Surfing Corporate

How to Leverage Power at Work (without turning into an insufferable egomaniac)

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 11:00:00 -0000

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 influence in positive ways—whether you're a leader or just starting out. Listen in for insights on using power ethically, navigating hierarchy, and creating more inclusive (and less toxic) work environments.

Resources:

You can buy Julie’s book, Power, for All here. To see the overview of the online Harvard course she teaches, Power and Influence for Positive Impact, click here. If you’re interested in a scholarship, here’s the link to the application form and eligibility requirements.

Episode Breakdown

Introduction to Power Dynamics in the Workplace
Understanding Power: Definitions and Misconceptions
The Relational Nature of Power
Power Poisons and Their Effects
Strategies for Using Power Effectively
Case Study: Vera Cordero and Power for Good
Building a Culture of Accountability
Democratizing Power in Organizations
Evolving Governance: Employee Representation in Decision Making
Social Enterprises: A Model for Democratic Decision Making
The Challenge of Change: Corporate Transformation and Profit Focus
Changing the Rules: The Need for New Metrics and Accountability
Understanding Power: Agitation, Innovation, and Orchestration
Power Dynamics: Approaching Conversations with Empathy
Hope and Collective Action: The Future of Change

Additional Episode Sources:

Credits:

Co-hosts: Aileen Merciel and Glenda Pacanins

Produced by Aileen Merciel and Glenda Pacanins

Script: Aileen Merciel

Edited and Mixed by Aileen Merciel

Original theme song: Chaliwa Music

The rest of our music is by BlueDot sessions

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Corporate Horror Stories - Embarrassing Work Moments That Will Haunt Us Forever (ReRun)

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 10:00:00 -0000

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 work mishaps.

So grab your pumpkin spice latte, turn off your work notifications, and get ready for a fun ride through the land of corporate horror stories.

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From Office Star to Office Dinosaur: How Ageism Sneaks up on You

Wed, 23 Oct 2024 07:00:00 -0000

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 competitive, and fostering an age-diverse workforce.

Chapters

Introduction and Personal Experiences
Defining Ageism and Examples
Gendered Ageism and Youngism
Ageism in the Tech Industry
Including Age in Diversity and Inclusion Programs
The Power of a Positive Mindset about Aging
Combatting Ageism and Valuing Older Workers
Calling Out Ageism and Shifting Perspectives
Challenges Faced by Women in the Workplace
Strategies for Individuals: Leveraging Networks and Reframing Age
Strategies for Companies: Creating Awareness and Educating Employees
The Value of Intergenerational Teams in the Workplace

About our guest:

Want to hire Maureen to come talk to your team about ageism? Can can reach out to her on her website, LinkedIn, Instagram and Threads.

Listen to her podcast It Gets Late Early here and we highly recommend you subscribe to her newsletter.

Episode Sources

Credits:

Hosts: Aileen Merciel & Glenda Pacanins

Producers: Aileen Merciel and Glenda Pacanins

Script, editing and post: Aileen Merciel

Surfing Corporate's original theme song is by Chaliwa Music.

Interested in advertising with Surfing Corporate?

Write to us at advertising@airwavemedia.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Jekyll and Hyde Boss: Navigating Brilliant but Volatile Leaders

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 07:00:00 -0000

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 Hyde Bosses
Research Insights
Aileen and Glenda's personal experience with brilliant but volatile bosses
Case Studies: Elon Musk & Steve Jobs
Survival Strategies
Key Takeaways

Sources:

Washington Post article: “The worst kind of boss is not the one who’s always a jerk.” The study, led by Fadel Matta from Michigan State University, discusses how employees fare better with consistently bad bosses than with unpredictable ones.

Leaderonomics.com article: “How To Manage Having A Brilliant Jerk for a Boss.” This article explores the book The Brilliant Jerk Conundrum: Thriving with and Governing A Dominant Visionary by Marc Epstein and Rob Shelton, discussing how dominant visionary leaders can become brilliant jerks.

Elon Musk case study: “Amazing and Terrible, What It's Like to Work with Elon Musk," which includes accounts from two of his former executives, Esther Crawford (former Director of Product Management at Twitter) and Jim Cantrell (former SpaceX executive).

Steve Jobs case study: The episode references the biography of Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson, highlighting how Jobs’ demanding personality and perfectionist tendencies impacted his team.

Credits:

Co-hosts: Aileen Merciel and Glenda Pacanins

Produced by Aileen Merciel and Glenda Pacanins

Script: Aileen Merciel

Edited and Mixed by Aileen Merciel

Original theme song: Chaliwa Music

The rest of our music is by BlueDot sessions

Advertise with Us!

If you want to advertise on Surfing Corporate, write to us at advertising@airwavemedia.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Goodbye Comfort Zone, Hello Career Pivot! Making Moves That Matter

Wed, 09 Oct 2024 04:00:00 -0000

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 autistic children. Daniela shares her inspiring journey, the hurdles she faced, and valuable advice for anyone considering a major career shift.

Sources:

What to Ask Yourself Before a Career Pivot

5 Common Career Change Challenges (And How To Conquer Them)

How To Successfully Change Careers In Your 40s

Episode Highlights

- Motivations for a Career Pivot

- Challenges and Pressures of Making a Career Change

- Facing Pushback and Warnings

- Starting over from Scratch

- Making a Difference and Finding Reward

-Navigating Financial Constraints

- Adjustments and Personal Growth

- Advice for Career Pivots

Credits:

Hosts: Aileen Merciel and Glenda Pacanins

Producers: Aileen Merciel and Glenda Pacanins

Editing and Postproduction: Aileen Merciel

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Can We Talk About Politics at Work? Spoiler: It’s Complicated

Wed, 02 Oct 2024 07:00:00 -0000

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 Considerations and Free Speech in the Workplace

15:00 State Laws and Employee Protections

19:57 Social Media's Role in Political Discourse

24:58 Strategies for Managing Political Discussions

30:11 Finding Common Ground in a Divisive Environment

Sources:

3 Reasons Why It’s Unethical To Discuss Politics At Work

Politics in the Workplace: What Employers Need to Know | Littler Mendelson P.C.

To avoid talking politics with friends or co-workers, try the 'white flag approach,' Stanford communication expert says

How to Manage Political Discussions in the Workplace

3 Strategies For Managing Political Conversations At Work

Credits:

This episode of Surfing Corporate was produced by Aileen Merciel and Glenda Pacanins.

Writing, editing and post production is by Aileen

Original theme song: Chaliwa Music

Other music: BlueDot Sessions

Check out our website and follow us on IG and Threads

Reach out to us at surfingcorporate@gmail.com

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Inside the Intense Amazon Culture - Part 2

Wed, 25 Sep 2024 07:00:00 -0000

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.

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Inside the Intense Work Culture of Amazon - Part 1

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 07:00:00 -0000

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 she navigated the relentless pressure and constant ambiguity that define life at Amazon.

You can learn more about Kristi here and more about Surfing Corporate here.

