Your Working Life

Claude Silver is on a mission to spread the word of human-centered leadership. In her debut book, Be Yourself at Work: The Groundbreaking Power of Showing Up, Standing Out, and Leading from the Heart, she makes a compelling case that authentic presence is today's greatest business superpower. The book offers a practical framework built on emotional optimism, emotional bravery, and emotional efficiency. With real-world stories, actionable exercises, and sample dialogues, Claude provides leaders at every level with the tools to build cultures of belonging where individuality is celebrated and teams thrive through genuine human connection. More from Claude Silver: Buy Claude's book: Be Yourself at Work: The Groundbreaking Power of Showing Up, Standing Out, and Leading from the Heart. Follow Claude on LinkedIn More from Caroline Dowd-Higgins: Book Caroline as your next keynote speaker! Check out Caroline’s books. Get in touch with Caroline.

Goldie Chan, a proud introvert, brings a fresh perspective to personal branding that rejects the exhausting "fake it till you make it" mentality. In her new book, Personal Branding for Introverts, Chan offers empowering, practical strategies that help introverts build authentic and memorable brands without draining their energy or compromising their true selves. Drawing on real-world examples from Taylor Swift to everyday professionals, she shows how introversion can be a powerful asset and provides actionable guidance on networking, community-building, and creating sustainable visibility that feels genuine rather than performative. More from Goldie Chan: Get Goldie's book Personal Branding for Introverts. Follow Goldie on LinkedIn More from Caroline Dowd-Higgins: Book Caroline as your next keynote speaker! Check out Caroline’s books. Get in touch with Caroline.

Julie Kratz is a leading voice in workplace allyship and inclusion, drawing from her 12 years in Corporate America where she experienced her own struggles with belonging. She now helps organizations create environments where everyone feels seen and heard. Her latest book, We Want You: An Allyship Guide for People with Power, provides leaders with practical, research-backed strategies to move beyond fear and use their power intentionally to foster psychological safety and equity. The guide offers concrete tools for building inclusive policies, modeling vulnerability, and creating pathways for diverse talent at the individual, team, and organizational levels. More from Julie Kratz: Get Julie's book We Want You: An Allyship Guide for People with Power Follow Julie on LinkedIn More from Caroline Dowd-Higgins: Book Caroline as your next keynote speaker! Check out Caroline’s books. Get in touch with Caroline.

Caroline interviews Vanessa Druskat, a leadership and team performance expert, about how to create the best workplace team for you. Vanessa challenges the common misconception that simply assembling emotionally intelligent individuals will create a cohesive team. Instead, she demonstrates that exceptional team performance requires building a culture around agreed-upon norms and habits that foster emotional intelligence at the group level.  More from Vanessa Druskat: Read her book: The Emotionally Intelligent Team: Building Collaborative Groups that Outperform the Rest. Connect with Vanessa on LinkedIn. More from Caroline Dowd-Higgins: Book Caroline as your next keynote speaker! Check out Caroline’s books. Get in touch with Caroline.  

Rachel DeAlto is on a mission to connect people to their most powerful resource—each other—in today's diverse, multi-generational workforce. But creating genuine connection can be difficult, which is why Rachel wrote her latest book, The Relatable Leader: Create a Culture of Connection. Caroline and Rachel talk about the actionable strategies in the book that help leaders learn how to be more authentic to gain trust and unlock team potential.   More from Rachel DeAlto: Book: The Relatable Leader: Create a Culture of Connection Rachel's website. Find Rachel on LinkedIn. More from Caroline Dowd-Higgins: Book Caroline as your next keynote speaker! Check out Caroline’s books. Get in touch with Caroline.  

After receiving harsh feedback about her lack of self-awareness despite strong business results,   embarked on a deep exploration of leadership through philosophy, psychology, and management studies. She ultimately developing her MYLO (Manage Yourself to Lead Others) approach for other leaders, which led to her writing her new book, Manage Yourself to Lead Others: Why Great Leadership Begins with Self-Understanding. Caroline and Margaret talk about the practical steps for identifying the leader you want to become, managing emotions and difficult situations, navigating organizational culture as a "Culture-Maker" rather than "Culture-Taker," and recovering from setbacks.  More from Margaret Anthony: Book: Manage Yourself to Lead Others: Why Great Leadership Begins with Self-Understanding. Find Margaret on LinkedIn More from Caroline Dowd-Higgins: Book Caroline as your next keynote speaker! Check out Caroline’s books. Get in touch with Caroline.    

