Tailored for ambitious professional women, explore conversations with powerful thought leaders sharing successes and failures.
"If you approach it casually, it will feel heavy. If you approach it with intention, it becomes a powerful platform."
Today Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer, the creator of Climbing the Corporate Ladder without Breaking a Heel shares her story of careers podcast.
► Tell us about you and your podcast
I’m Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer, a human capital strategist, board-certified executive coach, and USA Today bestselling author of Now, Near, Next, with over 30 years of experience in leadership, organizational development, and executive coaching. My work sits at the intersection of human potential and strategic advantage—helping individuals and organizations move from autopilot to intentional action.
I host the podcast Climbing the Corporate Ladder Without Breaking a Heel, a show focused on leadership, agency, and what I call the Discipline of Direction. Through candid conversations with executives, founders, and high-performing women and men, we explore how success is built—not just through ambition, but through clarity, intentionality, and disciplined choices over time.
At the core of the podcast is a powerful idea: most people don’t fail—they drift. And drift, left unchecked, quietly erodes potential across careers, leadership, and life. Each episode helps listeners recognize the signals of drift and equips them with practical tools—like my 7-Minute Pivot—to reclaim direction and build meaningful momentum.
My listeners are ambitious, high-capacity professionals—particularly women—who are navigating complex careers, leadership roles, and life demands. They are thoughtful, driven, and often successful by traditional measures, yet seeking greater alignment, clarity, and control over their next chapter.
This podcast is for those who are ready to stop drifting—and start leading their lives and careers with intention.
► Why & how did you start this podcast?
I started recording my podcast in August 2025 and officially launched in September 2025. Within the first four weeks, I recorded and banked 10 episodes, allowing me to launch with both consistency and momentum from day one.
Podcasting was a natural extension of my work. As an executive coach and author, I saw a gap between insight and access—particularly for high-performing women who are navigating pivotal moments in their careers but don’t always have the time, space, or support to step back and think strategically about what’s next. The podcast became a way to meet them where they are.
I do listen to podcasts regularly—both for learning and for enjoyment—and I’ve always appreciated the intimacy and depth the format allows. There’s something powerful about hearing real conversations unfold that can shift perspective in a way that written content sometimes cannot.
My initial goal was simple but meaningful: expand my reach and create a consistent, accessible platform to help women reconnect to their agency, gain clarity, and take intentional steps toward their next chapter. Over time, it has also become a platform to elevate important conversations around leadership, human potential, and the Discipline of Direction.
► How’d you find the time and funding to do this podcast?
I approach my podcast the same way I approach any strategic investment—through intentional structure and disciplined execution.
I release one episode every Tuesday, 52 weeks a year. To maintain that consistency, I record approximately six episodes per month and am typically booked about five months out. That forward pipeline allows me to stay focused on quality conversations without the pressure of last-minute production.
As an entrepreneur, podcasting isn’t separate from my work—it’s integrated into my broader business model. It supports my thought leadership, extends my reach, and creates meaningful touchpoints with my audience. I design my calendar accordingly, treating recording days with the same level of priority as client work or speaking engagements.
From a production standpoint, I keep it efficient and high-quality. I am self-funded, and my son—who is a professional video editor—produces the show as a gig-based partner. That allows me to maintain a polished final product while keeping costs controlled and aligned with the value the podcast generates for my brand and business.
In terms of time, each episode requires focused recording time, followed by streamlined post-production and distribution. Because I’ve built a repeatable system, the process is sustainable and scalable.
Ultimately, the podcast is not something I “fit in”—it’s something I invest in, because it directly supports my mission to help people stop drifting and lead with intention.
► What do you gain from podcasting?
I’m not currently sponsored. At this stage, the podcast is a strategic platform to extend my message and deepen impact.
The show averages approximately 300 downloads per month and continues to grow steadily. My focus has been on building a highly aligned audience—listeners who are thoughtful, driven, and ready to engage with the work in a meaningful way.
Podcasting has become a powerful extension of my broader mission: helping individuals stop drifting and lead with intention. It allows me to translate my frameworks—like the Discipline of Direction and the 7-Minute Pivot—into real conversations that people can access anytime, anywhere.
From a business standpoint, the value shows up in multiple ways. It strengthens my thought leadership, creates visibility with new audiences, and opens doors to speaking engagements, coaching relationships, and strategic partnerships. It also allows me to build authentic relationships with guests—many of whom become collaborators, clients, or long-term advocates.
Equally important, it sharpens my own thinking. Each conversation is an opportunity to learn, test ideas, and stay connected to the real challenges leaders are facing today.