Follow Surfing Corporate on Instagram and write to us at surfingcorporate@gmail.com

The podcast we referenced during the episode is It Gets Late Early.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Overview

01:29 Kristy Coulter's Career Journey and Decision to Join Amazon

08:13 First Impressions of Amazon's Work Culture

14:44 The Lifeboat Exercise: Ranking Employees

22:43 The Challenges of Working at Amazon

25:07 Changes in Amazon's Work Culture

25:46 High Turnover and Lack of Recognition

37:43 The Pressure to Do More

43:58 Unique Aspects of Amazon's Culture

46:48 The Stress of Question Mark Emails

48:31 Challenges Faced by Employees

48:37 The Power and Pitfalls of Six-Pagers

55:30 Lessons from Calista: Being Tough but Fair

01:00:24 Navigating the Brutal and Demanding Culture at Amazon

01:16:01 Promotions and Achievements at Amazon

01:21:16 The Sexist Culture at Amazon

01:26:34 Conforming to a Masculine Ideal

01:35:26 The Boozy Culture and Struggle with Alcohol

01:40:42 Addressing Gender Dynamics and Creating Inclusive Work Environments

01:41:30 From Viral Essay to Career Opportunities

01:43:13 Transformation and Lessons Learned at Amazon

01:46:21 Strong Bonds and Lasting Connections

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Email us at advertising@airwavemedia.com

Show Credits:

Cohosts: Aileen Merciel and Glenda Pacanins

Producers: Aileen Merciel and Glenda Pacanins

Script, editing, music design: Aileen Merciel

Theme Song: Chaliwa Music

Other music: BlueDot Sessions

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How to Deal with Frenemies at Work

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 07:00:00 -0000

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 relationships. And over the long term, that seems to provoke worse cardiovascular health. So the sooner you learn tools to deal with frenemies, the better.

EPISODE SOURCES

How to Navigate Your Relationship With a Workplace Frenemy

“Why workplace frenemies are our most stressful colleagues”

How to get along with your work frenemy and protect yourself

CREDITS

Hosts: Aileen Merciel and Glenda Pacanins

Intern: Stephany Gil de Sucher

Original theme song by Chaliwa Music

Library Music: Blue Dot Sessions

Check out Surfingcorporate.com and follow us on Instagram.

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Why Work Recognition May be Better for Employers than Employees

Wed, 13 Mar 2024 10:00:00 -0000

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 Workplace

Why Employee Recognition is More Crucial Than Ever - Forbes

Episode Credits:

Co-hosts: Aileen Merciel & Glenda Pacanins

Production, editing and sound design by Aileen Merciel

Intern: Stephany Gil De Sucher

Orignal Theme Song: Chaliwa Music

Other music by BlueDot Sessions

Don't forget to follow us on Instagram and sign up for our newsletter at our website.

If you're interested in advertising on Surfing Corporate, email us at advertising@airwavemedia.com

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Building An Unconventional Career Path: How Peggy Northrop Went From Vogue Magazine to Non-Profit CEO, Investor, and Board Advisor

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 11:00:00 -0000

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 unprecedented challenges, including the digital transformation of print media and the economic upheaval of 2008, Peggy not only weathered the storms but emerged stronger. Her entrepreneurial spirit led her to establish her independent publishing company, a feat achieved while balancing a demanding full-time corporate role. Now, as a seasoned consultant, trusted advisor, board member, and investor in female-driven enterprises, Peggy reflects on her three-decade journey, sharing insights that transcend the pages of her illustrious career.

Highlights:

Peggy's first company was SheBooks. https://shebooks.net/
To learn more about the foundation that supports women in under developed countries is SheCan.
The author Peggy mentioned is Joie Seldon. You can learn more about her here : https://joieseldon.com/about/

SUPPORT US!

If you like Surfing Corporate and would like us to make more episodes, you can donate by clicking on this link: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/surfingcorporate

Follow SurfingCorporate on Instagram and LinkedIn.

CREDITS

Co-hosts: Aileen Merciel and Glenda Pacanins

Production, editing and sound design: Aileen Merciel

Intern: Stephany Gil de Sucher

Original theme song: Chaliwa Music

Other music if by BlueDot Sessions

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Potential vs. Accomplishments – Why Men and Women Are Promoted Differently at Work

Wed, 15 Nov 2023 11:00:00 -0000

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 Managers Underestimate Their Potential | Yale Insights
Overlooked Leadership Potential: The Preference for Leadership Potential in Job Candidates Who Are Men vs. Women - Frontiersin.org
https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220222-proof-verus-potential-problem
https://chief.com/articles/hiring-for-potential

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Creating A Work Culture That Makes People Want To Go To The Office, W/ Claude Silver, Chief Heart Officer at VaynerMedia

Wed, 08 Nov 2023 11:00:00 -0000

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, at Vayner Media, employees will find it both appealing AND beneficial to work in-person with their colleagues and superiors.

In this episode, Claude shares her philosophy on work and what it actually means to be a Chief Heart Officer (trust us, it makes a lot of sense). She also talks about the tactics that lead their employees to be excited about work and event in-person meetings (yes, it is possible). Spoiler alert: it’s not about ping-pong tables and free Kombucha!

If you like Surfing Corporate and would like us to make more episodes, you can donate by clicking on this link: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/surfingcorporate

Follow SurfingCorporate on Intagram and LinkedIn.

Original theme song: Chaliwa Music

Other music if by BlueDot Sessions

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Surfing Corporate Quickie

Wed, 23 Aug 2023 10:00:00 -0000

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.

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Season 3 Finale! Epic highlights and Deep Thoughts à la Surfing Corporate

Wed, 14 Jun 2023 10:00:00 -0000

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 us :)

This episode of Surfing Corporate was produced, edited and co-hosted by Aileen Merciel.

Co-host is Glenda Pacanins, queen of corporate decks and corporate lingo.

Our fabulous intern is Stephany Gil de Sucher.

Our original theme song is by the amazing folks of Chaliwa Music & Sound.

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Job Scams and Ghost Posts... As if The Job Search Process Wasn't Hard Enough Already

Wed, 24 May 2023 09:00:00 -0000

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 real intention of filling) and why that’s actually a thing.

We also interview Callie Heim, a marketing professional who was scammed via LinkedIn's Easy Apply feature, and we connect with recruiting expert Daniel Space (@danfromhr) who shares advice on how to avoid this from happening to you.

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 us :)

EPISODE SOURCES:

CREDITS:

This episode was produced and edited by Aileen Merciel, and improved by the feedback of Glenda Pacanins.
Surfing Corporate's intern is Stephany Gil de Sucher.
Our original theme song is by Chaliwa Music. The rest of our music is by BlueDot Sessions.

Check out surfingcorporate.com and follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn

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Surfing Corporate - Especial en Español: Cómo Adaptarse al mundo Corporativo Americano Siendo Extranjero

Wed, 03 May 2023 10:00:00 -0000

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) de “Corporate America”.

Con su trayectoria como líder de recursos humanos, operaciones y planificación estratégica en las industrias del entretenimiento, bebidas alcohólicas y producción de alimentos, Susana ofrece una perspectiva única sobre cómo los profesionales extranjeros pueden tener éxito en el mundo corporativo americano. Descubrirás cómo se adaptó a las diferencias culturales, cómo lideró equipos en un entorno multicultural y cómo aprendió rapidito a decir “F*ck” en vez de “Joder”.

Si eres extranjero y trabajas en Estados Unidos o si quieres entender mejor acerca de diferencias culturales en el ámbito laboral, este episodio es para ti.

Surfing Corporate is financiado enteramente por nosotras y lleva un MONTON de trabajo. Si te gusta lo que hacemos, por fa consideren donar con tan solo hacer clink en este link. Significaría mucho!

Créditos:

- Producción Ejecutiva: Aileen Merciel y Glenda Pacanins

- Pasante de producción (intern): Stephany Gil de Sucher

- Música original de Surfing Corporate: Chaliwa Music

- Música de librería: BlueDot Sessions

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Executive Assistants: Corporate America's Secret Power Players

Wed, 26 Apr 2023 09:05:00 -0000

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 corporate decisions, handling highly confidential information and also, sometimes even picking up dog sh*t if needed.This job promises one thing: it will never be boring.

