The Essentials: Asking Purposeful Questions

More from Women at Work

1. 

   S11 · E5 · 5 May 2025 · 49 min

   What to Share, What to Hold Back

   Self-disclosure at work can build trust and connection, but it also comes with risks. In one of our earliest episodes, the late Columbia professor Katherine Phillips explained how sharing personal experiences helps diverse teams connect. We revisit that 2018 conversation and talk with her longtime collaborators, Tracy Dumas and Nancy Rothbard, who explain how expectations around self-disclosure have shifted, especially with the rise of remote work, social media, and political polarization. Plus, the Amys reflect on what they’ve learned about when, why, and how to open up at work.

2. 

   S11 · E4 · 21 Apr 2025 · 25 min

   The Difference You Can Make in a Recent Grad’s Career

   Young women are entering the workforce full of potential but without some of the interpersonal skills they need to succeed and advance. That’s not just their problem; it’s ours too. In this live conversation from SXSW EDU, Amy Gallo talks with Neda Norouzi, an architecture professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio, and Aimee Laun, director of the Career Connections Center at Texas Woman’s University, about the gap between what colleges teach and what workplaces expect—and the critical role mentors, managers, professors, and parents can play in bridging it.

3. 

   S11 · E3 · 7 Apr 2025 · 35 min

   Ask the Amys: Favoritism, Unsupportive Managers, and More

   Imagine having a direct report who sobs every time you give them feedback. Or leading a team of people who’ve told your boss they don’t trust you. Or managing people for the first time—43 of them—with no training or guidance. The Amys offer advice for getting through these real situations from listeners–not just advice, but actual language for asserting your needs, earning trust, setting boundaries, and holding your ground even when emotions run high.

4. 

   S11 · E1 · 10 Mar 2025 · 38 min

   Getting Along with an Insecure Tormentor

   What do you do when a formerly supportive boss turns against you? Amy G advises a project manager who still believes in her team, just not the person leading it. Learn tactics for managing up, protecting your reputation, and preserving your sanity.

5. 

   S11 · 3 Mar 2025 · 2 min

   Starting March 10, More Amys, More Often!

   After 10 seasons, Women at Work is changing things up for the better. We’re shifting to a new, year-round schedule, releasing a new episode every other Monday, starting March 10. That means more episodes that inspire reflection and growth, more practical advice, and more insights and stories that make you feel seen and supported in your career.

6. 

   S10 · E8 · 9 Dec 2024 · 43 min

   We’re Asking for (and Getting) What We Want

   What could you achieve if you asked for what you truly want at work? Amy Gallo and four listeners embraced Alison Fragale’s “nos challenge,” requesting everything from clearer communication and help with a project to leadership opportunities and job title changes. As they pursued 10 rejections each, they noticed surprising patterns in how people respond, overcame fears of rejection, and made progress on personal and professional goals. Their experiences offer practical insights into how to ask assertively and gain status—even when the answer is no.

7. 

   S11 · E10 · 7 Jul 2025 · 34 min

   That’s Our Show

   This episode marks the end of a show that’s meant so much to us. Amy Bernstein and Amy Gallo say goodbye, answer two last Ask the Amys questions, and reminisce with founding producer Amanda Kersey. HBR’s Maureen Hoch, who came up with the original idea for the podcast, joins to share how it all began.

8. 

   S11 · E9 · 30 Jun 2025 · 30 min

   Ask the Amys: Sabotaging Bosses, Irritating Employees, and More

   What if your boss turns against you the minute you ask for a promotion? Or you struggle with strategic thinking and keep getting feedback that you’re “too in the weeds”? Or the person dragging down your team is doing just enough to stay out of trouble? The Amys give advice for dealing with sabotage, shifting how you're seen, and setting expectations with difficult colleagues.

9. 

   S11 · E8 · 16 Jun 2025 · 35 min

   Let Go of the Beliefs That Limit How You Lead

   Many of us have internal beliefs—I need it done now, I know I’m right, I need to be involved—that feel like truth but actually hold us back as leaders. Executive coach Muriel Wilkins calls these counterproductive beliefs “hidden blockers,” and she talks the Amys through the process of identifying theirs and then reframing them. They also look at how blockers show up in team and organizational behavior, like when lack of trust results in too many meetings, and discuss how leaders can shift culture by first examining and adjusting their own assumptions.

10. 

    S11 · E7 · 2 Jun 2025 · 38 min

    Managing Up, One Conversation at a Time

    Have you ever realized, mid-project, that you and your boss weren’t aligned on what success looked like or how to get there? Executive coach Melody Wilding explains why getting clear on goals and understanding each other’s working styles is essential, even when you’re already in a leadership role. They share advice on how to start these conversations in a way that feels natural and constructive, break down common style mismatches, and offer guidance for adapting without losing your authenticity.

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