In this episode of Don’t Do That!, we’re reflecting on our first season of the podcast. We are joined by Jael Henry, podcast producer. 

In this episode, we discuss:

• The most memorable episodes and what resonated as co-hosts and producer.
• The most surprising moments and what we learned about podcasting!

Some key takeaways are:

• Start the thing and find the people to take it from ok to great!

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Today, we’re getting personal. We’re talking about our leadership styles. We dive into the experiences that have influenced our approach to leadership, including characteristics we want to model or avoid. 

In this episode, we discuss:

• Tips to develop your personal leadership style
• The life experiences that shape our leadership style and how we want to keep growing

Some key takeaways are:

• Leadership styles start from within, not outside yourself.
• Due to bias, women can be perceived as less smart when they are warm and less approachable when they are competent.
• Cultivate your leadership style now. Don’t wait for a specific title or role.

Resources:

• 4 Tips for Developing your Personal Leadership Style by Emily Ostermeyer

If you enjoyed this conversation, we’d love to hear from you!

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In this episode of Don’t Do That!, we talk about the intersection of social media and the workplace. From personal brand-building to blurry boundaries, we explore how professionals can use their online presence to amplify their work—without crossing the line.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How Arnold Ford, an educator and vice principal at a school in Philadelphia, uses his platform as a timeline cleanse to share joy
• How professionals can decide what to post and what to keep IRL (in real life)

Some key takeaways are:

• Engaging with social media is not without its risks. Professionals should think about their responsibility online.
• Social media platforms give everyone a brand. Professionals should be choiceful in creating a brand that represents them well.

Resources:

• Follow Arnold Ford on Instagram @unklearnold

If you enjoyed this conversation, we’d love to hear from you!

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This time, we’re unpacking the traumatic experiences we have at work and how to heal. Workplace trauma negatively impacts our mental, emotion, and physical wellbeing. These negative experiences erode our sense of self, shatter our professional confidence, and perpetuate narratives of exclusion.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The emotional and physical impacts of belonging uncertainty
• How Melissa Goldner is redefining wellness through her company Malu Journey

Some key takeaways are:

• Healing requires reflection and action.
• We spend 90,000 hours at work in our lifetime and we should maximize that time by going to workplaces where we feel we belong.
• You can own your healing and Malu Journey can help.

Resources:

• Malu Journey by Melissa Goldner

If you enjoyed this conversation, we’d love to hear from you!

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This time, we’re unpacking cultural heritage months—those calendar moments like Black History Month, Pride, Women’s History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month (and so many more). Should we still be celebrating these at work? When done right, they can create belonging, visibility, and accountability. When done wrong, they can feel hollow, obligatory, or even harmful.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The history and intention behind heritage months—and how they’ve evolved
• Why people still celebrate them, especially in the workplace
• The pros (and pitfalls) of heritage month programming
• How to know if your organization is showing up authentically—or just doing damage control
• What great looks like: examples that uplift, educate, and connect

Some key takeaways are:

• Heritage months aren’t the problem. It’s all about execution.
• These months should be mirrors and windows: mirrors for employees to feel seen, and windows into your org’s values.
• Don’t celebrate culture once a year. Bake it into your values, policies, and everyday decisions.
• Let your team lead, but give them real support—visibility, budget, buy-in.
• Do it with intention. Skip the checklist energy and aim for impact

Resources:

• News coverage on Target’s Pride merchandise controversy (2023–2025)
• The legacy of Carter G. Woodson and the origin of African American History Month
• Examples from Patagonia and Yelp that show what doing it well looks like

If you enjoyed this conversation, we’d love to hear from you!

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Welcome to another episode of Don’t Do That! with your hosts Karen and Anee! Today, we’re diving into the power of feedback—why it matters, how bias shows up in performance conversations, and what we can do to make feedback more actionable, fair, and growth-oriented.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What feedback really is—and why actionable feedback is the game changer
• How bias, power, and culture shape the feedback people of color and women receive
• Common pitfalls in giving feedback across differences
• Practical ways to reframe feedback for impact and inclusion

Some key takeaways are:

• Feedback should be clear, specific, and actionable—not vague opinions
• The best feedback focuses on performance, not personality
• Bias plays a role in who gets high-quality feedback (and who doesn’t)
• Employees can advocate for better feedback by asking the right questions

Resources:

• Radical Candor by Kim Scott
• SHRM Data on Bias in Performance Feedback
• Harvard Business Review: How Leaders Can Get the Feedback Needed to Grow

If you enjoyed this conversation, we’d love to hear from you!