For this episode, we talk with two Executive Assistants who share their insider’s POV of a role that keeps so many of the corporate players – and pieces – in place, and all this without most people even knowing it.

FRIENDLY REMINDER: Surfing Corporate is completely self-funded, and it takes A LOT of work. Please consider making a donation by clicking on this link. This would mean so much to us.

EPISODE SOURCES:

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The Inevitable Female Rivalry at Work: Fact or Fiction?

Wed, 19 Apr 2023 04:00:00 -0000

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 the topic that can be both enlightening and infuriating. We also share highlights from our fascinating conversation with Andie Kramer, who is an accomplished attorney, a nationally recognized authority on gender equality, a best-selling author on the subject and someone who’s worked tirelessly to increase women’s leadership opportunities.

Andie and her husband and co-author Al Harris have written three award-winning books: Beyond Bias: The PATH to Ending Gender Inequality at Work; Breaking Through Bias: Communication Techniques for Women to Succeed at Work; and It’s Not You, It’s the Workplace: Women’s Conflict at Work and the Bias That Built It. They are contributing writers to Harvard Business Review’s On Women and Leadership, and Andie is a contributing writer on gender issues in the workplace for Forbes.com. They are also the authors of hundreds of articles on diversity and overcoming gender stereotypes that have been featured in a wide variety of national media outlets including HBR.org, The HuffPost, The New York Times, NBC News, The Chicago Tribune, and Fast Company.

FRIENDLY REMINDER: Surfing Corporate is completely self-funded, and it takes A LOT of work. Please consider making a donation by clicking on this link. This would mean so much to us.

EPISODE SOURCES

Books

- Beyond Bias: The PATH to Ending Gender Inequality at Work, by Andie S. Kramer and Alton B. Harris

[- It’s Not You, It’s the Workplace: Women’s Conflict at Work and the Bias That Built It, by Andie S. Kramer and Alton B. Harris](its not you its the workplace)

- Breaking Through Bias: Communication Techniques for Women to Succeed at Work, by Andie S. Kramer and Alton B. Harris

- The Stiletto in Your Back: The Good Girl's Guide to Backstabbers, Bullies, Gossips and Queen Bees at Work, by Michelle Villalobos

-Mean Girls, Meaner Women: Understanding Why Women Backstab, Betray and Trash-Talk Each Other and How to Heal, by Erika Holiday and Joan I. Rosenberg

- Tripping the Prom Queen: The Truth About Women and Rivalry, by Susan Shapiro

Articles:

Why Women Don't Always Support Other Women - Forbes.com

Sheryl Sandberg on the Myth of the Catty Woman - The New York Times

Why Do Women Bully Each Other at Work?

Queen Bee syndrome: Workplace inequality encourages women to sabotage one another

https://www.gailgoldenconsulting.com/insights/the-myth-of-the-bad-female-boss

Videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMBrR5YgfC0

Credits:
This episode was produced, written and edited by Aileen Merciel
Executive Producers are Aileen Merciel and Glenda Pacanins
Surfing Corporate's intern is Stephany Gil de Sucher
Original Theme Song is by Chaliwa Music
The rest of our music is by BlueDot Sessions.

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How to Ditch Workplace Drama with Cy Wakeman

Wed, 12 Apr 2023 10:00:00 -0000

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 cultivating a counter-intuitive, reality-based approach to leadership. During this episode, Cy shines a light on the part that we ourselves play in creating workplace drama (it’s not just a problem that everyone else has) and she provides techniques to improve the way we face these challenging moments in our interactions with colleagues. She also shares her most embarrassing moments ever on stage.

Cy is a New York Times best-selling author and a sought-out consultant and speaker for many Fortune 500 companies. She’s been featured on the TODAY Show, the AskGaryVee Show with Gary Vaynerchuk, The New York Times, Business Insider, The Daily Muse, SHRM.com and many more. Now she can add being on the Surfing Corporate podcast to her accolades.

You can learn more about Cy Wakeman by checking out her website.

You can also follow her on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and Tiktok.

FRIENDLY REMINDER: Surfing Corporate is completely self-funded, and it takes A LOT of work to make each episode. Please consider making a donation by clicking on this link. This would mean so much to us!

Credits:

Surfing Corporate is produced and edited by Aileen Merciel.
Cohosts are Aileen Merciel and Glenda Pacanins.
Our Intern is Stephany Gil de Sucher.
Surfing Corporate's original theme song is by Chaliwa Music.
The rest of our music is by BlueDot Sessions.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Ultimate Guide to Getting Hired in 2023

Wed, 29 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0000

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. It's definitely not a pretty picture these days.

But why has the job seeking process become so difficult? What steps should we take to become strong contenders? How do we push back if the hiring manager is making unreasonable requests during the interview process? What’s the best way to answer the dreaded question, “what are your salary expectations?”

In this week’s episode, we discuss all these topics with Daniel Space (aka @DanFromHR), a senior HR and recruiting professional with over two decades of experience in corporate America in the industries of media, entertainment, and tech. Daniel worked for companies like American Express, WebMD, and Spotify, designing interview models, compensation structures, and organizational strategies. Currently, he runs a consulting business to help employees land their dream jobs, and he’s an HR content creator on TikTok where he has over 150K followers.

Dan shares great, juicy insights and information so you can learn from an insider and be ultra prepared for the job hunting and interview process.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

4:07 Dan talks about the first 57 interviews he did before landing his first job.
9:42 Do cover letters make sense in today's job market.
10:25 Why has the hiring process gotten so tricky and highly demanding.
15:45 Key aspects for writing solid resumes.
22:14 Can you land a job at a company with no internal referral?
25:35 key word optimization for resumes
33:55 Does job hopping affect your chances of getting hired?
40:45 How to answer the question: What is your salary expectation?
50:15 interviews as a two way street. How do you know that the employer is right for you.
59:40 Corporate confessions

Credits:

Co-hosts: Aileen Merciel and Glenda Pacanins

This is episode was produced and edited by Aileen Merciel

Intern: Stephany Gil de Sucher

Original theme song by Chaliwa Music

The rest of the music is by Blue Dot Sessions

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How To Leave The Corporate Path When It's All You've Ever Known

Wed, 22 Mar 2023 08:00:00 -0000

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 Marketing of NBC Universal, a company she loved and worked for over 14 years. However, during the last few years, she slowly but surely felt compelled to make a major life shift. Christine gave it all up to start her own interior design and furniture artist business, which began as a pandemic side hustle.

In this episode, Christine shares her insights on how to plan a corporate exit strategy and she talks about the tools corporate gave her to be prepared for this new phase of her life.

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Check out Christine's awesome store here.

Book her spectacular rental vacation home "Casa Di Amici" here.

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Episode Credits:

Hosts: Aileen Merciel and Glenda Panins
Production and editing: Aileen Merciel
Intern: Stephany Gil de Sucher
Original Theme song: Chaliwa Music.
Other music: BlueDot Sessions

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How Side Hustles Can Boost Your Career

Wed, 15 Mar 2023 11:00:00 -0000

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 today’s guest. She’s an HR manager who LOVES her corporate job, but in 2020, she felt compelled to nurture her creativity outside her work schedule. Jamie Jackson is the creator of @Humorous_Resources, a work humor account that is a must if you’re into memes, and laughing, and, you know, feeling like you’re not dead inside.