Over time, I may explore sponsorships or partnerships, but only if they align with the integrity of the message and the value I’m committed to delivering to my audience.
Listen411.com: Lightning-fast, Cost-effective Podcast Transcription and Summarization - Crafted with Passion by Listen Notes.
► How does your podcasting process look like?
My podcasting process is highly structured, which allows me to maintain both quality and consistency as the show grows.
I source the majority of my guests through my LinkedIn network, where I’ve built a strong community of leaders, founders, and high-performing professionals. As the podcast has gained traction, I now receive approximately five inbound guest requests per day, which allows me to be selective and ensure strong alignment with the show’s themes and audience.
Before recording, I schedule a 15-minute chemistry call via Microsoft Teams. This ensures there is a natural conversational fit, aligns on key themes, and allows me to connect the guest’s story to the broader through-line of the show.
All episodes are recorded remotely using Riverside, which provides high-quality audio and video. This allows for flexibility with guests across different locations while maintaining a professional production standard.
In terms of preparation, I approach each episode with a clear structure rather than a rigid script. I map the conversation to core themes—leadership, agency, and the Discipline of Direction—while leaving space for authentic dialogue. This balance ensures each episode feels both intentional and organic.
Post-recording, my production process is streamlined through a dedicated editor, ensuring consistency in sound, pacing, and overall quality before distribution.
Overall, the process is designed to be efficient, repeatable, and scalable—so I can focus on what matters most: meaningful conversations that create insight and momentum for the listener.
► How do you market your show?
My marketing approach is intentional and audience-specific. My primary audience is on LinkedIn and Instagram, so I focus my efforts where they are already engaging.
Each month, I release a curated lineup of upcoming podcast episodes—positioning the conversations as a cohesive series rather than standalone content. This creates anticipation and reinforces the strategic through-line of the show. From there, each episode is supported by two weekly short-form video clips, designed to capture key insights and drive listeners to the full episode.
Most of my listeners discover the show through social channels—particularly LinkedIn—where I’ve built a strong, engaged community. Instagram serves as a complementary platform to extend reach and reinforce visibility through more visual, bite-sized content.
In addition to social, I integrate the podcast into my broader content ecosystem, including my newsletters and thought leadership platforms. This ensures the podcast is not marketed in isolation, but as part of a larger conversation around leadership, agency, and the Discipline of Direction.
I also benefit from organic reach through my guests, who often share their episodes with their own networks, expanding visibility to new, relevant audiences.
While I don’t rely heavily on paid acquisition at this stage, the combination of consistent content, aligned platforms, and network effects has proven to be both effective and sustainable for growth.
► What advice would you share with aspiring (new) podcasters?
Podcasting is a meaningful commitment—more than most people anticipate. It requires consistency, preparation, and a clear point of view. If you approach it casually, it will feel heavy. If you approach it with intention, it becomes a powerful platform.
Preparation is one of the most underestimated factors in a great interview. The best conversations don’t happen by accident—they are designed. Knowing your guest, understanding their story, and connecting it to a larger narrative elevates the experience for both the guest and the listener.
Equally important is production quality. Having a producer or editor with a strong attention to detail is critical. Audio quality, pacing, and flow all shape how your message is received. A strong production partner allows you to stay focused on the conversation while ensuring a professional final product.
Another lesson: don’t wait until you have a large following to think big. In the early stages, not everyone will say yes to being on your show—but ask anyway. Some of the most meaningful opportunities come from simply reaching out. A genuine invitation to “pay it forward” can open doors with people you may not expect to access.
Finally, build systems early. Consistency compounds. When you create a repeatable process for recording, production, and promotion, the podcast becomes sustainable—and that’s what ultimately drives growth.
Podcasting, done well, is not just content creation—it’s relationship building, thought leadership, and a long-term investment in your voice.
► Where can we learn more about you & your podcasts?
You can learn more about my work, podcast, and thought leadership here:
• Website:
https://www.dr-cynthia.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-cynthia
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.cynthia
My podcast, Climbing the Corporate Ladder Without Breaking a Heel, is available on all major podcast platforms.
For those interested in going deeper, I also share insights through my newsletters, speaking engagements, and coaching programs—all focused on helping high-performing leaders and women stop drifting and lead with intention.
www.dr-cynthia.com
Listen411.com: Lightning-fast, Cost-effective Podcast Transcription and Summarization - Crafted with Passion by Listen Notes.
Lightning-fast: Transcribe a 1-hour audio file in 1 minute.
Pay-as-you-go: USD $0.06 per minute + $1 per file. No subscription required.