Ordinary To Badass

A podcast for women who are capable—but tired of being overlooked in rooms not built for them. Hosted by Marie Sonneman, a law enforcement lieutenant turned leadership coach, this podcast delivers unfiltered conversations, practical career advice, and leadership strategies for women in predominantly male industries.From quiet confidence to strategic visibility, you’ll hear how women rise without shrinking or burning out—and how to build a life that doesn’t disappear in the process. If you’re ready to be unmistakable at work and protect what matters outside of it, you’re in the right place.

Ordinary To Badass is a business podcast hosted by Marie Sonneman, with 437 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Marie Sonneman hosts Ordinary To Badass, a business show with 437 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

• 

  Episode #455

  455: 8 Leadership Lessons from Women Who Changed the Room | Part 2

  Sep 7, 202620 min

  Getting into the room doesn’t mean everyone has the same path forward. And sometimes, working harder isn’t enough to change what happens next. ... In Part 2, Marie explores four more women whose stories offer powerful lessons for navigating your career and leading with intention: Mileva Marić, Taylor Swift, Sheryl Sandberg, and Harriet Tubman. ... From understanding the unwritten rules of opportunity to building leverage after a setback, these stories challenge the idea that leadership is about having all the answers or waiting until you feel confident. ... You’ll learn why access and opportunity aren’t always the same thing, how to focus on what you can control when someone else makes a decision you hate, why you shouldn’t negotiate against yourself before anyone else has said no, and how preparation makes decisive leadership possible. ... Whether you’re working toward a promotion, navigating a predominantly male industry, or learning to lead people, this episode is a reminder that you don’t have to become someone else to get where you want to go. You need to understand the room, build your evidence, create options, and be ready to move when the opportunity comes. Leadership isn’t a personality type. It’s a strategy. To your Badassery, Marie

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #454

  454: 8 Leadership Lessons from Women Who Changed the Room | Part 1

  Aug 31, 202625 min

  What can Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Oprah Winfrey, Hedy Lamarr, and Rosalind Franklin teach us about leadership? ... A lot more than “be brave” and “keep going.” ... In Part 1 of this two-part episode, I’m breaking down four leadership lessons from women who changed the room—and the strategy behind how they did it. ... We’re talking about influence, leverage, perception, visibility, and why doing great work is not always enough. ... You’ll learn why being right doesn’t automatically make you influential, why building options matters, how other people’s perception can affect your opportunities, and why your work does not always speak for itself. ... These aren’t just history lessons. They’re leadership lessons you can use right now. And this is only the first four. Part 2 is coming next with four more women and four more lessons that might completely change the way you think about leadership.

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #453

  453: The Biggest Promotion Mistake Happens Before You Apply

  Aug 18, 202633 min

  Most people start preparing for a promotion when the position opens. ... That’s already too late. ... In this episode, I’m breaking down how to start preparing before the opportunity shows up—so you’re not scrambling to prove you’re ready at the last minute. ... We’ll talk about: What your job announcement is actually telling you How to identify the skills and experience leadership is looking for My Have It, Prove It, Build It method How to create a 6–12 month promotion plan Why you shouldn’t automatically disqualify yourself when you don’t check every box How to start building the experience, relationships, and proof that make you a stronger candidate Because the goal isn’t to suddenly look ready when the promotion opens. ... It’s to spend the months before it opens becoming the obvious choice. ... Want more help with promotions and leadership? Join me on Sundays at 6 PM PST @OrdinarytoBadass community for LIVE weekly Q&As and coaching. To your Badassery, Marie

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #452

  452: The Words That Quietly Give Away Your Power

  Aug 10, 202645 min

  What if the biggest thing holding you back at work isn't your ability… it's the way you talk about your ability? In this episode, I sit down with engineer, consultant, and creator Kim Porter to talk about imposter syndrome, leading in male-populated industries, and the subtle ways women unintentionally give away their power at work. We dive into: Why saying "I think" can quietly undermine your credibility How to communicate with more confidence without pretending to know everything Why great leaders admit mistakes instead of hiding them The power of leading with data instead of emotion How to build trust with your team before making changes What it really means to keep your power in difficult conversations Whether you're stepping into leadership, navigating imposter syndrome, or simply trying to speak with more confidence, this episode is packed with practical advice you can put to work immediately. If this episode resonates with you, share it with another woman who's building her career in a predominantly male industry.

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #451

  451: What Nobody Tells Women About Their First Promotion

  Aug 3, 202620 min

  Getting promoted is exciting… until you realize nobody prepared you for what comes next. Most women spend years working toward their first leadership role. But once you get there, the challenges change. In this episode, I share the 8 things nobody told me before my first promotion , including: Why leadership can feel lonelier than you expected How your relationships with coworkers change overnight Why hard work alone won't make you successful anymore Why being trusted matters more than being liked How to navigate the pressure, self-doubt, and shifting expectations that come with leading others If you're preparing for your first promotion—or you've recently stepped into leadership—this is the conversation I wish someone had with me years ago. Resources: Join the free community for women in predominantly male industries: DM "community" to @OrdinaryToBadass on Instagram.

  ListenShow Notes

Based on semantic analysis of episode topics and host coverage, this show is a strong guest fit for executives in:

Industry fit is computed by PitchCentric using vector embeddings of the show's episode catalog.