Together, we discuss today’s side hustle economy, and how employees can take advantage of them to open new doors and potentially even pivot their career paths.

EPISODE SOURCES:

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Lost in Translation: Navigating Corporate America When You Come From Abroad

Wed, 08 Mar 2023 11:00:00 -0000

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 the fields of operations, strategic planning, global HR functions across the industries of entertainment, alcoholic beverages, supermarket retail, and food production. Her most recent corporate role was as Chief Operating Officer, Southern Europe, Latin America, Middle East and Africa @ Paramount.

Susana is from Spain, where being extremely direct, loud, and having a strong appreciation for curse words is the norm. When her career led to a leadership role in the U.S., Susana had to learn to adapt to the many cultural differences of Corporate America, and also, those of the teams she supervised with employees spread throughout the world. Susana is full of thoughtful and honest insights when it comes to understanding cultural nuance.

If you work with people from other countries and want to understand international perspectives or if you are from a foreign country and are now working with the U.S., this episode is a MUST.

FRIENDLY REMINDER : Surfing Corporate is completely self-funded, and it takes A LOT of work to make each episode. Please consider making a donation by clicking on this link. This would mean so much to us!

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Reach out to us! Hello@surfingcorporate.com

Subscribe to our newsletter @surfingcorporate.com

Follow Surfing Corporate on LinkedIn and Instagram

Credits:

This episode was produced and edited by Aileen Merciel
Cohosts: Aileen Merciel and Glenda Pacanins
Intern: Stephany Gil De Sucher
Original theme music is by Chaliwa Music. The rest of our music is by BlueDot Sessions.

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Corporate Tsunamis Part 2: Surviving Mergers & Acquisitions

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 12:00:00 -0000

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 The Dad’s celebrity interview series, “

Gettin’ Grilled,”

which has led to conversations with the likes of Ryan Reynolds, Matthew McConaughey, and former WH Press Sec, Jen Psaki. And even more importantly, he’s VERY FUNNY. Jordan shares his experience navigating the acquisition process when the company he worked for was acquired. Spoiler alert! It wasn’t easy. He also reveals what Ryan Reynolds is like in real life. You won’t want to miss this one!

FRIENDLY REMINDER : Surfing Corporate is completely self-funded, and it takes A LOT of work to make each episode. Please consider making a donation by clicking on this link. This would mean so much to us!

HIGHLIGHTS

01:29 Why your Adaptability Quotient is crucial to survive an acquisition or leadership change.
4:48 Meet our guest, Jordan Stratton.
13:12 The acquisition happens and oh boy!
20:33 Is there a silver lining to the acquisition process?
31:15 Key learnings
35:40 Corporate confessions

RESOURCES

Steve Cadigan’s amazing book, “WorkQuake: Embracing the Aftershocks of COVID-19 to Create a Better Model of Working."

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Corporate Tsunamis Part I: How to Survive When New Leadership Takes Over Your Company

Wed, 22 Feb 2023 11:00:00 -0000

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 these.

And because these situations have been happening so frequently in the last few months, Surfing Corporate has created a unique 5-Step Guide to surviving this type of Corporate tsunami.

FRIENDLY REMINDER : Surfing Corporate is completely self-funded, and it takes A LOT of work to make each episode. Please consider making a donation by clicking on this link. This would mean so much to us!

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HR That Says F*ck! (And Other Things)

Wed, 15 Feb 2023 11:00:00 -0000

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 @theinfluencHR, and you can follow Tyson McKenzie on Instagram as @HR.Shook

Our original theme music is by Chaliwa Music.

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Season 3- Trailer

Mon, 06 Feb 2023 11:00:00 -0000

Surfing Corporate is back for its third season, starting February 15th!

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Part 2 - S.O.S Why Burnout is Increasing and Why Leaders Don't Seem to Notice

Mon, 21 Nov 2022 11:00:00 -0000

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 burnout (08:00)
Dr. Hollingdale's burnout experience (09:40)
Corporate confessions (19:50)

You can reach Dr. Hollingdale at burnoutmademedoit.com and listen to her podcast by the same name.

Our original theme song is by Chaliwa music. The rest of our music is by Bluedot Sessions.

Subscribe to our newsletter at Surfingcorporate.com/subscribe

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S.O.S. Why Burnout is Increasing and Why Leaders Don't Seem to Notice – Part 1

Wed, 16 Nov 2022 11:00:00 -0000

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 work again. That description could make her sound warm and fuzzy, but no ––Dr. Hollingdale is a Brit with a wonderful dry sense of humor who also exudes cool Phoebe Waller-Bridge vibes. Kim worked in corporate for almost a decade (before studying clinical psychology), so she understands the burnout phenomenon on a personal level as well.

Together we discuss how to detect an onset of burnout, what to do if you’re experiencing it, and what leadership’s role is in preventing, detecting, and mitigating burnout.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

What is burnout from a clinical perspective? (06:30)
Why has burnout increased so much in recent years? (11:33)
How can we detect if someone is going through burnout (18:24)
Are there certain types of people who are more prone to suffer from burnout? In terms of gender, or age, or personality? (23:25)

SOURCES

Your Body Knows You’re Burned Out - NYT
Burnout Basics - Psychology Today
WorkPlace Burnout Survey - Deloitte
Burnout Is A Worldwide Problem: 5 Ways Work Must Change

Surfing Corporate's original theme song is by Chaliwa Music.

Subscribe to our newsletter here.

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Building a Strong Culture in Hybrid & Remote Work Environments (Not Easy-Peasy, But Doable)

Wed, 02 Nov 2022 10:00:00 -0000

To our amazing Surfing Corporate Listeners: we want to know who you are ( not in a creepy way). Fill out this quick survey here and you might win our sweet Surfing Corporate swag bag!

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When Covid hit, having to adapt from in-person dynamics to being fully remote from one day to the next put corporate citizens to the test in countless ways. But as hard as this process was, it was also an opportunity for leaders to throw default practices outside the window and question what could be done in a new and better way.

The new normal seems to be hybrid for most companies (at least for now), and this means that it’s no longer enough to keep up with new processes and efficiencies, but now, leaders must also figure out how to create strong bonds between their employees who will not share a physical space together full-time. Is it possible to build true camaraderie under those circumstances? Beyond just team building, how can leaders inspire and bring out the best in their teams (and themselves) in a post-Covid remote/hybrid environment?

For this episode, we speak with Rebecca Stone, SVP Cisco Customer Solutions Marketing & CMO Cisco, Meraki. Rebecca was appointed to her senior leadership role and tasked with rebuilding a team just three months before Covid hit. When she accepted the challenge, she had no idea what she’d be up against.

Rebecca is one of those rare senior leaders who truly keeps it real: she avoids corporate jargon, she’s fine sharing stories about things that she’s tried and did not get right, and she’s honest about her non-impressive averageness when it comes to being a runner.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

6:53 summary of Rebeca’s corporate journey
9:40 How to lead a new team in the face of a major, unexpected change.
13:22 How Rebecca rebuilt a team during a global pandemic
15:55 Best practices when it comes to creating a strong culture in Covid and post-Covid times.
25:50 The human factor: how to build strong interpersonal relationships in a remote setting
29:26 Rebecca’s advice to employees navigating a remote or hybrud setting
32:25 Rebecca’s “Own your weirdness” and what that means.
39:28 Corporate Confessions

SOURCES

Our original theme music is by Chaliwa Music.