In this episode, Caroline talks to Jenn Tardy, a diversity practitioner and human resources expert about how to promote workplace diversity amid current DEI backlash. Jenn has worked with organizations like Gap Inc., Red Bull, Harvard, and the US Chamber of Commerce. Rather than offering generic advice, she provides actionable insights for combating hidden biases at every stage of the talent lifecycle—from finding and attracting candidates to engaging and developing employees. Her new book, The Equity Edge: How Addressing Bias in Recruiting and Retention Drives Success, serves as both a strategic guide for leaders and a valuable resource for potential employees navigating today's hiring landscape.  More from Jenn Tardy: Book: The Equity Edge: How Addressing Bias in Recruiting and Retention Drives Success  Find Jenn on LinkedIn Jenn's Website More from Caroline Dowd-Higgins: Book Caroline as your next keynote speaker! Check out Caroline’s books. Get in touch with Caroline.

Dr. Scott D. Anthony, a clinical professor at Dartmouth's Tuck School of Business, joins Caroline to talk about eleven pivotal innovations that changed business and the human experience. From gunpowder, to the printing press, to Julia Child's cookbook and now generative AI, Scott tells the stories of how these innovations changed the world. Rather than simply celebrating these inventions, Anthony reveals the underlying patterns of how disruption actually occurs and spreads through society.  More from Dr. Scott Anthony: Book: Epic Disruptions: 11 Innovations That Shaped Our Modern World More from Caroline Dowd-Higgins: Book Caroline as your next keynote speaker! Check out Caroline’s books. Get in touch with Caroline.  

Caroline sits down with Dr. Josephine Palermo, an organizational psychologist and executive coach, to talk about how women should reconsider everything they think they know about power in the workplace. Josephine is the author of the new book Rising to Feminine Power: The Lasso of Truth, which talks about how current power structures aren't working and how women especially can bring a new kind of leadership to the workplace. Josephine talks about the science behind feminine power and how we uncover the hidden barriers that may be holding you back from stepping into your authentic power. Connect with Dr. Josephine Palermo: Book: Rising to Feminine Power: The Lasso of Truth  Podcast: Teams, Culture & You More from Caroline Dowd-Higgins: Book Caroline as your next keynote speaker! Check out Caroline’s books. Get in touch with Caroline.  

On this episode, Caroline talks with Lesley Cooper, a management consultant with over 25 years of experience in employee well-being. She's the founder of WorkingWell, an award-winning consultancy that helps companies manage workplace pressure to facilitate growth and development. Her new book, Brave New Leader: How to Transform Workplace Pressure into Sustainable Performance and Growth, addresses the persistent problem of workplace well-being despite widespread support systems. The book tackles the harsh reality that employees often fear speaking up about workplace pressure due to concerns about consequences, creating a culture sustained by fear rather than openness.

This week, Caroline talks to Juliet Schor about the case for the four day work week. Schor is an economist and sociology professor at Boston College, and has gained widespread recognition through national media appearances and her viral 2022 TED Talk "The Case for a 4-Day Work Week," which has been viewed over three million times. Caroline talks to Juliet about her latest book, Four Days a Week: The Life-Changing Solution for Reducing Employee Stress, Improving Well-Being, and Working Smarter, which is the first large-scale study of the four-day work week based on her four decades of work research. The book demonstrates how companies like Kickstarter, Bolt, and Basecamp have successfully eliminated the fifth workday while maintaining productivity and dramatically improving employee well-being, hiring, and retention. Schor provides a comprehensive blueprint for implementing this transformative workplace model, arguing it can address major challenges including burnout, AI disruption, and the climate crisis.

