Read. Lead. Rise

About Read. Lead. Rise

Join us online for an inspiring bookclub series designed to help you grow and shine. Lead with Intention is a three-book series designed for professional women who want to grow with purpose, not pressure. Together we explore how to stop shrinking (F*ck Being Humble*), lead with more honesty and heart (The Authenticity Upgrade), and build the habits that turn intention into lasting impact (Good Habits, Bad Habits). Across this series, you’ll unpack how ambition, authenticity, and behavior science work together to create confidence you can trust, presence you don’t have to perform, and habits

Publisher

Bailey and Carlotta

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

4 Dec 2025

Latest episode

2 Nov 2026

Latest episodes

7 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   2 Nov 2026

   Episode 6: Brave, Not Perfect: Why Women Need to Stop Chasing Perfection and Start Taking Risks

   What if the thing standing between you and your next big opportunity isn’t a lack of confidence, but the pressure to get everything right? In this episode of Read. Lead. Rise., Bailey and Carlotta explore Brave, Not Perfect by Reshma Saujani and unpack why so many professional women feel compelled to prove themselves through perfection rather than give themselves permission to try. From overthinking emails and endlessly editing presentations to struggling with self-promotion, delegation, and the pressure to excel at work and at home, we explore how perfectionism can quietly hold us back. They talk about why it isn’t always as simple as taking a leap of faith when financial security, privilege, workplace culture, and family responsibilities shape the risks we're able to take? And how can we practice small acts of bravery even when the stakes feel high? Dive into topics like: Excellence vs. perfection: Knowing when to stop perfecting and start doing. The fear of failure: Reframing mistakes as part of growth rather than a reflection of our worth. Confidence and self-promotion: Owning our accomplishments without worrying about being “too much.” Women supporting women: Challenging double standards and creating space for other women to succeed. The pressure to do it all: Navigating motherhood, careers, impossible expectations, and the courage to let go of control. Bravery and privilege: Recognizing that risk-taking looks different depending on our circumstances and finding realistic ways to move forward anyway. Bailey and Carlotta are reminded that power lies in doing, not in doing it perfectly. You don't have to have everything figured out, be the most qualified person in the room, or know exactly what your “thing” is to take the next step. If you've ever held back because you weren't ready, second-guessed your accomplishments, or felt like you had to earn your place by being perfect, this conversation is for you. Read. Lead. Rise. is a book club and podcast for professional women who want to grow their confidence, strengthen their leadership skills, and learn alongside women navigating similar challenges. And stay tuned! Our next series explores Boundaries, Burnout & Not Giving a Damn (in a productive way!) with three new books!

2. 

   3 Sept 2026

   Episdoe 5: Brave, Not Perfect

   Read. Lead. Rise. — Brave, Not Perfect What if the thing standing between you and your next big move isn’t a lack of confidence? Could it be the need to get everything perfectly right first? In this episode of Read. Lead. Rise., Bailey and Carlotta talk about perfectionism, bravery, confidence, and the expectations women are often taught to carry. Inspired by Brave, Not Perfect, they explore why women can become so focused on being prepared, polished, accomplished, and “good” that we sometimes forget to simply try. They unpack the difference between excellence and perfection, why failure is an essential part of growth, and how over-preparing can actually reinforce the belief that we aren't capable of figuring things out as we go. Bailey and Carlotta also explore: Why women are often rewarded for getting things right rather than taking risks How perfectionism can lead to procrastination, overthinking, and playing it safe Building confidence in the things we're not good at Self-promotion, likeability, and the fear of being “too much” Why women can be harder on other women and what it means to truly champion each other Social media, comparison, belonging, and curated success The impossible expectations placed on working mothers Why delegation and letting go of control can be acts of bravery How to build a thicker skin around criticism and rejection And the idea of “micro-bravery” for those who can't simply walk away from financial security Take a listen and find something you can challenge yourself to be brave enough to try even if you're not totally ready!

3. 

   28 Jul 2026

   Episode 4: The Confidence Code

   Our latest Read. Lead. Rise. podcast episode will be kicking off The Confidence Glow-Up series with The Confidence Code by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman. Carlotta and I chat about why so many accomplished women still struggle with self-doubt, the surprising science behind confidence, and how perfectionism, failure, visibility, and societal expectations shape the way we show up in our careers and everyday lives. We can’t waste time waiting to feel ready so check out what we learned about the Confidence Code! We challenge common myths, share personal experiences, and discuss some practical ways to build confidence through action.

4. 

   15 Jun 2026

   Episode 3: Good Habits

   If you missed our Read. Lead. Rise. Bookclub meeting, you can still check out the podcast! We talked about Good Habits, Bad Habits by Wendy Wood. The book was a bit textbookie but had some great takeaways. It's always nice to be reminded that habits aren’t about endless willpower. Willpower is hard to come by (especially when tired and stressed!!) but we can make choices and set up our environment in a way that creates those new habits and skills. We’re both the routine and calendar type. If it's on the calendar, it gets done. If not? No chance, it's not happening! Listen to the podcast and let us know your favorite tips and tricks for building new habits!