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Performance Reviews - How to Nail Those Tricky Bastards

Wed, 26 Oct 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Performance reviews are usually not employees' favorite part of their corporate jobs (and that's putting it mildly). Going through this process can be tough on both employees and team leaders, and the experience can leave people feeling disappointed and frustrated. However, if it's done well, the performance review process can really benefit both the employee and the team (what a concept!).

On today's episode (which originally aired in season one), we speak with Christine Coppola, a true rock star VP of Human Resources for a major media company, who shares candid and straightforward advice on how to tackle the dreaded performance review process from both an employee and manager point of view.

Episode Highlights:

- 3:31 Christine’s nonlinear path into HR

- 8:16 stats time! Key stats about performance reviews from Gallup, Clutch, and HR Daily

- 9:15 Why the traditional annual or bi-annual performance reviews don’t make sense

- 11:30 What to do if managers don’t have a constant feedback loop with their employees

- 13:15 How to handle a performance review that lacked substance and direction

- 16:52 Dos and don’ts when it comes to performance reviews (both as a manager and as an employee)

- 18:09 The Yelp-ish HR App

- 21:11 How Christine handled when her boss didn’t’ give her a clear performance review

- 21:51 Christine’s surfing strategies to maximize the performance review process

- 26:08 listeners send questions to HR!

- 29:53 Why are companies not following what the research says about performance reviews?

- 31:11 how Christine works directly with employees to improve the process

- 36:02 true stories about performance reviews from listeners

- 47:00 How AI can positively impact the quality of performance reviews

- 48:28 Corporate confessions

54:12 Last nuggets of wisdom

SOURCES

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What Makes Bosses Awesome - What the Research and Employees Say

Wed, 19 Oct 2022 11:00:00 -0000

Being a great boss is not easy; it’s a delicate and complicated act of balancing abilities like,

• Being incredibly inspiring, but at the same time highly down to Earth and approachable

• Having a special demeanor that says, “I’m understanding and humane, yet I’ll hold your ass accountable if you take advantage of that.”

• Being a good listener who at the same time won’t be easily manipulated

• Caring deeply about the people on your team, but also caring about hitting KPI’s and delivering results for the organization

• Having the ability to pull your team through a crisis (many times at the cost of you sobbing in the bathroom and questioning your life choices)

Again, NOT EASY. And given that October 16th was National Boss Day, we’ve prepared this special episode where we share research about the 9 key behaviors that make bosses awesome. Listen and find out how many of these apply to you or to your boss.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

- 3:27 Surfing Corporate’s list of What Makes Bosses Awesome

- 4:02 #1 An Awesome boss has the ability to inspire

- 6:05 #2. Has a high EQ

- 8:20 #3. Effectively navigates politics

- 10:28 #4. Cares about employees

- 14:32 #5. Creates an Inclusive team environment

- 16:22 #6. Improves decision-making

- 18:22 #7. Good communicator: coaches, provides feedback.

- 23:32 #8. Has a clear vision & strategy for the team

- 26:15 #9. Has the capacity to slow things down during a crisis

RESOURCES:

How To Be A Good Boss - Forbes
What Makes a Great Boss – Monster.com
Google Spent a Decade Researching What Makes a Great Boss. It Came Up With These 10 Things – Inc. Com
Ask an Expert: What Skills Do I Need to Become a Great Manager?

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Layoffs - Part 2: How To Move Forward If You Were On the Hit list and How to Handle Survivors Guilt If You Weren’t

Wed, 12 Oct 2022 11:00:00 -0000

Did you know that 40% of Americans have been laid off or terminated from a job at least once in their careers, and 28% of Americans have been laid off in the past two years alone?

For this second part of our layoff special, we discuss what the experts suggest you do to better cope with being let go and how to successfully move on to your next professional chapter. While things may seem quite gloomy at the time (and you might find yourself binging heart-wrenching Adele and Radiohead playlists), there is light at the end of the tunnel. We also tackle what happens to the employees that don’t get cut –– those employees considered “the lucky ones,” who are left picking up the pieces of downsizing. We all know that with a layoff, we lose people we admire and respect: colleagues, work BFFs, mentors, (and sometimes even bosses), yet many times we’re expected to turn the page immediately, take on additional work, and be grateful we still have a job.

Meanwhile, managers don’t have it easy either: they’re in charge of corporate cheerleading, doing their best to motivate and reassure a team that is emotionally distressed, sad, and anxious about the future.

The emotional aftermath of a layoff affects everyone, so the more all the involved parties know about how to best cope with this difficult situation, the better prepared we are for a positive outcome.

HIGHLIGHTS

1:50 Facing the difficult moment of being laid off
3:17 What experts say are the best things you can do to move forward after being laid off
23:55 Dealing with the after math of a layoff when you’re the employee left behind picking up the pieces.
38:25 Tips for management to handle employee morale after a layoff.

SOURCES

Remember to fill out our survey here and get the chance to win a Surfing Corporate swag bag.

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LAYOFFS: When Your Company Says the Dreaded, “It’s not You, It’s Me” (Part 1 of 2)

Wed, 21 Sep 2022 11:00:00 -0000

Have you ever been laid off? Or had an awesome coworker get laid off? Or perhaps YOU were the one that had to lay employees off. If you haven't experienced any of these scenarios, then you’re lucky, because unless you live under a rock, you’re probably aware that layoffs are happening across multiple industries right now. UGH. It’s an extremely difficult experience for companies, for leaders, and, especially, for the employees actually being laid off.

For this episode, we tackle the layoff topic head-on: share real stories from our listeners, we talk about how you can read signs that personnel cuts are coming, and we discuss how can you be prepared both emotionally and financially to face a layoff.

Episode Highlights

09: 08 how to see the subtle hints that layoffs are coming
14:11 Not-so-subtle Hints that layoffs are on the horizon
18:29 What can you do to be better prepared

Good Reads

- Surfing Corporate’s original music theme is by Chaliwa Music. The rest of our music is by Blue Dot Sessions

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The Secret to Handling "Difficult" People at Work (When Yoga, Meditation, and CBD Aren't Enough)

Wed, 14 Sep 2022 11:00:00 -0000

Fill out this quick survey for a chance to win a Surfing Corporate swag bag, that will make your life instantly better.

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In every office, there’s at least one person who intentionally makes everything more difficult than necessary; people who thrive on conflict, stir up drama, and exude negative vibes. They could be a colleague, a client, or even your boss. *Cue Law & Order SVU’s DUN DUN effect*

A big part of being successful in a corporate job is having the skill set to handle these challenging personalities. For this episode of the Surfing Corporate podcast, we talk about the 5 most common difficult work personalities based on the findings by Dr. Judith Orloff, an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at UCLA, and we give advice on how to best handle each one of them.

Our is guest Richard Borjas, a veteran media executive and Emmy-award winning producer, who’s currently President/CEO of his own production company, Bormont Enterprises. Richard has worked in media for over 25 years, having been VP of production and programming at NBCUniversal responsible for overseeing some of their daytime shows; producer and showrunner for hit unscripted shows like Telemundo’s The Voice and Big Brother, as well as shows for Roku, Facebook Watch, YouTube, and Univision, among others. Richard has had to deal with the egos of celebrities (and their managers, and family members), as well as senior levels executives, and he shares real-life experiences about handling.

Episode Notes

1:34 Guest introduction

6:17 Discussion about the 5 top difficult personalities

7:02 The Narcissist

10:50 The Passive Aggressive

16:43 The Gossips

21:20 The Anger Addict

24:40 The Guilt Tripper

27:56 Key solutions to handing these personalities

33:13 Corporate Confessions

SOURCES

How To Deal With Difficult People In The Workplace, Forbes

You Can Learn How to Deal With Difficult People at Work

How to Deal with a Boss Who Behaves Unpredictably, HBR

Why gossiping at work is good for you - BBC Worklife

Our original theme music is by Chaliwa Music.

