POPSUGAR Careers

The Joy of Hating Your Boss With Your Coworkers

Taylor Andrews — Fri, 01 May 2026 06:05:02 -0700

If you've ever worked for someone like Miranda Priestly, you get it. Having a boss who is never impressed, holds impossibly high standards, and casually requests unpublished "Harry Potter" manuscripts (or something like it) is enough to make you rethink your entire career trajectory.

But here's the thing: if you are struggling with your boss, you're rarely the only one. And when you have coworkers who feel the same as you, it creates community. It's a shared "did you just see that?" look across the break room. It's a "wait, are you reading this right now?" Slack message. It turns every unhinged email or wild meeting moment into instant group-chat material to laugh about later. And weirdly enough, the shared hate is . . . kind of fun?

"Shared adversity is prime fodder for an inside joke," psychotherapist Jessica Hunt, LCSW, says. "When coworkers recognize they're in this foxhole together, it fosters trust, openness, a sense of belonging, and solid shit-talking material." Below, Hunt explains why.

Experts Featured in This Article

Jessica Hunt, LCSW, is a California-based psychotherapist specializing in anxiety, relationships, identity, and life transitions.

Why Is Hating Your Boss With Your Coworkers So Fun?

There is something inherently fun about hating your boss with your coworkers. According to Hunt, one reason for this is because having shared experiences, especially when frustrating or stressful, is prime bonding material. "It elevates the relationship with your coworker from something more formal or transactional to playful and relational, which makes going to work all the more enjoyable," Hunt says.

It also makes your experience less isolating. "Knowing you're not alone creates a sense of alignment and validation that's both relieving and energizing," Hunt says. When you're not the only person who hates your boss, it can reassure you that you're not overreacting or being sensitive to situations.

Plus, it adds levity to tense moments. Of course, there's a time and place for humor, but hating your boss - and sharing that resentment for them with others - can help take the edge off an overwhelming or demoralizing experience, Hunt says. "When you're spending 40-80 hours a week doing something, it's nice to have it also be a space where you can experience humor and connection," she adds.

Perhaps most importantly though, occasional venting or humor is cathartic and regulating, Hunt says. "You get to name your frustration out loud and have it validated by others in the same boat," she adds.

That said, chronic negativity is not healthy - especially when it starts to reinforce a sense of helplessness. "The line between healthy venting and something more corrosive is whether you leave the conversation feeling lighter or more wound up," Hunt says. "If you're rehearsing the same rant for the third time this week and feeling worse each round, the venting has tipped into rumination."

So yes, having a toxic boss is not for the weak, but if there's anything we learned from "The Devil Wears Prada" and (its sequel), it's that the shared experience of surviving your boss from hell is all part of the fun. And somehow, that may make the 10:57 p.m. emails a little bit more bearable.

Taylor Andrews is the senior balance editor at Popsugar, specializing in topics relating to sex, relationships, dating, sexual health, mental health, travel, and more. With eight years of editorial experience, Taylor has a strong background in content creation and storytelling. Prior to joining PS in 2021, she worked at Cosmopolitan.

When Did Getting Laid Off Become a Full-Time Job?

Emma Glassman-Hughes — Mon, 11 Aug 2025 11:55:02 -0700

The second time designer and illustrator Courtney Myers got laid off looked a lot like the first. Again she received a mysterious Google Meet invite over Slack. Again she was told she was let go immediately upon joining the call. And again she wasn't given a reason. But unlike the first layoff, more than six months passed between jobs. Then another six months. Finally, this past December, she bagged a new full-time gig at an events agency start-up - only after a design of hers, advertising that she was "desperate for work," went viral.

"I really thought I would find something straight away because I had all this experience, but the months dragged on," Myers, who is based in the UK, tells Popsugar. There were periods when she estimates she was submitting an average of 30 applications a day, often fielding interviews with companies that required her to do unpaid tasks before ultimately hiring other candidates. "They would be really long, drawn-out processes that involved a lot of work, but you either got ghosted or they gave you no feedback and just said no thanks. I didn't know what else I could be doing."

Even though the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 7.5 million job losses across industries in the fourth quarter of 2024 alone, the experience of being laid off is often still isolating. People feel "shame" and "guilt" when they're let go, regardless of how many posts they see from peers detailing the sometimes gruesome and unceremonious ways they've also been cut. To cope, job seekers like Myers are mining their professional skills to create solidarity.

Experts Featured in This Article

Chanelle Howell is a reverse recruiter, employment interview coach, and career consultant.

Knee-deep in cover letters and cold emails, Myers recently stumbled upon some comments from recruiters and hiring managers saying they were turned off by LinkedIn's built-in "#OpenToWork" banner (the graphic that employment-hopefuls can add to the bottom of a profile picture to indicate their status). This pushed Myers over the edge. She wanted to clap back, so she designed a similar banner that instead reads "#Desperate." The post, which quickly racked up over 400,000 likes and generated nearly 10,000 comments, clearly resonated.

"Frankly, as a victim of redundancy, I am desperate, and I don't think that's anything to be ashamed of," Myers wrote. "Being laid off doesn't reflect a lack of skills, talent or work ethic - it's just bad luck. No one should be embarrassed that they need to pay their rent and bills, support their family, or feed themselves."

Other creators have gone a step further, building entirely new outlets for the growing community of people who have been laid off. There's the upcoming literary anthology about the search for work from Rachel Meade Smith, the founder of popular job openings newsletter Words of Mouth. And there's a new digital platform featuring in-depth interviews with people who have been affected by layoffs, from California-based labor reporter Melanie Ehrenkranz.

"It's never been so much work to find a job."

After she was let go from a newsletter editor job in July 2023, Ehrenkranz needed a space that would not only allow her to continue reporting on her beat but also lessen the sting of the layoff. Instead of waiting around for a job offer in a volatile market - Chicago-based outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. reported last year that layoffs in the news media industry were up 59 percent from the previous year - she created her own Substack site called Laid Off, which also has a companion Discord with hundreds of members.

"Laid Off has been an idea brewing in my brain for years after many a late night drinking cheap beers in dark bars with writer friends who were laid off and feeling like shit," Ehrenkranz tells PS. "It was something I wish I had post-layoff, so I figured, why not build it myself. And not just a newsletter, but a community."

Ehrenkranz, who is now also the head of community at fintech platform Mercury, asks her Laid Off interviewees the questions that don't always make it into the LinkedIn posts and professional announcements. She wants to know: What was the first thing you did when you found out? Who did you tell? If you had a group chat with former coworkers, what was it called? What resources have been helpful since?

"Layoffs are happening all around us," she says. "Let's come together and shoot the shit about it, make it feel less isolating. Maybe even kind of fun. And let's help each other out."

Indie platforms like Laid Off offer an antidote to the anxiety created by social media sites like LinkedIn, where 1 billion people currently share their career updates and search for new jobs. Career coach Chanelle Howell tells PS that LinkedIn has become a space where it's easy to feel terrible when something goes wrong - and sometimes even when something goes right.

"LinkedIn feels like it's just showing two ends of a spectrum, either the 'I got laid off' or the 'happy to announce I've been promoted or I'm starting a new job,'" she says. "You're either there when you're really happy and it feels cruel, or you're there when you're down bad. The vast majority of people on LinkedIn are existing in between, but there's no status to that."

While other platforms encourage a more linear view, Ehrenkranz wants Laid Off to be a home for nuance. One subject her subscribers are especially curious about is health insurance post-layoff. In what she describes as "the most radicalizing interview series so far," she talked to folks who had to forgo their medication because they could no longer afford it, went into debt to pay for urgent procedures, or just lived without health insurance altogether.

Interviewees for that series included cancer survivors, pregnant people, new parents, and people with chronic illnesses. "For many, it was deciding between rent or health insurance," she says.

When Myers was laid off for the second time, she had no choice but to give up her just-rented apartment in London and move back in with her parents in Southampton, over an hour away. Suddenly, she no longer qualified for London-based jobs she might have wanted that were newly requiring employees to return to the office.

Howell points out that the job application process is "fatiguing to all parties," including recruiters, who are having to sift through more and more applications, many of which were thrown together as quickly as possible to try to beat the masses. "The entire process is set up to be pretty demoralizing," Howell says.

That may help to explain why it feels like job seekers today have to go to extraordinary lengths - for Myers, it was going viral - to not only get hired, but to get the bare minimum. Even just an email response.

"Why can't it be as simple as applying for maybe 10 jobs, and you hear back from all of them? I don't know why it's become the fucking Hunger Games," Myers says. "It just feels like you have to do something to stand out, you have to know someone at the company, or do a crazy marketing campaign. There's no right way to do it anymore, and that's really confusing for a lot of people."

Howell concurs. "It's never been so much work to find a job," she says.

That process doesn't appear to be getting easier any time soon - but at the very least, there are more people trying to make the experience of being unemployed just a little more tolerable. "People are bonding over how deflating and frustrating it is to job hunt right now," Ehrenkranz says. "There's still a lot of stigma around being laid off, though I think that's starting to change."

Emma Glassman-Hughes (she/her) is the associate editor at PS Balance. In her seven years as a reporter, her beats have spanned the lifestyle spectrum; she's covered arts and culture for The Boston Globe, sex and relationships for Cosmopolitan, and food, climate, and farming for Ambrook Research.

The Not-So-Hidden Price of Being a "Blue-Collar Babe"

Emma Glassman-Hughes — Fri, 09 May 2025 11:35:01 -0700

Chaya Milchtein tried her best to stay away from blue-collar TikTok, and for a little while it actually worked. In early 2021, her many thousands of followers on social media were largely industry outsiders, the majority women and queer people like herself, who looked to Milchtein for guidance on how to navigate the mundane but adrenaline-racked experiences of buying a car or getting an oil change in spaces frequently unwelcoming to customers who aren't white men.

As an automotive educator, journalist, public speaker, and author of "Mechanic Shop Femme's Guide to Car Ownership," Milchtein, 30, was able to build a trusted platform that offered support to a chronically overlooked demographic. And while there would always be the occasional hater - it's the internet after all - the community she reached was generally supportive. Until Pride Month of that year.

Milchtein posted a sponsored video about brake pads to her TikTok, @mechanicshopfemme. She didn't think much of it, until she saw that it had been stitched by a woman in Canada who identified herself as a "straight, heavy-duty mechanic." Milchtein says the woman "trashed" her - "not the content I was teaching, but the fact that I said I was queer." The stitch received over a million views, and for Milchtein, social media hasn't been the same since.

"It kind of opened the floodgates to just the worst men on the internet that had gotten permission from this woman to harass me," she tells PS.

Milchtein's content still reaches thousands of followers, but the comment sections on some of her more popular videos read like a slurry of insults. Bullies flock to her profile to try and shame her for being fat, queer, a woman, and, of course, for having the audacity to be all of these things and still call herself an automotive expert. She's received multiple death threats from strangers.

It's a story we once heard all the time about women on the internet: harassment is brutal and near-constant. As algorithms have become more sophisticated, however, those in certain bubbles might have thought this level of abuse was a thing of the past. But in online spaces dedicated to blue-collar trades work, which have exploded in popularity in recent years and are now reaching more young women than ever, it's very much alive and normalized.

Just one example is the hashtag #BlueCollarBabe, which has over 135,000 posts on TikTok. It's a lineup of mostly beautiful, thin, young women cracking jokes about sexist stereotypes and what they wear to work. The comments range from creepy catcalling to callous and condescending ("If you're up there, who is operating the 'slow'/'stop' sign?"), and frequently question everything from a woman's makeup and nails to the dirtiness of her equipment (anything remotely clean-looking is considered suspect).

Gen Z Women Want to Work in Trades, Despite It All

The truth is that the trades need bodies, and debt-averse Gen Zers - over half of them, according to one report from September - are eager to step up and reverse a nationwide skilled-labor shortage. Yet there are still so many ways in which women are discouraged from entering blue-collar fields. Not only is there a baseline skepticism about their ability to perform the duties of tradeswork, which vary widely by industry, but there's also a constant threat of harassment, discrimination, and intimidation on and offline.

Gender politics outlet The 19th recently referenced a 2023 study from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that found "discrimination was still rampant in the [construction] industry, citing several instances of employers not hiring people because of their gender or race." But the study has since been scrubbed from federal government websites.

With or without studies, women laborers already know there's a crisis, especially those like Amanda, a 29-year-old Canada-based grader operator and construction worker. She frequently posts about her experiences as a "grader girl" on TikTok, where she goes by @amanda.dyxe. (For this article she asked to keep her real last name and hometown private to protect from stalkers.)

Amanda is no stranger to degrading comments, both on job sites and all over her social media. She started her channel with the hope of connecting with other women in similar fields, because even though she's worked in construction for over 10 years, she's rarely had the chance to work with other women. When she started posting about her career, Amanda says it was "eye-opening" to see so many "negative men coming onto the comments and just chirping really hard."

"It's really unfortunate because you're going on social media trying to help break the stereotype, break the stigma around it and encourage other women to pursue this career as well," she tells PS. "Some people assume a woman is just doing this job for attention or people in the comments just say, 'Oh, she got the job because of her dad,' or, 'She got the job because she did the nasty.' They say disheartening things that discredit a woman to be able to be here."

Some want to connect with other likeminded folks, sure, but a big reason so many women post about their blue-collar jobs is to prove that they're just as capable as any man in their field, Amanda says. "But unfortunately it comes with being sexualized or you're treated like an anomaly."

Old Gender Roles Still Rule

As the price of a four-year degree climbs and the practicality plummets, it's no surprise that a growing proportion of school-age youth no longer consider traditional college an option. But the pathways to financial independence without college have historically looked very different for women and men.

Labor jobs considered suitable for women (childcare, unskilled nursing, housecleaning, motherhood) are some of the lowest paying and come with the fewest benefits. Meanwhile, the trades, long considered men's work, promise steady paychecks, renowned benefits, and opportunity to rise quickly in the ranks. Vox reporter Constance Grady argues that this divide is intentional, meant to tether financially weaker women to men with the good jobs.

"It doesn't matter how far you get up the ladder, I have DEI stamped on my forehead."

This inequity isn't new, of course. Discrimination against tradeswomen is a dusty old practice that labor unions and advocacy groups have tried to address since World War II, with mild success. The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) was founded in the 1950s and has been a steady voice for change since. Now with over 100 chapters, NAWIC provides its roughly 6,000 members with support around legislative changes, minority women business enterprises, OSHA compliance and safety, and professional development.

Jillian Penkin is the owner of Penkin Consulting and is NAWIC's northeast region director, based in Buffalo, NY. She discovered NAWIC as a construction newbie in 2009, the same year her mom died. As Penkin puts it, she was in dire need of some "adult supervision" at the time.

"I needed women to help me navigate life, I needed mentorship, and NAWIC stood in that painful gap," she tells PS. "NAWIC is a sisterhood in an area that's anything but. It's an industry that's desperately in need of sisterhood."

NAWIC also partners with unions, trying to push them to "do their part" in eradicating gender- and identity-based harassment from trades jobs, Penkin says. But that's been a long, uphill battle. While some, like the North American Building Trades Union - one of the biggest and most influential, with three million members - boast of diversity initiatives, they have largely failed to take this issue seriously.

