Women at Work

When our colleague Kevin Evers wrote There’s Nothing Like This: The Strategic Genius of Taylor Swift [https://www.amazon.com/Theres-Nothing-Like-This-Strategic/dp/B0DD2XL7C5], we knew we had to talk about it. For so many women, she’s a role model—personally and professionally. Four HBR Swifties highlight how her instincts and decisions offer lessons in leadership, strategy, and staying power. Resources: * “The Strategic Genius of Taylor Swift [https://hbr.org/2025/03/the-strategic-genius-of-taylor-swift],” by Kevin Evers * “What All Leaders Can Learn from Taylor Swift [https://hbr.org/podcast/2025/04/what-all-leaders-can-learn-from-taylor-swift],” from IdeaCast Sign up for the Women at Work newsletter [https://hbr.org/email-newsletters?movetile=womenatwork]. Email us: womenatwork@hbr.org [womenatwork@hbr.org]

Self-disclosure at work can build trust and connection, but it also carries risks—especially for women, leaders, and those whose values or identities set them apart. That tension is what Columbia professor Katherine Phillips explored in one of our earliest episodes of the podcast, back in 2018. Now, we revisit Kathy’s research on inclusion and authentic relationships, and add a fresh perspective. Amy B speaks with Kathy’s longtime collaborators Tracy Dumas and Nancy Rothbard about how expectations around self-disclosure have shifted. The Amys also reflect on what they’ve learned about sharing personal details at work: when it builds connection, when it complicates things, and when they choose to hold back. Guest experts: Katherine Phillips, before her death in 2020, was a professor of leadership and ethics at Columbia Business School. Tracy Dumas is a professor at Ohio State University’s Fisher College of Business. Nancy Rothbard is a professor at Wharton, as well as the school’s deputy dean. Resources: * “Self-Disclosure at Work (and Behind the Mic) [https://hbr.org/podcast/2018/11/self-disclosure-at-work-and-behind-the-mic],” from Women at Work * “Sharing Personal Information Can Build Trust on Your Team — If You Do It Right [https://hbr.org/podcast/2024/05/sharing-personal-information-can-build-trust-on-your-team-if-you-do-it-right],” from HBR on Leadership * “Research: When Leaders Disclose a Chronic Illness at Work [https://hbr.org/2023/08/research-when-leaders-disclose-a-chronic-illness-at-work],” by by Peter Ghin and Mladen Adamovic * “Make It Safe for Employees to Disclose Their Disabilities [https://hbr.org/2021/06/make-it-safe-for-employees-to-disclose-their-disabilities],” by Laurie Henneborn * “Why Leaders Should Be Open About Their Flaws [https://hbr.org/2023/01/research-why-leaders-should-be-open-about-their-flaws],” by Li Jiang et al. * “How to Get Comfortable ‘Being Yourself’ at Work [https://hbr.org/2022/07/how-to-get-comfortable-being-yourself-at-work],” by Lan Nguyen Chaplin Sign up for the Women at Work newsletter [https://hbr.org/email-newsletters?movetile=womenatwork].

Young women are entering the workforce full of potential–they graduate with degrees and confidence–but they don’t always have the interpersonal skills they need to succeed and advance. They may not  know how to speak up in meetings, collaborate with people in charge, or ask for what they need. And that’s not just their problem; it’s ours too. If professors, mentors, managers, and parents don’t support young women, we risk losing talented future leaders before they even get started. In this live conversation from SXSW EDU in Austin, Amy Gallo talks with Neda Norouzi, an architecture professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio, and Aimee Laun, director of the Career Connections Center at Texas Woman’s University. They discuss the gap between what colleges teach and what workplaces expect, and the role educators, managers, and mentors can play in bridging it. Resources: * “Sponsorship: Defining the Relationship [https://hbr.org/podcast/2019/10/sponsorship-defining-the-relationship],” from Women at Work * “A Better Approach to Mentorship [https://hbr.org/2023/06/a-better-approach-to-mentorship],” by Christopher “CJ” Gross * “Men Can Improve How They Mentor Women. Here’s How. [https://hbr.org/2016/12/men-can-improve-how-they-mentor-women-heres-how]” by David G. Smith and W. Brad Johnson * “Investing in the Development of Young, Remote Employees [https://hbr.org/2024/02/investing-in-the-development-of-young-remote-employees],” by Octavia Goredema * “The Key to Retaining Young Workers? Better Onboarding. [https://hbr.org/2022/05/the-key-to-retaining-young-workers-better-onboarding]” by Donald Tomaskovic-Devey and Reyna Orellana * “Academics Can Only Take Students So Far [https://hbsp.harvard.edu/inspiring-minds/4-ways-to-incorporate-life-skills-learning-into-your-undergraduate-courses],” from Inspiring Minds Sign up for the Women at Work newsletter [https://hbr.org/email-newsletters?movetile=womenatwork]. Email us: womenatwork@hbr.org [womenatwork@hbr.org]