And remember to fill out our survey!

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How to Enjoy LinkedIn by Not Being an Insufferable Narcissist

Wed, 07 Sep 2022 11:00:00 -0000

LinkedIn is the world's most popular professional social network where its community shares important ideas about work. It’s also a platform where some professionals feel the constant need to let others know they’ve been promoted, that they’re connected to very powerful and influential people, and that they’re “thrilled for this amazing opportunity to ___________ (insert corporate phrase).”

But today’s guest does NONE OF THIS. Dave Smith is a Software Development manager at Amazon who decided to not interact on LinkedIn in a non-traditional way. He purposefully disrupts that status quo with bizarre posts, comments or memes, that spark joy for his followers.

Click HERE to fill out our brief survey and opt to win an epic Surfing Corporate swag bag.

EPISODE NOTES

- 17:20 various examples of the hilarious posts Dave has done on LinkedIn

- We tried to include David's job post here, but we found out the hard way that we can't add images here. Follow BigDave Smith on LinkedIn and you can see it

- You can Find the Power of the Eagle Leadership Video here.

- 36:11 About Dave’s intention to climb the corporate ladder

- 38:11 Why Dave equates approaches LinkedIn like dating

- 44:24 Corporate Confessions

- 51:12 Dave shares his epic corporate wipeout with his “Boss’ Boss’ Boss’” dog.

- 55:35 Dave’s amazing op surfing strategy for corporate surfers

GOOD READS:

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Rejoining Corporate after a Long Hiatus (Thoughts and Prayers Appreciated)

Wed, 20 Jul 2022 11:00:00 -0000

Picture this: you're the young and trendy person at the office, enjoying the start of your career and taking on all sorts of challenges, but you decide to put your career on pause to raise a family. Flash-forward ten years, and you decide to re-enter the workforce only to discover that everything has radically changed--from corporate jargon, tech and productivity app to the fact that you now feel like you're the dinosaur in the room. Pretty brutal.

That's what happened to this episode's guest, Rachael Lubarsky, a funny and talented copywriter whose work has been featured in some of today's top digital media parenting brands, "Scary Mommy" and "The Dad."

It’s hard enough to feel like you have to prove your worth at a corporate job, but how do you navigate being the oldest (and, by default, being perceived as the most experienced person in the room), while at the same time, feeling a complete lack of confidence because of it? What does it feel like to report to people that are so much younger than you are? And people really have unicorn-themed parties at an office?

Link to our listener survey ---> https://form.jotform.com/221787196861166

Fill it out and you might win a Surfing Corporate swag bag valued at $1,000.00!! (Ok, maybe less than that. Like a lot less. But it’s still cool stuff.)

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The Brutal Truth About Using Brutal Honesty at Work

Wed, 13 Jul 2022 11:00:00 -0000

Have you ever been brutally honest with a coworker or an employee? Or do you tend to sugarcoat difficult conversations like a Starbucks Triple Caramel Frappuccino with whipped cream and sprinkles? For today’s episode we tackle the concepts of brutal honesty, radical transparency, and radical candor. We do a deep dive into what they really mean, where they came from, which leaders implement them “correctly”, and what type of outcome they lead to.

RESOURCES

HIGHLIGHTS

1:45 Introduction of Ray Dalio and Kim Scott
2:00 Brutal honesty and radical tramsparency
3:38 Four key BridgeWater & Associates principles
4:18 Principle #1
5:29 Principle #2
6:23 Principle #3
9:38 “Shit sandwich” definition
10:25 Principle #4
12:45 Meetings are taped
18:02 Kim Scott’s Radical Candor
18:57 The Sheryl Sandberg story
22:10 What happens if you avoid radical candor.
22:17 Obnoxious aggression
22:46 Manipulative insincerity
23:20 Ruinous empathy
26:32 Pushback on these theories

Link to our listener survey and you may win a Surfing Corporate swag bag! ---> https://www.jotform.com/form/221787196861166

Our original theme song is by Chaliwa Music

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Navigating Today's Tricky MultiGenerational Workplace

Wed, 06 Jul 2022 11:00:00 -0000

For the first time in history, four generations -Baby Boomers, Gen Xers, Millennials, and Gen Zers -are co-working together and making things more complicated, they are navigating an unprecedented post-pandemic work and workplace experience. Spoiler alert: it’s not easy. Each one of these generations is very different, with very particular needs, motivations, triggers, and sensitivities.

For this episode, we decided to have a panel so we can hear directly from representatives of these generations where they stand, what are the greatest misconceptions about them, and why Gen Xers are the absolute best (no biases here at all).

We had the privilege of speaking with two impressive professionals, each representing his respective generation. For the Gen Zers, we interviewed a truly inspiring up-and-coming media industry professional, Jesse L Kearse IV, Sports Manager of Creative Partnerships @NBCUniversal. Representing the millennials, we spoke with an accomplished real estate executive, Gio Lago, who at 33 years, is the SVP of Operations at Precedent Management.

We hope you find this discussion as enlightening and entertaining as we did.

Resources:

- NYT article: “The 37-Year-Olds Are Afraid of the 23-Year-Olds Who Work for Them”
- Business.com: "Managing Millennials and Gen Z employees"
- UpWorthy: "Gen X is the 'most stressed' generation alive but they're also the best at handling it"
- Deloitte: "Understanding Generation Z in the workplace New employee engagement tactics for changing demographics"
- Forbes: "8 Ways Generation Z Will Differ From Millennials In The Workplace

HighLights:

1:30 "Friendly Reminder" about the ages of each generation
2:29 Panel presentation
4:17 Historical context highlights for each generation
6:32 Generational differences / fun facts
7:30 Why everyone is afraid of milliennials
9:00 Gen Zer Jesse Kearse gives his POV on Gen Zers confidence and overall work philosophy
12:22 Millennial Gio Lago gives his POV on how he differs from his Gen Z new hires
15:15 Discussion about the so-called hypersensitivity of Gen Z.
22:15 Glenda talks about bridging the gaps between Gen X and Gen Z.
25: 35 Gen A as future leaders (empathy + resilience).
28:19 the effects of social media on the Gen Z attitude towards work.
29:22 Adjusting to the new hybrid scenario
38:18 Mentorship and reverse mentorship
38:46 Dissecting the new trend of "a job is just a job."

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How Choosing the Least Obvious Path Led Her to Become a Global Chief People Officer

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 11:00:00 -0000

What happens when instead of planning a career path, you’re open to saying yes to opportunities that could sound slightly insane to others? This mind-set is what led our guest, Cristina Espejo, to leave the comfort of her hometown in Madrid, Spain, and accept work offers in Taiwan and Angola at a very young age.

These uncommon choices (for a young recent college graduate) plus Cristina’s fearless attitude led her from being a sales and marketing professional, to her discover her true passion: Human Resources. Today Cristina is a Chief People Officer, but more importantly, she’s one of those HR executives who deeply cares about employees’ well-being and growth (something that is not always the case).

In this episode, she talks about fascinating cultural challenges she faced in during her career, she shares insights about how to grow your career, and explains why HR gets a worse rep than it probably deserves.

Resources:

The foundation Cristina worked for and highly recommends is AISEC.
The book Cristina recommends is Adam Grant’s "Give and Take."
You can find the Give and Take assessment here.