The Building Trades Union sponsors an annual conference and award, and a small mentorship program specifically for women in construction. On its website, the union's "diversity fact-sheet" also emphasizes the role of its joint apprenticeship and joint construction programs, which employ and train the majority of women in the trades, as well as its sponsorship of 175 apprenticeship readiness programs geared toward women and minorities.

Yet women still only make up about nine percent of construction workers nationwide, according to the US Department of Commerce.

"Unions have been crying for a very long time that they need bodies, but there's only so many white men. Eventually you're gonna run out," Penkin says with a laugh. (The North American Building Trades Union did not respond to a request for comment.)

Beyond DEI

Complicating efforts to curb work-related harassment is the Trump administration's attack on DEI, leaving women and minorities with even less oversight and institutional support than before. Whatever minor progress has been made over the last 70 years now hangs in the balance, as nonprofits geared toward leveling the scales lose their government funding, according to The 19th. Milchtein says she's already lost significant sponsorship revenue, which she relies on to fund her educational platforms.

"Right now it feels a lot less hopeful than it did a few months ago," Milchtein adds. "In the past, brands would entertain the idea of trying to reach marginalized communities. Now it's clear they never saw me as more than just DEI. It doesn't matter how far you get up the ladder, I have DEI stamped on my forehead."

Jake Finney, a 35-year-old construction foreman from Massachusetts, was recently finishing up a job near Harvard Square, laying the foundation for what will soon be an electric vehicle charging station. He says that while he doesn't know of too many women who work out in the field like he does, he has no problem working with them as long as they earn their place.

"If they can do the job, fine. If they can't do the job and they're only here because she's a woman, that's where it's like . . ." When he rubbed his hands together pensively they sounded like sandpaper. "They are equal and they should be equal and I got no problem with that. But if they come on, they got to be able to do the same job as the guy next to 'em."

Construction wasn't Finney's first career choice. He graduated from Plymouth State with an environmental planning degree, and worked in a related field for about two years after school. The money wasn't very good, plus he says he "got into some trouble" when he was younger (he wouldn't specify what), so construction felt like his next best option. He's married now, with a 2-year-old daughter, and making much better money. His union, the Local 151 in Cambridge, ensures that he has good health insurance for him and his whole family, and a good pension. "I got a good thing here," he says.

Still, he says he wouldn't want his daughter to work in construction when she grows up, because it's too tough: "I'm not sexist or anything, but it's more of a man's thing."

To hear Amanda talk about her work, though, Finney's assessment falls flat. As a grader operator, Amanda's construction specialty falls into the heavy equipment category. She geeks out about the ditches she gets to dig, the drainage she carves out, the snow stacks that she piles high. She's responsible for keeping roads clear. Winter is her favorite, because that's when she really gets to shine: While everyone else is hunkered down at home, she looks forward to the night shifts during the snowstorms, sometimes working 12 or 14 hours at a time. For all the harassment she's faced in her decade in construction, there's deep love in her voice.

"I just try to find the joys and the little things to bring me satisfaction about my job, being like, damn, that ditch looked good, or that slope is perfect," she says. "Little things. You got to take 'em."

I Did a Month of Mirror Work and Manifested a $10,000 Career Win

Natanya Bravo — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 05:30:03 -0700

I used to think mirror work was just another self-help trick - until I used it to manifest my very first client in my business, more than $10,000 in one day, a sold-out international retreat, and four paid brand partnerships on my new YouTube channel. That's when I realized this practice isn't just powerful - it's life-changing.

How I Discovered Mirror Work

Mirror work was originally popularized by author and speaker Louise Hay in the 1980s. Hay introduced it as a healing tool in her book "You Can Heal Your Life" and shared that looking into your eyes in the mirror while speaking positive affirmations could shift limiting beliefs and transform your self-image in a powerful way.

Despite the hard days, I showed up, and I know that consistency made all the difference.

I first started practicing mirror work years ago, long before I ever thought about doing a 30-day challenge. At the time, I was struggling to sign my first high-ticket coaching client and was deep in self-doubt. That's when I decided to combine the practice of mirror work with the principles of manifestation: the belief that we have the power to create our own reality.

One day, I stood in front of the mirror, thanked myself for already signing that client, and celebrated as if it had happened. I jumped up and down in excitement, so much so that my husband walked by and looked at me like I was nuts. Less than two days later, the payment notification appeared on my phone screen. That was the first moment I realized just how powerful this practice could be.

Since then, I've used mirror work to manifest amazing opportunities and shift my self-image and confidence in ways that felt impossible before. I went from identifying as shy and introverted to becoming a global speaking coach, delivering talks in front of thousands of people. Anytime I have a negative or disempowering belief about myself, I get in front of the mirror and affirm what I choose to believe instead - "I am confident, my thoughts are of value, I am bold . . ."

But despite knowing its power, I had never committed to it consistently for an extended period. That's when I decided to take it to the next level with a 30-day mirror work challenge as part of my yearlong "Delulu Is the Solulu Experiment," where I decided to go all-in on being delusional about my goals this year. And guess what? It worked.

My 30-Day Mirror Work Challenge Experience

For 30 days, rain or shine, excited or exhausted, I stood in front of the mirror for 2-5 minutes each session and affirmed my dreams as if they were already real. Some days, it was easy - I felt confident and excited, completely embodying the energy of success. Other days? Not so much.

On those harder days, when I didn't feel abundant or powerful, I didn't force it. Instead, I zoomed out and went general, like:

"My business is growing every day."
"I am becoming more confident and aligned."
"Opportunities are flowing to me."

Some days, I cried. Some days, I barely got through it. I didn't feel empowered; I felt fearful. I didn't feel clear and aligned; I felt confused and stuck. I would sit in front of the mirror and acknowledge what I was feeling - "I don't feel like doing this today . . ." - and then slowly speak life into why I was doing this. "But I'm here, because I know the power of my words, and I refuse to let a temporary emotion limit my potential." Despite the hard days, I showed up, and I know that consistency made all the difference.

Around Day 20, something clicked. I wasn't just saying affirmations anymore - I was feeling them. I looked into my own eyes and believed every word. I could see myself standing onstage, speaking to rooms full of people. I could feel the joy of my business growing with ease. I felt the certainty of financial abundance. Honestly, I didn't even need the mirror anymore.

And then, it started happening.

I began getting brand sponsorship emails out of nowhere. Three paid speaking opportunities arrived in my inbox. I had a $10,000 day in my business, something that would've once felt impossible. More than anything, I felt different. I was the version of me who had already manifested everything I desired.

How to Try Mirror Work for Yourself

If you want to experience this transformation, here's how to start:

Get clear on what you want: Write down what you're manifesting. Be specific if you can fully believe it. If not, start general. For example, some days I would say, "Wow, my retreat in France sold out and it felt so easy! I'm so excited to support these 10 women." Other days, I would say something more general: "I'm so happy and grateful that unexpected opportunities are always on their way to me."
Find a mirror and speak it into existence: Stand in front of your mirror, look yourself in the eye, and affirm your desires as if they're already true.
Feel the feelings: Embody the excitement, joy, and gratitude you would feel if it had already happened. Move, dance, or jump if that helps!
Meet yourself where you are: If being too specific triggers doubt, zoom out. Affirm the general direction of your growth.
Stay consistent: Even if you don't feel like it, show up. The shift happens through the discomfort.

I went into this challenge expecting results, but I didn't expect to become someone new in the process. Mirror work didn't just help me manifest - it helped me remember my own power and trust my inner knowing.

If you're feeling stuck or uncertain about your goals, I'd love to invite you to try mirror work for 30 days. You might just surprise yourself with what (and who) you manifest along the way.

Natanya Bravo (she/her) is the founder of The Bravo Life, now a global community of over 30,000 women. Through digital education, coaching, and events, Natanya provides the tools, resources, and strategies for purpose-driven leaders to create and grow thriving businesses that serve others. As a transformational business and mindset coach, she inspires women to realize and actualize their full potential. Natanya is a PS Council member.

This Latina Doubled Her Salary After Being Empowered by Equal Pay Day

Zameena Mejia — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 11:30:02 -0700

Carla Santamaria was more than a year into her job in higher education when she first learned about Latina Equal Pay Day. This symbolic day, usually in October, marks when Latinas finally earn what white, non-Hispanic men earned in the year prior. It prompted her to question if she was being fairly compensated at work, where she earned $51,000 a year as a campus director.

After Latina Equal Pay Day in October, Santamaria emailed her manager to ask if she was getting equal pay for equal work. Her manager launched an investigation, and in February, he shared with her that they determined that she had erroneously been set to a lower pay band than she was supposed to earn but that there was nothing they could do to correct it or provide back pay. Months later, she found out that an HR error had resulted in her making $10,000 less per year than her co-workers with the same title and qualifications.

"I was furious and thought my parents didn't bring me to this country for me to be exploited at an office job," Santamaria says. "I didn't give up growing up in Honduras with my grandmother for me to be underpaid and overworked. As much as it was really difficult for me to leave that job because I loved that job, I decided that I was going to love myself more."

While Women's Equal Pay Day falls on March 25 this year - marking how far into the year women have to work to earn what men earned in the previous year - Latinas have to work seven extra months to finally earn what the average woman makes. Latinas face the biggest wage gap of any group of women, and this year, Latina Equal Pay Day won't come until Oct. 8. Latinas stand to lose over $1 million over a 40-year career due to this wage gap, according to a National Women's Law Center report.

When Santamaria's manager told her nothing could be done to address her salary discrepancy, she decided it was time to move on. She pivoted from higher education to the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) field and became a DEI coordinator in a local healthcare system. Though she was eager to take on this new role, which paid $14,000 more yearly than her previous job, Santamaria says she regrets not negotiating her salary when she took the new job.

"I felt a lot of shame because, at that point, I had already helped friends and clients negotiate their pay," Santamaria says. At her six-month mark on the job as DEI coordinator, she asked her manager if they could revisit her compensation. "She laughed at me and said, 'That's not gonna happen,'" Santamaria says.

Santamaria reached out to connections on Facebook and LinkedIn, set up networking meetings, and went on 35 coffee chats in 90 days. She researched job titles, descriptions, and salaries aligned with her goals. In less than a year, Santamaria secured a new role, but this time, she was equipped to negotiate her ideal pay raise.

She says she went from earning $51,000 a year in June 2021 to making $120,000 a year in May 2022. Today, Santamaria continues to earn six figures as a DEI manager at a tech company. She also supports first-generation college students and professionals through her First Gen Coaching consultancy and podcast. For the first time in her career, she started an emergency fund, opened a Roth IRA, and bought a house.

"By increasing my income through my nine-to-five and my coaching business, I have been able to realize that retirement isn't something for white people; it's something that I can actively work toward," Santamaria says. "My goal is financial independence, and I'm finally in a position to think about investing for retirement and doing so comfortably, rather than thinking about it and panicking."

With Latina Equal Pay Day still seven months away, Santamaria notes that one of the biggest barriers Latinas face when it comes time to achieve equal pay is the inequality and lack of transparency that's built into many companies' compensation policies.

"Don't beat yourself up. If you have been discriminated against based on your gender or if you've been taken advantage of because you didn't know how much money to ask for, that's not your fault," she says. "The system is designed to work that way, but you can empower yourself with knowledge and go get better pay."

If you plan to advocate for a higher salary this year, Santamaria suggests researching the standard market pay rate for your skills so that you can get paid accordingly.

"We deserve the whole dollar. It's not even about getting paid your worth because your worth as a person, as a human, is inherent. But your skills and what you contribute to the workplace does have a numeric value. So find that numeric value and go after it," Santamaria says. "This is how we can all start making a bigger impact on our community because the more we have, the more we have to give."

Zameena Mejia is a Dominican American freelance writer born and raised in New York City. She is passionate about storytelling and uplifting diverse voices in beauty, wellness, and Latinx lifestyle. Zameena holds a BA in journalism and Latin American studies from the State University of New York at New Paltz and an MA in business reporting from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism.

Gen Z Is Romanticizing Office Culture - Is That a Good Thing?

Molly Longman — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 16:15:02 -0800

You thought we were done with the "girl boss" when she imploded in the sun's shiny rays a few years ago. But a new, freshed-faced iteration is coming onto the scene: all over social media, #CorpCore girlies are romanticizing the 9-to-5 life.

In the post-pandemic era where remote work has become normalized, many young people are actually hyped to be going back to traditional offices - sometimes for the very first time. The harsh fluorescent lighting, cubicles, and free pretzel packs are calling to them like a siren song. ("Severance" might also have something to do with it.) And speaking of sirens, many of today's corporate kids are elevating the in-office experience by bringing it with traditional office fashion staples like pencil skirts and button-downs, posting their work attire to TikTok using hashtags like #CorpCore and #OfficeSiren.

Julia Quang is one of those people. The 23-year-old started her first office job in the fall of 2023, and quickly became obsessed with dressing up for work in glasses and perfectly ironed button-downs.

"It was exciting - I was coming from a job in retail and it was nice to go into the office," she tells PS. "It was also cool to have the same schedule every day, and having holidays and weekends. It was like being in school again." Quang, who lives in Orange County, CA, decorated her work area with polaroids and an ASMR keyboard mat. But it was her corporate clothing hauls on TikTok that became legendary. She'd pose in her work 'fits in the office bathroom, by the paper-towel dispenser, or in the parking garage.

Similarly, when Cora* got a cushy job in public relations and was able to go into the office post-pandemic, she cherished the sleek New York City skyline views (and free Fritos Honey BBQ Twists). She created her first "come to work with me" TikTok and got "great engagement" whenever she posted pics of her doing things at work events, much more so than when she'd just post a random laptop pic at a coffee shop while working from home.

Examples of the romanticization of office life abound - they're even making a "Devil Wears Prada" sequel - but what's really at the root of this fascination? And what might it mean for the future of remote work? We talked to Gen Zers and work experts to get to the bottom of it.

Experts Featured in This Article

Nadia Ibrahim-Taney, MEd, MA, MS, is a career coach and assistant professor at the University of Cincinnati.

Eden King, PhD, is a Lynette S. Autrey professor of psychology at Rice University who researches how to support diverse and equitable organizations.

Is It Good to Romanticize Your Work Life?

In many ways, it's normal for young workers and folks starting new jobs to glamorize going to work, especially at first. And that's actually protective in some ways, says career coach Nadia Ibrahim-Taney, MEd.

"They have the next 25 to 50 years of their life to work, and if they aren't excited about it now at the start of their career, imagine their attitude in 10 to 20 years," she says. "Starting new experiences should always be somewhat exciting, bringing nervousness, joy, and a little fear. If young people want to be excited and romanticize office life a bit, I say let them go for it!"

You could call this the work "honeymoon period," says Rice University psychology professor Eden King, PhD. When you're new, even little things like setting up an email signature can feel sparkly and interesting.

