Bossed Up

Latest Episodes:

How to Leverage AI Without Erasing Your Expertise Sep 15, 2026

Show notes

What if the best way to keep AI from taking your job is to make it work for you? The public has a lot of hot takes on AI, especially as it impacts women. It’s a source of unlimited potential or the destruction of work as we know it. We need to be embracing it wholeheartedly or avoiding it at all costs. As usually, the levelheaded answers to these questions fall somewhere in the middle. In this episode, communications pro Shira Fine joins me to share her experience implementing AI into her business and her take on how we can do the same without overshadowing our expertise or erasing our jobs.

Start leveraging AI without selling your soul to Big Tech:

How to make the chatbot work for you without training it on your data;
The erroneous assumptions we make when we let AI intimidate us;
Why it isn’t cheating to use AI for your repeatable tasks;
The promise and limitations of this ever-evolving technology.

Related Links:

Connect with Shira on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shirafine/
Find out more about Shira’s firm, Bryson Gillette - https://www.brysongillette.com
Episode 540, “The Double Disadvantage: AI, Women, and the Future of Work” - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode540
Episode 542, “Why AI is Giving Women the Ick” - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode542
Episode 546, “The Hidden Force Keeping Women From Using AI” - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode546
LEVEL UP with Bossed Up - https://www.bossedup.org/levelup
Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/
Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

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Am I Ready For Retirement? Jul 14, 2026

Show notes

How do you know if you’re on the right financial track for retirement? Once you hit the midway point of your career, when you’re feeling settled enough (or maybe just exhausted enough) to start looking ahead, retirement is a good thing to start thinking about. But in this current economic climate, financial futures feel more uncertain than ever. Will your savings actually enable you to retire when you want?

If you’re worried at all about your prospects, a financial advisor is a good place to start. Lorie Jones is the owner of Fearless Financial Advisors. She takes a practical and compassionate approach to helping high-income and entrepreneurial women sort out their money questions and build financial confidence. Women are unique when it comes to job security, investing, and spending. Lorie brings both extensive education and first-hand experience to the table to offer some hard-won and practical advice.

Map out your financial future so you know where you stand today:

Why it’s never too early to start investing and planning;
The split financial focus: surviving today vs saving for tomorrow;
How unpaid caregiving changes women’s financial realities;
How to think about the threat of AI job loss.

Related Links:

Connect with Lorie on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/loriejones
Work with Lorie - https://fearlessfinancialadvisors.com/
Listen to the Fearless Females podcast - https://fearlessfinancialadvisors.com/fearless-females/all-episodes/
Forbes, Why Women are Better (Investors) Than Men - https://www.forbes.com/sites/timmaurer/2023/04/30/why-women-are-better-investors-than-men/
Episode 386, How to Boost Your Energy With the Power of Nutrition - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode386
Episode 326, How to Reach Your Financial Goals as a Woman - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode326
Episode 402, How to Financially Prepare for Layoffs - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode402
Episode 512, Your Emotions Around Money Matter More Than You Think - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode512
Episode 538, Rebalance Your Career Portfolio - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode538
Episode 540, The Double Disadvantage: AI, Women, and the Future of Work - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode540
TAKE ACTION with Bossed Up - https://www.bossedup.org/takeaction
Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/
Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

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What Deloitte and Zoom’s Recent Benefits Cuts Tell Women About Their Worth Jul 07, 2026

Show notes

What do uneven benefits changes from mega corporations tell us about how these workplaces value women? In the past few months, both Deloitte and Zoom have publicly announced significant changes to particular portions of their employee benefits packages. These adjustments amount to telling certain employees (mostly women) that they matter less than others.

By slashing paid family and medical leave and paid time off for “support roles,” Deloitte is effectively hamstringing the predominantly female portion of their staff - those workers in positions like finance, admin, and HR (and the changes also impact IT and marketing). Comparatively, they confirmed that no deductions will befall employees in client-facing positions. In this episode, I break down what companies are saying when they curb vital childcare and parental benefits for the portion of their workforce that shoulders the bulk of caregiving responsibilities.

Learn more about this “gender-scrubbing” form of sexism that perpetuates workplace inequity, including:

How companies use language to erase women from the narrative;
The dangerous precedent that a change like this sets;
Why not all two-tier benefit structures are made equal;
Four steps you can take to make your voice heard.

