Today, we continue our two-part journey with Erika Ayers Badan, the CEO of Food52 and Barstool Sports’ first CEO. From her early roles at Fidelity, Microsoft, AOL, and Yahoo to leading innovative brands, Erika’s career is packed with stories and lessons that resonate.

In Part One, we delved into her debut book, No One Cares About Your Career, exploring why she wrote it and the practical wisdom it offers for thriving in any workplace.

Now, in Part Two, Erika goes deeper—reflecting on her roots, her leadership style, and her take on addressing toxic work environments. Plus, she shares something you won’t hear elsewhere: the career advice she gives her middle and high school-aged kids in a world that’s constantly changing.

Blame It on the Parents? How Childhood Shaped a Love for Teaching and a Struggle with Authority

“I really love to teach. I think my parents, who were in education, gave me that. I also have a fairly strange relationship with authority. I think that also comes from my childhood.”

Do Titles Really Matter? Confessions of a CEO Who Once Cared A Lot

“I don’t really care about titles. It’s a little bit hypocritical because the CEO is a great title. I did care a lot about titles in the hustle years where I was really trying to advance. You should always endeavour to take on more than you had six months ago. Are you doing the same exact thing you did six months ago, without learning, or growing, or tripping on yourself, or taking on something you didn’t know exactly how to do?”

Why Failure Is a Good Thing: Tripping Over Yourself Is Part of the Plan

What’s Your Leadership Style? Finding the Balance Between Boss and Buddy

Toxic Workplace or Just a Bad Day? Getting Real About Fixing Office Culture

“I think that people throw the term toxic workplace around a lot. I’m not sure what it means anymore. I would try to spend as much time as I can to get specifics – what’s going on?”

Career Advice for My Teenage Kids: Balancing Business and Life Lessons

What’s Next After ‘No One Cares’? Teasing the Next Passion Project

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