But a lot of the things we see young workers glamorizing on platforms like TikTok - the #officeviewz Instagram posts from the rooftop and the swanky break lounges filled ping pong tables and pianos - aren't actually the things that keep workers happy long-term, Dr. King says: "For many people, those things start to feel like a chain linking them to their work, rather than a perk. The novelty wears off because that's not the main experience of work - it's just one part." This has been called the "honeymoon hangover" in research, she adds.

As Cora notes, the things she posted about on her "come to work with me" TikTok looked glitzy to her friends and got lots of hearts, but she only shot about a 10-minute period of her day. Her work actually looks like gratingly long hours and being constantly online, chained to her laptop, she says.

Dr. King notes that, according to self-determination theory, what matters more are "competence, autonomy, and relatedness" in the workplace. That means, essentially, you're doing work you feel capable of doing (and ideally, you're enjoying it or feel it's important). If you feel you have some say in what happens to you at work, you enjoy your coworkers, and your boss isn't a demon, you'll usually be happier at work for longer, Dr. King says.

Making a livable wage and working decent hours are also incredibly important, Ibrahim-Taney adds. She notes that she doesn't believe that the internet's sudden fascination with the office will mean the desire to work remotely will fade either. Every worker needs something different, and having the option to work remotely is incredibly beneficial for a lot of people. Yes, the younger the worker, the more likely they might be to come in for the camaraderie, but those workers may eventually start families and need a flexible schedule.

"Employers need to recognize workers have options in how and where they work," Ibrahim-Taney adds. "I am not saying they need to offer weekly free ice cream trucks at the office, but I do think workers are asking for more accommodations and more support in how they interact with their environment to do the best possible work they can do."

As the future of where we work remains unclear, it's a good time for employers to "ensure employee satisfaction," Ibrahim-Taney says. "Now is the time to get a culture check with employees and ask them what they need to be successful at work."

Ibrahim-Taney also says that a lot of this is only applicable to "white collar" workers. Many other workers would probably love the flexibility of remote work or stable hours and aren't able to experience that. This especially impacts lower income workers and those without a bachelor's degree.

The Pew Research Center finds that 62 percent of workers with a bachelor's degree or more said they could do their work from home, compared with 23 percent of folks without a four-year degree. Most lower- and middle-income workers also said they couldn't do their work from home. So, in some ways, idealizing your workplace and being excited to go into an office is a privilege in itself.

How Enduring Will Gen Z's Obsession With the Office Be?

Although #corpcore is trending right now, much like the romantic honeymoon period, the office siren vibes can only last so long. Ibrahim-Taney estimates that the grandeur of the office usually wears off within about six to 12 months.

It could be longer for Gen Z in the post-pandemic world, only because "this generation is experiencing 'going to work' as something new and exciting, where other generations had in-person jobs in high school and during college so, by the time they got into professional careers, it was a little second nature by that point," she says.

However, the doldrums of working in general for such a huge chunk of our lives (and usually to benefit one or two really rich at the top) can still be grating, even if you have an on-point outfit.

Quang, for her part, says that although there were serious office perks at her corporate job, within a few months, one of the things she loved the most about going to work - dressing up - was taken away. "They instituted this dress code," she says. "When I first started, it was no shoulder showing, nothing sleeveless and no tummy - but, four months in, they changed it to be that we had to wear black blazers and trousers all the time. I said, 'I really don't want to work here if they're going to give me this uniform.'"

She left to become a full-time content creator, and to sell the chic glasses that had completed her TikTok #OfficeSiren looks. Now, she works from home with her own personal daily work uniform, and so far, she's doing just fine.

*Name has been changed.

Molly Longman is a freelance journalist who loves to tell stories at the intersection of health and politics.

When Are Women Allowed to Make Mistakes at Work?

Jennifer Heimlich — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 10:50:02 -0800

The new Netflix series "Running Point" may be a comedy, but the central premise is depressing as hell. In the pilot, when Kate Hudson's character Isla gets the opportunity of a lifetime to be president of the Los Angeles Waves basketball team (the story is loosely based on Lakers president and co-owner Jeanie Buss), her very next exchange brings up an ugly reality.

Ali, Isla's chief of staff and close friend played by Brenda Song, follows up her immediate congratulations and assurances with, "Also, you can never fuck up." She goes on to explain, "You know, when a guy gets a big job he can fuck up a budget and it's them getting their 'sea legs' or some shit? But women have to be perfect right off the bat." When Isla balks, complaining that she's still in celebratory mode, Ali doubles down. "As you should be! But on behalf of all women, don't ever make a mistake. Looks bad for all of us."

It's an experience that nearly any successful woman knows all too well: With major opportunity comes major pressure to be perfect. In an interview with Tudum by Netflix, Buss herself admitted that breaking a glass ceiling came with a multilayered burden. "Not only am I trying to do well by myself, I'm carrying the hopes and dreams of all women in professional sports or the entertainment business," she said. "It's hard enough to be successful, but with that kind of weight placed on you, it's a scary task."

This need for perfection may be especially apparent in a male-dominated field like pro sports. But it's pervasive across all kinds of fields and professions. Throughout the working world, women's mistakes are more likely to be noticed, and their successes are more likely to be attributed to luck, as legal scholar Joan C. Williams pointed out in her 2014 book "What Works For Women at Work." What's more, one McKinsey report found that while men are often promoted based on their potential, women are evaluated on their performance. They're typically asked to prove themselves - over and over - with their achievements in a way that men simply are not.

Experts Featured in This Article

Manna Jones has a decade of experience in developing strategies for diverse and equitable hiring. Jones is currently the manager of DEI and racial justice for Girl Scouts of the USA.

"If a woman doesn't go in and be a badass and knock it out of the park, mistakes can cost a lot," Manna Jones, a diversity, equity, and inclusion strategist, tells PS. She points out that women's blunders are often seen as unprofessional or due to a lack of skill rather than part of the learning process. "That immediate sexism is going to come into play: we gave a woman a chance, but, see - women can't do the job well."

In "Running Point," Isla is consistently underestimated, with her colleagues and her own family questioning her competency and whether she knows what she's doing. Players tell her to her face that they don't take her seriously. She's warned against earning a reputation as a toxic "Girl Boss" as she realizes that those who work for her just want her to shut up and do what they tell her.

And, yes, whenever a sponsorship falls through or a PR crisis unfolds, fingers are quick to point in her direction. Isla's tasked with fixing it not only to save the team, but to prove she has what it takes to be president.

Of course, this experience isn't unique to women; anyone from a marginalized community who's gotten a "big break" has felt the pressure to be the shoulders that others can stand on. The series even acknowledges this in a later episode during an exchange between two Latino men: "People like us are held to a higher standard."

At a time when many DEI initiatives are being eliminated, this otherwise lightweight comedy is highlighting an important truth: Even in 2025, many people still assume that anyone who doesn't look like the stereotypical boss isn't actually built to lead, and that giving them a chance is just doing them a favor. So they're expected to mess up, and whenever they do, it "confirms" they didn't deserve the job.

At one point, after the team loses a pivotal game, Isla apologizes that her life isn't a good sports movie. "The heroine who's underestimated, punched in the face, would have won the big game," she says. But that's not how life always works. Even the best teams lose occasionally, and even the best leaders fail at times. Maybe highlighting that reality - rather than only telling fairy tales about underdogs who do everything perfectly - is what we all actually need to see.

Jennifer Heimlich is a writer and editor with more than 15 years of experience in fitness and wellness journalism. She previously worked as the senior fitness editor for Well+Good and the editor in chief of Dance Magazine. A UESCA-certified running coach, she's written about running and fitness for publications like Shape, GQ, Runner's World, and The Atlantic.

The Girl Boss Grew Up Into the Nonprofit Boss - and She's Still Just as Toxic

Emma Glassman-Hughes — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 13:15:00 -0800

Fans of Nicole Daniels's Nonprofit Boss character watch her videos like tiny installments of a horror movie. They leave comments on her Instagram and TikTok about how "triggering" she is, how she activates their "fight or flight," how she makes them laugh but also "physically recoil." Recently, a fan told Daniels that they take her videos into therapy because the character so perfectly captures the candy-coated manipulation favored by their own overly familiar supervisor.

The Nonprofit Boss is the next evolution of the Girl Boss. Her communication style - gentle, approachable, and maternal - is used as a guise to distract from the many different ways she's trying to squeeze the most out of her employees, whether it's getting them to work late and on weekends, or trek to the office during a demolition or a natural disaster.

At the height of the Girl Boss era in the 2010s, "She-EOs" everywhere made big promises about workplace culture that few could actually deliver on, because structural and institutional sexism can't be fixed just by placing a woman or two at the helm of a company. Instead, many Girl Bosses went down in flames, remembered mostly for their out-of-touch leadership than their actual achievements. And the Nonprofit Boss - who assures employees that they're all a family while simultaneously denying their time-off requests - is essentially repeating the same mistakes.

Experts Featured in This Article

Chanelle Howell is a reverse recruiter, employment interview coach, and career consultant.

Career coach Chanelle Howell says she can appreciate the "more relaxed energy" that one of these bosses might bring to a workspace. "But this is still a professional setting," she tells PS. "These are my colleagues. My family that I celebrate holidays with, that have known me and seen me through good times and bad, and unconditionally support me, those are folks at home, not in the office."

Each of Daniels's Nonprofit Boss posts follows a similar formula: a tight shot of Daniels with a vibrantly patterned scarf knotted around her neck, and a separate, differently patterned scarf hanging loose over her gray cardigan. She's usually noisily snacking on something plucked from the specialty aisle at Whole Foods, like popcorn sprinkled with nutritional yeast, sheets of dried nori, plantain chips, or a full tin of sardines. She looks into the camera and coos directly at you, her employee, who's been called in for a private meeting to discuss the importance of "the mission," how to "hold space," and - oh yeah - why you won't be getting that time off you requested for your grandmother's funeral. Frowny face!

Daniels, who is based in Los Angeles, posted a Nonprofit Boss video in January that summed up the dysfunctional nature of this type of workplace dynamic especially well. "Nicoley - I hope it's OK I called you that," she begins. It's the day after devastating wildfires knocked out the electricity in the LA office, and she tells you in soothing tones that while her heart is "just so heavy right now," she also sees you're working from home. She says there are a bunch of candles and an air purifier making the air in the office feel "really safe" and "super cozy," even though there's no electricity.

"I think I'm just wondering, kind of just to take a temperature check - if that's not too insensitive! - are you planning on coming in later? Will you be in the office tomorrow? Either way, zero pressure from me, right? Do what is safest for you," she says, nodding up and down like a very understanding bobblehead.

"I think what I'll just offer you at this really challenging time is this idea about fires," she continues. "They burn bright and they burn strong. And that should be how you feel about the mission . . . The choice to come into work is a way to say 'the mission matters more than me.'"

"She's often using the right language in a wrong and really weaponized way."

Nonprofit Boss energy isn't unique to nonprofits. Workers in any field are vulnerable to this kind of manipulation from managers. But it may be especially familiar to nonprofit workers, many of whom stay because they feel aligned with the social impact or "mission" of their organizations, not because of the great pay or benefits - similar to the way many companies in the Girl Boss era played up their female leadership as a reason to support them regardless of potentially unethical practices.

"I think unfortunately the character highlights the really frustrating experience of being in a job that you care about and having that care be taken advantage of," Daniels tells PS. "There's a genuine level of investment, and that's why it hurts even more when someone treats you like shit."

One of the slimiest elements of Nonprofit Boss-ery is that she preys on employees' innate desire to feel like part of a community, even a family. You wouldn't betray your family by not showing up for them in their time of need, so why would you ask for time off on Thanksgiving when your work team needs you to be updating spreadsheets and making phone calls?

But regardless of how the Nonprofit Boss tries to make everything personal, Howell emphasizes that work is work for a reason. "As you get more mature in your career, you learn that a lot of things aren't personal," she says. "You're not personally hurting anyone if you need to take a day or a week off. The world will still move."

Daniels's fictional comedic character was shaped by her real-life horror stories, having worked in nonprofits for several years while trying to get her acting career off the ground. She actually started a union at one of those jobs, after several failed attempts at leveling with management over issues like erratic scheduling policies, hours getting cut at the last minute, and an inability to take time off. "I feel like I have thoughtfully and strategically pushed back" against Nonprofit Boss behavior, she says.

Outside of unionizing, though, workers don't have much recourse against a Nonprofit Boss, because she technically doesn't break any rules. She doesn't force her employees to show up to the office in a firestorm, she just makes them feel bad for staying home. And while certain DEI initiatives - already severely under attack - can offer protection against some forms of harassment, they don't often account for this particular brand of workplace toxicity.

"It's using the language of care and a lot of therapy-speak, then turning it around on people to be like, 'This is why you shouldn't be paid, because we care about the mission!'" Daniels says. "That's why she's so grating, because she's often using the right language in a wrong and really weaponized way."

In spite of the many disappointments of modern office culture, surely there must be a way to lead a team compassionately, without being exploitative. At least Howell thinks so. A more informal and friendly workplace doesn't always have to spell danger, she says, and a "low-stakes environment where you're not afraid to ask questions" can be great for growth and development.

But that only works when the boss is able to actually own their role as a boss and not a peer. Instead of acting like you're on the same level, Daniels says, the best thing a boss can do is try to hear their employees. "You are a manager. There is no way around that. So eating in people's faces, offering them your food, inviting them to take a breath isn't going to soften your leadership."

That pressure to "soften" may help to explain why the Nonprofit Boss is so distinctly feminine. Women leaders often feel they have to apologize for their power, or give some of it back, otherwise they risk being judged even harsher as a crone or a bitch. "The male version would probably just be an asshole straight to your face, it wouldn't be wrapped in the package of 'I'm going to invite you to hear that I'm firing you,'" Daniels says.

If Daniels could give the Nonprofit Boss any piece of advice, it would be to actually keep doing what she's doing - just without all the phony affect. In Girl Boss parlance, that means lean in, girl! "If you're turning down someone's time-off request, just do that," she says. "Don't turn it against them, don't guilt them. Some of these things have to be done, I get it."

Daniels regularly hears from people who wonder why the Nonprofit Boss leadership style actually works on them, even if they find it infuriating. Reflecting on her own past work experience, she understands that inner conflict all too well.

"I would get so wrapped up in these microdramas until I realized, like, oof," she recalls, "it is not that deep for a job that pays $19 an hour."

What Happens to Your Work Friendships After You Leave Your Toxic Job?

Alexis Berger — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 13:05:02 -0800

Years ago, Danielle Bayard Jackson briefly worked at a marketing firm where she says she befriended five coworkers. The glue of each relationship, however, was really just the toxic office environment. Only one of those friendships ultimately lasted longer than her tenure at the company - and she says that makes total sense. "Other than the toxic workplace, we didn't have anything else to bond over or anything in common," she says. "Our humor wasn't the same, and I didn't feel super invested in their lives beyond the work issues."

As anyone who's navigated the complicated psychological acrobatics of workplace drama knows, having a crew of people in your corner who bear witness to the same distracting chaos can be validating. Gallup findings back up that having a work best friend is crucial for accessing social and emotional support. But what happens to your friendship when you remove the issue of work toxicity from the equation?

