Surfing Corporate

Aileen and Glenda dive into the complexities of power in the workplace with Harvard Professor Julie Battilana, co-author of Power, for All: How it Really Works and Why It’s Everyone’s Business and founder of the Social Innovation and Change Initiative at Harvard Kennedy School.Together, they explore how power shapes behavior, influences decision-making, and impacts relationships with colleagues. From understanding power dynamics to avoiding "power poisons," they share strategies for leveraging influence in positive ways—whether you're a leader or just starting out. Listen in for insights on using power ethically, navigating hierarchy, and creating more inclusive (and less toxic) work environments.

Resources:

You can buy Julie’s book, Power, for All  here.  To see the overview of the online Harvard course she teaches, Power and Influence for Positive Impact, click here.  If you’re interested in a scholarship, here’s the link to the application form and eligibility requirements. 

Episode Breakdown

Additional Episode Sources:

Credits:

Co-hosts: Aileen Merciel and Glenda Pacanins

Produced by Aileen Merciel and Glenda Pacanins

Script: Aileen Merciel

Edited and Mixed by Aileen Merciel

Original theme song: Chaliwa Music

The rest of our music is by BlueDot sessions

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This Halloween, we’re turning the spotlight on the spookiest stories of all—the ones that happen at work. Join us as we dive into horrific embarrassing moments that people have experienced in the office, from group chats gone terribly wrong to falling face first in front of your new boss, and the story of coworker gift that scarred lives forever.

We’ve gathered the most cringeworthy corporate confessions that will have you laughing, gasping, and maybe even feeling a little better about your own work mishaps.

So grab your pumpkin spice latte, turn off your work notifications, and get ready for a fun ride through the land of corporate horror stories.

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In this week’s episode of Surfing Corporate, we tackle the often-overlooked topic of ageism in the workplace with special guest Maureen Wiley Clough, host of the It Gets Late Early podcast and newsletter. Together, we discuss shocking research, including how tech workers over 40 are 26% less likely to be hired than their younger peers, and why women experience ageism at nearly double the rate of men. More importantly, we provide actionable strategies for overcoming age-based bias, staying competitive, and fostering an age-diverse workforce.

Chapters

About our guest:

Want to hire Maureen to come talk to your team about ageism? Can can reach out to her on her website, LinkedIn, Instagram and Threads.

Listen to her podcast It Gets Late Early here and we highly recommend you subscribe to her newsletter.

Episode Sources

Credits:

Hosts: Aileen Merciel & Glenda Pacanins

Producers: Aileen Merciel and Glenda Pacanins

Script, editing and post: Aileen Merciel

Surfing Corporate's original theme song is by Chaliwa Music.

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Write to us at [email protected]

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Aileen and Glenda challenge the traditional view of categorizing bosses as either good or bad, focusing instead on those who embody both traits. Leaders who can be inspiring and brilliant, but also mean and volatile. Join us as we explore the psychology behind these unpredictable corporate characters. We talk about what it’s like to work for leaders like Elon Musk, and Steve Jobs’, and we share our own experience working for a Jekyll and Hyde boss.

Episode Highlights:

Sources:

Washington Post article: “The worst kind of boss is not the one who’s always a jerk.” The study, led by Fadel Matta from Michigan State University, discusses how employees fare better with consistently bad bosses than with unpredictable ones.

Leaderonomics.com article: “How To Manage Having A Brilliant Jerk for a Boss.” This article explores the book The Brilliant Jerk Conundrum: Thriving with and Governing A Dominant Visionary by Marc Epstein and Rob Shelton, discussing how dominant visionary leaders can become brilliant jerks.

Elon Musk case study: “Amazing and Terrible, What It's Like to Work with Elon Musk," which includes accounts from two of his former executives, Esther Crawford (former Director of Product Management at Twitter) and Jim Cantrell (former SpaceX executive).

Steve Jobs case study: The episode references the biography of Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson, highlighting how Jobs’ demanding personality and perfectionist tendencies impacted his team.

Credits:

Co-hosts: Aileen Merciel and Glenda Pacanins

Produced by Aileen Merciel and Glenda Pacanins

Script: Aileen Merciel

Edited and Mixed by Aileen Merciel

Original theme song: Chaliwa Music

The rest of our music is by BlueDot sessions

Advertise with Us!

If you want to advertise on Surfing Corporate, write to us at [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whether by choice or necessity, career pivots are becoming more common as industries shift, layoffs are rampant, and personal values evolve. Aileen and Glenda break down the key drivers behind career changes, and offer insights into navigating the challenges and opportunities that come with starting over.

The episode features a candid interview with Daniela Chaparro, a former high-powered marketing executive who left her corporate career to start over doing social work, helping families of autistic children. Daniela shares her inspiring journey, the hurdles she faced, and valuable advice for anyone considering a major career shift. 

Sources:

What to Ask Yourself Before a Career Pivot

5 Common Career Change Challenges (And How To Conquer Them)

How To Successfully Change Careers In Your 40s

Episode Highlights

- Motivations for a Career Pivot

- Challenges and Pressures of Making a Career Change

- Facing Pushback and Warnings

- Starting over from Scratch

- Making a Difference and Finding Reward

-Navigating Financial Constraints

- Adjustments and Personal Growth

- Advice for Career Pivots

Credits:

Hosts: Aileen Merciel and Glenda Pacanins

Producers: Aileen Merciel and Glenda Pacanins

Editing and Postproduction: Aileen Merciel

Want to Advertise on Surfing Corporate?