On this episdoe of Your Working Life, Caroline talks to Andrew Brodsky, an award-winning business professor and management consultant at The University of Texas at Austin's McCombs School of Business. Andrew specializes in virtual communication and workplace technology, and wrote a new book called "PING: The Secrets of Successful Virtual Communication". He and Caroline talk abbout his actionable framework for mastering modern workplace interactions across all communication platforms. Social Media/Links:  Read 'Ping: The Secrets of Successful Virtual Communication'.  LinkedIn Ping Group Music credits for this episode:  Week Thirteen by Ben von Wildenhause, Free Music Archive (CC BY)  Week Thirteen by Ben von Wildenhause, Free Music Archive (CC BY)  Social Media/Links:  ·      Book Link for 'Ping: The Secrets of Successful Virtual Communication: https://www.amazon.com/Ping-Secrets-Successful-Virtual-Communication/dp/1668055244 ·      LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewsbrodsky/ ·      Personal Website: https://abrodsky.com/ ·      Ping Group: https://pinggroup.org/   PING: The Secrets of Successful Virtual Communication   by Award-Winning Professor and Virtual Communication Expert Andrew Brodsky, PhD   We’ve all been there—sitting through a meeting that could’ve easily been an email. And that email? Maybe it should have been a quick voice note. And your camera? It’s okay to turn it off. In fact, sometimes it’s even better.   Andrew Brodsky—a Harvard Business School doctoral graduate, award-winning business professor, management consultant, and expert in virtual communication at The University of Texas at Austin—has dedicated his career to unraveling the intricacies of virtual communication. Diagnosed with cancer as a teenager, his treatment led to a lifelong immune deficiency, which has resulted in years of his life being confined primarily to the virtual realm. This personal experience has given him a unique understanding of the challenges and nuances of communicating from a distance.   In his forthcoming book, PING: The Secrets of Successful Virtual Communication (Simon Element/Simon Acumen; February 11, 2025), Brodsky explores the complexities of modern workplace interactions and provides an actionable framework for mastering virtual communication. His research shows how to make the most out of communication technology from video calls to instant messaging, offering practical strategies for navigating all workplaces from in-person to remote and everything in-between.   Featuring compelling stories, insights from top business leaders, and Brodsky’s groundbreaking research on virtual communication tools, PING is the essential guide to mastering virtual communication—enhancing productivity, amplifying influence, and forging deeper connections.   Andrew Brodsky is an award-winning professor, management consultant and virtual communications expert at the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin. Poets&Quants selected Andrew as one of the “World’s 40 Best Business School Professors Under 40.” He is an expert in workplace technology, communication and productivity and serves as the CEO of Ping Group. Andrew earned a PhD in organizational behavior from Harvard Business School and BS from The Wharton School. He currently lives with his wife and two rescue dogs in Austin.    

Dr. Sunita Sah is an award-winning professor at Cornell University and an expert in organizational psychology. She leads groundbreaking research on influence, authority, compliance, and defiance. A trained physician, she practiced medicine in the United Kingdom and worked as a management consultant for the pharmaceutical industry. She currently teaches executives, leaders, and students in healthcare and business. Dr. Sah is a sought-after international speaker and consultant, advisor to government agencies, and former Commissioner of the National Commission on Forensic Science. Her multidisciplinary research and analyses have been widely published in leading academic journals and media entities including The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Harvard Business Review, and Scientific American. She lives with her husband and son in New York. DEFY: The Power of No in a World That Demands Yes How many times have you wanted to object, disagree, or opt out of something—but ended up swallowing your words, shaking your head, and just going along? In her groundbreaking new book, DEFY, a former physician and award-winning organizational psychologist Dr. Sunita Sah delves deep into why the pressure to comply is a corrosive and often invisible force in our society. With her own revelatory research, she radically transforms our idea of defiance from a misunderstood negative trait into a crucial, positive force for personal and societal change. Taking us through her five stages of defiance, Dr. Sah equips readers with the tools to unleash the power of a “True No.” At the core of DEFY is a profound analysis of why we often say yes when we shouldn’t, and how to say no when it matters most. Drawing on her story as a woman scientist of color, as well as her original research and insights from multiple disciplines including psychology, ethics, law, medicine, organizational behavior, sociology, and philosophy, Dr. Sah reveals the critical need to rediscover our core values. She explores how we are neurologically, psychologically, and socially pressured to comply, and what we can do to train ourselves for conscientious resistance and reclaim our agency. Social: LinkedIn: @drsunitasah  IG: @drsunitasah TikTok: @drsunitasah  Facebook: @sunitasahuk  Music credits for this episode:  Orion-Instrumental by Mindseye, Free Music Archive (CC BY)