Bayard Jackson, now a leading friendship coach and author of "Fighting For Our Friendships," says work friendships (whether they're formed to weather awful office dynamics or not) can function as any other form of friendship. That is, they can withstand life changes, grow, and evolve. But, that's only the case if a few conditions are true, she says: You have to enjoy spending time together, reciprocate each other's feelings, and also share the goodwill of wanting what's best for one another - all in ways that extend beyond the job.

Experts Featured in This Article

Danielle Bayard Jackson is a leading friendship coach and author of "Fighting For Our Friendships."

Hilla Dotan, PhD, is a professor of management at the Coller School at Tel Aviv University. Her research focuses on social relationships at work.

Carli Blau, PhD, is a psychotherapist and founder and clinical director of Boutique Psychotherapy in New York City.

How Do We Define a "Work Friend" in the First Place?

Many people spend a whole bunch of their time working - popular estimates land around 90,000 hours, or a third of your life. It only makes sense that you're going to connect with the people who share your space during that time on the clock. But, Hilla Dotan, PhD, a Tel Aviv University professor whose research focuses on social relationships at work, says personal friendships and work friendships aren't necessarily defined the same way. Work friendships require a person to juggle both a personal and a professional relationship simultaneously. But she says that all friendships tend to develop for a similar reason: Most of the time, it's to satisfy specific needs.

"We have friends we go to the gym with; we have college friends; we have friends from church. We have so many types of friendships that satisfy so many different needs," she says, adding that for many, workplace friendships tend to develop specifically to meet a need that exists at work. "Does that mean these friendships are not real? Of course they're real. Are they different relationships than friendships outside of work? Probably."

Psychotherapist Carli Blau, PhD, agrees. "I always say that relationships come into our lives for times, places, seasons, and reasons," she says. "This includes friendships that we create at work."

Understanding the 6 Types of Work Friends

In her research on workplace friendships, Dr. Dotan identified a framework for the subtypes of work friends that we tend to cultivate. Just as any friendship develops to satisfy a certain need, the same is true at work, and understanding why a given work bond formed in the first place can be helpful in predicting how well it'll fare if one or both people leave the company.

For instance, if you have a work friend you eat lunch with just to gossip about office politics, Dr. Dotan suggests the bond might not be so deep. In this case, when one of you leaves the company or your situation otherwise changes, your relationship might not make the jump with you.

"Some of us literally just want to have someone to go to lunch with, and we need them just for that - not to go to the gym or the movies or to talk about our kids," she says. "They really serve a particular purpose at work. Once you go to a different organization, you will probably find another person to satisfy that purpose. The friendships that are likely to develop into a deeper, more emotional friendship are likely to last after someone leaves the organization."

Here, learn about Dr. Dotan's six types of work friendship - and which might have legs for moving past just office life.

Missing role: This type of bond is emotionally based, and Dr. Dotan says it tends to be among the stronger types of connection. "Some people tell me that they became friends with someone at work who represents their mother who passed away, or the son they never had. It's almost like they adopt people in an organization to satisfy that missing role in their life." Missing-role friendships tend to care about each other more than the work itself. For this reason, the relationship is more likely to last.
Trust-based: Another emotionally based bond, Dr. Dotan says trust-based relationships also tend to fare well outside of an organization. Mutual trust often leads to feelings of safety, which can help people feel vulnerable enough to share their feelings and connect on a broader level. These friendships may last because of the professional and personal trust that's developed.
Instrumental: These relationships skew more transactional and sometimes political, and are less likely to lead to a personal friendship when work is removed from the equation. In this case, two people are connected for opportunistic-leaning reasons, like a path to promotion or some other type of career benefit.
Sanity-based: Especially in a toxic work environment, a sanity-based relationship can be so validating; the nature of the connection in this case is to confirm that you're both indeed experiencing the same disruptive tumult at work. Whether rooted in gossip, information-sharing, or venting, it's a helpful connection in the time of need, but unless conversations move past just the issue of work drama, the relationship may not survive.
Proximity-based: Some relationships develop as a result of plain old repeated exposure. If you sit next to someone all day, every day (or for remote workers, if you're on the same Zoom calls day in and day out), you're likely to develop a familiarity and perhaps a friendship. But, this alone won't make you the maid of honor at one another's wedding. While proximity can facilitate the roots of a friendship, in order for it to bloom, you have to do the work to nurture it from that point of origin or else it might dry up.
Similarity-attraction–based: Attraction theory specifies that folks are often drawn to people who seem similar in some way to themselves. Like proximity-based connections, noting a similarity won't make you lifelong best friends. If you have a similar fashion style, like the same types of food, or have some other commonality, it's your choice to use the material as a jumping off point to see if a deeper personal connection might take hold.

How to Maintain a Work Friendship After You Stop Working Together

According to Dr. Dotan, a successful work friendship that also functions as a personal friendship needs to have a duality: "There's a personal relationship and a professional relationship that we have to manage simultaneously." If you remove the professional component without having developed a personal relationship, there's not going to be anything left. But, if you've cultivated a personal connection that lives independently of whatever noisy chaos ensues during work hours, then it may be in the cards.

"Making the jump from work friend to real friendship is totally possible," Dr. Blau agrees. "It just takes a lot of time, effort, understanding and inclusion. When environments change, people change, too."

Still not sure whether your work friendships could survive in the real world? Bayard Jackson suggests asking yourself a few questions: "One, if you took conversation about the toxic workplace off the table, what else do you have to discuss? What would bond you over together?" she says. "Next, ask yourself, 'Do you enjoy this person's company just for who they are and what they offer you beyond something transactional? If this person adds value to your life beyond being something that buffers the stressors of the job, I think those are things to explore."

To do that exploring, Bayard Jackson says to remove yourselves from any context or reminder of work (even if you both still work for the company) to see what happens. Try having conversations that don't touch on work at all.

So, how can you know if your work friendship could also function as a real-deal, out-in-the-world relationship that would exist even if you didn't originally connect by dishing about the turmoil of your 9-to-5? According to the experts, you can't know until you try - and the best way to do so is to get out of the office and treat the relationship the way you would any other type of friend in your life. Go to lunch, chat on the phone, take a workout class and see what happens.

Alexis Berger (she/her) is a writer and editor with more than a decade of experience. Previously the deputy editor at Well+Good, she now specializes in creating health, wellness, lifestyle, travel, and beauty content for a number of publications, including InStyle, Self, GQ, Well+Good, Business Insider, and more.

Adult Gap Years Are on the Rise, but Are They as Good as They Seem?

Andi Breitowich — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:35:02 -0800

Here's a non-groundbreaking claim: time off from work is really great. I'll even go out on a (very short) limb and say that most people would agree with me. A few days of paid vacation here and there is nice, restorative even, but now imagine taking off an entire year. An employment hiatus, if you will. Well, that possibility is becoming a reality for some working professionals, because "adult gap years" are on the rise.

As the name quite literally implies, an adult gap year is effectively when people take an entire year off work. The concept originated in Europe but has quickly made its way stateside, especially since the start of the pandemic, with more and more burned-out millennials, and even some Gen Zers, taking sabbaticals and so-called "mini retirements."

Now, what you do with your year off is entirely up to you - there are no rules, regulations, or restrictions.

Experts Featured in This Article

Joelle Moray is a licensed counselor and author of "What Are We Doing?! Radical Self-Care for the Hustle Culture."

Merary Simeon, PhD, is a human resource executive and co-founder of Zera Consulting.

Logan is a 34-year-old marketing professional who took an adult gap year from October 2022 until September 2023 to focus on his mental health. "I visited a friend who lives in England for a few months, then another friend who finished up medical school in Italy, then we took a trip to France for a couple days since it's so close by, then I visited my parents in North Carolina," he says. "I also picked up some new hobbies and things I've always wanted to do but never really had the time."

Ashley, on the other hand, is in the midst of her adult gap year. She decided to take the time off to heal from a series of losses. "I never actually thought of it as an adult gap year, because it wasn't something I had started 2024 with the idea of, but it just naturally unfolded for me," the 34-year-old says.

After the passing of a close friend and both of her grandparents, as well as experiencing a pregnancy loss, the small business owner needed to focus on her physical and mental health. "I decided to close my business for a period of time and just allow myself to intentionally get through the grief process."

Another driving factor for both Logan and Ashley's time away? Burnout. "One or two weeks off wasn't enough for me to actually feel relaxed, because I felt exhausted for years," Logan says. The same tracks for Ashley, who noticed that her burnout continued to manifest through grief.

But Logan and Ashley aren't the only ones with this experience, because burnout and stress are at an all-time high, according to the American Psychological Association. Of course, the root cause varies, but nearly three in five employees reported negative impacts of work-related stress, including a lack of interest, motivation, and/or energy while on the clock - telltale signs of burnout.

In theory, an entire year off work sounds like an idyllic solution, but is it always the answer? Not necessarily. "When you're burned out, a trip to the beach or another country alone isn't going to fix it," says human resource executive Merary Simeon, PhD.

Whether it's planned way in advance or unplanned due to unforeseeable circumstances, Simeon says the gap year typically involves aggressively saving to have enough money to fund the break from work, which can lead to a serious (and stressful) financial burden.

As a result, it's crucial to have realistic expectations of what you can and cannot afford during your time away. Otherwise, without a plan, Simeon says it's not uncommon for the financial implications to exacerbate your burnout. In a way, it can sort of defeat the purpose.

"A lot of people are attracted to this gap year as a sort of remedy for their burnout, but that pressure to aggressively save all your money for the time away can actually compound the stress," says licensed counselor Joelle Moray. In fact, the lead-up period to the time off often replicates the very patterns of hustle culture most are trying to counter, especially when it's at the mercy of your social life, she explains. "There's this notion that a year away will fix the things that are imbalanced in our lives."

To add fuel to the fire, Simeon also notes that burnout can heighten if you're hiding a looming departure from your boss. This rings especially true if there's fear of repercussion or retaliation, which can build resentment, only further worsening the issue, she explains.

But here's the deal: If your desire to take a gap year is solely based on work burnout alone, an extended break isn't going to always fix the issue. "Unless we fundamentally shift the way we approach work and rest on a regular basis, we're actually solving the wrong problem," Moray says. "We have to challenge the idea that rest is a luxury or reward and emphasize that it's a necessity."

All that said, everything is circumstantial, and an adult gap year can certainly be healing in more ways than one. Logan found that the year away was key for self-reflection and self-growth on both a personal and professional level. "I realized that I need to work at places that respect me, and respect that I'm a human being who needs time off," he says. "From my experience, it was definitely worth it."

Ashley has also found her time away to be worthwhile. "Taking this time off has allowed me to heal at a faster rate than if I was going to try and still live out dual identities of being a full-on business owner while also having to grieve," she says. And regarding her return to work, Ashley says, "There's moments when it's more stressful than others, but at the end of the day, I'm a very intuitive person, so I'll know when the time is right."

So, are adult gap years all they're cracked up to be? It depends, and to be honest, it's not that simple, Simeon says. "They exist on a spectrum."

For many, Moray says the idea of extended time away is merely a band-aid for a greater problem that feeds into workplace hustle culture and a lack of work-life balance. For some, like Logan, a formative year away can be an excellent way to regroup and nail down priorities.

And for others, like Ashley, deliberate time off can be healing after a year of hurt. "People need to hear that it's OK to take time for ourselves to rest, relax, and get back to the place we want to be," she says, "so we can be ourselves and share ourselves from a full cup."

Andi Breitowich is a Chicago-based freelance writer and graduate from Emory University and Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. Her work has appeared in PS, Women's Health, Cosmopolitan, and elsewhere.

Gen Z Can Fix That: Why Young People Want Blue-Collar Jobs

Emma Glassman-Hughes — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 12:45:02 -0800

Gen Z, the first generation raised entirely in the digital age, has officially thrown a wrench into the job market. A demographic adept at navigating the virtual world, Zoomer interest in blue-collar trades - of the get-your-hands-dirty variety - is swelling. From plumbing to welding to electrical wiring, specialized trades appeal to over half of Gen Z, who, in last year's Future of the Skilled Trades Report from home improvement company Thumbtack, said increased visibility of blue-collar work on social media has had the most significant influence on their thinking.

With student loan debt ballooning, the threat of AI looming, and corporate mistrust at what feels like an all-time high, Credit Karma consumer financial advocate Courtney Alev says it's no surprise that Gen Z is heeding the call of the trades, once drowned out by social pressure to pursue a four-year degree.

In fact, Alev tells PS, not only does 54 percent of anyone with student loans "regret their decision to take on debt for a degree," but exactly half of all Americans now refute the once-universal thinking that four-year college will automatically produce a higher return on investment than trade school, according to Credit Karma's 2024 survey about Gen Z driving a resurgence in blue-collar work. As a result, almost a third of Gen Z working a corporate job right now has considered taking up vocational training.

Experts Featured in This Article

Courtney Alev is a consumer financial advocate at digital finance company Credit Karma.

Unsurprisingly, social media may be holding the strings. Last year, almost 80 percent of Gen Z respondents to the Thumbtack survey reported seeing "increased attention to the skilled trades on social media." This appears to especially impact Gen Z women users on apps like TikTok and Instagram, who rank social media as their number one "career path influence," even higher than the influence of their parents. So it tracks that a whopping 52 percent of them now express interest in trades work, almost equal to the 57 percent of Gen Z men who feel the same.

Demonstrating young women's zeal for the trades, the hashtag #bluecollarbabe has over 124,000 posts on TikTok, featuring videos from popular women like Australian welder Melissa Martini (TheWelderPrincess) with 58,000 followers; Washington-based trucker Bethany Lipska (SouthernSugar33) with nearly 250,000 followers; and New York–based electrician Lexis Czumak-Abreu (LexTheElectrician) with over 1 million followers.

"Without [trade] jobs, your heat wouldn't come on, your lights wouldn't come on, you couldn't drive down the road."

Regardless of gender, Gen Z - dubbed the "toolbelt generation" by the Wall Street Journal - sees job security in handy trades like plumbing, which can't easily be mechanized or replaced by AI. And many see thrilling new challenges in the clean energy fields defining the modern economy, especially solar and geothermal, which require highly specialized technical skills.

But while there's an influx of skilled trades content churning up excitement for blue-collar work online, there remains a persistent lack of real-life training opportunities for the growing numbers of young people who want to make their living in a vocation. Of Thumbtack's respondents, only 41 percent reported having access to trade programs in school. And despite all the enthusiasm for these careers, trades jobs have not been spared from the worker shortage crisis still spiraling out from the "Great Reshuffle" of the pandemic - and hiring managers are still having a hard time filling open roles.

In a different Thumbtack survey from 2023, 85 percent of respondents agreed that "high schools should do more to tell students about alternative job pathways like trade schools and apprenticeships." But in the meantime, some trades professionals are taking matters into their own hands.

In small-town Pleasantville, OH, Gavin Alexander is in the process of launching the Trades for Life Foundation, an annual scholarship program that he hopes will help two kids from every school in his county seek vocational training each year.

