Workplace Weirdness

Back-stabbing Boss and Post-COVID Wellness

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Ever wondered how to handle a boss who indulges in office gossip? In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, host Maya Kadar Kovalsky sits down with Maya Cadena, founder and CEO of Vetted Pet Health, a primary pet care service. 


Maya opens up about the unique challenges women face in business—especially when it comes to networking and securing investment. She shares her own struggles with bias, particularly in male-dominated spaces, and emphasizes the importance of advocating for oneself in these environments. 


The episode doesn’t shy away from tackling other workplace challenges, including navigating COVID-19 policies and maintaining health and safety at work. They also discuss the uncomfortable reality of bosses who gossip about employees, offering strategies for dealing with the situation while maintaining professional integrity and open communication.


Let’s get right into it!


Key Takeaways

  • The significance of hiring the right team and managing team dynamics in a growing business.
  • Addressing gender bias, particularly in leadership roles and its impact on women in business.
  • Overcoming challenges women face in networking and investment contexts, and navigating male-dominated environments.
  • The importance of mentorship and female representation in leadership roles, and advocating for oneself in business.
  • Building a supportive workplace culture, especially concerning health and safety, and maintaining trust and integrity.
  • Handling workplace dynamics like gossip, setting boundaries, and managing professional communication with humor.


    • In This Episode:

    • [00:00:00] Introduction
    • [00:01:22] Meet Maya Cadena
    • [00:05:51] The growth of Vetted 
    • [00:08:27] Lessons from entrepreneurial journey
    • [00:14:04] Startup success: investors, self-reflection, and hiring the right fit
    • [00:21:15] Identifying team fit early
    • [00:23:18] The importance of candor
    • [00:24:04] Weirdest workplace moment
    • [00:26:30] The week in work: CVS CEO ouster bias
    • [00:32:10] Overcoming networking challenges
    • [00:33:31] Confronting dismissive language
    • [00:37:37] Defining leadership and standards
    • [00:40:48] Merit vs. gender in leadership
    • [00:45:16] Listener question on COVID-19 policies
    • [00:54:05] Listener question on gossip
    • [01:05:01] Cringeworthy autocorrect mistakes
    • [01:09:42] Closing remarks and thanks

      • Notable Quotes


      • [00:03:17] "I started Vetted Pet Health because as a French bulldog mom, I was going to the vet a lot. There are certain breeds that have a lot of health conditions, and really, you just need to constantly do things for them in order for it not to get worse." — Maya Cadena


      • [00:16:05] "I've made a lot of mistakes, and I'm very thankful for them. I know that maybe it sounds cliché, but I promise you that those mistakes have taught me so much about myself." — Maya Cadena


      • [00:20:08] "If you're spending a certain majority of that time thinking about imposter syndrome, it's best to just separate ways. It's best for everyone, for Vetted, for the company, it's best for the individual because they will constantly feel that they're failing." — Maya Cadena


      • [00:21:52] "It's really hard. I'm not going to make it sound easy. I like all of them. I hired them because I think they're great people, and I believed in them in that phase." — Maya Cadena


      • [00:24:47] "I basically conducted a board meeting in the bathroom of a Marriott hotel. I sat on the floor, the laptop was on the toilet seat, and I just sat there and looked all professional." — Maya Cadena


      • I have found that the passive aggressive attitudes are the worst behaviors. It is better to have someone be straight up aggressive because then it’s clear and then you can say “unacceptable”. But passive aggressive is hard to weed out. —Maya Cadena
      Resources and Links


      Maya Cadena

      • Website
      • LinkedIn


        • Maya Kadar Kovalsky

        • Website
        • LinkedIn


          • Workplace Weirdness

          • Email: [email protected]
          • SpeakPipe
          • Website
          • Instagram
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            Workplace WeirdnessBy Maya Kadar Kovalsky