242 Breaking the Patterns That Hold Us Back: Interview with Sally Helgesen

Sep 26, 2025

As we move through our careers and lives, many of us fall into habits that unintentionally hold us back. Whether it’s underselling our contributions, striving for perfection, or waiting until we feel “fully ready” before stepping into new opportunities, these patterns can limit both our growth and our impact.

For Sally Helgesen – our guest in Episode 241 of The Mindset Game® podcast – decades of research, writing, and coaching have centered on helping people and organizations break through these barriers. Recognized by Forbes as the world’s premier expert on women’s leadership, Sally has authored best-selling books including How Women Rise (co-authored with Marshall Goldsmith), The Female Advantage, and most recently Rising Together. Her work has been credited with bringing the language of inclusion into business and continues to influence professionals across the globe.

In this week’s episode, Sally shares the following:

• How to claim your contributions in a way that feels authentic and builds visibility.
• Why perfectionism creates unnecessary stress and keeps people from stepping into bigger opportunities.
• Practical ways to grow confidence, from enlisting allies to practicing new behaviors even when they feel uncomfortable.

To learn more about Sally and her work, visit sallyhelgesen.com or explore her newsletter All Rise on Substack.

To subscribe to The Mindset Game® podcast or leave a review, visit https://apple.co/3oAnR8I.