During the pandemic, the 30-year-old farmer and graduate of the Agricultural Tech Institute at The Ohio State University organized a one-off technical trade scholarship competition at his alma mater, a small high school with a graduating class size under 50. That year, Alexander was blown away when eight or nine kids (he can't remember exactly) applied for trades as varied as carpentry and equine dentistry. The winner graduated from the premiere welding school in the country a couple years ago and is now headed to work on a welding rig.

"At the time, nobody was really doing anything to promote or help kids who aren't going to a four-year degree," he tells PS. "When you think about it, those careers are the backbone of the community. Without those jobs, your heat wouldn't come on, your lights wouldn't come on, you couldn't drive down the road."

In the years since, he's struggled to balance his own work with the demanding nature of running and marketing a charitable foundation. But as of late 2024, he was finalizing a group of board members for Trades for Life, and had recently hosted a successful rodeo fundraiser that put him well over his financial goals and back on track for 2025.

At the rodeo, Alexander chatted with a few current high school students. At first, when he asked them to describe what they consider a "good job," he got a typical response: "whatever makes the most money." But he pushed them to think about it. Does a good job mean you work for a family-oriented company? Does it mean you spend a lot of your day outside? Maybe it does just mean more money, and that's OK, too.

"A lot of kids, once they sit and think about it, they say, 'No one's ever asked me that,'" Alexander says. "No one's ever asked them, 'What's a good job for you?'"

Kamala Harris's Joyful Close to Her Campaign Charts a Path For Women Leaders

Sarah Fielding — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 11:25:02 -0800

Vice President Kamala Harris is the highest-ranking woman in the history of the United States, and she's in the final days of a tense presidential campaign. Yet Harris is also someone who openly laughs. She dances. She encourages people to get sweet treats as she travels the country. She makes a last-minute appearance on "Saturday Night Live." As speakers (including former President Bill Clinton and Oprah Winfrey) pointed out at the Democratic National Convention, Harris channels "joy."

Joy isn't synonymous with 'women's style' and isn't a good thing in its own right; it's a good thing because it's authentic to Harris.

Harris's unabashed embrace of joy is creating a new blueprint for what women leaders can do. "It challenges some of the notions and biases we have towards our leaders about what leadership 'should' look like," says La'Kita Williams, the founder and lead strategist at CoCreate Work, a workplace culture and leadership consultancy. "From everything I have seen in response to her leadership style - which has become more visible during this campaign - authentic joy is just what we need in our workplaces."

In the presidential debate on Sept. 10, Harris herself outlined her approach to leadership. "Clearly, I'm not Joe Biden, and I'm certainly not Donald Trump," she said, responding to former president Donald Trump's claim that she was a proxy for President Joe Biden. "What I do offer is a new generation of leadership for our country, one who believes in what is possible - one who brings a sense of optimism of what we can do instead of always disparaging the American people." And in the final days of her campaign, Harris returned to that optimistic message. For one, she made that aforementioned appearance on "SNL," in which she joked around with Maya Rudolph. And, per Time, she told supporters at a rally in Michigan on Nov. 3: "We need to finish strong. So for the next two days we still have a lot of work to do but here's the thing: we like hard work. Hard work is good work. Hard work is joyful work. And make no mistake, we will win."

Teja Smith, founder and CEO of Get Social, a creative and social media agency, sees Harris's open embrace of joy and empathy as humanizing politics while "setting a new standard" for elected leaders.

"Joy is an authentic value for Harris. It's not a strategy. It's a foundational aspect of who she is," says Rachel Peck, an executive coach, founder, and CEO of Metronome. These three women are just a few of the many women leaders and career coaches taking a page from Harris's playbook and encouraging joy in the workplace - and pointing out that although Harris has faced sexism in her presidential campaign, joy could also be her superpower. As Peck explains, "Joy isn't synonymous with 'women's style' and isn't a good thing in its own right; it's a good thing because it's authentic to Harris, and I love that she's able to show up so authentically."

Most women leaders don't face as demanding a job as Harris, but leaning into joy is something they can relate to and aspire to. If you want to use joy more in your role, here are some points to keep in mind.

How Should You Employ Joy as a Leader?

Be authentic.

The era of the girlboss-led, seemingly perfect but actually toxic workplace is (mostly) over. Authentic and empathetic bosses can use joy to create a meaningfully positive space. What does joy mean for you, and how can you demonstrate it as a leader at work? As Peck says, "Find what lights you up and share that with others."

In Peck's case, this involves making silly jokes and taking on projects that bring her joy. She finds this attitude can not only disarm other people, providing a chance for greater depth, but it also makes her work feel more sustainable and meaningful.

Openly express joy and other emotions.

You don't have to do anything extreme - just let your joy or excitement be evident to your team, Williams says. "This is a great time to practice with this because it is a part of the national conversation," she adds. "When we see shifts in culture and leadership, it can make it easier to have the conversation or initiate the change."

When we insist that any leader or person shows up as superhuman, we take away from their humanity.

Expressing your feelings also signifies that you're not superhuman - an idea often connected with leadership. "What I hope we can see now is that these are harmful and unrealistic expectations," Williams says. "When we insist that any leader or person shows up as superhuman, we take away from their humanity."

Have empathy.

For Smith, empathy is a crucial part of joy. She recommends leaders think about ongoing stresses their employees might be experiencing and leave room for breaks and flexibility daily. "Happy and fulfilled workers are not overworked," she says.

Find the right work-life balance.

On a similar note, Williams emphasizes the importance of leaders caring for themselves. Otherwise, you risk running yourself into the ground and burning out. In fact, doing so makes joy very challenging to access, according to Williams. "Once you feel grounded in what joy means for you and how it contributes to your leadership, begin to share it as one of your values," she says. "Often, we will work with leaders to build a leadership statement that outlines what they value and their unique contributions as a leader. When you add joy to the equation, you can talk about it as a key value and how this shows up in your leadership."

If you're unable to step back from difficult experiences or news due to work, Smith recommends adapting a lighthearted approach even alongside serious, thoughtful projects. When faced with difficult experiences, Smith reminds herself "that we are doing important work that others may not be able to do. Finding joy in making a difference and enjoying the process is key." Knowing that she has the chance to use her voice for greater awareness helps her find joy in serious issues.

"Remember that you have been assigned to this work for a reason," Smith adds. "Some people are interning and trying to find opportunities that are doing the advocacy work you do." This mindset also provides her with greater mental resistance.

Can Joy in the Workplace Hurt Women's Careers?

Peck is quick to note the double standard Harris and all women can face in leading authentically. She points to Harris's running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who is celebrated for his quirky, corny, and authentic demeanor - he rose to the national stage for calling Trump "weird," which says it all. All the while, questions circulate about whether Harris is using a strategy when acting in similar ways.

People's perceptions, which have been consciously or subconsciously shaped by gender and racial stereotypes, are a crucial factor here. "Any drawbacks to embracing joy in the workplace as a leader have to do with the same systems that deprioritize wellbeing at work," Williams says. "The issue is not the joy, the issue is our perception that joy is not a useful emotion."

How and how much to combat these stereotypes and biases is a personal choice. For Smith, the key is finding joy in sharing the facts, battling misinformation, and "putting truth to your power."

Williams doesn't want that fight to solely fall to women - and, especially, women of color. "It is up to all of us to address our perceptions about women of color who lead with joy," she says. "We also need to address the systemic barriers that keep women out of leadership. When we increase the number of women in leadership, we see and normalize the range of styles in how women lead - including leading with joy."

At the end of the day, these women appreciate that Harris is leading completely as herself. "That's what we should be building toward: not just more open joy as an end unto itself, but more open authenticity," Peck says. "Plus, if the worst thing you can say about someone is that they laugh too much or have 'auntie energy,' you're probably doing something right."

Sarah Fielding is an acclaimed journalist with seven years of experience covering mental health, social issues, and tech for publications such as PS, The Washington Post, The New York Times, Insider, and Engadget. She's also a cofounder of Empire Coven, a space highlighting trailblazing women across the United States.

I Moved to Paris and Built a Business - Here's How You Can, Too

Natanya Bravo — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 07:25:02 -0700

"What's something you've always wanted to do but never said out loud?" It was 2017, and that one question, casually asked by a friend, completely changed the direction of my life and work.

We're constantly told to follow a certain script: graduate from college, land a good-paying job, wait for promotions, get married, have kids, work harder, and somehow, happiness will follow.

And in my 20s, I spent years climbing this so-called ladder to success and happiness. But my friend's question made me realize I wasn't even on my own ladder. I had been chasing someone else's version of success.

I started to wonder: what if instead of climbing a ladder built by others, we created one that truly reflects who we are and what we value?

For years, I had journaled about living in Paris and starting a business to help others realize and actualize their potential. But I never imagined I would need to discover my own potential first.

Six months after that pivotal question, I boarded a one-way flight to Paris, with only enough savings to last six months. I didn't have a real plan or a set goal outside of knowing that I was ready to risk it all to find one. I was tired of living the same year on repeat and calling it a life.

I decided that six months would give me enough time to see if living in Paris lived up to my prior visits as a tourist, and if it did, to figure out a way to make money through consulting or find a job in Paris. I didn't know anyone in Paris, my high school French lessons were long forgotten, and I quit the job with a six-figure salary I'd grown to rely on. Leaving behind all that was familiar was terrifying, but deep down, I knew it was the right move.

In between too many croissants and café strolls, I discovered the concept of "ikigai," a Japanese philosophy that combines the words "iki" (meaning life) and "gai" (meaning value or worth). It refers to finding fulfillment and purpose in life by aligning what you love, what you're good at, what the world needs, and what you can get paid for. It's about finding purpose and meaning in life. In Paris, I was living this philosophy without realizing it.

As I shared my journey of self-discovery and ikigai on Instagram, I was surprised by how many others felt the same pull. My story struck a chord with people who, like me, were questioning traditional ideas of success and craving a more meaningful path. What began as a personal exploration grew into a community of people searching for a life that defied societal expectations.

But how would I turn this passion into a career? I considered becoming a blogger, but that didn't feel like I could truly connect with people in the way that I wanted to. I love to travel and used to daydream of hosting events around the world, speaking on conference stages, and having a global community filled with people who are on this same path of creating a life of fulfillment and purpose. I could see different versions of the end vision, but the steps to get there felt blurry at best. I had a lot of ideas but lacked the clarity needed to confidently create a business.

In hindsight, I can see the path to clarity so easily now. I built my business, The Bravo Life, to support entrepreneurs in finding clarity in their vision and transforming their experiences into purpose-driven companies that serve others. Through retreats, courses, and 1:1 coaching, I help my clients turn their ideas into thriving businesses that reflect their purpose.

Here are the key steps I ultimately followed to align my passion with a successful business:

Step 1: Discover What the World Needs

One of the first steps to building a successful business is identifying market demand. As my following grew, so did the messages from people who resonated with my journey. They were successful on paper but longed for something more. Every day, I woke up to messages from followers seeking advice as they created their own paths. It wasn't a paid venture yet, but I knew I was onto something meaningful.

Step 2: Discover What You Can Be Paid For

With my savings dwindling three months after arriving in Paris, I turned to my brand marketing background and began consulting for European brands by day, while working on my business at night. My corporate experience gave me skills I could immediately monetize, allowing me to fund my life in Paris while figuring out how to grow my new venture.

Step 3: Discover What You Are Good at

I took a few entrepreneurship courses that taught strategies for creating and growing an online business. I learned about e-mail marketing, paid advertising, offer development, pricing, legal, accounting, and so much more that helped me understand what it looks like to not just build a brand, but a sustainable business.

Before creating any paid services, I focused on growing my online community. The more I honed my message and grew my platforms, the more people asked, "Can you help me do this?" Transitioning from corporate marketing to personal coaching was intimidating - I couldn't hide behind a brand or a job anymore. This time, people wanted me. This is one of the most challenging aspects of building a business that is rooted in a personal brand. When you are the face of the business, it's easy to take a potential client's "no" as a personal rejection. It also keeps a lot of aspiring entrepreneurs stuck in perfectionism because the fear of judgment, rejection, and failure can feel paralyzing.

It was important for me to create some mental separation between me and the business. I focused on leaning into data, instead of my emotions, to make decisions. Creating key performance indicators based on industry averages for the business at each stage is critical. Knowing that I had a goal of a 50 percent conversion rate on sales calls as a new coach helped me understand that I may hear five "no's" out of 10 calls, and that's okay. This also helped me not give up after the first, or second, no.

Step 4: Discover What You Love

I started small, hosting online workshops about discovering passions and purpose. I became a certified coach, taking on 1:1 clients and developing courses on brand marketing. I used what I learned from the online courses I'd taken along with doing competitive market research - researching other coaches in my niche and industry - to understand how to package my offers and set my rates. Seeing clients transform an idea into reality, and get paid for it, was incredibly fulfilling. One of my first clients was able to leave her job and work from home to be with her kids. That's when I knew I was doing what I was meant to do.

Step 5: Fully Realize Your Own Ikigai

Social media can glamorize entrepreneurship, but the reality is far less shiny. It took me years of trial and error, sleepless nights, risky financial investments, and most of all, getting out of my own way.

Entrepreneurship pushes you to grow beyond your comfort zone, expose yourself to risk, and learn how to fail - and try again the next day. It's the hardest thing I've ever done, but also the most rewarding. The most challenging aspects for me have been the self-discipline required to show up every day, not having a consistent paycheck to rely on during slow periods, and working extremely hard for months on a new offer only for it to fall flat. Thankfully, the rewards outweigh those moments - like when my business generated more income in one month than my prior yearly salary as an employee, or being able to take my 3-year-old son to France, Italy, and Thailand for two months because I work for myself.

Seven years and over 1,000 clients later, I've built a business on my own terms. I've climbed a ladder that I designed, one that allows me to live life the way I always dreamed. The first step is always the scariest, but trusting that each step will appear, even when you can't see the top, is worth the journey.

So, what's something you've always wanted to do but never said out loud?

Natanya Bravo, (she/her), founder of The Bravo Life, now a global community of over 30,000 women. Through digital education, coaching, and events, Natanya provides the tools, resources, and strategies for purpose-driven leaders to create and grow thriving businesses that serve others. As a transformational business and mindset coach, she inspires women to realize and actualize their full potential. Natanya is a PS Council member.

I Tracked My Work Wins For a Week, and It Cured My Imposter Syndrome

Kate Fann — Wed, 09 Oct 2024 16:45:02 -0700

The most common questions on a job application or during an interview require you to discuss a prior experience at work. Whether it's sharing a time you overcame a challenge or a recent project you're particularly proud of, you're not alone if you've found yourself racking your brain for an answer.

As a freelancer applying to gigs and having interviews at least once a week, I've been there. I'm put on the spot and suddenly can't remember the specifics of my work over the past few years. When I saw this TikTok video about tracking your work wins, I knew I had to give it a try - partially to serve my own memory lapses, but also to see my successes. What I didn't expect it to do was help me overcome my own imposter syndrome by giving me confidence in my work like nothing I'd quite experienced before.