Highlights:

3:03 Cristina talks about joining AISEC and how that changed her path.
4:50 Cristina talks about her work in a start up in Taiwan.
6:20 How she jumped to a career in HR
9:45 from Angola to the US.
10:42. The importance of employer branding to attract the right talent. How companies handle Glassdoor reviews.
13:44 Where does HR’s has bad rep come from. US compared to other countries.
16:04 The Edelman trust barometer: employees don’t trust their companies’ leadership and less than a quarter believe their CEO is ethical.
25:40 Advice for those seeking career growth: Find your advocates / Do self-branding / Find mentors
35:44 Fun stories about cultural differences.
40:08 Corporate confessions

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• Why Humor at Work Should be Taken Very Seriously

Wed, 22 Jun 2022 12:00:00 -0000

Despite the standard acceptable corporate behaviors (being proper, polite, serious), recent studies conclude that using humor at work leads to more engagement, productivity, and trust. Glenda and Aileen dive into the research and provide examples of why using humor and embracing levity at work can help you in your career. Our guest is a senior director of operations who started her career as an intern at MTV, and despite climbing up the corporate ladder, has maintained her dark sense of humor and used it to bond with her team and her bosses.

Resources used for this Episode:

- "Humor Seriously: Why Humor is a Secret Weapon in Business and Life," By Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas.

- 10 Reasons Why Humor Is A Key To Success At Work, Forbes.

- 32 Benefits of Humor in the Workplace, Indeed.

- How to be Funny at Work, HBR.

HIGHLIGHTS:

4:20 The Hidden Brain podcast episode we’re talking about is called** “Humor Us”
4:50 Humor as a powerful tool for accomplishing serious work**
7:26 Stats about how laughter tends to diminish once we get to the workforce**
74:55 Guest Intro**
Why making great binders during am internship open Marcela's door into corporate**
13:10 Why we don’t need more professionalism, but more human connection.

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The Rise of Impostor Syndrome: A Villain Lurking in the Shadows? Or a Badass SuperPower?

Wed, 15 Jun 2022 12:00:00 -0000

Research shows that 70% of people experience impostor syndrome at some point in their lives. We talk about its negative consequences, but also, how having impostor syndrome can actually help you if you know how to channel it properly.Our guest is Kira Copperman, a board-certified executive coach and keynote speaker who has built quite the expertise on this topic. Her clients include major corporations such as The New York Times, CBS, American Express, Viacom, ING Americas, AIG, Citigroup and Skadden Arps.

Resources:

- Impostor Syndrome (IS) was first identified in 1978 by psychologists Pauline Rose Clance and Suzanne Imes.

- A review article published in the International Journal of Behavioral Science, an estimated 70% of people experience these impostor feelings at some point in their lives.

- Impostor syndrome affects all kinds of people from all parts of life: women, men, medical students, marketing managers, actors and executives.

The hidden upside of imposter syndrome – BBC.com

Check out Kira Copperman's website here

HIGHLIGHTS

Episode Highlights:

3:18 What is Impostor Syndrome? (IS)

4:03 Recent statistics on IS say between 70 and 80% of the population have it at some point.

5:35 Why do people experience IS?

6:25 How social media plays a role in the increasing numbers.

8: 15 fascinating stats about IS in university students at Ivy League schools

9:52 Is impostor Syndrome a real thing or just insecurity hyped up as a buzz term?

15:30 Kira shares the advice she gives to her clients to handle there is

22:05 Valerie Young, lead thinker on Impostor Syndrome.

26:16 Benefits of Impostor Syndrome. Wharton researcher Bawina Tewfik shares her findings on the unexpected benefits.

34:00 Who is the impostor?

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Does Your Team Have Psychological Safety? Unpacking This Hot Corporate Concept.

Wed, 08 Jun 2022 12:00:00 -0000

We talk with Dr. Stav Fainshmidt (professor of Strategy and Business at the College of Business of FIU) about the hot topic of psychological safety at work and how we can take action to make our work environments a space where we can give our honest opinions without fear of retaliation.

- Resources discussed in this episode:

The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth, by Amy C. Edmonson
Adam Grant’s WorkLife podcast episode “Is it Safe To Speak Up at Work?

Episode Highlights

4:10 Dr. Fainshmidt’s areas of expertise and courses.
5:06 How his strategic management class helps students think like CEOs.
10:15 Psychological Safety definition
12:08 Research shows that most workplaces are not psychologically safe. Only three in 10 employees strongly agree with the statement that their opinions count at work.
13:37 common misconceptions around psychological safety
17:07 small things that can help increase psychological safety at your workplace.
19:04 this is not an overnight switch. Is it possible to make a change in an organization that is not known for having a psychologically safe environment?
24:51 The case of the employee that received worst manager award. You can listen to this on Adam Grant’s WorkLife

26:21 How does this work in the time of cancel culture?

27:18 The problem with being too authentic at work

31:35 How to instill psychological safety while working remote.

36:20 Aileen and Glenda propose topics Stav should cover in his business courses.

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Season 2 Trailer - Surfing Corporate

Fri, 03 Jun 2022 16:35:00 -0000

We're back! Surfing Corporate returns for its second season June 8th.

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BONUS episode. What You Need to Know About Burnout

Mon, 25 Apr 2022 15:05:00 -0000

Aileen and Glenda talk about the upcoming Season 2 of Surfing Corporate, and they share an episode from the podcast "She Knows The Way,"with Lara Dalch about the hot topic of burnout. (You can find more episodes of She Knows the Way here or wherever you listen to podcasts.)_

“I called my boss Nick in tears…I had been a top performer most of my life and here I felt like I was completely drowning. But I felt shame. I felt like somehow this burnout I was experiencing was because I was mentally weak, and that somehow I was flawed.” -Suzi McAlpine

Everyone is talking about burnout these days. But what if those “tips and tricks to prevent burnout” articles are just plain wrong?

Suzi McAlpine, a New Zealand-based leadership coach and author of Beyond Burnout, shares her personal experience of burnout and debunks the most common myths about its causes (spoiler: it’s not your fault!).

More About Suzi:

Suzi McAlpine is a Leadership Development Specialist and author of award-winning leadership blog, The Leader’s Digest. She writes and teaches about accomplished leadership, what magic emerges when it’s present, and how to ignite better leadership in individuals, teams and organisations. She is also the author of Beyond Burnout: How to Spot It, Stop It, and Stamp It Out.

Suzi graduated from Massey University with a Bachelor of Business Studies (First Class Hons) in Management. She spent 10 years as an Associate Director and shareholder at OCG Consulting where she was part of the management team who led the business through double digit growth before selling the business to a multinational. She then spent four years as a Managing Consultant at Futurestep, a division of Korn Ferry, partner to over 93% of Fortune 100 companies, before starting her own business, McAlpine Coaching, in 2011.

Suzi lives with her husband and three children in Nelson, New Zealand, which means she is on a plane most weeks, but she doesn’t mind because Nelson is the sunniest city in New Zealand!