Dr. Margaret Heffernan produced programmes for the BBC for 13 years.  She then moved to the US where she spearheaded multimedia productions for Intuit, The Learning Company and Standard&Poors. She was Chief Executive of InfoMation Corporation, ZineZone Corporation and then iCast Corporation, was named one of the “Top 25” by Streaming Media magazine and one of the “Top 100 Media Executives” by The Hollywood Reporter.  The author of six books, Margaret’s third book, Willful Blindness: Why We Ignore the Obvious at our Peril was named one of the most important business books of the decade by the Financial Times. In 2015, she was awarded the Transmission Prize for A Bigger Prize: Why Competition isn’t Everything and How We Do Better, described as “meticulously researched…engagingly written…universally relevant and hard to fault.” Her TED talks have been seen by over 13 million people and in 2015 TED published Beyond Measure: The Big Impact of Small Changes. In 2020, she published Uncharted: How to map the future, which quickly became a bestseller and was nominated for the Financial Times Best Business Book award, was one of Bloomberg’s Best Books of 2021 and was chosen as the “Medium Best of the Best” business book. 2025 saw the publication of Embracing Uncertainty: How Writers, Musicians and Artists Thrive in an Unpredictable World, described as ‘a timely, insightful book’, Heffernan highlights what it takes to excel in turbulent times.’ In 2024, she was inducted into the Thinkers50 Hall of Fame, in recognition of her lasting impact on management thinking.  She is a Professor of Practice at the University of Bath, Lead Faculty for the Forward Institute’s Responsible Leadership Programme and, through Merryck & Co., mentors CEOs and senior executives of major global organizations. She chairs the board of DACS and is a parish councillor. Synopsis of her recent book: Embracing Uncertainty: How writers, musicians & artists thrive in an unpredictable world. Most people hate and fear uncertainty. It causes such stress and anxiety that we often choose certain surrender over doubt, becoming passive, dependent, addicted—and more anxious than ever. Doubling down on the certainties promised by technology and micro-management only makes things worse, leaving no opportunity for innovation, adaptation or invention. Artists live with uncertainty constantly—but instead of waiting for the future, they run towards making it, with agency and freedom. What can we learn from them, about facing a future that grows more uncertain daily? At a time when organizations of all kinds crave innovation but complain their people lack creativity and initiative, the arts have never been so essential to our future. We may not all be artists, but we can learn to think like them. Margaret Heffernan makes a compelling argument for the vital integration of art into all aspects of our lives and for artists to guide us with their stamina, freedom and endurance. ​“At a time when algorithms promise to extinguish all doubt, Heffernan makes a compelling case for uncertainty as humanity's greatest resource.” — Daniel H. Pink, author of The Power of Regret and Drive. Social media: X: https://x.com/M_Heffernan Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/margaretheffernan.bsky.social Music Credits for this episode:  Spores-Instrumental by Mindseye, Free Music Archive (CC BY)   