5. 

   20 Mar 2026

   Episode 2: The Authenticity Upgrade

   This one dives into a topic that almost every professional wrestles with at some point: authentic leadership. In this episode, Carlotta and I explore key ideas from The Authenticity Upgrade: Rebooting Leadership for Real Humans by Cristina Amigoni and Alex Cullimore. AND we were lucky enough to have Cristina join the discussion. Together we talk about: Why leaders need to work with human nature instead of against it How internal stories and imposter syndrome shape confidence at work The role of active listening and real communication in leadership Where AI fits into modern work—and why human judgment still matters The tension between authenticity, workplace culture, and leadership expectations And how small, intentional habits can help leaders grow over time Connect with Cristina here: Cristina Amigoni LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/cristina-amigoni/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/cristina-amigoni/) Siamo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearesiamo (https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearesiamo) Website:  https://www.wearesiamo.com/ (https://www.wearesiamo.com/) Contact: hello@wearesiamo.com (mailto:hello@wearesiamo.com) If you missed the live session, or want to hear the conversation again you can now listen to the full episode on the podcast. Listen here!

6. 

   15 Jan 2026

   Episode 1: F**k Being Humble

   If you missed our first Read. Lead. Rise. Bookclub, catch up on what we talked about here! In our very first episode, Bailey and Carlotta dive into F*ck Being Humble by Stefanie Sword-Williams and let’s be honest, this book hits a nerve (in the best way). We talk about why self-promotion feels so uncomfortable for so many people, especially across cultures (hello American vs. British differences), and why waiting to feel ready or perfect keeps us stuck. We unpack self-worth, imposter syndrome, perfectionism, fear of failure, and how taking action (even when you feel awkward or unsure) is often the thing that builds confidence, not the other way around. We also get into: Asking for your worth (time, money, respect, balance) “Blagging” (Not just BS-ing, its trusting yourself before you have proof) Why community and mentors matter more than going it alone How documenting your wins and being prepared helps you clearly communicate your impact And how comparison and perfectionism quietly steal joy and momentum In the book Stefaniue Sword- Williams suggested having a go to  “f*ck you”  or "Celebration" song to go to when they're needed. So of course we talked about that and have started a playlist with the suggestions left by our audience. Check out the Spotify playlists inspired by the episode and add your favorite celebration or “f*ck you” song in the comments. Blag a little. Self-promote. Use this comment section to share something you’re proud of, something you’re working on, or a win you haven’t talked about enough. This is your permission slip. And don’t forget to save the date: March 16th Our next book club meeting will be all about The Authenticity Upgrade: Rebooting Leadership for Real Humans—and we can’t wait to dig into what authentic leadership actually looks like in real life. You’re doing better than you think. Let’s read, lead, and rise—together.

7. 

   4 Dec 2025

   Episode 0: Welcome to the Book Club for Ambitious Women

   Read. Lead. Rise. is a book club-turned-podcast for professional women who want to grow their confidence, sharpen their communication, and lead with intention without adding more pressure to their already full lives. In this introductory episode, Bailey and Carlotta share who they are, why they teamed up, and what makes this community different. Every session will be a light, energizing look at ideas that help you understand yourself, strengthen your voice, build better habits, and connect with women who get it. Read. Lead. Rise. blends personal development, communication psychology, leadership tools, humor, and honest conversation. All of this through the lens of both corporate and entrepreneurial experience. We will  also explore how professional expectations differ across industries and even across countries. Every other month, one book guides a themed discussion with guests, key takeaways, and practical actions you can use right away. All live sessions are recorded and released as podcast episodes so you can listen anytime. The first series, Lead With Intention, features: F*ck Being Humble by Stephanie Sword Williams The Authenticity Upgrade  by Amigoni & Cullimore Good Habits, Bad Habits by Wendy Wood Together, these books will help you own your voice, lead as yourself, and build habits that make confidence stick. If you’d like to join the live Zoom discussions, Register on Eventbrite (https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/read-lead-rise-a-bookclub-series-to-elevate-yourself-tickets-1976412433793?aff=ebemoffollowpublishemail&ref=eemail&utm_campaign=following_published_event&utm_content=follow_notification&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eventbrite) and be sure to learn more about Bailey and Carlotta on their websites (baileymasseyglobal.com (http://baileymasseyglobal.com/) & too-ambitious.com (http://too-ambitious.com/)) and follow them on social media (@baileymasseyglobal and @tooambitiousofficial). We’re thrilled to read with you, learn with you, and lead with you. Welcome to the Read. Lead. Rise. Book Club!

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Spotify

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.