- 9
- Episodes
- Weekly
- Cadence
- 2026
- First episode
About Power Shift
Power Shift: Women Redefining Leadership After 40 On Power Shift, Sandra sits down with women who have redefined leadership after 40 and now lead at the top of their fields. Through honest, unscripted conversations, they share the turning points, mindset shifts and hard-won lessons that took them to the top. Season 1, The Inflection Point, is about the moment that changed everything, and how they pivoted. Every episode leaves you with real insight to own your power, at any stage. Your host, Sandra Colhando, is Co-Founder of TransforMe Learning, a global leadership firm. Architect of EVOLVE, an award-winning women’s leadership program trusted by global giants. Two-time TEDx speaker. She doesn’t interview. She becomes a confidante. Subscribe to catch every conversation.
- Publisher
- Sandra Colhando
- Category
- society & culture · society & culture
- Language
- en
- Explicit
- No
- First episode
- 23 Sept 2026
- Latest episode
- 12 Nov 2026
Latest episodes
9 episodes in the feed.
12 Nov 2026
Who do you become each time the world tells you you’re not enough? | Sunitha Lal | Sandra Colhando
Sunitha Lal grew up dyslexic in a house full of mathematicians, in an education system she says “was never built for me.” Reading kept her going, along with a father who heard her out for an hour when she wanted to opt out of school, and then gave her a choice. Years later, very good at her job and still restless, she found that “life tasted like plastic.” So she reinvented herself again. She learnt to see the scripts and beliefs she’d carried since childhood, and she stayed through a narcissistic boss. In this episode of Power Shift: Women Redefining Leadership After 40, Sunitha joins Sandra Colhando for a conversation about reinventing yourself again and again, and about what we carry into every room from the families we grew up in. Together, they explore: A father’s trust: The person who heard her out for an hour, and the leadership lesson she took from it. Scripts from childhood: Why she overextended herself for years, and the two years it took her to say “good enough.” Careers in decades, not years: What she tells women on maternity leave who feel they’ve fallen behind. The narcissistic boss: Stay, contain or leave, and what leaders and organisations owe the person who comes to them for help. Ageism and the fixation with unlearning: What it sounds like, and why experience can’t be deleted. The beliefs we bring from home: Why you don’t get rid of limiting beliefs, and what to do about them. Maintenance versus investment: The difference, and why it matters. Sunitha leaves us with a question: what’s true, and what do I want to do about it? This is a conversation about reinvention, courage and refusing to shrink. About Sunitha Lal Sunitha Lal is the CHRO at Arvind Limited, with more than 25 years in HR, and the author of Dotting the Blemish, a book of stories about women in India the world would rather leave untold. Power Shift: Women Redefining Leadership After 40 Season 1: The Inflection Point Brought to you by TransforMe Learning. Subscribe for more conversations with women navigating the moments that reshape how they live, work and lead. #PowerShift #WomenInLeadership #TheInflectionPoint #TransforMeLearning #LeadershipAfter40 (00:00) - Welcome to Power Shift with Sunitha Lal (01:25) - Growing up dyslexic in a house full of mathematicians (02:36) - The father who let her choose and asked for trust (05:25) - Hope, courage and integrity in the darkest times (08:42) - Why you have to reinvent yourself every decade (10:08) - When life started to taste like plastic (12:29) - The family story that made her overextend herself (15:53) - Learning to stop at good enough (17:31) - Sandra’s story of being a light in a bush (20:04) - Stepping back for your children without losing your career (22:42) - Look at your career in decades, not years (24:32) - What motherhood teaches you about priorities (25:40) - Staying on under a narcissistic boss (29:06) - What to do when your manager is toxic
6 Nov 2026
What Your Body Says Before You Speak | Lauren Rich | Sandra Colhando
Your body walks into the room long before you say a single word. For more than 20 years, Lauren Rich has watched women walk into her Pilates studio, and their bodies tell her the story first. She sees the rounded spine, the head pushed forward and the shoulders that have carried a whole day of meetings and screens. She notices who arrives ten minutes late, rushed and barely breathing, and what that says about the rest of their life. Perimenopause, desk hours and years of putting everyone else first all show up in the body, long before they show up anywhere else. In this episode of Power Shift: Women Redefining Leadership After 40, Lauren joins Sandra Colhando for an honest conversation about listening to your body before it has to shout, and the simple things any woman can start doing today. Together, they explore: What your body says first: How posture, gait and energy reveal what is really going on in your life. Where women carry the load: Why so many women in corporate roles hold their tension in the upper back and neck. The shoulder reset: Roll your shoulders down and back, then take one full breath from the diaphragm. Hot flashes in the boardroom: A four-count breath you can do at the table without anyone noticing. Know your numbers: Why your resting heart rate and blood pressure are worth tracking every single day. A desk reset nobody will notice: A short seated sequence you can follow along with right now. Moving without punishing yourself: How losing a close friend changed the way Lauren trains and teaches. Sandra leaves us with a simple reminder: leadership starts with the body that carries you into the room. About Lauren Rich Lauren Rich has spent more than 20 years in the fitness industry. She runs her own Pilates studio and is a qualified clinical Pilates instructor. She is also a wife and mum to two teenage girls. Power Shift: Women Redefining Leadership After 40 Season 1: The Inflection Point Brought to you by TransforMe Learning. Subscribe for more conversations with women navigating the moments that reshape how they live, work and lead. (00:00) - Why leadership starts with the body (03:20) - What your body says before you speak (09:50) - Losing a friend at 52 and moving through grief (16:15) - Finding the balance between pushing and resting (19:50) - Hot flashes, breath work and knowing your numbers (26:25) - When everyone else comes first (34:30) - A desk reset you can follow along with