How I Tracked My Work Wins

Although I've seen some people track their wins weekly, I chose to track my work wins at the end of each day. Using a spreadsheet I created in Google Sheets, I added categories like date, client, assignment, and win. (If you want a screen break from your laptop at the end of the workday, try writing your wins down in a journal instead.)

In addition to the core categories, I also included sections to add any feedback received from the client, additional notes I might want to add, and a space for links. The latter was a great spot to add any links to completed projects, and for me, that meant adding in any completed article once it was posted live.

As I was going through my weekly wins, though, I realized I could stand to add one more important category: the outcome. Was the win related to overcoming a challenge, reaching a goal, or achieving personal growth? Adding an outcome section made combing through the information simpler when I was looking for a specific work outcome. The document can fill up fast for someone tracking wins daily, especially if you maintain it over the years.

What I Learned by Tracking My Work Wins

Working, even in a job I love, can feel like a grind. And taking a moment to sit and reflect on the work I completed at the end of the day wasn't something I was used to. Sure, there were days when I had big wins that I recognized. The more obvious wins like getting feedback on an assignment or seeing amazing metrics on a project were a great confidence booster. But finding those wins on the slow or average days proved to be a bit more challenging. That was the beauty of this test, though: to discover wins I never would have recognized otherwise.

For the week, I got to be my own hype woman, and it felt incredibly empowering. I recognized the significance of a topic I wrote an article about. I applauded my ability to take on a challenging assignment that stretched my research skills. And I celebrated my growth in my career because I had met the requirements to apply to a dream gig.

While I loved getting the chance to recognize my wins, I realized the powerful effect it had on my confidence and expertise in my career. As a freelancer, I'm constantly pitching myself, not just to prospective clients, but current ones as well. Part of the job process is being able to speak about what I bring to the table. In the past, that would require some digging on my part. But now, with this spreadsheet, I can easily recall a challenge and how I overcame it.

"For the week, I got to be my own hype woman, and it felt incredibly empowering."

My work-wins spreadsheet isn't only helpful for job interviews, it's also helpful in my current job. I can log information about how I wrote an article (or multiple) that landed on the first page of Google or document how I revamped an article that's gaining even more traction online. Plus, I can cite this information when writing an annual review or negotiating a raise.

Most importantly, my work-wins spreadsheet helped me see the value in what I'm providing to clients in my work. It gave me the confidence to continue pushing myself - even on days when I'm discouraged or don't feel like I have much to highlight at all.

Bottom line: Being my own hype woman felt amazing, and I urge my fellow professionals in all types of roles to dive into this process as well. Whether you're up for a promotion, asking for a raise, or searching for a new role, having this information readily available will work wonders for your reputation and your confidence. No more imposter syndrome for me.

Kate Fann is an established writer with 10 years of freelance writing experience. She focuses on creating engaging content for lifestyle brands, covering home, technology, and entertainment.

The $9,330 Cost of Being an Unpaid Intern

Elizabeth Gulino — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 05:35:02 -0700

Welcome to Show the Receipts, a series where we ask interesting people to share exactly how much it costs to get shit done. No matter the task, we're tracking every last dollar from start to finish. Up next: completing an unpaid internship in New York City.

Dazani, 21, had never been to New York City, but that didn't stop her from pursuing her dreams and landing a prestigious summer internship with a celebrity stylist in Manhattan. The catch? It was an unpaid summer internship - and it was all the way across the country, meaning that she had to pay for transportation, rent, utilities, food, and everything else that she could possibly need while uprooting herself and moving to a new destination.

Dazani is from Arlington, TX, and currently attends Texas Christian University. She studies fashion merchandising, is pursuing a minor in film and media studies, is president of the TCU fashion club, is in two honor societies, and has worked off-campus at a local vintage boutique part-time for the past three years. She spent the last semester studying abroad in Italy, and this summer she lived and worked at her first ever (again, unpaid) internship in the Big Apple.

New York City is one of the most expensive cities in the world – the average rent is $3,867 per month and the cost of living is only rising (and rising and rising), according to data from Apartments.com - but with some help from her friends and family members and a $5,000 scholarship, Dazani was determined to make it work.

Here's the full cost breakdown.

Task: Completing an unpaid summer internship
Occupation: Celebrity stylist assistant intern
Location: New York
Timeline: Three months

The Receipts

Flights: $585
Rent: $800 per month, or $2,400 total
Utilities: About $79 per month, or $237 total
Food: $3,680
Miscellaneous shopping: $1,000
Bar: $1,300
Laundromat: $78
Total: $9,330

How I Did It

PS: Unpaid internships are tough, especially in an expensive city like New York. What made you agree to take one?
Dazani: I definitely was looking for paid internships, but the ones I was gravitating toward were all unpaid. I was looking at marketing internships and PR and other stuff but I knew I'd regret it in the long run if I didn't take this styling internship opportunity. Styling has always been a dream of mine, so I was like, "I'll just risk it." It paid off - I really learned a lot and I enjoyed it.

PS: Where were you able to save money?
Dazani: I wanted to live in the city because my internship was based in Manhattan, but obviously the city is super expensive and I financially couldn't afford that so I was like OK, let me look at New Jersey. My friend is from New Jersey and her mom commutes every day to the city and I heard a lot of people live in Jersey City, so I looked there. The commute was only 20 minutes and the train was really accessible. I went on Facebook groups and found a roommate.

My boss would also pay for our Ubers if we had to go to one side of New York to, for example, all the way to the Upper East Side. He also would cover the cost sometimes for our lunch or coffee, and he reimbursed us for things like subway transportation to and from the office. I also got paid for the shoots I assisted on with Harper's Bazaar. The photographer who was in charge of those shoots would pay everyone on set $200 in cash, and I worked on two of those.

At TCU, you have to take an internship course that is required as part of your graduating credits and that costs $5,000. I received a scholarship for my internship, so I did not have to pay the $5,000.

PS: Did you have any assistance from family members?
Dazani: My aunt helped me with rent and my mom helped me with utilities and food. I barely had anything in my savings after coming back from Italy. I don't like to ask people for money so I did feel bad, but obviously they're not going to leave me out there in the city by myself helpless so I am really grateful for their help. I know it's going to pay off in the long run because I'm a hard worker and I'm pursuing my dreams.

Final Thoughts

For Dazani, whether the $9,330 price tag was worth it is a hard question. "It was such a love and hate relationship because there were so many days where I just wanted to quit, and I would cry because I did feel sometimes I got overworked," she says. "There were a lot of days where I was working 13 hours. I'd be getting up at 6 a.m and would get back home to Jersey City at like 9 p.m."

Still, she's glad she did it. "I'm so grateful for the experience - I learned a lot, I loved my boss, he was so fun and amazing. He's really lenient and we could goof off with him all the time and he was really understanding."

Come graduation, her dream job is to be a personal stylist or a creative director. "I feel like I have really good creative insight as well as leadership qualities," she says.

Elizabeth Gulino is a freelance journalist who specializes in topics relating to wellness, sex, relationships, work, money, lifestyle, and more. She spent four and a half years at Refinery29 as a senior writer and has worked for House Beautiful, Complex, and The Hollywood Reporter.

Why We Need More Latinas in Corporate C-Suite Leadership Roles

Sylvia Banderas Coffinet — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 06:00:05 -0700

My heart sank as I read Lean In's recent study "The State of Latinas in Corporate America," based on McKinsey & Company's five-year study of women in the workplace. It notes, "only 1 percent of C-suite executives [in corporate America] are Latina." C-suite leaders - the group of top executives whose titles usually start with the letter "C" - play crucial roles in guiding the strategic direction of the company and making all critical leadership decisions. While the report wasn't a surprise, I never imagined that I'd defy statistics and land on the opposite end of the story, cementing my often solemn experience of being a "first, only, and different" in the workplace - and igniting my resolve to see that change. Yes, I am part of the less than one percent of Latinas who have made the grueling corporate climb to the C-suite.

Beating the odds has always been my way of life, and my 15-plus-year corporate media career is an exception in corporate America. I started as a sales assistant in media publishing, subsidizing my life on a credit card to break into the industry. I worked my way up to my first sales manager role within the year. In less than three years, I earned three consecutive promotions, moving from junior seller to beauty director. Soon after, I was recruited as executive beauty director, achieved a record-breaking revenue year, and was quickly recruited again, this time focused on new product launches in the Latine market. Before I turned 30, I oversaw a national revenue team at the world's largest publishing house. By the time I was 33, I had secured my first official senior leadership role. I've held several executive roles since, including CRO and CEO. The milestone moment of that global media launch and title bestowment nearly a decade ago will stay with me forever. It was my breakthrough moment into the elusive one percent corporate club.

Some have described my career path as a "meteoric rise," but from my viewpoint, it has been a strenuous climb filled with obstacles that rivals the difficulty of scaling Everest. I've overcome significant barriers, including growing up undocumented, systemic poverty, language barriers, cultural dissonance, unconscious bias in corporate environments, and a lack of access and influence, to name a few. Despite these formidable hurdles, I succeeded. This leads to the pressing questions: How did I manage to defy the odds? And why are the odds so overwhelmingly against Latinas in the first place?

The Barriers Latinas Face

To ground us, let me share a few sobering facts. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Latinas experience the highest pay gap among underrepresented groups, earning just 54 cents for every dollar their white male counterparts make. They are also the least likely group to be promoted into management, and they face the most significant gap in promotions to VP level and above. This lack of forward advancement means they often miss out on gaining the experience necessary for executive management positions, making it difficult even to consider such roles when opportunities arise. The result is a need for a viable pipeline for senior leadership career tracks for Latinas, eliminating dead ends and blocked pathways and leading to executive roles and, eventually, the C-suite.

I broke through the entry-level barriers in management early in my career, which made all the difference. I had sponsors and managers who understood that experience isn't the greatest predictor of success - character and grit are more substantial. They saw my resilience, iron will to succeed, and unparalleled work ethic.

But here's the truth: you can be a rock star and still be overlooked. It's not a lack of ambition holding Latinas back; it's a lack of access and support. These key drivers of success are often outside our control, and as such, sponsorship becomes critical. Sponsors - senior leaders who use their influence to advocate for your career advancement - make all the difference, helping to open doors that would otherwise remain closed. I experienced this firsthand with my publisher, Jim Taylor, at Town & Country. In addition to promoting me, Jim was so impressed by my consistent and excellent performance that he sent a memo to Michael Clinton, Hearst's CMO and the second most powerful person in the company at the time, highlighting that I had broken over 40 new accounts in one year. This validation and credit put me on the company's radar, providing me with access and opportunities that significantly changed my career trajectory.

Even more pivotal to my journey were the leaders who embraced my cultural differences, allowing me to be my authentic self and celebrating my Latinidad. They saw the richness of my heritage as a valuable asset. Although they rarely acknowledged the unconscious bias Latinas face due to significant cultural differences, they were willing to set aside their unconscious biases, giving me the chance to demonstrate how my unique leadership style could be not only effective but transformative.

Unlocking Latinas' Cultural Superpowers

Latinas embody a rich cultural duality that serves as our superpower, offering immense benefits to corporate culture when embraced and supported. For example, take "humildad," which translates in English to humility. It is a cherished Latine trait essential for leaders. While often misunderstood in corporate America as a weakness, humildad goes beyond mere humility. It represents deep family and cultural values passed down through our matriarchal lines. From an early age, we learn that matriarchy is revered and powerful leadership. Iconic figures like la Virgen de Guadalupe, our symbolic mother, embody this norm, showcasing grace, kindness, and empathy as the virtues of our most venerated leaders.

In my household, like in many Latine households, humility wasn't just a word - it was a way of life. We learned as children that humildad means being self-aware, actively listening, showing empathy, and, above all, prioritizing the collective over the individual. This is quite different from the norms in American corporate culture, which often highlight assertiveness, competitiveness, and self-promotion. But humility doesn't mean you lack strength or value; it recognizes every person's intrinsic worth. I can still hear the assurance and grace in my mother's voice as she looked deep into my eyes and said, "No eres más y no eres menos que nadie," which translates to "You're not above anyone, and no one is above you." It's a constant reminder that human dignity is our birthright, an indelible part of who we are at our essence that transcends titles, experience, class, or any superficial human-orchestrated social label. Ignoring this truth means selling ourselves short. It's a lesson often reinforced by our abuelas, tías, madrinas, and mothers, encapsulating the beautiful paradox of power and grace. In other words, conscious leaders stay humble.

For Latinas, these cultural clashes create a struggle to maintain authenticity while advancing in their careers. Often, we have to code-switch to avoid performance biases and misperceptions of character. Corporate norms tend to misinterpret cultural values as weaknesses, prioritizing traits like a commanding demeanor and authoritative body language. This misunderstanding has significant psychological impacts on Latina leaders, leading to increased stress, self-doubt, and impostor syndrome, further hindering their advancement and representation in C-Suite leadership.

Navigating this tension required me to understand how to present myself confidently while preserving the authenticity of my cultural values. I had to find ways to communicate my accomplishments and aspirations effectively, all while maintaining a humility that felt true to me. This balancing act was both a personal journey and an ongoing negotiation of my identity and professional presence in diverse and often contrasting environments. When I encountered this tension early in my journey, particularly when others failed to grasp its nuances, I addressed unconscious bias with gentle but firm clarity. My approach has always been to prioritize environments where my talents and authentic self are genuinely valued. There are many organizations that are eager to hire top-tier Latine talent, making it essential to focus on those who truly understand and appreciate the importance of diversity and inclusion.

The Next Generation of Latina Leadership

As Latinas, we prioritize collective success over individual accolades, fostering stronger, more cohesive teams united by shared purpose and mutual commitment. This approach not only enhances team performance but also cultivates a priceless leadership and organizational culture, positioning us as the embodiment of next-generation leadership.

So, while mainstream culture might undervalue this trait, those of us who understand its true power know that humildad is the cornerstone of effective, compassionate, and visionary leadership. Why is this important and why should corporate companies even care about this today? Because demographics shape our reality and our destiny. The 2020 US Census revealed that the Latine community, representing nearly 20 percent of the US population at 62 million people, is not only the largest but also the youngest underrepresented group, with one in four children born in the US being Latine. By the end of 2024, Latines are projected to have $2.5 trillion in spending power. These statistics underscore the significance of this community as both the future workforce and consumer base. The prosperity of our nation is inherently linked to how effectively we integrate and support the growing Latine population.

Corporate America is missing out on Latinas' immense potential by undervaluing their unique cultural strengths. Implementing cultural awareness and sensitivity training, along with fostering authentic leadership styles, is essential for change to take root. Embracing Latina leaders in their true form not only bridges cultural gaps but also enhances organizational strength, innovation, and cohesion, making corporate America more dynamic and equitable.

Sylvia Banderas Coffinet is a distinguished Latine marketplace expert and C-suite executive with nearly two decades in media strategy and multicultural marketing. A Forbes Trailblazing Latina Executive in Media, she is passionate about amplifying Latine voices and championing diversity in media.