Manar Sweillam Morales is a national thought leader and visionary on building human-centered workplace cultures at the intersection of diversity, flexibility, and well-being. As the Founder & CEO of the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance, Manar is on a mission to empower organizations to unlock their full potential by creating inclusive environments, implementing effective flexible work strategies, and prioritizing holistic employee well-being. A sought-after speaker, author, and trusted advisor, Manar brings a wealth of expertise from her background as an employment litigator and adjunct faculty member at Georgetown University. She is the author of “The Flexibility Paradigm: Humanizing the Workplace for Productivity, Profitability, and Possibility” (Georgetown University Press, January 2025), which provides a roadmap for building adaptive, resilient organizations that bring out the best in their people. Manar is a recent recipient of the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award and is a member of the President’s Council of Cornell Women and the International Women’s Forum. Book promotional info: In The Flexibility Paradigm, Manar Morales presents a revolutionary framework for creating human-centered workplaces that drive both business success and employee well-being. Drawing from 17 years of experience advising hundreds of organizations, Morales demonstrates how flexibility is not just a policy or pandemic trend, but a business imperative that drives talent retention, productivity, and competitive advantage. The book introduces the Flex Success® Framework, a proven roadmap for implementing holistic flexibility that encompasses where, when, and how long people work. Through compelling case studies and practical guidance, Morales shows how organizations can move beyond "return to office" debates to create meaningful workplace experiences that enable both people and businesses to thrive. Perfect for leaders navigating the future of work, this groundbreaking book provides concrete strategies for transforming organizational culture and achieving measurable business results through strategic flexibility implementation. Here are some things we can cover in our conversation: ●      The intersection of flexibility, inclusion, and well-being in creating successful workplaces of the future ●      Why the old command-and-control leadership paradigm no longer serves today's workforce ●      How organizations can move beyond "return to office" debates to create meaningful experiences that drive engagement and innovation ●      Practical strategies for implementing flexibility that benefits both people and business outcomes ●      Real success stories from organizations that have transformed their cultures through holistic flexibility Social media links: ●      Manar's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/manar-morales-1800a37/ ●      The Diversity & Flexibility Alliance's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/diversity-&-flexibility-alliance/ ●      Hashtags we typically use for the book: #FutureOfWork #WorkplaceCulture #Leadership #Flexibility  

Lynn Blades episode: Minimal Brain Activity by Unheard Music Concepts (source: Free Music Archive) (CC BY)    www.lynnblades.com Lynn Blades, author of THE QUIET BURN: The Ambitious Woman’s Guide To Recognizing And Preventing Burnout, is the founder of Legacy Leadership, an executive leadership consultancy, and a dedicated DEI advocate. She has strived to cultivate a 21st-century leadership workforce that truly reflects the diversity of our society. RECOGNIZING AND PREVENTING BURNOUT Demanding Careers Should Not Overshadow Health And Well-Being Women face numerous challenges in their careers – dealing with sexist and demeaning work environments, juggling work and family obligations, struggling to achieve parity with their male colleagues – all of which require having the necessary physical and emotional capacity to maintain one’s self-esteem. Lynn Blades has spent decades advising women in Fortune 500 companies and independent businesses. An executive leadership coach, her message is clear: it’s time to rewrite the rules. In THE QUIET BURN: The Ambitious Woman’s Guide To Recognizing And Preventing Burnout, Blades offers practical tools to help women recognize and prevent burnout and empower them to reclaim their lives – such as the power of saying no, practicing guilt-free self-care, and silencing self-doubt. She provides insights, supported by case studies and exercises, that empower readers to: • Make better choices • Find their voice • Understand that they deserve the best   Blades’ clients comprise a diverse group, of primarily women, who are fatigued from being undervalued, unheard, burdened with excessive stress, and expected to effortlessly juggle everything. “My aspiration for this book is to herald a new chapter in your life, centered around the themes of self-respect, rejuvenation, reinvention, resilience, and self-love,” she says. When Blades first encounters clients, they are emotionally and physically exhausted. This applies to women who adeptly manage a six-figure household with the same finesse as a multi-million-dollar business yet still find themselves questioning their self-worth. All genders will benefit from THE QUIET BURN.  The book contains advice on living a fulfilling life, self-respect, effectively communicating needs, and recognizing the peril of ignoring personal well-being. Life involves compromises, but that should not compromise one’s physical and emotional health. While failures teach valuable lessons, sacrificing health is not a sustainable solution. Blades urges readers to take steps to discover where they stand on self-care, and includes a thought-provoking Self-Care Check-In. Caring about the right things involves prioritizing what truly matters, making deliberate choices aligned with values, and taking effective action. By eliminating what doesn’t matter and focusing on what is important, wasting time and energy on unimportant things can be avoided. This leads to a sense of fulfillment and reduces negative emotions like stress and anxiety. Identifying core values allows women to concentrate on family, friends, achievement, wisdom, kindness, or equity. She also stresses the importance and power of saying no. Oftentimes, saying yes creates unnecessary stress and anxiety. “Embracing your inner ‘no’ is about establishing healthy boundaries,” Blades writes. “When faced with an uncertain request, take a pause. Reflect on it to gain a broader perspective before committing.”  Throughout the book there are QR codes that lead to videos of Blades sharing additional information and advice.  Reflecting On The Power Of No is one of the impactful videos. Readers are encouraged to craft an action plan to boost self-awareness and identify rising stress in challenging moments before it overwhelms. Blades shares techniques that allow responding thoughtfully rather than reacting impulsively: •          Consider moments when boundaries have been compromised by individuals or situations •          Think about how those compromises made you feel. Were you hurt, ashamed, embarrassed, angry? •          Considering the responses to the above questions, how could you have better handled the situation for a more favorable outcome   THE QUIET BURN is a wake-up call to genuine self-awareness, when women embrace their power, recognizing their value to society and their potential to bring about change. It points the way to a future where class, gender, and race no longer serve as barriers.  When women unite and collaborate, they can become a formidable force. Once they establish a strong foundation and stand together, they will be the agents of change they want to see in the world. Social media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynnblades/    

