Where Work Meets Life™ with Dr. Laura

Dr. Laura talks with guest Sterling Hawkins, a keynote speaker and the author of “Hunting Discomfort”, about the possibilities inherent in working through our discomfort. Sterling shares a bit of his story, which started with amazing opportunities, and then plunged him into the depths of discomfort. He reveals how much he learned from that experience.

One of the things that spurred Sterling out of his ultimate low point was something his mother said, “the way out is through”. That piece of advice inspired him to move through the uncomfortable, the painful, and the embarrassment to get to the other side where things improve. Sterling took that advice, and all the experiences he pushed himself into after it, and channelled it into his book, “Hunting Discomfort”. He and Dr. Laura break down the five types of discomfort people experience and discuss how they can be used to one’s advantage. This episode is a look at how resilient we can be if we choose to embrace discomfort and push through it. It’s a key lesson with a success rate Sterling can personally attest to. 

“...sometimes people hear ‘hunting discomfort’ or conversations about discomfort and they're like, Sterling, look at my career, my relationships, my bank account. I don't need to hunt discomfort, I'm surrounded by it. But my answer is always the same, which is if you're surrounded by discomfort, you're not hunting it, you're living with it, you're placating it. You're rationalizing why you have to live with those things in your life. When I'm talking about hunting discomfort, I'm talking about getting to the source, the root of what's driving that discomfort, and freeing yourself from that place that leaves you forever and permanently free.” Sterling Hawkins

About Sterling Hawkins:

Sterling Hawkins is out to break the status quo. He believes that we can all unlock incredible potential within ourselves, and he’s on a mission to support people, businesses and communities to realize that potential regardless of the circumstances.

From a multi-billion dollar startup to collapse and coming back to launch, invest in and grow over 50 companies, Sterling takes that experience to work with C-level teams from some of the largest organizations on the planet and speaks on stages around the world. 

Today, Sterling serves as CEO and founder of the Sterling Hawkins Group, a research, training and development company focused on human and organizational growth. He has been seen in publications like Inc. Magazine, Fast Company, The New York Times and Forbes. 

Based in Colorado, Sterling is a proud uncle of four and a passionate adventurer who can often be found skydiving, climbing mountains, shark diving or even trekking the Sahara. Maybe you’ll even join him for the next adventure – and discover the breakthrough results you’re looking for. He’ll have your back, #NoMatterWhat.

Resources:

Website: SterlingHawkins.com

Book: “Hunting Discomfort: How to Get Breakthrough Results in Life and Business No Matter What” by Sterling Hawkins

Sterling Hawkins on LinkedIn

“The Presence Process” by Michael Brown

Huberman Lab Podcast

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations: 

Canada Career Counselling

Synthesis Psychology

In a companion episode to Dr. Laura’s last episode on burnout (E73), she addresses what we need to know to identify and treat our burnout. Rather than talking to workplaces about how to prevent burnout in employees, this episode is all about us as individuals. What does burnout look like? What contributes to it? And what can we do about it? How do we help ourselves?

Dr. Laura first defines burnout as “a syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress” which means that personal and relationship stress, though impacting burnout, do not define the syndrome. She explains that mental health is on a continuum on which four main stages of depletion exist. We start off Healthy, move into Reacting, then if our needs are not addressed we enter into the Injured stage until, finally, we are deeply unwell in Illness. Each of these stages of burnout comes with increased mental and physical symptoms that must be recognized. Dr. Laura shares her insight on how we start to feel, the things we start to give up, and the ways in which we become ill. She explains how we need our work lives to foster our mental wellness so we can avoid burnout and mental illness in general.

“I want to leave you with the fact that there is a way to address burnout once it happens, once you reach that end stage of burnout and you just feel a lack of energy, cynical, like you're not good enough, there is a way to get well again. And that burnout is not your fault. Oftentimes it's the organizational conditions you're in. It's the overload. It's the brutal boss that you're working for. It's the unhealthy team dynamics that are grating and wearing away at you. So it's not your fault, but you have the power to get the help you need.” Dr. Laura

Note: If you wish to see the images Dr. Laura references, this episode can also be found on her YouTube channel here.

About Dr. Laura:

Bringing nearly 25 years of expertise as an Industrial/Organizational and Career Psychologist and pioneer in the future of work, Dr. Laura helps organizations evolve their cultures, and leaders and employees to thrive in their work and lives.

She shares her expertise through keynote speaking, the Where Work Meets LifeTM podcast, strategic career coaching, and writing articles and books.

Resources:

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations: 

Canada Career Counselling

Synthesis Psychology

Dr. Laura welcomes Soren Kaplan, bestselling author, founder of Praxie.com, and Columnist for Inc. Magazine, to talk about his latest book, “Experiential Intelligence”. Soren talks about the impetus behind writing his book and defines Experiential Intelligence, or XQ, as a key factor in the road to success, alongside Intelligence Quotient (IQ) and Emotional Intelligence (EQ).

Soren shares examples of experiences from his childhood that have shaped into skills he uses today to explain XQ. Experiential Intelligence, or XQ, draws on experiential elements that give us understanding and abilities beyond what simple intelligence and resumés can explain. How we have lived matters to who we are. Dr. Laura and Soren Kaplan dive into elements of his book, explore how people learn and grow, and detail how leaders and managers can learn to assess XQ when hiring. Soren’s insights offer a way to look at the whole of a person and what they bring to the table, as well as opening each of us up to discover skills and attributes developed from our experience to aid us moving forward.

“Usually we're talking about different assets other than emotions and IQ. We're talking about different attributes that we develop, usually based on our experience. And you and I were just talking about those experiences that we had in our home life that gave us practice doing certain things that give us these higher order abilities to navigate uncertainty or be resilient or understand group norms that exist underneath the surface of teams, whatever those things might be. And that's what I mean by experiential intelligence. It's your mindsets, your abilities, and really the know-how and skills that you develop over time through experience.” Soren Kaplan

About Soren Kaplan:

Soren Kaplan is a Wall Street Journal bestselling and award-winning author, a Columnist for Inc. Magazine, a leading keynote speaker, the founder of Praxie.com, and an affiliate at the Center for Effective Organizations at USC’s Marshall School of Business. Business Insider and the Thinkers50 have recognized him as one of the world’s top management thought leaders and consultants.