Nathalia Dunlap: This Latina Wants to Democratize Access to the Tech industry For Latines

Johanna Ferreira — Sun, 15 Sep 2024 06:00:05 -0700

Nathalia Dunlap works as a Senior Product Manager at Tanium, where she spearheaded the development of a groundbreaking new product. She's also the COO/VP/Co-Founder of SOMOS.tech, a non-profit organization that utilizes AI, with the mission to provide resources, networking opportunities, resume reviews, and mentorship to Latina aspiring to pursue a career in tech but have been faced with economic barriers. Her passion for tech is fueled by a desire to overcome challenges and make a positive impact in her community. As a first-generation immigrant from Brazil, Dunlap has one main goal: "I don't just want to leave the door open for the next generation; I want to make it easier for them to get through the door in the first place.

As part of our Tech Chingona package, Dunlap shares why she's always been so passionate about tech, what she's reading right now, and how she practices self-care despite her jammed-packed days. Get to know her journey below.

What inspired you to get into tech?

I actually wanted to study international affairs to become a diplomat for the UN and got accepted into Boston University to do so. However, I chose to study math at only one of the universities I applied to (UVA) because an uncle highly recommended that I do STEM. I didn't think I'd be any good at STEM, but I listened to the advice he gave as 'they are always lacking in STEM students. I got called off the waiting list for UVA and, because of its ranking, decided to commit. While studying math, I was required to take two programming classes. I ended up finding out I really loved coding and was good at it. I never gave myself a chance before because no one around me made it this far to college. I didn't have any exposure or inspiration. I decided to stay in the tech world and major in computer science instead and vowed to help give other people the exposure and opportunities I didn't get.

What does a typical workday look like for you?

I work from home and love that! I usually wake up around 6 am, do my morning routine (coffee and a book), work out, take care of my dog (her turn to workout and play fetch), and typically start my day around 10am. I go until 5/6 pm depending on the day. I'm usually in meetings, coordinating things with the engineers, or creating documents. Then after my day job, I still have SOMOS. Tech to run. I follow up on all communications there and work towards completing the week's goal (i.e. finalizing the corporate sponsorship document). I end the day by making an amazing homemade dinner and spending some time with my dog.

What are you reading right now?

I am currently reading the book "Well of Ascension." I love to read and have a goal of 52 books a year (one a week). I read anything from self-help books to business books to romance and more. This book is a fun fantasy novel. I needed a story to get lost in and take a break from reality, so I chose to delve back into the Mistborn World.

How do you practice self-care?

I do not have work on my phone, for the non-profit or my day job. During business hours I will be at my computer, but when I clock off - it's a boundary I have set for myself because I used to struggle with balance. I truly believe work is meant to add to my life, not overrule it.

What do you always make time for because it makes you feel good?

I will always make time for my dog to cook and work out. I love my dog Mimosa. She's brought so much joy into my life and is usually a great reason to get outside. She's been my best friend since I got her at 4 months old and she's always a priority in my schedule. I think homemade meals are so important and help make me feel healthy. I love to give myself 1-2 hours of fun recipes in the kitchen. I also want to be a better cook. The last thing is moving my body, even if it's a 20-minute Pilates workout from YouTube. We underestimate the benefits of exercising for our physical and mental health.

Johanna Ferreira is the content director for PS Juntos. With more than 10 years of experience, Johanna focuses on how intersectional identities are a central part of Latine culture. Previously, she spent close to three years as the deputy editor at HipLatina, and she has freelanced for numerous outlets including Refinery29, Oprah magazine, Allure, InStyle, and Well+Good. She has also moderated and spoken on numerous panels on Latine identity.

This Tech Chingona Wants Latines to Take Risks in AI

Johanna Ferreira — Sun, 15 Sep 2024 06:00:05 -0700

Yovana Rosales is CEO of Ai.Latina, which aims to empower community members to take risks in learning and leveraging AI tools. She is also working on AI-powered visualization meditation courses and hosts a podcast called "Making Líder Moves."

As part of our Tech Chingonas package, Rosales shares what her role as an entrepreneur really entails, the importance of la comunidad, and what she does for self-care. Get to know her journey below.

What inspired you to get into tech?
Fear of job loss and a desire for representation drove me into tech. As a community manager from 2020 to 2023, I cultivated safe spaces for entrepreneurs, self-care enthusiasts, tech enthusiasts, and Latinas. My role encompassed engagement, content creation, moderation, growth strategies, feedback collection, reporting, collaboration, event management, crisis management, and platform oversight.

In summer 2023, headlines about AI replacing jobs sparked anxiety. Discussions with fellow Latina entrepreneurs revealed a lack of certainty about AI's impact on our careers. I realized this stemmed from our underrepresentation in tech spaces - Latinas comprise less than one percent in AI and earn only $0.53 to a white man's dollar in corporate America.

Recognizing the widening gap, I committed to empowering Latina professionals, stay-at-home mamis, and business owners/entrepreneurs to leverage AI. Through extensive learning and experimentation, I now conduct workshops teaching Latinas how to use AI to scale their businesses, advance professionally, and streamline their home lives. My mission is to ensure Latinas aren't left behind as technology advances, promoting a more balanced and efficient lifestyle through AI utilization.

What does a typical workday look like for you?
As an entrepreneur, my days are diverse and dynamic. For this jefa, there's no such thing as a "typical" day - I alternate between working on and in my business. My schedule might include strategic planning for the virtual communities I manage in the morning, product development or consulting on client projects in the afternoon, and attending networking events to forge new partnerships in the evening.

I wear many hats, handling everything from branding and HR to strategy and customer relationships. While entrepreneurship presents its challenges, the rewards are immensely fulfilling. I find great satisfaction in creating value and making an impact in my comunidad as a business owner. This varied, fast-paced lifestyle keeps me on my toes, but it's precisely this diversity that makes entrepreneurship exciting and worthwhile for me.

What's the most rewarding part of your job?
The most rewarding part of my job is witnessing the transformation of Latinas who attend my AI Unleashed workshop. It's incredibly fulfilling to see the initial fear and confusion fade from their faces, replaced by confidence as they grasp how to leverage AI in their professional and personal lives.

The true satisfaction comes when these Latinas not only apply what they've learned to their businesses and households but also become advocates and educators themselves. Watching them confidently share their newfound AI knowledge with colleagues, classmates, and extended family members creates a ripple effect of empowerment and technological adoption within our comunidad.

This cascade of knowledge transfer and skill development is what drives me. It's not just about individual success, but about elevating our entire comunidad's technological literacy and competitiveness in an AI-driven world.

How did your parents feel about you pursuing a career in tech?
Initially, there was resistance, particularly from mi mami. When I first told her about using AI in my profession, she dismissed it as "cheating" and said she would never hire someone who used it. Recognizing she wasn't ready to accept this new information, I didn't push the issue.

Instead, I started sharing my AI work and its everyday applications with mi papi, making sure mi mama was within earshot. Gradually, she began listening more attentively. She also started noticing AI-related news on her favorite platforms: "Good Morning America" and NPR.

Her attitude shifted dramatically over time. She began sharing AI articles and links from her favorite media platforms with me. Now, when mi papa needs help with home repairs, she's quick to suggest, "You know the drill, put it into Claude to get suggestions and directions for the house repairs."

It's been remarkable to witness her transformation from initial closed-mindedness to full embrace of AI technology. She's now actively sharing AI resources with me and our extended familia. This experience highlights how exposure and gradual introduction can change perceptions about new technologies, even among those initially resistant.

What are you watching right now?
I love watching reality trash TV, it's my ultimate favorite! Right now, I am currently watching "90 Day Fiancé," "Love Is Blind: Mexico," and "Love Is Blind: Europe." I did also just finish watching an amazing show called "Queenie," a show based on a 25-year-old Jamaican British woman living in south London, straddling two cultures and not fitting neatly into either.

How do you practice self-care?
I have created AI-powered self-guided visualization meditations depending on what need I need to fulfill for that day, and now, I am getting ready to put these mediations into production and share them with my Latine comunidad! The AI-empowered visualization meditations I am creating address our unique challenges, enhance our professional skills, and promote our well-being as Latinas.

By offering tailored support and practical tools, I aim to empower Latina leaders to thrive both personally and professionally. I am excited to launch these meditations; if interested, please feel free to join the wait list here.

What do you always make time for because it makes you feel good?
¡La música es mi vida! So once a month, I make it a point to either go to a concert or a music festival. In August alone, I was able to enjoy Young Miko, Lollapalooza, and North Coast. I have traveled before to see Bad Bunny at Yankee Stadium, Phoenix at Hollywood Bowl, Enrique Iglesias and Ricky Martin at Staples Center, and so much more! I can't wait to internationally travel to go to a concert.

This Tech Chingona Is Proving the Importance of Storytelling

Johanna Ferreira — Sun, 15 Sep 2024 06:00:05 -0700

Odalys Jasmine García Arce works as a content strategy partner at TikTok, where she represents the Americas in the company's organizational culture content production team. The purpose of her role is to bring the company's culture and mission to life through content and employee stories. She also launched her own business and podcast called "Hella Latina Podcast".

As part of our Tech Chingonas package, García Arce shares how she broke into tech, what her typical workday looks like, and how she practices self-care. Get to know her journey below.

What inspired you to get into tech?
Honestly, I never knew a career in tech was a possibility. I went to school in the Bay Area, specifically San Jose State University, which is said to be in "the heart of Silicon Valley." Coming from Southeast San Diego, my only connections were in church and school, and the industries I had knowledge of were slim. So I had no idea what Silicon Valley meant.

At SJSU, I started to learn more about potential career paths within tech and met professionals who worked for companies like Apple, Facebook, and Google, and with time, it became an industry of interest.

My first tech experience was actually an internship at Xerox in their digital product space. I struggled with the lack of diversity within the industry and ended up leaving big tech for a bit to work for a small business, then eventually became a full-time entrepreneur. After some time away, I went back into the industry and worked for LinkedIn. From that experience, I was inspired to stay in tech. Whether it was creating opportunities for more BIPOC talent, uplifting employee voices and stories, or even showing up as my full authentic self (red lipstick, hoops, and all) to challenge the idea of "professionalism," I saw an opportunity to make an impact as a Latina in tech.

What does a typical workday look like for you?
Most days, I'm up at 5 a.m. and start meetings with my team (based in London and Singapore) at 6 a.m. After a few morning meetings, I get on with my to-do list, which can include anything form scriptwriting and editing to building a content strategy for a new project. A typical workday can also look like taking a flight to another office within the Americas for in-person interviews and film productions on site at our various offices.

What's the most rewarding part of your job?
The most rewarding part is representing my region. I represent the Americas, which is made up of Canada, the United States, and Latin America, which feels like a beautiful mesh of my own identity and cultural experience. I get to speak Spanish and English in my role (have yet to learn Portuguese), highlight employees across multiple countries who are doing incredible work, and collaboratively build a global culture while taking regional nuance into consideration. When I get to meet employees and share their work company-wide - that's what feels the most rewarding.

How did your parents feel about you pursuing a career in tech?
You know, I don't think they understand what my career really is. They tell everyone I'm a "TikToquera," but I definitely don't create on the platform. But I know they're proud of what tech has given me. Beyond monetary wealth, I've had a chance to travel the world, spoil my family, and reinvest in things that bring me joy.

What are you reading and watching right now?
I've been watching "Love Is Blind: UK" and "House of Dragon." Simultaneously finishing up "The Poet X" by my favorite author, Elizabeth Acevedo.

What do you do to decompress at the end of the day?
Close the laptop and unplug completely. Make a cup of técito or lay on my hammock.

What do you always make time for because it makes you feel good?
My podcast! "Hella Latina" is my heart, and interviewing trailblazers in the community makes me feel rooted in my purpose.

What's your most used app?
Right now, I'm using the Plurawl app the most! It's been my therapy.

How do you practice self-care?
I practice self-care in so many different ways - I journal, meditate, pray, work out, do an extensive skin-care routine, get consistent massages and facials. But my favorite practice that's remained steadfast in my life is journaling. I journal a lot! There's no better self-care than to meet yourself daily. Lately, my entries are poems about the season I'm currently in. Poetry has always been my preferred way to process my thoughts and emotions, and there's nothing more liberating than pouring my soul on paper.

This Tech Chingona Is "Deeply Committed" to Making AI Development Inclusive

Johanna Ferreira — Sun, 15 Sep 2024 06:00:04 -0700

Virginia Puccio has been in the tech industry for 15 years. She's the founder and CEO of Fuel AI, which operates like DoorDash, but for data. Instead of delivering food, people collect and submit data to companies building AI solutions. She started focusing on AI when she joined Standard AI (formerly Standard Cognition) in 2018.

As she says, "My rich and diverse heritage - Mexican, Puerto Rican, Nigerian, Italian Jewish, Turkish, and Lebanese - provides me with a distinctive perspective. As a Latina, Jewish, female entrepreneur of color, I'm deeply committed to ensuring AI development is inclusive and ethical."

As part of our Tech Chingonas package, Puccio shares what the most rewarding part of her job is, what she's reading right now, and what her typical workday looks like. Get to know her below.

What inspired you to get into tech?
When I first graduated from college, it was easy. Silicon Valley was booming and there were more job openings than there were people to fill them. But then I got the startup bug. And I never looked back!

What does a typical workday look like for you?
I'm up before 6:30 a.m. My first meeting is at 7 a.m. I have a few meetings, then make breakfast, answer some emails, cross a few things off my Asana list, and head out to yoga. After yoga, I eat lunch, have a few more meetings, and cross more tasks off my Asana list. Then I put my head down in work for the rest of the afternoon and evening. I try to get off my laptop by about 7 p.m., but it doesn't always work out. If I have time, I go hiking or play soccer after work.

What's the most rewarding part of your job?
I love building the future. I'm not married and I don't have children. So my life goal is to leave this world better than I found it. My personal mission is that I create a space for others to create. Create wealth, create happiness, create comfort . . . the list goes on and on.

How did your parents feel about you pursuing a career in tech?
They are super proud. My parents always told me I can do anything I want to do and be anything I want to be with hard work and determination. I've been fortunate to have parents who support me in the aspects of my life that are meaningful for me.

What's the most interesting thing you've experienced being a Latina working in tech?
I'm often the only one. At Standard, I was the only Latina in the entire company of about 150 people. I often find myself to be the only Latina in the room. I used to be called loud a lot. I've been labeled the angry, crazy Latina more times than I can count. But I've found that's because people aren't used to confident, direct, and assertive women. And they certainly don't like to see a woman of color behaving that way.

This Tech Chingona Uses Her Law Background to Uplift Workers of Color

Johanna Ferreira — Sun, 15 Sep 2024 06:00:04 -0700

Evelyn "Ella" Pérez-Albino is an associate general counsel in labor and employment at The Trade Desk. Before that she served as an associate general counsel at Meta, advising on all workstreams impacting global company-wide DEI and HR strategy. Throughout her career, Pérez-Albino has championed first-generation professionals of color, so much so that she founded Ella Elevates to support the career advancement of professionals of color in the corporate space. Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in New York City's Washington Heights, she still lives in New York with her husband and two kids.