After graduating from Boston’s Emerson College in 1985, Tom headed west to work in the film and television industry. In Hollywood, he honed his writing skills through the trials and tribulations of episodic TV, animated series, screenplay options, and game shows for over two decades. When the feast or famine lifestyle of a Hollywood Writer became too sporadic for his maturing life (He had grown to enjoy eating two to three times a day – every day), he took a job at a call center to make ends meet. After his first day on the phones, his manager asked him to stop.  He was terrible at the entry-level position. Tom got easily frazzled, had no focus, and was simply in the wrong role. But rather than look to another company to find his niche, Tom looked inward to learn more about himself and the industry that didn’t want him. Tom leveraged his findings to change himself and the work environments he occupied. Climbing the corporate ladder one rung at a time, Tom evolved into an innovative leader with a proven track record for success and effective team building.    Over the past 25 years, he has worked at every level in the call center industry - from clerk to Senior Director.  He’s hired thousands, promoted hundreds, and fired somewhere in between - building trust, friendships, and Best Practices along the way. His personal approach of meeting business needs by pairing them with the drives of individuals’ passions has taken him around the world building call centers, making friends, and enjoying an industry that initially asked him to just stop. Tom has now returned to his roots as a professional writer, crafting his book, “How To Succeed In Business Without Really Crying,” a tried-and-true business approach based on personal stories that captivate, educate, and entertain.    Suggested questions/topics for discussion: 1.     Tell everyone a little about your book, “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Crying.”  What motivated you to write this book, the format you chose, and why? 2.     Can you give us an example of a personal story you share in your book, and how that translates into a Business Best Practice. 3.     You mentioned building your own culture, and your book has a section about deciding when to rock the boat or just jump ship.  Can you expand on that?  4.     Talk a little bit more about building a corporate subculture.  What does that look like? 5.     Building a corporate subculture requires openness and embracing change – and not everyone will always be on the same page.  How do you manage change to be as inclusive and as successful as possible? 6.     You just spoke about getting to know your stakeholders and your book goes into some detail about the different types of personalities in the workplace.  Why is that important? 7.     Your book also broaches knowing when to walk away from a position – and how to do that not only for yourself, but for the potential “greater good.”  Can you talk about that? 8.     What do you want people to take away from your book and experiences?   Social media: ·      LinkedIn: Tom Johnstone | LinkedIn ·      Book Purchase: How to Succeed in Business Without Really Crying Order Page    ·      Facebook (Book page): Facebook    ·      Midwest Book Review:  MBR: California Bookwatch, July 2024 ·      Donovan Review: June 2024 Issue - Donovan's Bookshelf ·      Book Notions Review:           Authors In The Media With Tom Johnstone - Book Notions  

