Bonus: Matildas star Lydia Williams on embracing being "too humble"

Bonus: Matildas star Lydia Williams on embracing being "too humble"

Author: FW January 12, 2025 Duration: 20:50

Does cockiness make you better at your job? That's what former Matildas star Lydia Williams was told when she rose to the sport's top flight. In this episode of Too Much, Williams joins Helen McCabe to reflect on her journey as a Matilda and how she pushed past being labelled “too humble” at key points in her career. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


Helen McCabe, founder of the Future Women community, sits down each week for the Future Women Leadership Series. These conversations move beyond simple inspiration, delving into the real and often nuanced hurdles women encounter while advancing into executive roles. You’ll hear from a range of influential voices-CEOs, board directors, and pioneering thinkers-who don’t just share their success stories but unpack the complex decisions, setbacks, and resilience that shaped their journeys. This podcast provides a rare, candid look at the practicalities of building authority, navigating workplace dynamics, and fostering genuine loyalty within a team. It’s about the substance behind the title, offering actionable perspectives that both affirm and occasionally challenge conventional leadership wisdom. Tune in for thoughtful dialogue that recognises leadership is as much about courage and personal growth as it is about strategy. The entire series stems from the Future Women club, creating a direct audio line to the kind of frank discussions and insights usually reserved for its members. If you’re looking to refine your own approach with clarity and confidence, this is a compelling resource.
Author: Language: en-au Episodes: 100

Future Women Leadership Series
Podcast Episodes
BONUS FW series: Giaan Rooney was “too invested” [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:41
She was winning Olympic gold and World Championships. But at 23, Giaan Rooney was burned out. She retired from swimming, became a television presenter, then pivoted again – to a career you’d never expect. Giaan tells Bri…
Natalie Wilde's secrets to stakeholder management [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:57
Natalie Wilde is one of Queensland's top public servants. She has worked across the public sector for over 23 years and is the current Director-General of the Department of Women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pa…
Ruby Riethmuller on how to choose the brave option [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:58
What does bravery mean in leadership? And are there secrets to being brave, even when you don't feel like it is possible? Ruby Riethmuller is the founder and CEO of Womn-Kind, a youth-led mental health platform. She laun…
BONUS FW series: Kate Reid was "too lucky" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:03
Kate Reid is the founder of the world-famous Lune Croissanterie. But before creating her own formula for the perfect buttery, flaky croissant, she was a Formula One aerodynamicist, working on some of the fastest cars on…
Michael De'Ath on how to become a courageous leader [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:16
What if courageous leadership isn't always about immediate action. But instead knowing how to wait and build influence to create maximum impact... Michael De’Ath started his career as a teacher and went on to become one…
BONUS FW series: Lana Jones was "too strong" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:58
For almost two decades, Lana Jones was a principal dancer at the Australian Ballet, celebrated for lead roles in Swan Lake, Giselle, and The Sleeping Beauty. And still, she was told she was “too strong”. After an illustr…
BONUS FW series: Leemara Fairgrieve was "too accommodating" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:52
From styling hair to fighting crime, Detective Senior Sergeant Leemara Fairgrieve made quite the switch when she left hairdressing to join Victoria Police. These days, she’s busting major drug syndicates and rising throu…
Summer shortcut: Prime Minister for a day [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:59
You shortcut to this season's top leadership advice... Over the summer, we're playing a special series containing season five's most interesting and practical leadership advice. Each episode revolves around a single ques…
BONUS FW series:  Allegra Spender was "too nerdy" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:32
Carla Zampatti’s daughter, self-confessed nerd Allegra Spender, never saw herself as a natural fit to lead her late mother’s fashion empire. But that’s where she ended up, before a runway-worthy career-pivot which saw he…
Back to basics: Australian of the Year Katherine Bennell-Pegg [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:49
This week, we're revisiting our interview with newly minted Australian of the Year Katherine Bennell-Pegg. Bennell-Pegg is Director of Space Technology at the Australian Space Agency, and the first person to train as an…