If you've ever been told to "be more strategic" with no explanation of what that actually means — this episode is for you.

Limor Bergman Gross spent 20+ years leading engineering organisations across continents before making the leap to executive leadership herself. Now she coaches ambitious women in tech to do the same. In this conversation, she gets real about the patterns that keep talented women stuck — people-pleasing, hiding achievements, staying rigidly inside their job description — and shares the practical strategies that actually work.

We also dig into what it looks like to expand (not just "break out of") your comfort zone, how to say no without using the word no, and why protecting your time and energy isn't selfish — it's strategic. Whether you're climbing toward a promotion or trying to lead more sustainably, there's something here for you.

Key Topics

• How Limor broke through from first-line manager to executive — and what "be more strategic" really means
• Introverts, permission-seeking, and taking initiative without going rogue
• Expanding vs. "stepping outside" your comfort zone: – the reframe
• Why you should say yes first and figure it out later
• What leaders can do to create inclusive spaces for quiet people
• Patterns Limor sees holding women in tech back — and how to shift them
• How to say no without the word "no" — a practical script
• Why overcommitting is bad for your employer too
• It's not just how much you do — it's what you do and the impact it creates
• Limor's closing message to every introvert

About Limor Bergman Gross

Limor is a former Director of Engineering with 20+ years in tech, having led engineering teams across continents. She now coaches ambitious women in tech into leadership roles and speaks globally on leadership, influence, and visibility. She is also the host of the From a Woman to a Leader podcast.

🔗 Connect with Limor on LinkedIn 🎙️ From a Woman to a Leader podcast

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This episode was edited by Aura House Productions