Alison Fragle episode:  Distances by Beat Mekanik (source: Free Music Archive) (CC BY)    ALISON FRAGALE, PhD Speaker. Professor. Compulsive Organizer. Website www.alisonfragale.com Newsletter alisonfragale.substack.com ALISON FRAGALE is the Mary Farley Ames Lee Distinguished Scholar of Organizational Behavior at the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina. Her scholarship has been published in the most prestigious academic journals in her field, and featured in prominent media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Financial Times, Boston Globe, and Inc. She is the author of the book, Likeable Badass: How Women Get the Success They Deserve, published by Penguin Random House on September 3, 2024. A sought-after keynote speaker and trusted advisor, she lives in Chicago with her family. Questions/topics to discuss: What is the difference between power and status? Why is status more important? What is the definition of a Likeable Badass and why is it the key to managing your status? You believe “don’t worry about what other people think of you” is bad advice. Why should we care? What are some of the limiting mindsets that have a negative impact on someone’s status? How does status affect your ability to be paid your worth or promoted at work? What are “other promoters” and how can someone get more of them? In the book, you share dozens of likeable badass tactical approaches. Can you share a few of your favorites? What do you hope readers will learn from this book?   Book promo info: A science-backed, easy-to-implement playbook for getting the respect, power, and influence you’re due, even when the odds are stacked against you. Throughout my years of research, speaking gigs, and mentoring, I’ve been bombarded with questions from women of all stripes — from rising stars to those in the C-suite. How do we get credit for both likeability and competence? How can we get the recognition we deserve, negotiate like a boss, and navigate the intricate dance of office politics without losing our sanity or the respect of our peers? Well, my friends, the answers are here, and they’re served up in Likeable Badass. Based on my twenty years of work studying power, status, and perceptions, I know one thing is true: No fancy title, degree or achievement is going to get us the rewards we deserve if it doesn’t impact how others perceive us. So, I’m pulling back the curtain on decades of science to reveal what all successful women have in common — they have found their unique way to show up as a likeable badass. All we need to do is follow their lead. Yes, I’m a professor, but this book is not a dry, academic read. It’s a delightful blend of behavioral science and life hacks — think of it as your secret weapon for conquering the workplace. I’ve woven together solid research, practical advice, and kick-ass stories from a diverse group of women who’ve paved their own paths to success. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, Likeable Badass is your go-to guide for evidence-based strategies, sprinkled with a dash of inspiration and humor. It’s not just a book; it’s your ticket to a fulfilling career and a seat at the table. Endorsement: “The ultimate guide for women to achieve their goals. Drawing on her brilliant research and extensive experience, Alison Fragale reveals how to overcome the tradeoff between likeability and competence. But it’s not just for women—it’s a must-read for anyone who wants to be a better colleague, mentor, parent, or partner to half the population.”   —Adam Grant Social media: LinkedIn Substack: The Upper Hand with Alison Fragale Instagram TikTok Hashtag - #LikeableBadass  