As part of our Tech Chingonas package, Pérez-Albino shares what her mother thinks of her career, what she does to decompress at the end of the workday, and what she thinks of AI. Get to know her journey below.

What inspired you to get into tech?
Over the course of my career as a labor and employment lawyer, I really enjoyed helping my clients thoughtfully and successfully execute their diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies, and when the opportunity to do just that at a global scale at Meta opened up, I knew I couldn't pass it up. Once there, I really appreciated the fast-paced environment and building relationships with cross-functional partners and knew that I wanted to continue working in an industry that would allow me to really leverage my communication skills and valued innovation and creative problem-solving.

What does a typical workday look like for you?
To date, I'm happy to say no two days really look the same. As an in-house attorney, you are your client's go-to for all sorts of issues that might come up during the day. You can go from playing therapist and trusted confidant to advocate and bulldog, all in the same hour.

Typically, my days involve fielding unexpected calls from my internal clients on anything from implementing a new global HR initiative to developing a plan to ensure the company complies with a new law to conducting an investigation in between meetings with outside counsel, representing my company on litigation matters for updates on open cases, negotiating with opposing counsel on a settlement agreement, and reviewing a contract for an executive search firm engagement. And probably, all before noon!

What do you do to decompress at the end of a workday?
Ugh, it's a lot of trial and error, and I won't pretend to be great at it. But I try to be intentional about creating or finding moments, big or small, that make my heart smile. Some days, it's a dance party with my kids, catching up with a dear friend, chatting with hubby over a glass of wine, or my favorite - mindlessly zoning out with Netflix and snacks!

How did your parents feel about you pursuing a career in tech?
I don't know that Mami really even recognizes that I'm "in tech." She is solely Spanish-speaking and emigrated from the Dominican Republic to the US to help her family instead of attending college. She is fiercely hardworking; she worked factory and domestic jobs to raise me as a single mom and make sure I had every opportunity at my disposal. As I grew, I started navigating spaces completely unfamiliar to Mami, be it college in the US or corporate America. Once I became an employment attorney, the industry I found myself in seemed somewhat of a secondary consideration, so Mami's biggest concern was simply ensuring the role was "seguro" and stable. (Not that it's worked much, because I got into aviation on the brink of a global pandemic and went into tech right before massive layoffs started happening! But that's how I got to add "crisis management" to my résumé.) Though I suppose it helped that when I joined Meta, then Facebook, she at least knew of the company and could tell people I worked at "Faibu." I think that's a common experience for those of us from immigrant backgrounds - we often bounce between two or more worlds that know very little about each other. As I continue my journey as an employment lawyer in tech, now just getting started at The Trade Desk, she's happy to see me excited about a new role and energized about all the cool things I'm working on at an awesome company.

How do you practice self-care?
The biggest thing is I try to extend myself grace and be as kind to myself as I try to be to others. Sometimes - though not all the time! - that can be more powerful than a manicure.

What are you reading or watching right now?
I just finished binge-watching "Suits" and reading "Financially Lit!" by Jannese Torres.

What's the most interesting thing you've experienced being a Latina working in tech?
Working in global companies, I've really appreciated the opportunity to connect and work with other Latin colleagues around the globe, and even getting to use my Spanish at work and having other colleagues on the Zoom dialing in from Brazil respond in Portuguese.

What do you love and hate the most about AI?
AI can be an amazing tool that can really help you save time on day-to-day starter tasks, and it can come in handy to get you brainstorming and get those creative juices flowing. That said, when relied upon too heavily, it can actually make things harder! It doesn't always work as expected and things can get complicated quickly when you are left having to fix or sort through bad outputs. But as a lawyer, I suppose what I hate the most is that AI can perpetuate the same unconscious biases we encounter in real life unless we are intentional about mitigating those risks. Also, I hate to see people using AI without being mindful of all the consequences.

This Tech Chingona Was at the Forefront of Generative AI

Johanna Ferreira — Sun, 15 Sep 2024 06:00:04 -0700

Joanna Peña-Bickley is a design engineer known as the mother of cognitive experience design and a pioneer in generative AI. She's been working in the tech industry for more than 25 years, and is currently the CEO of Vibes AI, a company working on smart technologies to make cognitive wellness a daily ritual.

As part of our Tech Chingonas package, Peña-Bickley shares her typical workday, what she's reading, and her experience as a Jewish Latina in the tech industry. Get to know her journey below.

What inspired you to get into tech?
Reruns of "Star Trek" and 1980s computer literacy courses.

What does a typical workday look like for you?
Starts at 5:30 a.m. I do yoga and meditation, then attend meetings virtually and in person. I surround myself with really smart people to invent a better future.

What's the most rewarding part of your job?
Helping others and constant learning and growth.

How did your parents feel about you pursuing a career in tech?
They did not understand what I did for a very long time. But they knew I made money.

What do you always make time for because it makes you feel good?
My four grown children and husband and music.

What are you reading right now?
"No Red Lights" By Alan J. Patricof.

What's the most interesting thing you've experienced being a Latina working in tech?
In many situations, I have been the only Jewish Latina at the table, so I take my role as a leader of my community seriously. I trade my privilege to ensure more Latinas and women of color are able to make it to the table.

This Tech Chingona Wants to Use AI to Unlock Mental Healthcare For All

Johanna Ferreira — Sun, 15 Sep 2024 06:00:04 -0700

Milagros Escoredo is a clinical psychologist with over 10 years of experience working as a psychotherapist with complex patients within underserved populations. For the past seven years, Milagros has specialized in artificial intelligence, publishing multiple academic papers and speaking on mental health as it relates to AI. She is also a PhD candidate focusing on the intersection of mental health and AI.

As part of our Tech Chingonas package, Escoredo shares what inspired her to get into mental health tech, her favorite apps, and the most rewarding part of her job. Get to know her below.

What inspired you to get into tech?
Back in 2017, I was inspired to work in tech by the story of someone developing a mental health chatbot using artificial intelligence to support refugees in Syria struggling with depression and anxiety. The impact of technology on improving mental healthcare for such vulnerable populations motivated me to pursue a career where I could leverage AI to make a meaningful difference in people's lives.

Back then, I didn't know much about technology but wanted to be part of the project. I emailed everyone at the company until I got a reply for an interview and started working with them. Since then, I have never stopped working in tech.

What does a typical workday look like for you?
A typical workday for me involves a blend of strategic planning, team collaboration, and hands-on project management. I start my day with a review of ongoing projects and set priorities. This is followed by meetings with cross-functional teams to align on goals and address any roadblocks. I also spend time analyzing data and tracking progress to ensure we're on track to meet our objectives. Throughout the day, I make sure to allocate time for continuous learning, whether it's staying updated on the latest AI advancements or improving my skills in mental health support. Balancing these tasks ensures I contribute effectively to leveraging AI for mental health initiatives.

What's the most rewarding part of your job?
Supporting people worldwide with quality mental healthcare - especially underserved populations who lack access to proper care - is incredibly fulfilling.

How did your parents feel about you pursuing a career in tech?
My parents always encouraged me to follow my dreams. Initially, they didn't understand how a clinical psychologist could work in tech, but they saw my passion and supported my journey.

How do you practice self-care?
I practice Ashtanga yoga every morning and engage in 5Rhythms dance practice. I also enjoy taking a dip in the cold waters of Ocean Beach in San Francisco, where I live.

What do you always make time for because it makes you feel good?
Spending time with my child is the most rewarding part of my day. Seeing him smile brings me immense joy.

What are you reading right now?
I'm currently reading "The Myth of Normal" by Gabor Maté and "Atlas of the Heart" by Brené Brown. I don't watch TV or series.

What are your most used apps?
I frequently use Headspace, Gabby, SoundCloud, Spotify, and Mujer Financiera. The most overrated app is the Weather app, because the forecasts are often inaccurate.

This Tech Chingona Believes Her Afro-Latinidad Is Her Superpower

Johanna Ferreira — Sun, 15 Sep 2024 06:00:04 -0700

Jennifer Gomez is the cofounder of oneKIN, a fintech company building software solutions to help small businesses achieve revenue growth. The Dominican American founder and public speaker hails from Brooklyn, NY, and is passionate about closing the opportunity and wealth gap. She's been working in tech for 13 years, and prior to founding oneKIN, she was a marketing leader for companies like Major League Baseball and Sephora.

As part of our Tech Chingonas package, Gomez shares why she loves timeboxing, what she's reading right now, and why she considers her Afro-Latinidad to be a superpower. Get to know her journey below.

What inspired you to get into tech?
Tech married three of my biggest motivators: community, storytelling, and personal growth. I love working through challenges, and tech presented an ever-growing opportunity to learn, build, and connect people. I truly believe technology is one of the greatest equalizers in our society.

What does a typical workday look like for you?
The day of a tech founder never looks the same, but I've learned to organize my week around my productivity levels. Some days are dedicated to strategy and planning, others to sales and marketing, some to product and design.

I'm a big fan of timeboxing. As much as possible, the mornings are reserved for "deep work" on tasks that require intense concentration. I cluster most of my meetings on specific days and try to schedule them in the afternoons when possible. My day starts around 5:30 a.m. to get my daughters to school, and I strive to turn everything off for dedicated family time in the evenings and on weekends. This system helps me maintain a level of balance.

What do you do to decompress at the end of the workday?
I go for a walk or play Uno or dominoes with the family (it gets very competitive)! But some days, I just need to binge-watch a show or drink a glass of wine.

What are you reading right now?
I'm currently reading "The Cancer Journals" by Audre Lorde, where the commonly quoted phrase "Your silence will not protect you" originates from. Most people don't realize that her journey with breast cancer catalyzed so much of her work and activism. I also just purchased "Olga Dies Dreaming" by fellow Brooklynite and Brown alum Xochitl Gonzalez. It's been on my reading list for some time. She is brilliant, the voice of the '80s and '90s New York generations!

How do you practice self-care?
Self-care is an ongoing journey for me. As a mom of two and an entrepreneur, I'm constantly building that muscle. After being diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer last fall, I've learned to prioritize self-care the hard way. Having a few accountability partners who are also founders has been immensely helpful in keeping me on track with my health goals. Word to the wise: don't wait for a health scare to focus on your health - invest in your holistic wellness now.

What do you love and hate the most about AI?
AI is a powerful tool that, when trained and utilized correctly, can function like an extra pair of hands or an additional employee. I leverage AI every day, actively seeking ways to integrate it to streamline our operations and enhance our product user experiences. While I recognize the ethical concerns, fears of job displacement, and potential privacy and security risks, I believe that, if used ethically and transparently, AI can provide us with more time and freedom to pursue what brings us joy and purpose.

What do you always make time for because it makes you feel good?
I pray every day. My faith is essential for navigating the challenges of life, motherhood, and entrepreneurship. Prayer is not just a source of strength, but also brings me ease, joy, and energy.

What's the most interesting thing you've experienced being a Latina working in tech?
Unfortunately, the Latine community remains significantly underrepresented in technology. I've lost count of how often people are surprised to meet a Latina founder in fintech. Along this journey, I've accumulated plenty of battle stories and funny moments, but I love how my identities enrich my work and add value to everything we build. I consider my Afro-Latinidad a superpower.

This Tech Chingona Is Carving a Space For Fellow First-Gen Latines

Johanna Ferreira — Sun, 15 Sep 2024 06:00:04 -0700

Lia Cortes works in strategic sales and is an MBA candidate at San Jose State University. A first-generation Mexican American, Cortes has been working in tech for two years, most recently at VMware (after a decade in sales, operations, and consulting). She is a mentor to other Latinas looking to break into the tech industry, and is also a content creator on TikTok, where she provides advice on personal finance and breaking into tech.

As part of our Tech Chingonas package, Cortes shares what a typical workday looks like, what she thinks of the disparities in the tech industry, and the hobbies she does to keep her work-life balance in check. Get to know her below.

What inspired you to get into tech?
Growing up as a first-generation Latina in the heart of Silicon Valley, I was surrounded by innovation and technology. However, I noticed a significant lack of representation of Latinas in the tech industry. This disparity inspired me to pursue a career in tech to not only challenge myself in a dynamic and rapidly evolving field but also to pave the way for others from similar backgrounds. I wanted to break barriers and create opportunities for other first-generation Latine individuals to see themselves in tech roles, contributing to a more diverse and inclusive industry.

Witnessing the transformative power of technology and its potential to drive positive change in our communities further fueled my passion and commitment to this field. By sharing my experiences and journey, I hope to inspire and empower others to pursue careers in tech.

What does a typical workday look like for you?
A typical day for me is dynamic and fulfilling, as I juggle multiple roles and responsibilities. As an MBA candidate, I start my day early with coursework, diving into subjects like strategic management and finance, which are crucial for my growth in tech sales. After my classes, I dedicate time to my mentorship with Latinas in Tech, providing guidance and support to those looking to break into the tech industry.

In the afternoons, I focus on staying updated with the latest trends and developments in tech sales; I read industry reports, attend webinars, and network. I also create content for my TikTok channel, where I share tips on financial literacy, breaking into tech, and higher education.

Throughout the day, I balance these activities with personal development and self-care, ensuring I stay motivated and energized. My evenings are often spent reviewing my progress, setting goals for the next day, and connecting with my mentors and peers for feedback and support.

How did your parents feel about you pursuing a career in tech?
My parents are incredibly proud of my achievements, even though they don't fully understand what I do in the tech industry. Coming from a family of Mexican immigrants, where my dad didn't get past sixth grade and my mom didn't finish high school, my pursuit of higher education and a career in tech has been a significant milestone. They know firsthand the challenges and barriers I've faced and have seen the dedication and passion I bring to my work. Their pride in my accomplishments is a testament to the hard work and perseverance it took to beat the odds and succeed in a field that is often unfamiliar to them. Despite the complexity of my career, their support and belief in my abilities have been a constant source of motivation and inspiration.

What's your most used app?
TikTok is my favorite app because it opened up a door to joining a community of people who share similar experiences as a low-income, first-generation Latina pursuing higher education and a tech career. Through TikTok, I've connected with young first-gen students, graduates, and people wanting to transition into tech who seek my advice and listen to my story. This platform has allowed me to offer guidance, share resources, and provide encouragement. The connections I've made and the impact I've had on others' journeys have been incredibly fulfilling, reinforcing the importance of community and shared experiences in overcoming challenges and achieving success.

What do you always make time for because it makes you feel good?
I always make time for family; it is a top priority for me. Spending time with my familia helps me stay grounded.

What's the most interesting thing you've experienced being a Latina working in tech?
I never anticipated the high level of disparity for Latinas in tech. Seeing the significant underrepresentation firsthand has been eye-opening and, at times, disheartening. However, being part of the movement to pave the way for others is incredibly rewarding. This fuels my commitment to mentoring and sharing my journey as a Latina in tech. By being open about my experiences, I hope to inspire and empower other Latinas to break into the tech industry.

How do you prioritize work-life balance?
I collect rare and uncommon houseplants; it's a hobby that brings me joy and relaxation. Tending to my plants helps me unwind after a long week of work and studying.