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Welcome to another episode of Don’t Do That! with your hosts Karen and Anee! Today, we’re diving into return-to-office mandates. Returning to the office full-time can seem like a good idea in theory, but these mandates can negatively impact employee well-being and satisfaction. 

In this episode, we discuss:

• The pros and cons of returning to the office full-time
• How employees relationship to work changed after the pandemic
• What organizations can do to make returning to the office easier

Some key takeaways are:

• Offer flex time to allow employees to meet the unexpected demands of their life
• Redesign the office to be accessible for seen and unseen disabilities
• Expand benefits to accommodate the increased costs in food, transportation, and family care

Resources:

• Return-to-Office Mandates Miss the Mark. Here's How to Fix It.
• Well-being at Work: U.S. research report 2024
• Return-to-Office Mandates

If you enjoyed this conversation, we’d love to hear from you!

📩 Email us: [email protected]

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Welcome to another episode of Don’t Do That! with your hosts Karen and Anee! Today, we discuss how to lean on community in hard times and dissect when solidarity matters most. We are joined by Whitney Tome, consultant, lawyer, and ballerina.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The definition of solidarity
• How to be a community member and care for each other

Some key takeaways are:

• Solidarity does not happen overnight. We need space to evolve how we think about and engage with different communities
• Indigenous communities value everyone as a relative and  teach us respect and civility for all
• Solidarity is neither friendship nor comfortable.

Resources:

• NYT Opinion: The One Idea That Could Save American Democracy

If you enjoyed this conversation, we’d love to hear from you!

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Welcome to another episode of Don’t Do That! with your hosts Karen and Anee! Today, we’re diving into workplace traditions—those established customs, norms, rituals, and habits that define an organization’s culture. When done well, they can boost morale, strengthen team cohesion, and enhance job satisfaction. But when done poorly, they can leave employees feeling excluded, pressured, or uncomfortable.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The role of workplace traditions in shaping company culture
• How dominant cultural norms and power dynamics influence workplace rituals
• The risks of exclusionary traditions and how to create inclusive experiences
• Real-world cases, including a French employee’s legal battle over workplace social events
• The hidden power of workplace rituals and how they impact psychological safety and retention
• Practical advice on assessing and evolving your workplace traditions to ensure they work for everyone

Some key takeaways are:

• Don’t assume all workplace rituals work for everyone – conduct an audit to understand employee experiences.
• Be intentional about refreshing traditions – cultures and teams evolve, so should traditions.
• Use traditions as a lever for engagement – when done well, they can drive a sense of belonging and performance.

Resources:

• Vice Article: French Employee Fired for Not Participating in Social Events Wins Case
• Harvard Business Review: The Hidden Power of Workplace Rituals by Erica Keswin
  • Discusses the three Ps of supportive company rituals and their impact on retention and psychological safety.
• Research on psychological safety and its connection to workplace culture and engagement.

If you enjoyed this conversation, we’d love to hear from you!

📩 Email us: [email protected]

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Welcome to another episode of Don’t Do That! with your hosts Karen and Anee! Today, we’re diving into the language of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and why DEI can make some individuals uncomfortable. 

In this episode, we discuss:

• The latest headlines highlighting which companies are pulling back on diversity, equity, and inclusion and which companies are doubling down on their DEI commitments.
• How organizations are changing their language from diversity, equity, and inclusion to access, opportunity, and access.

Some key takeaways are:

•  Diversity, equity, and inclusion are not bad words and language should not be changed in response to backlash or opposition.
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion are key to lifting marginalized communities and leveling the playing field.
• Be sincere and authentic in your commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. If your values do not compel you to this work, do not pretend.

Resources:

• Raben’s Messaging Guide on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
• Meta pulls back on diversity, equity, and inclusion

If you enjoyed this conversation, we’d love to hear from you!

📩 Email us: [email protected]

❤️ Follow: Connect with us on LinkedIn.
🎙 Subscribe: Follow Don’t Do That! on your favorite podcast platform.
⭐ Leave a Review: Your feedback helps boost the show and lets others know what to expect.
📢 Share: If you found today’s discussion insightful, pass it along to colleagues and friends!