HIGHLIGHTS

Suzi and Lara share their personal experiences with burnout
The pivotal moment in Suzi’s burnout story that left her sobbing in her car on the side of the road
What even burnout “experts” get wrong about burnout
Why most advice about preventing or recovering from burnout is wrong – and what to do instead if you’re headed towards burnout
The common strategy for addressing burnout that actually makes it worse (managers do this all the time!)
Why burnout is bigger than the individual or their manager – and what organizations need to do to prevent it
How Suzi knows when she’s headed towards burnout again – and what she does to stop it
How Suzi’s experience of burnout led her to a career that light’s her up

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times (Bookshop.org Affiliate Link)

Connect with Suzi: Website | LinkedIn | Instagram

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Performance Reviews Part 2 - How to Nail These Tricky Bastards (Season 1 Finale)

Wed, 08 Dec 2021 11:00:00 -0000

For the Season Finale of Surfing Corporate, we talk with Christine, an HR Vice President with 15 years of experience who worked 8 years at Yale and is currently at a global media company in the area of Corporate Functions. Christine gives the best actionable advice we’ve ever heard about how to tackle performance reviews if you're a manager and/or an employee.

Here are a few key moments of the show:

06:20 We share cool stats about where performance reviews should be headed and get Christine’s opinion on why many companies aren’t there yet.

12:33 Christine addresses what to do if you don’t get a helpful performance review from your boss.

14:52 Dos and Don’ts When You Head into Performance Reviews

19:57 Surfing Strategies for Your Upcoming Performance Review

24:06 We share with Christine our listeners’ questions and comments about their company’s performance review process, like, who actually writes those templates we all have to fill out? Or why don’t these reviews include two-way feedback where employees can review their managers?

32:00 Christine explains why it’s taken so long for companies to change their old-fashion performance review systems.

34:18 We share highly sincere listener comments.

42:09 Why don’t managers have mandatory training when it comes to performance reviews?

46:52 Corporate Confessions

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Performance Reviews - Powered by Satan

Wed, 01 Dec 2021 12:00:00 -0000

Aileen and Glenda tackle the dreaded topic of performance reviews in a way that is –– against all odds–– interesting and entertaining. Their research shines a light on HOW and WHY performance reviews were created in the first place, how they’ve evolved since then, and where they’re headed now in this weird COVID era.

Don’t miss this episode that can be a definite icebreaker for your next awkward meeting.

You can dive deeper into the article we discussed during this episode by clicking on this link:

https://hbr.org/2016/10/the-performance-management-revolution

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How to Handle Corporate Politics Without Losing Your Soul (Entirely).

Wed, 17 Nov 2021 12:00:00 -0000

Office politics are the unwritten rules that determine who gets what, when, and how--and who the hell doesn’t. Deciphering these unwritten rules of corporate politics isn’t easy, but the fact is, there’s no way around them. To better your chances at long-term corporate survival, you have to learn how to play the game. In this episode of Surfing Corporate, we talk with Frank Sutera, a veteran corporate surfer who began as a producer in Hollywood and then landed a corporate job as Executive Director for Sony Pictures Television International Networks. We tackle the topic of corporate politics, including the ever important politics of meetings, and we dissect the good, the bad, and the ugly of it all.

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Pivoting From the Corporate Path – How Joel Willis Went From Praised IT Leader to Editor in Chief of THE DAD

Wed, 10 Nov 2021 11:00:00 -0000

Joel Willis is the Editor in Chief of "The Dad", one of the biggest digital parenting brands in the US, with over 15M followers across its social media platforms. But Joel actually started his career with a corporate job as an IT leader at one of the most high-profile, top tier Fortune 500 companies in the world. Despite a true passion for Excel and spreadsheets (yes, that’s a thing for some people), he decided that the corporate life he had carefully created for himself was no longer what he wanted, so he crafted a 5-year escape plan into a world of creativity and comedy. We talk with Joel about his corporate career and how it helped push him to where he is today, and he shares some insightful and hilarious advice based on his own professional journey.

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Chief Operating Officer: The Role That Makes Sh*t Happen

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 10:00:00 -0000

You can find John Knotts' definition of the role of the COO here

More info on the legendary Ian Schrager (one of Heide's first bosses and mentors) here

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Corporate Horror Stories

Wed, 27 Oct 2021 10:00:00 -0000

In the spirit of Halloween, this episode is all about corporate horror stories, when things take an unexpected turn and go very, VERY wrong. We’ve all been there, either as the main protagonist of a horrible/ embarrassing event, or as a witness to one. For this episode, fellow corporate surfers share their tales of workplace horror that will make you cringe, laugh, and hopefully feel better about anything appalling that you’ve been through.

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A Corporate Marriage Story (Not Starring Scarlett Johansson or Adam Driver, But Just as Dramatic)

Wed, 20 Oct 2021 07:00:00 -0000

Sometimes you can be a stellar corporate employee and prove your worth over and over a long period of time, yet, things may still not work out how you’d hoped they would. Long-term relationships can be fulfilling, challenging, character-building or heartbreaking. But the undisputed truth is that they’ll make you learn a lot about yourself. Our guest, Maria Aleandra Rodriguez, former senior director of marketing for a TV network, has lived through it all after spending 15 years climbing up the corporate ladder within the same company. She opens up about the good, and the not-so-good of her time in corporate, and talks about how the unexpected end of her career as she knew it changed her professional and personal life.

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Top 8 Toxic Bosses

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 07:00:00 -0000

It’s no surprise to anyone that there are many different types of bosses. Some of them love being nurturing mentors, others are more of the tough-love type, and a few of them might even be full-blown sociopaths. In honor of National Boss Day, we’ve created a special episode where we deep dive into Surfing Corporate’s Top 8 Toxic Bosses, and offer survival strategies for to those who work each one of them. After their 20+ years of working in corporate, Aileen and Glenda open up to share their own pearls of wisdom and bits of trauma to help you succeed—or at least laugh—with whatever type of boss you happen to have.

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The Delicate Art of Corporate Communications

Thu, 30 Sep 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Corporate Communications professionals are critical to the success of a corporation. They are responsible for crafting those smoothly written memos and press releases that make a company and its leaders look better than they really are (like a beautifying Instagram filter). They also handle the employee-facing communications. In this episode, we talk with Michelle Alban, Vice President of Communications and Global Impact for a global media company, and she doesn’t hold back on the strategies she’s implemented and how they’ve worked out.

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Opening The HR Black Box

Thu, 30 Sep 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Human Resources is the one department that EVERY SINGLE employee interacts with. There’s no escaping HR (and they have no way to escape the employees either). For Episode 3, we speak with Jennifer Mohammed, a Human Resources Director, and ask what it’s like being an HR person, what goes on behind the curtains, and we dive into some of the delicate questions people want to know but are afraid to ask.

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Surfing Corporate Trailer

Mon, 27 Sep 2021 22:34:00 -0000

The Surfing Corporate Podcast tackles the themes and issues of corporate life with a humorous and relatable point of view. Created by former corporate executives who have experienced first-hand what really goes on behind fancy corporate doors (and have a slightly evil sense of humor,) this podcast aims to entertain as well as provide practical advice to employees who are currently navigating turbulent corporate waters.

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Being Authentic at Work: Good Luck with That Sh*t

Fri, 17 Sep 2021 18:44:00 -0000

Surfing Corporate shines an honest light on the everyday hardships of the corporate world, through a relatable and entertaining lens. In our first episode, we tackle the topic of "authenticity at the workplace." It seems like authenticity is the new “hype” word these days. It’s suddenly become one of many company’s core values –– it appears in big graphic letters on the company’s orientation video; it’s highlighted in all of the fancy corporate decks; CEOs love to throw the word “AUTHENTIC” around at staff meetings, and HR tells any potential candidate how important it is for their employees to be authentic. But it seems like the more people talk about the importance of being authentic, the less authentic it becomes. We talk with a Senior Vice President of marketing in the media industry, who landed in corporate by chance. She's a college dropout who considers that, in her case, being authentic worked to her advantage.

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