Related Links:

Episode 451, The Impact of Return-to-Office Mandates on Working Moms - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode451
Episode 540, The Double Disadvantage: AI, Women, and the Future of Work -
https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode540
CXM, Deloitte’s Two-Tier Benefits Cut: Smart Cost Management or a Signal About Who Matters? - https://cxm.world/employee-experience/deloittes-two-tier-benefits-cut-smart-cost-management-or-a-signal-about-who-matters/
HR Executive, PTO pullback: Did Deloitte, Zoom just set a new precedent? - https://hrexecutive.com/pto-pullback-did-deloitte-zoom-just-set-a-new-precedent/
Inc, The Great Rollback Has Begun: Deloitte and Zoom Take the Lead in Slashing the Most Coveted Benefits - https://www.inc.com/kaylawebster/the-great-rollback-has-begun-deloitte-and-zoom-take-the-lead-in-slashing-the-most-coveted-benefits/91333534
HRDive, Deloitte, Zoom benefit cuts threaten employee trust and retention, experts say - https://www.hrdive.com/news/deloitte-zoom-benefits-cuts-a-risk-to-employee-trust-retention/818818/
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 39 Percent of Manages in 2015 Were Women - https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2016/39-percent-of-managers-in-2015-were-women.htm
Susan Colantuono, They Erased the Word “Women.” That Was the Point - https://www.bebusinesssavvy.com/p/they-erased-the-word-women-that-was
Bipartisan Policy Center, Paid Family Leave Across OECD Countries - https://bipartisanpolicy.org/explainer/paid-family-leave-across-oecd-countries/
Businesswire, Child Care Overtakes Retirement as a Top Workplace Benefit – But Employers Are Falling Behind, According to New KinderCare Research - https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260219275404/en/Child-Care-Overtakes-Retirement-as-a-Top-Workplace-Benefit-But-Employers-Are-Falling-Behind-According-to-New-KinderCare-Research
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Women in the labor force, 2024: occupation employment profiles of women and men by age - https://www.bls.gov/opub/reports/womens-databook/2024/home.htm
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Household Data, Employed people by occupation, sex, and age - https://www.bls.gov/web/empsit/cpseea19.pdf
New America, A Chapter of “Paid Family Leave: How Much Time Is Enough?”, Economic Impact - https://www.newamerica.org/insights/paid-family-leave-how-much-time-enough/economic-impact/
TAKE ACTION with Bossed Up - https://www.bossedup.org/takeaction
Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/
Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

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Quiet Negative Self-Talk and Outwit Rumination May 20, 2026

Show notes

When’s the last time you got caught up in a mental spiral, going over and over a past event or constantly reimagining a future one? Research shows we’re more prone to this habit than ever. That cycle that peaks your anxiety and distracts you from what’s happening at the moment is called rumination, and my guest wrote a book all about it.

Donna Jackson Nakazawa is an acclaimed science journalist whose new book, “Mind Drama: The Science of Rumination and How to Outwit Your Inner Defeatist,” explores the neuroscience behind why we fall into these repetitive patterns. Her knowledge of the topic is informed by all the latest research, and she has even developed her own framework for dealing with it; I experience that approach first-hand, right in the middle of our conversation.

This episode is essential listening for anyone who wants the tools to break out of those stressful spirals once and for all. Stop spiraling and ramp up your power over your own mind:

The role your childhood plays in shaping the stories you tell yourself;
Find your voice by naming and relinquishing your negative thought patterns;
Why rumination isn’t just overthinking;
The radical reparenting approach to rewiring your mind.

Related Links:

Learn more about Donna’s work - https://donnajacksonnakazawa.com/
Subscribe to Healing Together on Substack - https://donnajacksonnakazawa.substack.com/
Mind Drama: The Science of Rumination and How to Outwit Your Inner Defeatist, by Donna Jackson Nakazawa - https://donnajacksonnakazawa.com/books/mind-drama-science-of-rumination/
Girls on the Brink by Donna Jackson Nakazawa - https://donnajacksonnakazawa.com/books/girls-on-the-brink/
Bossed Up: A Grown Woman’s Guide to Getting Your Sh*t Together by Emilie Aries - https://www.bossedup.org/book
Episode 548, Why Adding to My Plate Eased My Burnout - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode548
SPEAK UP: A Live Assertive Communication Course for Women in the Workplace - https://www.bossedup.org/speakup
Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/
Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

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Why Adding to My Plate Eased My Burnout May 12, 2026

Show notes

How do you do more without burning out? People often ask me how (and why) I do so many things. From running multiple businesses to raising two young children, from the outside I understand how my life can seem chaotic and primed for collapse. But what if my latest “side hustle” isn’t the final nail in the exhaustion coffin? What if it’s the very thing keeping me from burnout?