Write to us at [email protected]

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Aileen and Glenda discuss the challenges and implications of political discussions in the workplace, especially during an election season. They explore the impact of political polarization on work dynamics and relationships, and they offer strategies for managing tricky political interactions effectively while maintaining professionalism and respect in the workplace. 

00:00 Navigating Political Conversations at Work

05:05 The Impact of Political Discussions on Workplace Dynamics

10:02 Legal Considerations and Free Speech in the Workplace

15:00 State Laws and Employee Protections

19:57 Social Media's Role in Political Discourse

24:58 Strategies for Managing Political Discussions

30:11 Finding Common Ground in a Divisive Environment

Sources:

3 Reasons Why It’s Unethical To Discuss Politics At Work

Politics in the Workplace: What Employers Need to Know | Littler Mendelson P.C.

To avoid talking politics with friends or co-workers, try the 'white flag approach,' Stanford communication expert says

How to Manage Political Discussions in the Workplace

3 Strategies For Managing Political Conversations At Work

Credits:

This episode of Surfing Corporate was produced by Aileen Merciel and Glenda Pacanins.

Writing, editing and post production is by Aileen

Original theme song: Chaliwa Music

Other music: BlueDot Sessions

Check out our website and follow us on IG and Threads

Reach out to us at [email protected]

If you're interested in advertising on Surfing Corporate, email us at [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the second part of our interview, we discuss Amazon's promotion process—often described as a 'black box'—and we explore how the company treats men and women differently. We also discuss the pivotal moments that led Kristi to quit drinking alcohol, a decision that became a turning point in her life. Finally, we uncover the powerful reasons behind her choice to walk away from the world’s largest company, despite the staggering financial incentives that came with staying.

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Ever wondered what it's really like to work at Amazon? In the first episode of our two-part season premiere, we sit down with Kristi Coulter, former Amazon executive and author of Exit Interview: The Life and Death of My Ambitious Career. Kristi pulls back the curtain on the high-pressure, high-stakes culture inside one of the world's most influential companies. From the notorious Jeff Bezos question mark emails to the iconic six-pager memos that set the tone for every meeting, Kristi shares how she navigated the relentless pressure and constant ambiguity that define life at Amazon.

You can learn more about Kristi here and more about Surfing Corporate here.

Follow Surfing Corporate on Instagram and write to us at [email protected]

The podcast we referenced during the episode is It Gets Late Early.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Overview

01:29 Kristy Coulter's Career Journey and Decision to Join Amazon

08:13 First Impressions of Amazon's Work Culture

14:44 The Lifeboat Exercise: Ranking Employees

22:43 The Challenges of Working at Amazon

25:07 Changes in Amazon's Work Culture

25:46 High Turnover and Lack of Recognition

37:43 The Pressure to Do More

43:58 Unique Aspects of Amazon's Culture

46:48 The Stress of Question Mark Emails

48:31 Challenges Faced by Employees

48:37 The Power and Pitfalls of Six-Pagers

55:30 Lessons from Calista: Being Tough but Fair

01:00:24 Navigating the Brutal and Demanding Culture at Amazon

01:16:01 Promotions and Achievements at Amazon

01:21:16 The Sexist Culture at Amazon

01:26:34 Conforming to a Masculine Ideal

01:35:26 The Boozy Culture and Struggle with Alcohol

01:40:42 Addressing Gender Dynamics and Creating Inclusive Work Environments

01:41:30 From Viral Essay to Career Opportunities

01:43:13 Transformation and Lessons Learned at Amazon

01:46:21 Strong Bonds and Lasting Connections

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Show Credits:

Cohosts: Aileen Merciel and Glenda Pacanins

Producers: Aileen Merciel and Glenda Pacanins

Script, editing, music design: Aileen Merciel

Theme Song: Chaliwa Music

Other music: BlueDot Sessions

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Frenemies are a slithery and dangerous corporate species that can be found in all types of workplaces, in every industry, country, continent, or planet. Frenemies are people who pretend to be your friend, but they’re also in some ways an enemy or rival. They can be charming and very likable one minute, and then stab you in the back with a recently sharpened machete the next (ouch).

A recent study found that interactions with frenemies can heighten our stress responses MORE than aversive relationships. And over the long term, that seems to provoke worse cardiovascular health. So the sooner you learn tools to deal with frenemies, the better.

EPISODE SOURCES

“Why workplace frenemies are our most stressful colleagues”

 How to get along with your work frenemy and protect yourself

CREDITS

Hosts: Aileen Merciel and Glenda Pacanins

Intern: Stephany Gil de Sucher

Original theme song by Chaliwa Music

Library Music: Blue Dot Sessions

Check out Surfingcorporate.com and follow us on Instagram.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We discuss our latest updates (we go full LinkedIn-style bragging about our recent 2024 Ambie Nomination), we talk about our new podcast partners, and we dive deep into what studies says about work recognition, and how this practice can substantially employee behavior and employer brands.

For more info about The Ambies, click here.

Check out the other awesome shows of the Airwave Podcast Network!

Episode Sources:

The Importance of Employee Recognition: Research & Statistcs - Quantum Workplace

Why Employee Recognition is More Crucial Than Ever - Forbes

Episode Credits:

Co-hosts: Aileen Merciel & Glenda Pacanins

Production, editing and sound design by Aileen Merciel

Intern: Stephany Gil De Sucher

Orignal Theme Song: Chaliwa Music

Other music by BlueDot Sessions

Don't forget to follow us on Instagram and sign up for our newsletter at our website.

If you're interested in advertising on Surfing Corporate, email us at [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices