Aileen and Glenda dive into the complexities of power in the workplace with Harvard Professor Julie Battilana, co-author of Power, for All: How it Really Works and Why It’s Everyone’s Business and founder of the Social Innovation and Change Initiative at Harvard Kennedy School.Together, they explore how power shapes behavior, influences decision-making, and impacts relationships with colleagues. From understanding power dynamics to avoiding "power poisons," they share strategies for leveraging i...
Nov 20, 2024•51 min
This Halloween, we’re turning the spotlight on the spookiest stories of all—the ones that happen at work. Join us as we dive into horrific embarrassing moments that people have experienced in the office, from group chats gone terribly wrong to falling face first in front of your new boss, and the story of coworker gift that scarred lives forever. We’ve gathered the most cringeworthy corporate confessions that will have you laughing, gasping, and maybe even feeling a little better about your own ...
Oct 30, 2024•42 min•Season 5Ep. 7
In this week’s episode of Surfing Corporate, we tackle the often-overlooked topic of ageism in the workplace with special guest Maureen Wiley Clough, host of the It Gets Late Early podcast and newsletter. Together, we discuss shocking research, including how tech workers over 40 are 26% less likely to be hired than their younger peers, and why women experience ageism at nearly double the rate of men. More importantly, we provide actionable strategies for overcoming age-based bias, staying compet...
Oct 23, 2024•54 min•Season 5Ep. 6
Aileen and Glenda challenge the traditional view of categorizing bosses as either good or bad, focusing instead on those who embody both traits. Leaders who can be inspiring and brilliant, but also mean and volatile. Join us as we explore the psychology behind these unpredictable corporate characters. We talk about what it’s like to work for leaders like Elon Musk, and Steve Jobs’, and we share our own experience working for a Jekyll and Hyde boss. Episode Highlights: Introduction to Jekyll and ...
Oct 16, 2024•38 min•Season 5Ep. 3
Whether by choice or necessity, career pivots are becoming more common as industries shift, layoffs are rampant, and personal values evolve. Aileen and Glenda break down the key drivers behind career changes, and offer insights into navigating the challenges and opportunities that come with starting over. The episode features a candid interview with Daniela Chaparro, a former high-powered marketing executive who left her corporate career to start over doing social work, helping families of autis...
Oct 09, 2024•54 min•Season 5Ep. 4
Aileen and Glenda discuss the challenges and implications of political discussions in the workplace, especially during an election season. They explore the impact of political polarization on work dynamics and relationships, and they offer strategies for managing tricky political interactions effectively while maintaining professionalism and respect in the workplace. 00:00 Navigating Political Conversations at Work 05:05 The Impact of Political Discussions on Workplace Dynamics 10:02 Legal Consi...
Oct 02, 2024•27 min
In the second part of our interview, we discuss Amazon's promotion process—often described as a 'black box'—and we explore how the company treats men and women differently. We also discuss the pivotal moments that led Kristi to quit drinking alcohol, a decision that became a turning point in her life. Finally, we uncover the powerful reasons behind her choice to walk away from the world’s largest company, despite the staggering financial incentives that came with staying. Learn more about your a...
Sep 25, 2024•28 min•Season 5Ep. 2
Ever wondered what it's really like to work at Amazon? In the first episode of our two-part season premiere, we sit down with Kristi Coulter, former Amazon executive and author of Exit Interview: The Life and Death of My Ambitious Career. Kristi pulls back the curtain on the high-pressure, high-stakes culture inside one of the world's most influential companies. From the notorious Jeff Bezos question mark emails to the iconic six-pager memos that set the tone for every meeting, Kristi shares how...
Sep 18, 2024•52 min•Season 5Ep. 1
Frenemies are a slithery and dangerous corporate species that can be found in all types of workplaces, in every industry, country, continent, or planet. Frenemies are people who pretend to be your friend, but they’re also in some ways an enemy or rival. They can be charming and very likable one minute, and then stab you in the back with a recently sharpened machete the next (ouch). A recent study found that interactions with frenemies can heighten our stress responses MORE than aversive relation...
Apr 24, 2024•36 min•Season 4Ep. 5
We discuss our latest updates (we go full LinkedIn-style bragging about our recent 2024 Ambie Nomination), we talk about our new podcast partners, and we dive deep into what studies says about work recognition, and how this practice can substantially employee behavior and employer brands. For more info about The Ambies, click here. Check out the other awesome shows of the Airwave Podcast Network! Episode Sources: The Importance of Employee Recognition: Research & Statistcs - Quantum Workplac...
Mar 13, 2024•25 min•Season 4Ep. 4
We dive into the riveting journey of Peggy Northrop, a true publishing powerhouse, as she unravels the invaluable lessons acquired over 30 years in the corporate arena. From navigating the cut-throat publishing landscape in the 90s to earning her "Corporate Ph.D." under the mentorship of Vogue Magazine's Editor-in-Chief, Anna Wintour, Peggy swiftly ascended to the coveted role of Editor-in-Chief at prestigious publications like Reader’s Digest, More Magazine, and Sunset. In the face of unprecede...
Nov 29, 2023•57 min•Season 4Ep. 3
A recent study at a major company found that women there were 14% LESS likely to be promoted than their male counterparts every year. Researchers found that a major factor was the fact that women were consistently judged as having lower leadership potential than men. But why and more importantly, is that finding widespread across industries? During this episode, we dive into this topic and learn more about why this happens, and how we can all do better.Po SOURCES: Women Aren’t Promoted Because M...
Nov 15, 2023•30 min•Season 4Ep. 2
As more and more companies are mandating return-to-office policies to their employees (many of whom deem those mandates as unnecessary and counterproductive), workplace culture takes on more importance for employees and management alike. So, how can you balance the needs of both employees and employers? If you ask @Claude Silver, Chief Heart Officer at Vayner Media, employers need to step up their game and create work cultures that employees actually want to be a part of. She’s determined that, ...
Nov 08, 2023•48 min•Season 4Ep. 1
https://bmc.link/surfingcorporate Aileen and Glenda catch up on their summer vacation adventures, share updates on season 4, and somehow end up discussing the Barbie movie. Support Surfing Corporate! "Friendly reminder" that our pod is completely self-funded (and it takes A LOT of work). If you like what we do, please consider making a donation by clicking here. It would mean SO MUCH to us to be able to keep making this show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 23, 2023•8 min•Season 3Ep. 15
We look back at the best moments of the season and also discuss hot new topics, like the current female-driven movement on social media that is making the case for women to write emails more like men (more assertive, less apologetic). We also unpack the new corporate buzzword that is giving us hives: ProcrastiWorking. FRIENDLY REMINDER! Surfing Corporate is completely self-funded, and it takes a lot of work! If you like what we do, please consider making a donation here. It would mean SO MUCH to...
Jun 14, 2023•41 min•Season 3Ep. 14
According to the Better Business Bureau, approximately 14 million people encounter job scams annually in the U.S. alone! 😱😱In 2022, CNBC reported that Americans lost $68 million to this deceitful practice. With the rise of remote job opportunities, scammers have unlocked a whole new level of potential victims. In this episode, we tackle the very current issue of job scams, and we talk about "ghost posts" (positions that companies post on major online professional platforms, but they have no re...
May 24, 2023•38 min•Season 3Ep. 13
For this week’s episode, we have a treat for our Spanish-speaking fans, since Aileen and Glenda interview our fan favorite guest, Susana Sala Bosch, but this time, 100% in her native Spanish. She’s as insightful, honest and funny as ever, and now, en español! Estamos felices de compartir nuestro primer episodio especial de Surfing Corporate. En este episodio, conversamos con Susana Sala Bosch, una ejecutiva senior con una amplia experiencia navegando exitosamente las aguas (a veces turbulentas) ...
May 03, 2023•1 hr 20 min•Season 3Ep. 12
We all know that Executive Assistants perform key administrative tasks, but the scope of their role goes WAY beyond what appears on their job description. They are psychologists, secret service agents, strategists, magicians, cheerleaders and general advisors. They also have a special “chaos radar” that allows them to detect and get ahead of any potential issue before it becomes a massive mess. Their duties vary from buying multi-million dollar homes for their bosses to influencing top-level cor...
Apr 26, 2023•36 min•Season 3Ep. 11
In movies and TV shows, women in the workplace are often pitted against each other to ramp up the drama and tension among characters. Think Meryl Streep’s fabulous “Miranda Priestley” in The Devil Wears Prada. But does is this kind of “Queen Bee” behavior true in real life? Or more of an exaggeration? And f it is true, why would women sabotage other women in the workplace? During this episode, Aileen and Glenda delve into the controversial topic of workplace “Queen Bees”, discussing research on ...
Apr 19, 2023•42 min•Season 3Ep. 10
Did you know that the average employee spends nearly 2.5 hours per day in drama? Yup, we spend 150 minutes a day gossiping, tattling, withholding buy-in, and resisting change. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be this way. Imagine having the right tools to leave the drama ––AKA emotional waste –– behind, and instead spend your time and energy on your actual work and wellbeing. This is the goal of Cy Wakeman, a therapist accidentally turned drama researcher who is recognized for cultivatin...
Apr 12, 2023•48 min•Season 3Ep. 9
According to a recent survey by ResumeBuilder.com, 45% of job seekers say it's harder to find a job now than it was pre-pandemic. It can feel like you need a whole new set of corporate ninja skills (not to mention, patience) to navigate job hunting, resume writing, filling out online applications, pitching yourself to recruiters to see IF you're lucky enough to endure then endless rounds of interviews. Then, if you passed that gauntlet, pray you don't get ghosted by the hiring manager at the end...
Mar 29, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Season 3Ep. 7
Savvy corporate players have a good chance of climbing up the corporate ladder and unlocking the achievement level of… VICP (Very Important Corporate Person). This coveted level of the work game translates into making good money, having power and influence at work, leading and inspiring teams, and flying business class, baby! Once you get to this point of corporate stardom, it’s hard to walk away. But that’s exactly what our guest did. Christine Escribano is the former SVP of One Platform Market...
Mar 22, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Season 3Ep. 6
In today’s challenging economy, it’s not uncommon to find people with full time jobs adding side hustles to the equation (although not all side hustles are driven by financial reasons). A recent article by CNBC stated that a whopping 44% of Americans work a side hustle. So what does this mean for corporate America? Many bosses have expressed concern over this emerging trend, but multiple studies have shown that having a side hustle actually boosts full-time job performance. This is the case of t...
Mar 15, 2023•35 min•Season 3Ep. 5
Navigating Corporate America isn’t easy, but if you come from a different country, it’s challenging on a whole other level. Learning cultural nuances takes up a lot of space in your professional and emotional hard drive. It’s a process that doesn’t happen overnight, and it can lead to many awkward /embarrassing “lost in translation” moments (that hopefully will be material for laughter later on. Or therapy. Or both). During this episode, we speak with Susana Sala Bosch, a C-Suite level leader in...
Mar 08, 2023•46 min•Season 3Ep. 4
If you work for a company that gets acquired by a bigger company, work the way you knew it is probably going to change. Experts state that Adaptability Quotient (the capacity to adapt to new ways of thinking and letting go of old habits) is crucial if you want to keep your job during a transition phase. For today’s episode, we talk with Jordan Stratton, Editor and Social Media Manager for The Dad, the #1 Most Engaged Family Media Brand on the internet. Jordan also writes, shoots, and produces Th...
Mar 01, 2023•53 min•Season 3Ep. 3
In this first episode of a two-part discussion, Glenda and Aileen tackle a topic that affects many employees at some point in their careers--the corporate tsunami--that incredibly stressful period of time when new leadership takes over the company, and nobody is quite sure what is going to happen next. From restructuring to layoffs, from being demoted to being promoted (or perhaps even being escorted off of the premises for a dramatic flare), practically anything goes in unpredictable times like...
Feb 22, 2023•27 min•Season 3Ep. 2
Real talk about corporate life doesn’t get more real than this. Our guests are outspoken leaders in the HR space, and they’re also the co-hosts of the popular “People Problems” podcast. Alexa Baggio and Tyson McKenzie tell us with zero sugar coating what HR gets wrong, what people get wrong about HR, why we need to stop treating employees like children, and why “feces revenge” is a thing at work. (Yes, you read that right). You can follow Alexa Baggio on LinkedIn and on Instagram as @theinfluenc...
Feb 15, 2023•52 min•Season 3Ep. 1
Surfing Corporate is back for its third season, starting February 15th! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 06, 2023•3 min
For part 2 of our conversation about burnout with Dr. Kim Hollingdale, we discuss how corporate America has historically rewarded behaviors that lead to burnout, and how leaders today can shift that mentality without sacrificing commitment and quality work from their employees. An unexpectedly entertaining episode despite the seriousness of the subject! EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS The role leaderships plays in mitigating burnout (03:45) How companies can save and make money if they have a culture low on ...
Nov 21, 2022•33 min•Season 2Ep. 17
Everyone is talking about burnout these days, and although it’s not a new concept, it certainly has gained exponential fame and recognition in the past few years ––like Zendaya or Harry Styles. Corporate America has thrived for decades on cultures that reward behaviors that lead to burnout, so how do we shift this mentality? To tackle this timely topic, we invited Dr. Kim Hollingdale, an executive psychotherapist and performance coach who helps people experiencing burnout find their love for wor...
Nov 16, 2022•40 min•Season 2Ep. 16
