If you grew up far from the big-city career bubble or you are returning to work after a break, building a network can feel mysterious. In this conversation, Amy Blanthorn-Hazell shares how she went from an intern who knew almost no one in tech to a senior sales leader at Salesforce. Her story starts in a small village in the north of England and evolves into a career shaped by curiosity, initiative, and the right advocates.

Amy explains the difference between short-term transactions and real relationships. She talks about giving value first, creating communities when none exist, and asking for advice in ways that make people want to say yes. You will hear how she used simple moves like thoughtful follow-ups, tailored compliments after talks, and one-to-one coffees to turn chance meetings into long-term sponsors.

The episode leans into honest moments too. Amy shares what felt awkward early on, how she learned to balance I and we when talking about results, and why the best mentors sometimes start with a single session before committing to more. It is practical, kind, and refreshingly doable.

Promotions are not made in the room. They are made in the conversations that happen when you are not there. Amy breaks down how to build advocates who will speak up for you when it counts, why timing matters, and how to prepare a clear, business-focused case that leaders can support.

We get into the nuts and bolts of promotion readiness. Amy shows how to map your current skills against the next level, gather feedback from managers and peers, and use stretch projects to prove you can operate at a higher band without losing sight of your core results. She also calls out common red flags, like moving too fast before you have shown enough impact.

There is guidance on interviews and panels too. From reaching out to interviewers ahead of time to sending an agenda and following up, Amy lays out the basics that so many people skip. The result is a calm, confident approach that helps decision makers see you in the role before the title changes.

If you are new to networking, start with a clear goal. Amy shows how to target conversations based on what you want to learn, the teams you want to join, or the skills you want to grow. Then she models simple language that shares wins without bragging, invites collaboration, and highlights the people who helped you get there.

If your workplace lacks community, create one. Amy describes how she launched a women’s foundation group early in her career and why that decision still pays off years later. Small acts like hosting a learning session, sharing a playbook in Slack, or forwarding kind client feedback to your manager can quietly build your reputation.

If you are planning to ask for a promotion, give yourself time. Build a short business case, link outcomes to company priorities, and gather examples that show consistent performance in your role plus stretch impact beyond it. Then book the meeting, share your thinking, and ask for clear guidance on what to demonstrate next.

Salesforce RVP Lauren McGuire has lived the full arc of modern sales leadership. She started as an SDR in California, helped build high-performing BDR teams through hypergrowth and an IPO, jumped into AE management at multiple startups, then relocated to London with two young children to scale regional teams. In this conversation, Lauren opens up about what those chapters really felt like and how she kept her family at the center while growing her career.

We talk through the early return to work after maternity leave in the US, the adrenaline of standing up outbound engines from scratch, and the reality of being close to the pulse of a startup when you also have small humans who need dinner at six. Lauren shares how a move to the UK reshaped family logistics, school choices, and the friendships that make a new city feel like home.

Lauren breaks down the difference between leading inside a large, established company and the all-hands-on-deck energy of startups, including where exposure to decision making is plentiful and where it is limited. She explains her leadership style, why empathy is a performance tool, and how she aligns coaching moments to each person’s long-term goals so the tough days still make sense.

We also get practical. Lauren walks us through the weekly rhythm that keeps her household running, the role of an after-school nanny, and the simple agreements that reduce friction at home. There is gym time at 6 a.m., shared calendars, planned meals, and just enough spontaneity on weekends to keep it fun. Her final takeaways are clear. Build a structure that fits your life, protect time for your health, and remember that family wellbeing is the foundation everything else sits on.

Mums on Cloud Nine is your go-to destination for inspiring content that empowers women to build a life and career they love.

Each week, we share expert advice, personal stories, and practical tips across a range of topics—from health and mindset to money and career growth.

Check out our website at www.mumsoncloudnine.co.uk and subscribe for weekly tips to elevate your mindset

On this week’s Mums on Cloud Nine podcast, we’re tackling one of the biggest challenges many women face after having children or entering perimenopause: maintaining a healthy weight while balancing everything else in life.

Heather is joined by Charlotte Norton, Chief Medical Officer at The Slimming Clinic, who brings both her medical expertise and lived experience as a mum to the conversation. Together, they explore why weight can be so hard to manage, the role of hormones at different life stages, and the emotional connection many of us have with food.

Charlotte also explains the health benefits of reaching and sustaining a healthy weight, how to find an approach that fits your lifestyle, and why kindness to yourself is just as important as the strategies you choose. From lifestyle changes and mindset shifts to medical support options, this episode offers a real-world look at the many routes women can take to feel better in their bodies and boost their confidence.

Mums on Cloud Nine is your go-to destination for inspiring content that empowers women to build a life and career they love.
Each week, we share expert advice, personal stories, and practical tips across a range of topics—from health and mindset to money and career growth.

Check out our website at www.mumsoncloudnine.co.uk and subscribe for weekly tips to elevate your mindset.