Imagine having a direct report who sobs every time you give them feedback. Or leading a team of people who’ve told your boss that they don’t trust you. Or taking on your first management position with no training or guidance–and having 43 direct reports! What then? The Amys offer advice to listeners for getting through these real situations. And not just advice, but actual language for asserting your needs, earning trust, setting boundaries, and holding your ground even when emotions run high. Other listener questions they respond to: * How can I push for career growth after maternity leave when senior leaders suggest I slow down? * What should I do when my manager seems to be holding me back from advancing in my career? * How can I succeed in a new role under an unsupportive manager who ignores my neurodivergence and offers vague, unhelpful feedback? Resources: * “When You Work in a Male-Dominated Industry,” [https://hbr.org/podcast/2019/12/when-you-work-in-a-male-dominated-industry] from Women at Work * “The Essentials: Building and Repairing Trust,” [https://hbr.org/podcast/2024/03/the-essentials-building-and-repairing-trust] from Women at Work * “How to Earn Respect as a First Time Manager,” [https://hbr.org/podcast/2025/03/how-to-earn-respect-as-a-first-time-manager] from HBR On Leadership * “What to Do When Your Boss Is Blocking Your Career Growth,” [https://hbr.org/2022/08/what-to-do-when-your-boss-is-blocking-your-career-growth] by Shirley Davis * “How to Succeed When You’re Not the Boss’s Favorite,” [https://hbr.org/2024/03/how-to-succeed-when-youre-not-the-bosss-favorite] by Dina Denham Smith * “Building Social Capital When You Work Remotely,” [https://hbr.org/2023/05/building-social-capital-when-you-work-remotely] by Aliza Licht * “What to Say When Someone Cries at Work,” [https://hbr.org/2020/06/what-to-say-when-someone-cries-at-work] by Deborah Grayson Riegel * “Bad Bosses: Our Favorite Reads,” [https://hbr.org/2021/09/bad-bosses-our-favorite-reads] by Paige Cohen Sign up for the Women at Work newsletter [https://hbr.org/email-newsletters?movetile=womenatwork]. Email us: womenatwork@hbr.org

Asking questions at work isn’t just about getting answers. Sure, you need the information you’re requesting, but you’re also showing your colleagues and leaders how you think. When your questions are strategic, clear, and well-timed, they can show that you’re insightful and committed to moving the work forward while also demonstrating you have leadership potential. Amy G talks with a program manager who wants to get better at asking questions that show executive presence. They’re joined by Harvard Business School professor Alison Wood Brooks, who shares research-backed advice on navigating the complexities of workplace conversations. Guest expert: Alison Wood Brooks is a professor at Harvard Business School and the author of TALK: The Science Of Conversation And The Art Of Being Ourselves [https://alisonwoodbrooks.com/conversation-book/]. Resources: * “The Surprising Power of Questions [https://hbr.org/2018/05/the-surprising-power-of-questions],” by Alison Wood Brooks and Leslie K. John * “Best of IdeaCast: To Build Stronger Teams, Ask Better Questions [https://hbr.org/podcast/2024/12/best-of-ideacast-to-build-stronger-teams-ask-better-questions?ab=at_art_pod_pb_1x4_s04],” by IdeaCast * “Why Asking for Advice Is More Effective Than Asking for Feedback [https://hbr.org/2019/09/why-asking-for-advice-is-more-effective-than-asking-for-feedback],” by Jaewon Yoon et al. * “The Essentials: Getting the Feedback You Need [https://hbr.org/podcast/2023/01/the-essentials-getting-the-feedback-you-need],” by Women at Work Sign up for the Women at Work newsletter [https://hbr.org/email-newsletters?movetile=womenatwork]. Email us: womenatwork@hbr.org [womenatwork@hbr.org]