In today’s episode, I get real about the how and why behind my newest business endeavor. Are you one of those people who finds your daily grind exhausting, not because of the physical or mental toll but because some intangible piece is still missing for contentment? Then this hot take might resonate: sometimes adding to your plate - not subtracting - is the key to increasing your engagement. Let’s break down how realigning your priorities may be key to contentment - no matter what era you’re in now:

Build a busy schedule that’s actually restorative;
Get real about time management and tradeoffs;
Why motherhood isn’t a reason to step out of a full life;
The science behind getting physical when your job is mostly intellectual.

Related Links:

Episode 538, Rebalance Your Career Portfolio - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode538
Episode 539, Managing Through the Millennial Career Crisis - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode539
“Mind Drama: The Science of Rumination and How to Outwit Your Inner Defeatist” by Donna Jackson Nakazawa - https://donnajacksonnakazawa.com/books/mind-drama-science-of-rumination/
LinkedIn Learning Course, “Get Unstuck: Make a Plan to Move Your Career Forward” - https://www.linkedin.com/learning/get-unstuck-make-a-plan-to-move-your-career-forward
Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/
Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Build Your Authentic Executive Presence May 05, 2026

Show notes

What can you do to improve your executive presence? Perception of your leadership abilities directly impacts your career trajectory, for better or worse. You’ve likely heard of executive presence before, but even though it often comes up in the context of something to improve, it’s difficult for many people to identify a clear path to make that improvement.

My guest, Dr. Alexa Chilcutt, is an executive communication expert at Johns Hopkins University and wrote the book, “The Presence Principle.” In it, she offers a 3-step framework to demystify this confusing but vital professional trait once and for all. Alexa joins me on the podcast to get into the weeds about what executive presence is and how we can cultivate it to become more impactful leaders.

Give your career trajectory a boost with Alexa’s research-backed perspective:

What executive presence is, and what it’s not;
Why you don’t have to impersonate the traditional leader archetype to succeed in your career;
The impact of initial and enduring impressions;
The three-adjectives activity that will pump up your leadership presence progress.

Related Links:

Connect with Dr. Alexa Chilcutt on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexa-chilcutt-phd/
Order “The Presence Principle” from Routledge - https://www.routledge.com/The-Presence-Principle-Embodying-Executive-Presence-to-Lead-with-Impact/Chilcutt-DuPont/p/book/9781041021964
Sally Williamson, “Executive Presence Is a Top Priority for Leadership” - https://sallywilliamson.com/executive-presence-top-priority-leadership/
Coqual, “Executive Presence Key Findings” - https://coqual.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/26_executivepresence_keyfindings-1.pdf
Episode 407, How to Delegate Without Feeling So Bad About It - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode407
Episode 491, Debunking Imposter Syndrome as a Women's Issue - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode491
Episode 447, Job Search Success: How to Optimize your LinkedIn Profile Skills Sections - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode447
Episode 298, How to Maximize Your Time to Get Things Done - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode298
LEVEL UP: a Leadership Accelerator for Women on the Rise - https://www.bossedup.org/levelup
Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/
Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Hidden Force Keeping Women from Using AI Apr 28, 2026

Show notes

What does attribution bias have to do with women adopting AI? Research has shown that women are more reluctant to embrace these new technologies than men and that this discrepancy is creating a whole new kind of workforce gap. One big reason for this reticence is a belief that using AI is somehow “cheating.” As an April 2026 study from Lean In shows, this assumption is backed up by a whole lot of concrete evidence.

If you’ve been avoiding AI and can’t quite put your finger on why, this episode might shed some light. Women are no strangers to attribution bias, and the ever-growing rise of this tech is a whole new field for unequal expectations to play out on. Workers who use AI tools see big productivity and career benefits. However, we can’t just dive into AI and expect the playing field to even itself out. We must also address the root causes of women’s reluctance and opposition to this new technology.

Fight the bias and reap the career rewards by learning more about:

The glaring difference in how credit and blame are assigned to men versus women;
How competence penalties are unequally doled out for female AI users;
The internal factors at play when we see AI as “cheating”;
Three ways you can start to push back against the attribution bias and the AI gender gap.

Related Links:

LinkedIn Learning Course, “Get Unstuck: Make a Plan to Move Your Career Forward” - https://www.linkedin.com/learning/get-unstuck-make-a-plan-to-move-your-career-forward
Lean In, New research: Women use AI less often at work and get less credit - https://leanin.org/research/ai-women-gender-gap-data
HBR, Research: The Hidden Penalty of Using AI at Work - https://hbr.org/2025/08/research-the-hidden-penalty-of-using-ai-at-work
Lean In, The AI gender gap: How women can break through - https://leanin.org/research/ai-women-gender-gap
Episode 540, The Double Disadvantage: AI, Women, and the Future of Work - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode540
Episode 542, Why AI is Giving Women the “Ick” - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode542
Episode 543, Why Your Resume Isn’t Working (and What to Do Instead) - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode543
Bossed Up: A Grown Woman's Guide to Getting Your Sh*t Together - https://www.bossedup.org/book
Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/
Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

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How to Go From Anxious Perfectionist to Empowered High-Achiever Apr 21, 2026

Show notes

How do you manage your anxiety-driven overachieving without losing your competitive edge?