His latest book, Experiential Intelligence, reveals how life experience contributes to real intelligence on par with IQ (intellect) and EQ (emotional intelligence) and can be leveraged for breakthrough in leadership and innovation. Concepts from the book have been profiled in Harvard Business Review, Psychology Today, Forbes, National Public Radio, and other media.

Soren has advised and led professional development programs for thousands of executives around the world, including Disney, NBCUniversal, Kimberly-Clark, Colgate-Palmolive, Hershey, Red Bull, Medtronic, Roche, Philips, Cisco, Visa, Ascension Health, Kaiser Permanente, CSAA Insurance Group, American Nurses Association, and many others. He has lectured at the Harvard Business School, Copenhagen Business School, Melbourne Business School, Breda University in the Netherlands, and with other MBA and executive education programs globally. Soren’s debut book, Leapfrogging, was named “Best Leadership Book” and The Invisible Advantage received the “Best General Business Book” distinction by the International Book Awards. He has been quoted, published, and interviewed by Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, Forbes, CNBC, National Public Radio, the American Management Association, USA Today, Strategy & Leadership, and The International Handbook on Innovation, among many others. He holds Master’s and Ph.D. degrees in Organizational Psychology.

Resources:

Website: SorenKaplan.com

“Experiential Intelligence” by Soren Kaplan

“Leapfrogging” by Soren Kaplan

Soren Kaplan on LinkedIn

Praxie.com

Tech Nation Radio Podcast

The Drive podcast

The Ezra Klein Show podcast

Making Sense podcast

Psychology Today

Inc. Magazine

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations: 

Canada Career Counselling

Synthesis Psychology

Dr. Laura welcomes Dr. Malissa Clark, an associate professor of Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of Georgia, about workaholism and her upcoming book, “Never Not Working: Why the Always-On Culture is Bad for Business - and How to Fix It”. Dr. Clark defines modern day workaholism, and explains why it’s so detrimental to both individuals and businesses.

There is an aspect of workaholism that’s “like water to a fish”, according to Malissa Clark, which is that we are so immersed in work that we simply don’t notice it. She works to define workaholism and breaks it down into four main components: behavioral, motivational, emotional, and cognitive. Dr. Clark unpacks each of the components, which are detailed in her book, and talks about the research, interviews, and thoughts that she drew upon when writing “Never Not Working”. This episode dovetails nicely with the focus on remote and hybrid work that Dr. Laura focuses on, bringing work wellness and health into the forefront of discussion.

“...we synthesized all of the research on the relationship between level of workaholism and performance ratings. And we basically find no relationship. And that is including if they were rating themselves or the bosses were rating their performance… my research and other people's research continually shows over and over again that not only do we not find that relationship… but we find that workaholism is related to a whole host of other detrimental outcomes, such as workaholics tend to be sometimes not the best coworkers and bosses for a variety of reasons.” Dr. Malissa Clark

About Dr. Malissa Clark:

Malissa Clark is an associate professor of industrial/organizational (I-O) psychology at the University of Georgia, where she has been on faculty since 2013. Currently, Clark serves as associate head of the department of psychology and director of the Healthy Work Lab. She is a recognized expert on the topics of workaholism, overwork, burnout, and employee well-being.

Clark earned her Ph.D. in I-O psychology from Wayne State University, and her B.A. in organizational studies from the University of Michigan. She has received awards for her writing and mentoring, and her work has been funded by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP). In 2023, Clark was named a Fellow of SIOP, a status that recognizes unusual and outstanding contributions that have an important impact on I-O psychology. 

Her first book, Never Not Working: Why the Always-On Culture Is Bad for Business—and How to Fix It, launches in February 2024. Clark’s work has been published in premier outlets such as Journal of Applied Psychology, Journal of Management, and Journal of Organizational Behavior. She serves on the editorial boards of Journal of Applied Psychology and Personnel Psychology and as action editor for Journal of Business and Psychology and Occupational Health Science. Clark is passionate about bridging the scientist-practitioner gap and advocating for healthier workplaces and worker well-being through her speaking and consulting. Her work has been featured on various podcasts and in outlets such as Time, US News and World Report, New York Times, and The Atlantic. She currently serves as a member of the NIOSH Healthy Work Design and Well-Being Council. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and travelling.

Resources:

Pre-order “Never Not Working: Why the Always-On Culture is Bad for Business - and How to Fix It” by Malissa Clark (release date February 6, 2024)

Dr. Malissa Clark on LinkedIn

Healthy Work Lab; Department of Psychology at the University of Georgia 

Workaholics Anonymous

“The 4 Day Week” by Andrew Barnes, Stephanie Jones

“Overwhelmed” by Brigid Schulte

Thriving at Work with Dr. Patricia Grabarek and Dr. Katina Sawyer podcast

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations: 

Canada Career Counselling

Synthesis Psychology

Dr. Laura talks with Dr. Bal Pawa about her book, “The Mind-Body Cure”, and her journey through the health field into her focus on integrative medicine. Dr. Pawa shares her story of being a physician and a patient on the same day after a car accident, and how that opened her eyes to an entirely new experience and perspective on medicine. 

Dr. Pawa discusses the science and medical background that informs her book but stresses that she made it very digestible to anyone without that background. She talks about personal healing and learning to regulate our own nervous systems, a preventative model of medicine that she says is missing from our current healthcare system. Dr. Pawa teaches Dr. Laura a breathing exercise from her book, one that helps improve oxygen saturation in the lungs and calm the nervous system. Dr. Pawa’s knowledge and experience inform her message about the impacts of chronic stress and the importance of the mind-body connection. She shares her insight with as many people as possible in order to change lives.

“If 75% of our physical symptoms are attributed to chronic stress and anxiety - because of the hormones I talked about, cortisol and adrenaline - and if that's the case and the other 25% are viral, infectious, injury, well, then it behooves us to make sure we pay attention to what causes stress hormones.” Dr. Bal Pawa

About Bal Pawa:

Dr. Pawa has 30-plus years in the health field as a physician with a focus on Integrative Medicine and Women's Health. She obtained certification in Mind-Body Medicine at Harvard Medical School. She is also a Certified Menopause Clinician and has completed additional studies on Functional Medicine: Neuroplasticity, Gut, Brain, and Autoimmune disease. 

Bal is a passionate advocate for bringing evidence-based medicine to the masses and empowering them with knowledge. She has been an invited speaker on radio, television, community events, and presented health lectures to corporations across Canada, the USA, and the UK. Her TEDx talk about the role of stress and anxiety on your health has nearly 1 million views. Dr. Pawa's, international best-selling book The Mind-Body Cure provides tools for self-care, as people struggle to reclaim their health. A Clinical Instructor at UBC Faculty of Medicine, Bal continues to inspire and mentor younger physicians.

Resources:

Website: DrBalPawa.com

Dr. Bal Pawa on LinkedIn

“The Mind-Body Cure: Heal Your Pain, Anxiety, and Fatigue by Controlling Chronic Stress” by Bal Pawa

“Chronic Stress, Anxiety? You Are Your Best Doctor!” | Dr. Bal Pawa | TEDxSFU

Brené Brown

Dr. Gabor Maté

Deepak Chopra

Rumi 

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations: 

Canada Career Counselling

Synthesis Psychology

Dr. Laura addresses the topic of burnout in this episode, defining exactly what it is and describing the workplace symptoms that can contribute to it. Burnout is not a category of mental disorder or a formal medical diagnosis but instead a stress response to toxic and suboptimal working conditions. How can it be prevented? Dr. Laura shares her insight. 

The quick fixes that organizations implement to combat burnout don’t proactively solve the problem.  As good as a wellness program and yoga class can be, it won’t fix the root cause of employee burnout. Dr. Laura breaks down all the signs of a toxic workplace: the types of dysfunctional dynamics that directly contribute to burnout. She also explains how organizations can find out about those toxic symptoms in order to address them at the root. There is a responsibility on companies and leaders to eliminate the systemic issues leading to burnout so healthier and more productive workforces can be cultivated. Dr. Laura’s expertise in organizational psychology shines a light on how this might be accomplished. 

“... basically burnout is a result of suboptimal working conditions. Too often we'll put the blame on the individual and we'll say, well, that individual, that person, they're just not coping very well with the workload. Or maybe they have a lot going on in their personal lives, and that's why they're burnt out. That's not actually the case. When we look at burnout, we have to put a lot of weight into the workplace situation that the person is finding themselves in ... ” Dr. Laura

Note: If you wish to see the images Dr. Laura references, this episode can also be found on her YouTube channel here.

About Dr. Laura:

Bringing nearly 25 years of expertise as an Industrial/Organizational and Career Psychologist and pioneer in the future of work, Dr. Laura helps organizations evolve their cultures, and leaders and employees to thrive in their work and lives.

She shares her expertise through keynote speaking, the Where Work Meets LifeTM podcast, strategic career coaching, and writing articles and books.

Resources:

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations: 

Canada Career Counselling

Synthesis Psychology

Dr. Laura welcomes guest Carolyn Stern, President and CEO of EI Experience and author of The Emotionally Strong Leader, to the show for a conversation about emotional intelligence in leaders. Carolyn is an emotional intelligence and leadership development expert who discusses her belief that everyone needs an education in how to communicate and resolve conflict when emotional, especially those in leadership roles.   

Carolyn relates personal examples of how she learned to control her emotions to find the strength to communicate clearly and get her job done under stress. She explains how having emotions and being emotional is different, why emotions and feelings are not bad experiences if we can manage our responses to them, and how to identify our triggers so we can be on top of them. Dr. Laura explores how Carolyn’s book offers an emotional intelligence learning process for readers to take part in and what those key steps look like. Emotional intelligence is not taught in schools but it’s a vital skill for everyone to develop in life, something that will assist not only leaders but anyone in managing healthy communication and relationships.

“... I think that the bottom line is our emotions are incredibly powerful. I think we overvalue positive emotions and undervalue negative emotions, but you and I both know they both provide gifts. Every emotion tells you something.”  Carolyn Stern

About Carolyn Stern: 

Carolyn Stern is the President and CEO of EI Experience—an executive leadership development and emotional intelligence training firm. She is a certified Emotional Intelligence and Leadership Development Expert, professional speaker, award-winning author, and university professor.

Since launching her book, The Emotionally Strong Leader: An Inside-Out Journey to Transformational Leadership, Carolyn has quickly gained acclaim following her appearances on The Social, CTV Your Morning, Daytime Chicago, and Global TV. Her book was awarded the Axiom Book Award for Best Business Book in 2023 in the leadership category and the 2022 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Award in the career category.

She has also been featured in various media outlets across the globe, including Forbes, Fast Company, The European Business Review, The Globe and Mail, and Inc.com.

Carolyn’s emotional intelligence courses and modules have been adopted by top universities, and she has trained over 35,000 business leaders across the continent in highly regarded corporations.

Resources:

Website: CarolynStern.com

“The Emotionally Strong Leader: An Inside-Out Journey to Transformational Leadership” by Carolyn Stern

“Dare to Lead” by Brené Brown

Dare to Lead with Brené Brown podcast

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations: 

Canada Career Counselling

Synthesis Psychology

Dr. Laura welcomes guest Kaleem Clarkson, CEO of Blend Me, Inc., to the show to talk about the importance of remote work. Blend Me, Inc. is a consultancy that helps small businesses transform into remote or hybrid-remote workplaces. Kaleen is a passionate advocate for remote work and his conversation with Dr. Laura reveals why.

Kaleem reminds us that at the start of the pandemic much of the working world went remote in just a month. He points to that as being one of the best examples of business leaders’ ability to transform and be agile. But now, with a push to return to the office like before, he says leaders are falling into what he calls “leadership nostalgia”. Kaleem and Dr. Laura discuss how leaders are afraid of what the future holds and back away from remote-hybrid work because what they know is comforting. Kaleem explains how he became passionate about remote work, why office buildings are still vacant, and his desire for vacant buildings to become residential assets. The discussion sheds light on why we shouldn’t move backwards away from the remote work ground we’ve gained.

“… leaders love the way things used to be. That's what they knew, and I've been trying to gain a lot more empathy. I think that's one thing, humility, a little more humility. A little more empathy for some of these leaders because they don't know any other way. You know, that's how they moved up the ranks. They went to the golf course, they played golf. They were the chummy person in the office a lot of times, like that's how they were able to get ahead and that's all they know.”  Kaleem Clarkson

About Kaleem Clarkson:

Kaleem is a husband, father, remote work advocate, and speaker. He is the Chief Operating Officer of Blend Me, Inc, a fractional people operations consultancy that helps startups and small businesses transform into high-functioning remote or hybrid-remote workplaces by improving the remote employee experience.

He has been featured in Harvard Business Review, CNBC, Fortune Magazine, named to LinkedIn’s Top 10 Voices in Remote Work, listed as one of the top 15 Remote Work Advocates by the All-American Speakers Bureau and named as a 2023 Top Remote Work Influencer by Remote.com. Kaleem has presented at South by Southwest, Transform HR, Make-A-Wish Foundation and has shared the stage alongside leadership from companies such as Google, United Airlines, Facebook, Visa, and HP. Kaleem is passionate about work-life integration and the remote employee experience.

Resources:

Website: BlendMeInc.com

Website: RemotelylOne.com 

Kaleem Clarkson on LinkedIn

How I Built This with Guy Raz podcast

Harvard Business Review

Smartless with Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, & Will Arnett podcast

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations: 

Canada Career Counselling

Synthesis Psychology

Dr. Laura welcomes guest Michelle K Johnston, executive coach and author of “The Seismic Shift in Leadership”, to the show to talk about how leadership has changed. The old way of leading with an iron fist, using command and control, is no longer how great leaders operate. Leaders today need to embrace connection, which is the focus of Michelle’s book.

Sharing personal stories in “The Seismic Shift in Leadership” connects Michelle with readers in much the same way as she urges leaders to connect with their teams. In order to reach people, we first have to know who we truly are and be comfortable in our own skins. Once we have that insight, we can connect authentically with others. Michelle shares her growth stories with Dr. Laura and speaks about why leaders need to listen more than talk and how coaches can foster healthy workplaces. Leadership should inspire trust and build connection, and Michelle’s advice on how to achieve that is truly valuable for both work and life wellness. 

“… I realized that connection was key and I wanted to explore more about connecting. And that's what the seismic shift in leadership is about … the new leader today who is truly effective has an ability to meaningfully connect with their teams and to inspire them and to motivate. But first you have to step back and make sure you're connected with yourself.”  Michelle Johnston

About Michelle K. Johnston:

Dr. Michelle K. Johnston is a management professor, executive coach, and leadership expert who is the Clifton A. Morvant Distinguished Professor in Business at Loyola University New Orleans. 

Her first book, The Seismic Shift in Leadership, The Seismic Shift in Leadership: How to Thrive in a New Era of Connection, is now an Amazon bestseller. 

She was recently named A Woman of the Year by CityBusiness and one of the most influential New Orleanians.

Michelle is a celebrated keynote speaker presenting at conferences and events nationwide. She received her Ph.D. in Communication from Louisiana State University and was named to the prestigious 100 Coaches Group, which consists of the top executive coaches worldwide.

For speaking engagements, media, and more, visit michellekjohnston.com.

Resources:

Website: MichelleKJohnston.com

Michelle on LinkedIn

“The Seismic Shift in Leadership: How to Thrive in a New Era of Connection” by Michelle K. Johnston

“The Gifts of Imperfection” by Brene Brown

“What Got You Here Won’t Get You There” by Marshall Goldsmith

Dr. Ruth Gotian weekly show “Optimizing Success”

“The Success Factor” by Ruth Gotian

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations: 

Canada Career Counselling

Synthesis Psychology

Dr. Laura’s 25 years of experience in career psychology informs this episode’s discussion about career development trends and how you can take charge of your career.  Dr. Laura shares how she chose to specialize in career development when she obtained her Master’s in Counseling Psychology and how that led her to found Canada Career Counseling.

In referencing the Psychological Contract: A Paradigm Shift, Dr. Laura breaks down how the old contract for obtaining and maintaining a career has given way to an entirely new contract and what that means. Defining how we individually see success is now as important as evaluating exactly what we want to do with our time. A great deal of our career satisfaction comes from understanding who we are: what our skills and strengths are, what values we hold, and our interests and passions. Dr. Laura explains how these things shape us and why they are vital to our personal and professional fulfillment and growth.

“Covid brought on a lot of people reconsidering: what do I want to do? … And do I want a job that feels meaningless and doesn't give me purpose? Or do I want to have a job that I feel makes some sort of difference to humanity? A difference in the world, whether that's helping others, helping the environment, whether it's innovating to make our lives easier, whether it's exciting technology development. Different strokes for different folks. But it's important to understand this great re-evaluation is still happening and the quiet quitting movement is where people are feeling less attached to work. They're feeling [that] maybe what they're doing is no longer meaningful and they're figuring out a higher purpose.” Dr. Laura

Note: If you wish to see the images Dr. Laura references, this episode can also be found on her YouTube channel here.

About Dr. Laura:

Bringing nearly 25 years of expertise as an Industrial/Organizational and Career Psychologist and pioneer on the future of work, Dr. Laura helps organizations evolve their cultures, and leaders and employees to thrive in their work and lives.

She shares her expertise through keynote speaking, the Where Work Meets LifeTM podcast, strategic career coaching, and writing articles and books.

Resources:

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations: 

Canada Career Counselling

Synthesis Psychology

Dr. Laura welcomes guest Janine Rogan, CPA and Founder/CEO of the Wealth Building Academy, to the show to talk about financial equity and her new book “The Pink Tax”. Janine’s mission is to empower women to confidently grow their wealth through financial feminism, and her insight is invaluable not just to women but to everyone invested in financial equity.

In “The Pink Tax”, Janine writes about the impacts of the systems we’ve set up in society on certain groups of people. She uses the book to educate and inform women about the financial industry and her company, the Wealth Building Academy, also has an online investing course geared towards women. Dr. Laura and Janine address salary negotiations, how financial planners are compensated, and three personas we can take on to impact change. Finances are an aspect of well-being as they affect not only our physical state but our emotional and mental wellness too. This episode shines a light on the need for financial equity and some ways to go about achieving it.

“I think there are two key areas that I really want women to take away when it comes to their own personal finances … number one is negotiation. I think women under-negotiate. We know that every $5,000 that you negotiate in your early career years, in your early salaries, can translate to over $750,000 in wages over the course of your career. So we know negotiating is important. And it doesn't always have to just be negotiating salary. It can be negotiating time off. It can be negotiating work from home.” Janine Rogan

About Janine Rogan:

Janine Rogan, CPA, is a passionate keynote and TEDx speaker. She is the Founder and CEO of The Wealth Building Academy Inc. and an award-winning CPA. Her mission is to educate and empower women to confidently and profitably grow their wealth, through financial feminism - financial equality for all.  

Janine has been featured internationally in a number of publications and has delivered keynotes to thousands of individuals and companies around the world. She currently sits on the CPA Alberta Education Foundation board, the board of FESA, and the planning committee of the AICPA Global Women’s Leadership Summit. Janine is pursuing her Master’s in Economic Sustainability through the University of Torrens in Australia.  

 In spring 2023, Rogan released her debut book “The Pink Tax: Dismantling A Financial System Designed To Keep Women Broke” published by Page Two Books. In it, Janine explores the hidden ways that women are held back in our society—from overpriced women’s themed items to the motherhood penalty. It debuted at #1 on Amazon for Feminist Theory books.  

Janine is a University of Alberta alumni, born and raised in Edmonton, Canada. She is currently based out of Calgary where she lives with her husband Andrew, son Theodore, and pup Lazer. 

Resources:

Website: TheWealthBuildingAcademy.com

Website: JanineRogan.com

“The Pink Tax: Dismantling A Financial System Designed To Keep Women Broke” by Janine Rogan

Pink Tax Podcast

Janine Rogan on LinkedIn

“Say Less, Get More” by Fotini Iconomopoulos

Website: The Trauma of Money

“Cultish” by Amanda Montell

“Wordslut” by Amanda Montell

Goal Digger Podcast by Jenna Kutcher

Online Marketing Made Easy Podcast by Amy Porterfield

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations: 

Canada Career Counselling

Synthesis Psychology

Dr. Laura welcomes guest Samra Zafar - founder and CEO of Brave Beginnings, best-selling author of “A Good Wife”, and internationally renowned speaker - to the show to talk about the courage to make big life changes. Samra herself made a bold and difficult life change when she escaped an abusive marriage, as detailed in her book, and she offers insight gained from that experience. 

Samra shares her story with Dr. Laura. She talks about why she’s pursuing her MD after a career in finance and how she has managed the pivot into medicine after escaping her arranged teenage marriage with two children. Samra addresses the idea of courage as not being the absence of fear but the willingness to do the thing even when you’re terrified. Dr. Laura and Samra have a revealing discussion about believing in yourself, the psychological damage of abuse, why she wrote “A Good Wife”, and the impact telling her story has had across the world. It’s an inspirational episode with a message for everyone.

“It's very, very natural to feel those feelings of fear and imposter syndrome and all those things. So courage is not the absence of those things. Courage is, Yes, I am afraid right now. Yes, I'm terrified. Yes, this feels scary. But this means something to me and I care about this, so I'm going to do it anyway. Courage is trusting in your ability to figure things out.” Samra Zafar

About Samra Zafar:

Samra Zafar is an award-winning internationally renowned speaker, bestselling author, and educator for equity, mental health, and human rights. Samra is currently pursuing an MD at McMaster's DeGroote School of Medicine with the purpose of becoming a psychiatrist promoting inclusive mental health.

She is the founder and CEO of Brave Beginnings, a national charity supporting women in building lives of freedom after escaping abuse and oppression.

She has been recognized twice among the Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada. She is also named among the Top 25 Most Inspirational Women in Canada, and Top 25 Canadian Immigrants. She is the 2021 recipient of the Desmond Parker Outstanding Young Alumni Award at University of Toronto, in recognition of her work to advance human rights. She served as one of the youngest alumni governors for the University of Toronto. She currently serves as a board member for Women’s College Hospital Foundation and a Celebrated Ambassador for Plan International Canada.

Samra's book, “A Good Wife: Escaping The Life I Never Chose”, based on her journey of escaping an abusive child marriage to pursue her education and shed light on gender-based oppression, is an international bestseller, and is being adapted for television. Her work has impacted millions and has been extensively featured in national and global media.

Resources:

Website: SamraZafar.com

Samra Zafar on LinkedIn

“A Good Wife: Escaping the Life I Never Chose” by Samra Zafar and Meg Masters

Brave Beginnings charity

“Good Morning, I Love You” by Shauna Shapiro, PhD

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations: 

Canada Career Counselling

Synthesis Psychology

Dr. Laura welcomes productivity catalyst, highly sensitive executive coach, and international speaker Clare Kumar to the show to discuss designing workspaces for neurodivergent productivity. Clare has a wealth of insight into how spaces can best suit inclusion and differing work needs.

Dr. Laura and Clare Kumar talk about neurodiversity and exactly what sorts of behaviors and traits encompass neurodiversity. Clare explains the needs that often accompany neurodiversity, why hybrid and flexible work arrangements are so important, and how we are lacking in organizational training around the impacts of our physical spaces on wellbeing. The conversation is a welcome look into neurodiverse needs and ties into Dr. Laura’s continuing study of flexible work situations and what we all need for well-being and productivity.

“What we've seen collectively is the recognition that people can work effectively from home and that a large majority of people are fiercely clinging to the ability to be working from home and the autonomy that comes with that. So, yes, I think it's highly advantageous for the neurodivergent population, but really most humans want a degree of customizing their work experience and having some autonomy to do that, whether it be time, space, how you're doing the work, all of that has a part to play in people showing up at their best.” Clare Kumar

About Clare Kumar:

Productivity catalyst, highly sensitive executive coach, and international speaker Clare Kumar examines the intersection of productivity and inclusivity – paying attention to both being and doing. She inspires individuals to design for well-being and cultivate sustainable performance while avoiding exhaustion and burnout. Clare encourages leaders to design inclusive performances to invite the richest contributions from every member of their team. This is a topic Clare explores with innovators as host of the Happy Space Podcast.

Clare draws on a diverse corporate career that took her from Toronto to Tokyo and Montreal, with equal experience as an entrepreneur. She is a sought-after media contributor to news and lifestyle shows including the Huffington Post, Fast Company, the Globe and Mail, CBC Radio, The Social, and the Marilyn Denis Show. Whether speaking to one person or thousands, Clare loves inspiring massive shifts by inviting you to pay attention to little things that make a big difference. She welcomes all highly sensitive professionals as well as those who want to love and support them to find community in the Happy Space Pod.

Resources:

Website: ClareKumar.com

Happy Space Podcast

Huberman Lab Podcast

Samer Hattar, PhD

“The Highly Sensitive Person” by Elaine N. Aron, PhD

“Sensitive” by Jenn Granneman and Andre Solo

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations: 

Canada Career Counselling

Synthesis Psychology

Dr. Laura reflects on the just-finished Season 3 of Where Work Meets LifeTM, and the themes and highlights she explored throughout key episodes. She looks ahead to the upcoming Season 4 and shares the topics she wants to revisit from new angles and which new ideas she will examine in the coming episodes.

Dr. Laura addresses hot topics like AI, hybrid and flexible work, and toxic workplaces and bosses, which  she has been talking about recently and wants to explore in more depth in coming episodes. The idea of nuanced humans, embracing our intuition, heart, and inner wisdom in making career decisions, is something she cherishes discussing, as well as the brain, the neuroscience behind what we do and choose. Season 3 brought many enlightening episodes that each investigate different aspects of wellbeing, workplace and career. Dr. Laura highlights a few key guests and conversations that are worth revisiting for inspiration and advice. Thank you all for being on the journey so far and join Dr. Laura for even more insight and knowledge in Season 4. 

“...I think that intuition is an important element of our work and our lives. I would love to continue talking about that when it comes to thriving humans. And creating meaning and fulfillment in our lives is super important because it is easy to get consumed by fear and worry and constant thoughts that are churning in our heads, and to have difficulty grounding and finding purpose and meaning in this life.” Dr. Laura

About Dr. Laura:

Bringing nearly 25 years of expertise as an Industrial/Organizational and Career Psychologist and pioneer on the future of work, Dr. Laura helps organizations evolve their cultures, and leaders and employees to thrive in their work and lives.

She shares her expertise through keynote speaking, the Where Work Meets LifeTM podcast, strategic career coaching, and writing articles and books.

Resources:

“The Impact of AI on Tomorrow’s Job Market” by Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett on LinkedIn

Episode 62 | The Gift of Intuition in Our Work and Lives

Episode 41 | Too Bad to Stay, Too Good to Leave: Making Purposeful Career Pivots

Episode 42 | Career Fulfillment: Making or Breaking our Work-Life Wellness

Episode 57 | The Power of Exercise to Optimize your Brain and Mental Wellness

Episode 61 | Vitamin N: The Power of Nature in Work/Life Wellness

Episode 64 | The Generous Workhome: Boosting Your Wellbeing and Productivity

Episode 47 | Tragedy as Our Teacher: Finding Silver Linings with Detective Sweet

Episode 48 | Unlikely Connections, Affirmations, and the Power to Make a Difference

Episode 54 | Special Episode on The LiLoHia Project: with guests Gerald Auger and Sass Jordan

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations: 

Canada Career Counselling

Synthesis Psychology

Dr. Laura records a special episode live in Bruges, Belgium, with guest Philip Vanhoutte for a tour of the Generous Workhome. Philip explains how the vital elements of nature and wellbeing were distilled into six essentials for work health, and how those six essentials were built into the Generous Workhome to create an optimal, productive environment.

Philip drew from research into the value of pulling nature into daily life and the concepts of biophilic design to create the blueprint for the Generous Workhome. His theory is encapsulated by the acronym EASI, which is defined as Energizing being the key to driving Authoring, Sharing, and Interacting. As Philip guides Dr. Laura through the prototype Workhome studio spaces, it is evident that elements of sound blocking, nature, movement, adjustable lighting, and air temperature have all been carefully curated. Dr. Laura learns more about how EASI needs are woven into a functional work layout, the intention behind every choice, and how the outdoors can be brought into daily life.  The YouTube version of this episode will enable viewers to truly see the Generous Workhome, aspects of which can be applied into our own work environments.

“In here you are hearing the sounds of a forest at this very moment. It's a biophilic sound which has no repetition or pattern in it. So it's not twice the same bird that you're hearing chirping. And that puts people at ease. What human beings and animals need is the sounds of water, wind, and birds. If they hear these things, they relax.” Philip Vanhoutte

About Philip Vanhoutte:

Leveraging a rewarding international career in the ITC industry, Philip Vanhoutte’s passion for personal productivity tools and communication & collaboration solutions morphed into a singular purpose: accelerating the realization of human potential.

Philip champions the adoption of Smarter Working: a holistic human centered work design practice that unifies space, technology, and people disciplines. He co-authored The Smarter Working Manifesto, a definitive guide on how to shape the best work style. In his quest for health and joy at work he learned that Nature Deficit Disorder has produced highest ever burnouts, work induced sickness, and a struggling workforce. He campaigned for more nature at work with Ozadi at SXSW in Austin and GCUC in Denver.

Philip graduated from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Belgium with a combined Applied Economics and Engineering degree and a major in Marketing. He started his career at Accenture Consulting, to continue with key change management roles at Engie and Wang Laboratories. In the second part of his IT career, he grew the MCI WorldCom International business, became Chief Marketing Officer at Sony-Ericsson Mobile Communications to finish a blue-chip career as SrVP and MD of Plantronics (now part of HP) Europe and Africa.

Since the Financial Crisis of 2008, Philip became a strong advocate of Agile Working with a passion for Human Dimensions of Organisations. He is known for transformational projects in award-winning offices which are acoustic temples and benchmarks for the biophilic built environment. He has advised Leesman, Veldhoen+Company and Work EvOHlution, and provided support to the founding of the Osservatorio Smart Working at the Politecnico di Milano.

Resources:

Philip Vanhoutte on LinkedIn

Website: https://smarterworking.io/

“The Smarter Working Manifesto” by Guy Clapperton and Philip Vanhoutte  

“14 Patterns of Biophilic Design” by Terrapin Bright Green

EASI

Not A Desk

Moodsonic  

Aera home fragrance  

Savanna Studio

“Forest Bathing” by Dr. Qing Li

“Spring Cannot Be Cancelled” by David Hockney and Martin Gayford

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations: 

Canada Career Counselling

Synthesis Psychology

Dr. Laura welcomes guest Randi Seiff, President and Chief Creative Officer of Treun, to talk about how Treun is bringing sustainability and philanthropy into luxury fashion. Randi has been in the fashion and lifestyle industry for over 30 years and values the ability to align brands with social good.

Randi and Creative Founder Doug McClain met at the start of COVID, and from their alignment on philanthropy through fashion, Treun was born. Randi shares the statistic that out of 150 billion ready to wear garments annually sold, 30% and can end up in landfills! Treun seeks to reduce that waste by focusing on made to order and made to measure garments, removing inventory and poorly fit returns from the equation. Randi and Dr. Laura discuss how Treun focuses on use of natural fibers in the fabrics they make, using deadstock, eliminating plastic packaging, and Treun’s commitment to support a different foundation or charity quarterly. Through live events they seek to bring awareness to and raise funds for each charity. This conversation highlights how fashion can be re-thought with the needs of the planet and people in mind, reducing waste and harm while feeling and doing good.

“... it goes back to using sustainability as a lens through which you look at everything… and sustainability, for me, it's a vehicle for product innovation and value creation, and that can be applied to any industry. Certainly you can look at every touchpoint and try and think how you can do this differently; just because it's been done that way for a zillion years doesn't mean that's the right way for now. As we have learned with the fashion system right now, we know the industry is broken and we're slowly but surely spreading the word to get other companies on board.” Randi Seiff

About Randi Seiff:

Randi Seiff is a Creative and Strategist in one, with 30+ years of expertise in fashion & lifestyle, specializing in design, branding, & product development, building purpose-driven brands from concept to completion. Randi brings a unique perspective where marketing, brand, and design work together to streamline a cohesive brand experience. Design-driven and strategy-led, with a mission to find solutions towards circularity, she uses design-thinking as a methodology for creative problem-solving to design entire brand experiences, connecting sustainability and purpose at every touchpoint - from design to supply chain to sales. A holistic approach where every detail matters and is a deliberate piece of the overall experience ensures the customer, brand, product, marketing, and experience authentically connect. Tapping into a shared sense of community and purpose, Randi leverages collaborations for product innovation and strategic partnerships, and with empathy, entrepreneurial spirit, and imagination, communicates the story to bring the brand’s personality to life….a triple win-win-win….for people, planet and profit.

Resources:

Randi Seiff Website: randiseiffdesign.com

Randi Seiff on LinkedIn

Randi Seiff on Instagram

Treun Website: treunhouse.com

Treun Instagram

Treun LinkedIn

“Tough Titties: On Living Your Best Life When You’re the F-ing Worst” by Laura Belgray

Seth’s Blog by Seth Godin

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations: 

Canada Career Counselling

Synthesis Psychology

Dr. Laura hosts another solo episode to discuss the topic of intuition. A topic she is passionate about, she defines intuition as a gut instinct, feeling something is off, or a hunch that something isn’t right. Our intuition is as valuable to our lives as science and data, and Dr. Laura explains why.

Our inner voice is an accumulation of so many experiences we’ve had as a human being and it needs to be taken into account. The common perception that our intuition is “fluffy” or just “emotional” discounts our natural instincts and inner knowing.  Dr. Laura explains some of the science behind intuition, the ability to sense external cues that stems from our spinal cord and guts, and why learning to factor intuition into our daily lives gives us extra insight into decision making. Intuition is a gift; we should be conscious of honing it to the benefit of our work and lives.

“We all make decisions that we end up regretting. But I want to encourage you to turn that regret into learning. Say, what did I learn from that for next time that I'm going to put into action so that I can better trust my gut? Because again, the concrete data is important, but it does not always tell us the full story of what lies ahead.” Dr. Laura

About Dr. Laura:

Bringing nearly 25 years of expertise as an Industrial/Organizational and Career Psychologist and pioneer on the future of work, Dr. Laura helps organizations evolve their cultures, and leaders and employees to thrive in their work and lives.

She shares her expertise through keynote speaking, the Where Work Meets LifeTM podcast, strategic career coaching, and writing articles and books.

Resources:

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations: 

Canada Career Counselling

Synthesis Psychology

Dr. Laura welcomes guests Laura Cohen, counsellor and founder of her own nature therapy practice, and Philip Vanhoutte, ITC industry professional and author of “The Smarter Working Manifesto”, to the show to talk about the power of Vitamin N, nature. Both Laura and Philip are champions of the benefits of a connection with nature at work and in life.

Laura Cohen, who works with Dr. Laura through Canada Career Counselling, details studies that show people to be happiest in coastal environments and outdoors. She also cites the profound benefits of nature for those living with ADHD. Philip Vanhoutte is a proponent of Biophilic Design, which includes identifying fourteen patterns of nature that would ideally be included in a building to directly impact the wellness of individuals within. The ways in which nature improves our work lives and overall health are compelling and it becomes apparent that we need to set ourselves up to maximize our interactions with nature. Laura and Philip share their individual expertise on the transformative power of nature and how they each advise incorporating more of the outdoors into our daily lives. 

“There's also this idea that I think a lot of the time we see nature as this thing that's separate from us or that it's a commodity to fulfill us and make us feel good… it reduces our stress hormones and we see it as something that's beneficial. But the next level is kind of understanding the reciprocity and how do I give back to nature, and developing that sort of deeper relationship with nature.” Laura Cohen

About Laura Cohen:

Originally from Montreal, Laura is now based in Halifax with a 10 minute walk to the ocean. For the last 6 years, Laura has worked as a counsellor in universities, Employee Assistance Programs, and in private practice, including her own nature therapy practice and Canada Career Counselling.  

Laura holds a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology from McGill University and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications with a minor in Psychology from Concordia University. Laura has been a guest lecturer for organizations such as Dalhousie University, Concordia University, Canadian Counselling & Psychotherapy Association presenting on the mental health benefits of nature as well as, offers individual nature-informed therapy and outdoor groups therapeutic services for women and children for an embodied experience. She is also an intuitive, creative, and finds herself exploring the intersection of psychospiritual concepts and western psychology in her work as a nature therapist  guiding her clients through the lens of transpersonal psychology, polyvagal theory, creative arts, and other modalities like Acceptance & commitment Therapy (ACT), Internal Family Systems.   

About Philip Vanhoutte:

Leveraging a rewarding international career in the ITC industry, Philip Vanhoutte’s passion for personal productivity tools and communication & collaboration solutions morphed into a singular purpose: accelerating the realization of human potential.

Philip champions the adoption of Smarter Working: a holistic human centred work design practice that unifies space, technology, and people disciplines. He co-authored The Smarter Working Manifesto, a definitive guide on how to shape the best work style. In his quest for health and joy at work he learned that Nature Deficit Disorder has produced highest ever burnouts, work induced sickness, and a struggling workforce. He campaigned for more nature at work with Ozadi at SXSW in Austin and GCUC in Denver.

Philip graduated from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Belgium with a combined Applied Economics and Engineering degree and a major in Marketing. He started his career at Accenture Consulting, to continue with key change management roles at Engie and Wang Laboratories. In the second part of his IT career, he grew the MCI WorldCom International business, became Chief Marketing Officer at Sony-Ericsson Mobile Communications to finish a blue-chip career as SrVP and MD of Plantronics (now part of HP) Europe and Africa.

Since the Financial Crisis of 2008, Philip became a strong advocate of Agile Working with a passion for Human Dimensions of Organisations. He is known for transformational projects in award-winning offices which are acoustic temples and benchmarks for the biophilic built environment. He has advised Leesman, Veldhoen+Company and Work EvOHlution, and provided support to the founding of the Osservatorio Smart Working at the Politecnico di Milano.

Resources:

Philip Vanhoutte on LinkedIn

Website: https://smarterworking.io/

“The Smarter Working Manifesto” by Guy Clapperton and Philip Vanhoutte  

Laura Cohen on LinkedIn  

Website: https://lauracohen.org/

Terrapin Bright Green Publications

Bill Browning, Founding Partner at Terrapin  

“Braiding Sweetgrass” by Robin Wall Kimmerer  

“Sound Business” by Julian Treasure  

Moodsonic  

Aera home fragrance  

“Hello, Goodbye: 75 Rituals for Times of Loss, Celebration, and Change” by Day Schildkret and Elena Brower  

“SoulCraft” by Bill Plotkin 

“Returning the Gift” PDF by Robin Kimmerer

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations: 

Canada Career Counselling

Synthesis Psychology

Dr. Laura welcomes Tina Varughese, keynote speaker and one of Ignite magazine’s top ten notable speakers in Canada, to the show to talk about unconscious bias at work and the human side of this hot button topic. Tina has been speaking on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for many years, and unconscious bias was a natural addition to her keynotes as she recognized the critical importance of understanding it.

Tina Varughese defines unconscious bias as “learned behaviors, attitudes and beliefs that sit in our unconscious state”. They are not things we are both with, but things we absorb over time. She identifies seven key areas in which we hold unconscious bias: gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, age, weight, and disability (physical and emotional). Tina and Dr. Laura discuss how biases in each of these areas affect our work and workplaces, how we are largely unaware of our unconscious biases, and why leaders need to act on unconscious bias. Tina’s candor and insight shed light on things we may not have considered, things that unconsciously affect our interactions with colleagues and our experiences at work.

“I think the most common, or the ones that probably come into play in the workplace the most, would be racial bias, gender bias, parental or maternal bias, and affinity bias. Affinity bias being the one that's the most difficult to recognize in the workplace because we'll say things like, ‘Oh, she'll make a great culture fit’, or ‘he won't make a great culture fit’, when in essence, that might actually be our affinity bias at play. And that's why we really need to interrupt that, because at the end of the day we might be screening someone out when we could have screened them in, and they might have been a great organizational fit…”  Tina Varughese

About Tina Varughese:

An Indo-Canadian daughter of first generation parents, Varughese says her cultural background allows her to find “the best of both worlds” and shed light, knowledge, and, most importantly, universal humor into the changing workplace. Her highly entertaining, interactive, and practical keynotes leave attendees inspired to think, behave, act, and communicate with intention.

For fifteen years Varughese worked with immigrants in her roles with the Province of Alberta’s immigration office. She also ran her own successful relocation and settlement firm. Varughese draws from her experiences as an entrepreneur, mother, daughter, wife, sister, and friend when delivering keynotes on diversity and inclusion — topics that resonate with her both professionally and personally.

Varughese has been named one of “Canada’s Top 10 Notable Speakers” by Ignite Magazine for her ability to break down barriers and create a comfortable, inclusive, and fun space for attendees. She was the face of diversity, literally, having been chosen to participate in Dove’s campaign for Real Beauty, representing beauty in diversity.

The past-president of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (Calgary), Varughese is a contributing writer for the Human Resource Institute of Alberta’s Network magazine, Calgary Real Estate News, and Home to Home magazine. She was also profiled in Alberta’s Venture Magazine.

Resources:

Website: https://tworksforyou.ca/

Tina Varughese on LinkedIn

Tina Varughese on Twitter

“The Leader’s Guide to Unconscious Bias” by Pamela Fuller, Anne Chow, and Mark Murphy

“Sway: Unravelling Unconcious Bias” by Pragya Agarwal

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations: 

Canada Career Counselling

Synthesis Psychology

Dr. Laura welcomes women’s leadership coach and author Kelli Thompson to the show to talk about confidence, particularly about closing the confidence gap that many women (and minority groups) face in career growth. Kelli explains what inspired her to write her book, Closing the Confidence Gap, and how she learned to move past the hesitation she initially felt about speaking up at work. 

Kelli addresses many of the reasons people, specifically women and minorities, offer to explain why the confidence gap exists for them. She has experienced how reluctant women are to talk about money and negotiate for their salaries. She and Laura talk about the invisible extra work that women frequently shoulder and how that places women at a disadvantage when it comes to career advancement. Fear and imposter syndrome exist for many of us, but Kelli’s approach urges people to move confidently despite those feelings. Kelli’s confidence and leadership insights align well with Dr. Laura’s career coaching knowledge, and their conversation provides a foundation from which to examine where our lack of confidence comes from.

“But I remember moving into a human resources role and the chief that I was supporting had made a comment. He's like, you know, you're really direct and people may not know how to handle you! And I remember thinking to myself, it kind of just came full circle like, oh my gosh, I've always been called too direct. And so many of the women that I work with have always been called something: too bossy, too assertive, too sensitive, too emotional. And I think … systemically this really plays into a lot of gender likability biases…”  Kelli Thompson

About Kelli Thompson:

Kelli Thompson is a women’s leadership coach and speaker who helps women advance to the rooms where decisions are made. She has coached and trained hundreds of women to trust themselves, lead with more confidence, and create a career they love.

She is the founder of the Clarity & Confidence Women’s Leadership Program, and a Stevie Award® winner for Women in Business— Coach of the Year. Kelli holds an MBA, has served as an adjunct management professor, and has more than ten years of senior leadership experience in financial services and technology organizations. Her thought leadership has been featured in Forbes, MarketWatch, Parents Magazine, HuffPost, and Working Mother. Kelli is from Omaha, Nebraska, and her favorite roles are wife to Jason and mom to Hailey. Learn more about Kelli at www.kelliraethompson.com.

Resources:

Website: www.kelliraethompson.com

“Closing the Confidence Gap: Boost Your Peace, Your Potential, and Your Paycheck” by Kelli Thompson

Kelli Thompson on Instagram

Kelli Thompson on LinkedIn

Cy Wakeman books

So Money with Farnoosh Torabi podcast

“My Life in Full” by Indra Nooyi

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations: 

Canada Career Counselling

Synthesis Psychology