Colleen Geiselhart, SVP and Head of Customer Experience at Sprout Social, learned early that building a strong network starts with helping others solve hard problems.

That mindset reshaped her path; leading to new skills, roles, and a powerful sense of community. Today, she champions mentorship, visibility, and creating intentional space for women to grow and lead.

Her advice? Speak up before you feel fully ready. Build your tribe. And protect your energy as fiercely as your time.

Her mantra? Trust your instincts. Share your wins. And lift as you rise—because progress is collective.

Read more from Colleen here…

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What has been your career defining moment as a woman in business?

Learning how to build a network and a tribe of mentors.  

Earlier in my career, when I was an individual contributor, I had an opportunity for a 1 to 1 meeting with the SVP leading my business unit.  I asked, “How do I build a network?”  

Her advice was to find people I could help and through helping people solve hard problems they would in turn help me grow and expand my career.  

It re-shaped how I thought of my role in a mentoring relationship, I learned new skills, and I expanded into new roles I would not have expected.  

Were there any obstacles you had to overcome as a woman in business?

I’ve wrestled with imposter syndrome, a struggle that shows up differently for men and women. For women, it often means doubting yourself or hesitating to lean in; for men, it can come out as pressure to overperform.

For me, it  meant questioning if I belonged even when the results proved I did.  

I was more likely to hesitate in advocating for myself, and that was an impediment for advancement at times. Mentorship strongly helped this.

What advice would you give to a younger woman looking to join your industry?

Find your voice early and use it with confidence.  

Social is constantly changing.  

Yesterday’s expert may not be tomorrow’s expert. Our industry thrives on innovation and fresh ideas, and your perspective is valuable from day one. Build a strong network of peers and mentors, especially other women, because community is a powerful accelerant for growth.

If you could do one thing to accelerate the pace of change for gender equality, what would it be?

I would ensure equitable access to mentorship and sponsorship opportunities as well as a structure to put women in Board rooms, decision making spaces, and collaboration space on large projects to shadow and learn.

Women often don’t lack talent or ambition, but they can lack visibility to decision-makers and how high-stakes work gets done.

Creating structures that connect women to advocates at the highest levels would accelerate change dramatically, especially in more traditional or tech-based industries where the vast majority of leaders are still men.

What compelled you to attend a Panelle event?

I was drawn to Panelle because it creates intentional spaces for women to connect, learn, and lift each other up.

It’s rare, especially now, to have forums where vulnerability and ambition can coexist so openly, and I wanted to both contribute to and benefit from that energy.

As we see certain peers in our industry shy away from DEI initiatives, I am proud to work for a company that continues to prioritize building an inclusive culture where diverse voices are not only welcomed, but celebrated and empowered to lead.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Trust your instincts more. You don’t need to have every answer before you speak up or take action. Growth happens when you step into the unknown, even if you don’t feel 100% ready.  

Many more people than you realize are figuring out as they go along.  Prepare as best you can and give grace that we are all learning.

What’s your go-to advice for preventing burnout?

Protect your energy like you protect your time.

That means setting boundaries, listening to your body, and giving yourself permission to pause. For me, recovery isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity if I want to show up fully for my team and myself.

Why do you think it’s important for women to help other women win?

Because when one woman rises, she lifts others with her.

The barriers we face are systemic, not individual, so real progress requires us to intentionally open doors not just for ourselves, but all women, share opportunities, and celebrate each other’s wins loudly.

Finally, please put the spotlight on another woman in business who either inspires you or has pulled out the seat for you.

I’d spotlight Sprout Social’s Chief of Staff Caitlin Fischetti.  

She speaks “truth to power”, confidently and calmly positions hard feedback across peers, and challenges teams to do better.  

She is clear, focused and kind. She has consistently shown me the power of leading with both strength and empathy.

Watching her create space for others and champion their growth has inspired me to do the same.