There’s a good chance that, if you’re an avid Bossed Up listener, the spiral of the do-it-all overachiever is familiar to you. You’re stressed out, maybe burnt out, and potentially navigating anxiety, too.. Maybe you fear that seeking more balance means losing the drive that makes you successful and sought-after.

Dr. Lindsay Pfister-Kerr is a recovering anxiety-driven perfectionist turned coach and the author of “From Perfectionist to Empowered: A Makeover Guide.” She’ll be the first to tell you that you don’t have to choose one or the other. In this episode, she speaks with me about the reverberating impact our perfectionism and stress have on those around us and how we can make moves toward a better balance without giving up our high-achiever status. Lindsay’s insights will give you hope that you can step out of the stress of perfectionism and embrace a more intentional, fulfilling life.

Create empowerment without abandoning your ambition:

How mindfulness and the right questions can make you better at your job;
Small, simple steps that lead to big mindset changes;
The stress cycle you create when you’re always operating at 110%;
How to recognize toxic perfectionism.

Related Links:

Connect with Lindsay on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsaypfister/
Learn more about Lindsay’s work - https://www.lpkcoaching.com/
Buy “From Perfectionist to Empowered: A Makeover Guide” - https://www.lpkcoaching.com/book
Download Lindsay’s 3-minute reset - https://www.lpkcoaching.com/free-resources
Episode 333, An Honest Look Into Motherhood and Mental Health - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode333
Episode 494, Matrescence and the Transformation of Motherhood - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode494
Episode 530, Disability Accommodations: What All Leaders Need to Know - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode530
HIRED Job Search Accelerator - https://www.bossedup.org/gethired
Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/
Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

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Your Value Proposition is the Biggest Asset of Your Job Search Apr 14, 2026

Show notes

How can a strong value proposition help you stand out in your job search? If you can’t explain how your skills and experience make you perfect for a position, you’ll have a hard time convincing a hiring team to choose you. That’s why, whether you’re looking to rise in the ranks at your current organization or go in an entirely new direction, selling yourself with clarity and confidence is essential.

In this episode, I walk you through building a powerful value proposition, from brainstorming and data collection to getting outside support. You have all the experience you need to write the perfect sales pitch, one that sums up why your past experience and impact make you the best choice for that exciting new job or promotion.

Get confident and concise with your value proposition:

Why your past experiences play in, regardless of how much you plan to pivot;
How to utilize AI as a useful tool, but never as the final say;
How to keep your humility from dampening your sales pitch;
Using assessments and aptitude tests to beef up your value vocabulary.

Related Links:

Episode 543, Why Your Resume Isn’t Working (and What to Try Instead) - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode543
Episode 542, Why AI is Giving Women the “Ick” - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode542
Episode 540, The Double Disadvantage: AI, Women, and the Future of Work - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode540
Episode 522, Know Your Aptitudes to Direct Your Career with Confidence - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode522
LinkedIn Learning, Get Unstuck: Make a Plan to Move Your Career Forward - https://www.linkedin.com/learning/get-unstuck-make-a-plan-to-move-your-career-forward/
HIRED: A Job Search Accelerator to Land Your Dream Job - https://www.bossedup.org/gethired
U.S. Department of Labor career assessments - https://www.careeronestop.org/ExploreCareers/Assessments/self-assessments.aspx?frd=true
Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/
Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Why Your Resume Isn’t Working (and What to Try Instead) Apr 07, 2026

Show notes

How can you leverage your strengths, values, and AI tools to make the job search a bit less daunting? The job market in 2026 is chaotic and confusing. Job seekers are sending out hundreds of resumes and getting only a few interviews in return. But finding your dream job is still possible, and Sam DeMase can help you make that happen.

Sam is ZipRecruiter’s first career expert, and she goes by “Your Career Bestie” on social media. Our conversation spans everything from the human/AI skill dichotomy to moving on without guilt. Sam shares great advice on navigating current job market trends, the challenges job seekers are facing right now, and approaches you can take to avoid the endless apply-and-get-ghosted spiral so many people are experiencing.

Tune in to learn how to transform your job search: