with me, Katie McFee, former exec turned leadership coach.

1:51

I believe you can be a successful exec without getting an MBA and create a career and life that you love without burning out.

1:59

Think of this podcast as a mix of girl talk plus what you wish they'd taught you in business school.

2:05

I'll always give it to you straight, so if you're ready for some real talk, let's do this.

Read the full transcript.

Create an account to read the whole episode, search across every transcript, and follow the shows you care about.

Sign up Already have an account? Log in

Opening & Show Introduction0:00 – 2:08

0:00

I was thinking about something the other day that I thought I have to share on this podcast.

0:06

Since becoming an entrepreneur, I have had some of the biggest growth experiences of my life.

0:13

And what's been really interesting is that in looking back on my corporate career through this lens and realizing how many of the things that have helped me build a successful business are the exact same things that would've helped me get promoted faster and be a better leader.

0:32

And not too long ago, I was coaching a client, and I was sharing some strategies and tactics with her just to help her work through the challenge that she was facing, and I realized that some of what I teach now, some of what I know, I did not have a clue about stepping into my first time VP role.

0:51

And it's such a shame because it would've benefited me so much to have the lessons that I've now learned.

1:00

And I think a big part of the reason that I have learned so much and grown so much in four years is that since becoming an entrepreneur, I've just become a lot more intentional about the way I'm managing my business, the way I'm managing my career, as well as the way I'm spending my time.

1:18

But these aren't just entrepreneur lessons, right? These are career lessons.

1:23

These are life lessons.

1:25

And the best part is that you don't actually have to leave corporate to learn them.

1:30

You can start learning them and using them right now wherever you are.

1:35

So today, I'm gonna share with you three of the biggest lessons that entrepreneurship has taught me and how you can apply every single one of them to your corporate career.

1:45

[upbeat music] Welcome to More Women Promoted with me, Katie McFee, former exec turned leadership coach.

1:51

I believe you can be a successful exec without getting an MBA and create a career and life that you love without burning out.

1:59

Think of this podcast as a mix of girl talk plus what you wish they'd taught you in business school.

2:05

I'll always give it to you straight, so if you're ready for some real talk, let's do this.