29 Oct 2026
What if you stopped asking whether you feel guilty? | Mansi Zaveri | Sandra Colhando
Mansi Zaveri was a full-time working mom who felt the world was judging her through a lens she never chose. Then, on a drive from Marine Drive to Worli, she decided what she wanted to build. After a six-month trip to the US with her toddler, she quit her job, and Kidsstoppress was born. In this episode of Power Shift: Women Redefining Leadership After 40, Mansi joins Sandra Colhando for a conversation about building something the world hadn’t seen before, raising two daughters alongside it, and what she tells the women and organisations who ask her how it’s done. Together, they explore: The guilt reframe: Why Mansi calls mom guilt a privilege, and the question she asks instead Why equilibrium doesn’t exist: Some days it’s 50-50, some days it’s a 100 and a zero, and why that’s okay Asking for help: Communicating your boundaries, and finding champions in your husband, your kids and even your in-laws What organisations can do: Where employers lose women, and why flexibility only works when it’s clearly communicated Overwhelm, one errands day at a time: The half-day she takes every month to clear the little things taking up space in your head A comma, not a full stop: Staying visible and building yourself during a career break One question she leaves us with is deceptively simple: what are you going to let go? This is a conversation about guilt, boundaries, ambition and the courage to build before the world is ready. About Mansi Zaveri Mansi Zaveri is the founder and CEO of Kidsstoppress, India’s largest parenting platform, reaching over 20 million families. She is the author of The Parents I Met (Penguin Random House), host of one of India’s most listened-to parenting podcasts, a certified conscious parenting coach and a Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women Programme alumna. Power Shift: Women Redefining Leadership After 40 Season 1: The Inflection Point Brought to you by TransforMe Learning. Subscribe for more conversations with women navigating the moments that reshape how they live, work and lead. (00:00) - Introduction to PowerShift (01:27) - Meet Mansi Zaveri & Her Journey (04:26) - Finding Your Inflection Point (09:35) - Building Kidstop Press: Start Before You’re Ready (12:37) - The Guilt Working Mothers Carry (14:04) - Why Work-Life Balance Is Not 50/50 (18:49) - Navigating Family Expectations & Setting Boundaries (24:25) - Why Organisations Struggle to Retain Women (27:42) - Managing Overwhelm as a Working Mother (28:47) - A Simple Ritual to Reduce Overwhelm
22 Oct 2026
You don't have to be a superwoman | Simrat Gahlot | Sandra Colhando
In today’s episode, you’re going to hear a story about what it takes to walk away from a life that no longer feels right, rebuild your sense of self, and learn to recognise when someone around you may be struggling. Sandra Colhando sits down with Simrat Gahlot, an award-winning Learning and Development leader, for one of the most personal conversations on Power Shift. Simrat opens up about an 18-year marriage, the pressure to keep up appearances, the fear of being judged, and the difficult process of recognising that staying was no longer an option. She shares the moment she finally decided to choose herself, what helped her move forward, and the people who became part of her support system along the way. But this conversation goes beyond her own story. Simrat and Sandra explore why we often hide what we are going through, how easily personal struggles can remain invisible at work, and why someone who looks completely fine may be carrying something very different beneath the surface. They also talk about boundaries, saying no, asking for help, listening beyond someone’s words, and the importance of having people who genuinely show up for you. One of the most powerful parts of the conversation is Simrat’s story about an everyday coffee conversation with a colleague that revealed just how much someone can be carrying behind a confident exterior. In this episode, you’ll learn about: The pressure to maintain a facade when life is falling apart Why people can stay in difficult situations longer than they expect What finally gave Simrat the courage to choose herself The role of boundaries and learning to say no Why everyone needs people who believe in them How to recognise when someone at work may not be okay Why listening means going beyond the words someone says How small, everyday conversations can make a much bigger difference than we realise The importance of creating spaces where people feel safe asking for help By the end of this episode, you’ll understand why sometimes the person who looks like they have everything together may be the person who needs someone to simply ask, “Are you okay?” We’re grateful to Simrat for sharing a deeply personal part of her story with us. Content note: This episode discusses domestic abuse and depression.