Lori Rosenkopf is the Simon and Midge Palley Professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. As Vice Dean for Entrepreneurship, she serves as Wharton’s faculty director for Venture Lab, Penn’s home for student entrepreneurs, and also their San Francisco campus. In a prior role as Vice Dean of Wharton’s Undergraduate Division, she introduced a new curriculum and developed experiential classwork in the tech sector. For over thirty years, Rosenkopf has taught entrepreneurship and management of technology to more than 20,000 high schoolers, undergraduates, MBAs, and executives, connecting these learners to many of the most entrepreneurial alumni at Wharton and Penn through treks, panels, and classes. Rosenkopf was named a Best Undergraduate Professor by Poets and Quants, and has received multiple awards for her teaching, including Wharton’s prestigious David Hauck Award for Distinguished Teaching. Rosenkopf has published more than thirty articles on technological communities and social networks in top management journals, and she is a Fellow of the Academy of Management. Rosenkopf received her PhD in Management of Organizations from Columbia University, her MS in Operations Research from Stanford University, and her BS in Operations Research and Industrial Engineering from Cornell University. She worked as a systems engineer at AT&T Bell Laboratories and Eastman Kodak between her degrees. Rosenkopf lives in Philadelphia with her partner, Allan, and their dog, Winston.   Book: Unstoppable Entrepreneurs: 7 Paths for Unleashing Successful Startups and Creating Value through Innovation (April 22, 2025)   UNSTOPPABLE ENTREPRENEURS 7 Paths for Unleashing Successful Startups and Creating Value through Innovation   By Lori Rosenkopf   Discover your own path to entrepreneurship and make your mark in the world In a world where entrepreneurship often seems to be driven by tech prodigies and venture-backed unicorns, many aspiring entrepreneurs find themselves wondering: “What if I don’t fit the stereotype of a Silicon Valley wunderkind? Is there a place for me in this landscape?”   In Unstoppable Entrepreneurs, Lori Rosenkopf, Vice Dean of Entrepreneurship at The Wharton School, shatters these limiting perceptions, revealing a diverse array of entrepreneurial paths that are open to anyone with the drive to create value through innovation. Drawing from her thirty-year career and interactions with more than 20,000 students, Rosenkopf offers a compelling roadmap for entrepreneurial success. From Amy Errett’s disruption of the hair care industry with Madison Reed to Jarrid Tingle’s mission to diversify venture funding through Harlem Capital, the book showcases a rich tapestry of founders who have carved their own unique paths. These inspiring stories reveal that entrepreneurship is not a one-size-fits-all endeavor, but a realm of possibilities limited only by one’s imagination and determination. In Unstoppable Entrepreneurs, readers will discover: + 7 distinct entrepreneurial paths, from disruptors to intrapreneurs; + The 6 Rs of entrepreneurial success; + Insights for navigating the inevitable setbacks and challenges; + Strategies for overcoming biases and obstacles in securing funding and support; and + Tools for developing an entrepreneurial mindset, regardless of background or industry.   Entrepreneurs play a crucial role in driving innovation and economic growth. Among them are a special breed of individuals often referred to as "unstoppable entrepreneurs" - individuals with a relentless drive, unwavering determination, and an unshakeable belief in their vision. These unstoppable entrepreneurs are not deterred by challenges but instead see them as opportunities for growth and learning. They possess a unique resilience that propels them forward, even in the face of adversity. Their willingness to take risks, think outside the box, and push boundaries sets them apart in the business world.   Empowering these unstoppable entrepreneurs is essential to shaping the future. By providing them with the resources, support, and network they need, we can catalyze their impact and accelerate their journey towards success. These individuals are the drivers of change, the creators of new opportunities, and the visionaries shaping tomorrow's business landscape. Whether you’re a budding entrepreneur with a groundbreaking idea, a seasoned business owner looking to scale, or an employee seeking to drive innovation within your organization, this essential read will challenge your assumptions, unleash your entrepreneurial potential, and inspire you to make your mark in the world.   LinkedIn Twitter  

Abby Davisson episode:  Quickening by malictusmusic (source: Free Music Archive) (CC BY)  Abby Davisson is an author, speaker, and award-winning leader obsessed with holistic decision-making (the kind that takes multiple bottom lines into account). After spending two decades making change from within existing organizations, she launched her own, focused on helping leaders make smart choices for lasting success in work and life. The book she co-wrote with Stanford Professor and labor economist Myra Strober, Money and Love: An Intelligent Roadmap for Life's Biggest Decisions, was called “brilliant” by professional poker player Annie Duke; named a top business book of 2023; and is required reading at Stanford's Graduate School of Business. Prior to launching the Money and Love Institute®, Abby’s professional experience included strategy-focused roles in the public, private, and non-profit sectors, including a decade at Gap Inc. where she led the Gap Foundation and co-founded the company’s employee resource group for working parents. Abby holds a BA from Yale University (from which she graduated summa cum laude) and an MBA and MA in Education from Stanford University. She lives with her husband and two sons in San Francisco, where she serves on the board of Children’s Day School. She’s also an aspiring tennis player, dark chocolate fan, and resale shopping maven. You can learn more about her at www.abbydavisson.com.   Social media links: ·       LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abbydavisson/ ·       Substack: https://abbydavisson.substack.com ·       Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abby.davisson/