15 Oct 2026
From being Type A to prioritising contentment | Dr Rachna Chhachhi | Sandra Colhando
What happens when the life you’ve built no longer works for you? Dr. Rachna Chhachhi knows what that feels like. At 35, Rachna was living the kind of life many people spend years working toward. She was leading business development for a Fortune 50 company, travelling, winning major deals and awards, and moving at full speed. Then her body forced her to stop. After being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, Rachna went from a high-powered corporate career to being bedridden and living with severe pain. What followed became the biggest inflection point of her life. In this episode of Power Shift, Sandra Colhando sits down with Rachna to talk about what happens when your body, your identity and the life you’ve built no longer seem to fit together. Rachna shares the moment she realised she could not continue living the way she had been, the changes she made to her life, and the journey that eventually took her from corporate leadership to work focused on wellbeing, research and helping others. But this conversation is about much more than health. It is about identity, success, exhaustion, expectations and the question many of us eventually have to ask: Who am I when I stop being who everyone expects me to be? In this episode, you’ll learn: Why success can sometimes come at the cost of yourself What your body might be trying to tell you when you refuse to slow down How a major life disruption can become an opportunity to rethink everything Why sleep, slow mornings and consistency can matter more than constantly pushing harder What happens when you stop defining yourself by your career and achievements Why women over 40 may need to rethink what success and wellbeing look like How to question the expectations you have inherited from the people around you Why discovering who you are can begin with something as simple as putting pen to paper How to move from constantly chasing happiness towards a deeper sense of contentment And by the end of this conversation, Rachna leaves us with a question worth sitting with: Are you living as the person you truly are, or as the person the world expects you to be? Sometimes, an inflection point isn't something you choose. Sometimes, it is the moment that finally gives you permission to choose yourself.
9 Oct 2026
How to build your own power prototype | Tiffanie Mallard | Sandra Colhando
What if the ceiling someone set for you was never yours to accept? Tiffanie Mallard knows what it feels like to be told what she can’t become. As a teenager, a school counselor told her mother that college probably wasn’t going to be possible for Tiffanie. She didn’t have the grades or extracurricular activities to stand out. Tiffanie decided to prove them wrong. That moment became one of the earliest inflection points in her life, shaping the way she approached her career, leadership and the limits other people placed on her. Today, Tiffanie is the Vice President of Human Resources at Carrier HVAC, leading across one of Carrier’s largest and most geographically complex businesses across Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa. But this conversation isn't just about career success. In this episode of Power Shift, Sandra Colhando and Tiffanie talk about what happens when you become your own biggest critic, how to build a leadership identity that actually feels like you, and why success doesn't have to mean constantly sacrificing yourself. Tiffanie opens up about moving across countries, navigating identity, being different in the room, building a life with a partner who supports her ambition, and learning to rest without feeling guilty. And then there is the idea that sits at the heart of this conversation: your power prototype. What makes you uniquely you? What are you naturally good at? What do people come back to you for? And how do you build your leadership around those strengths instead of trying to become someone else? In this episode, you'll learn: How to stop accepting other people's limits as your own Why you can be your own biggest critic How to identify the strengths that make you uniquely valuable What a “power prototype” is and how to build yours Why authenticity can become a source of power How to stay true to yourself when you are the person who looks, sounds or leads differently Why successful women often struggle to rest without guilt How to balance ambition with actually enjoying the journey What it takes to build a true partnership when both people have ambitious careers Why your 40s can be a time to use your voice more, not shrink it How to build a legacy without losing yourself along the way And by the end of this conversation, you'll be left with three powerful reminders from Tiffanie: Enjoy the journey. Know what's most important to you. Don't lose your voice. Because your journey is yours. And the ceiling someone handed you, even if that someone is you, doesn't have to become the limit of your life.
25 Sept 2026
She stopped being the good student. | Clémentine Al Elimat | Sandra Colhando
In this episode, you’re going to hear a story about what it takes to walk away from a life that no longer feels right, rebuild your sense of self, and learn to recognise when someone around you may be struggling. Sandra Colhando sits down with Simrat Gahlot, an award-winning Learning and Development leader, for one of the most personal conversations on Power Shift. Simrat opens up about an 18-year marriage, the pressure to keep up appearances, the fear of being judged, and the difficult process of recognising that staying was no longer an option. She shares the moment she finally decided to choose herself, what helped her move forward, and the people who became part of her support system along the way. But this conversation goes beyond her own story. Simrat and Sandra explore why we often hide what we are going through, how easily personal struggles can remain invisible at work, and why someone who looks completely fine may be carrying something very different beneath the surface. They also talk about boundaries, saying no, asking for help, listening beyond someone’s words, and the importance of having people who genuinely show up for you. One of the most powerful parts of the conversation is Simrat’s story about an everyday coffee conversation with a colleague that revealed just how much someone can be carrying behind a confident exterior. In this episode, you’ll learn about: The pressure to maintain a facade when life is falling apart Why people can stay in difficult situations longer than they expect What finally gave Simrat the courage to choose herself The role of boundaries and learning to say no Why everyone needs people who believe in them How to recognise when someone at work may not be okay Why listening means going beyond the words someone says How small, everyday conversations can make a much bigger difference than we realise The importance of creating spaces where people feel safe asking for help By the end of this episode, you’ll understand why sometimes the person who looks like they have everything together may be the person who needs someone to simply ask, “Are you okay?” We’re grateful to Simrat for sharing a deeply personal part of her story with us. Content note: This episode discusses domestic abuse and depression.
25 Sept 2026
Didn’t fake it, still made it | Bhavna Batra | Sandra Colhando
What if the person who needs the biggest piece of you is actually you? In today’s episode, you’re going to hear a conversation about what it means to keep showing up for everyone else while slowly realising that your own energy, boundaries, and wellbeing need attention too. Sandra Colhando sits down with Bhavna Batra for an honest conversation about ambition, energy, asking for help, and knowing when you need to pause. Bhavna talks about the difference between being alone and feeling lonely, the pressure to keep giving, and why constantly being there for everyone else can come at a cost. She shares what she has learnt about energy, why it needs to be replenished, and the importance of recognising when you have reached your limit. The conversation also gets into something many of us find difficult: asking for help. Bhavna speaks openly about putting ego aside, accepting that you need support, and understanding that asking for help does not make you any less capable. They also talk about boundaries and the importance of being able to say, “I’m not in that space right now. I need a timeout.” In this episode, you’ll learn about: The difference between loneliness and being alone Why constantly giving can leave you running on empty Why energy needs to be replenished, not just managed The importance of recognising your own limits Why asking for help requires vulnerability How ego can sometimes stop us from accepting support Why saying no can be an act of self-awareness The importance of taking a timeout when you need one Why you don't have to carry everything on your own How to make space for yourself while still showing up for others By the end of this episode, you may find yourself thinking differently about what it means to be strong. Sometimes strength is not about continuing to push through. Sometimes it is knowing when to stop, ask for help, and give yourself the space you need. We’re grateful to Bhavna for sharing this conversation with such honesty and openness. Content note: This episode includes conversations around loneliness, emotional wellbeing, asking for help, and personal boundaries.
23 Sept 2026
Welcome to Power Shift: Women Redefining Leadership After 40
At 25, they tell you, “You’re worth it.” At 55, they’ll ask you to worry about your Vitamin D levels. But the woman you are in your 40s? The fierce leader, perhaps the designated caregiver, perhaps the boss, they warn everyone about—Nobody built anything or any content around this version of you. The one who is running a team, holding up your family and is done answering questions no one would dare ask a man. There's no playbook for this stage of your career and life. So we set out to create one with women like you. For women like us. Welcome to Power Shift. Coming soon on Youtube, Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
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