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Toxic Managers at Work: How to Pivot, Protect Your Peace, and Keep Moving Up
In Episode 3 of They Tried It, Lindiwe Davis sits down with Jenny Chen (“J Chen”), a first-generation Chinese Canadian immigrant, former wealth management DEI leader, and founder of Catalais Consulting, to unpack what happens when workplace culture punishes authenticity, rewrites the definition of “leadership,” and rewards toxic authority.
This conversation gets specific about how toxic environments operate: leaders who confuse authority with leadership, workplaces that protect high performers who harm others, and the quiet ways professionals end up switching jobs for self-preservation. Jenny and Lindiwe also discuss what actually helps you move forward when a manager is blocking you, building visibility beyond your reporting line, expanding your network, and “switching lanes” when you’ve been stuck in career traffic for too long.
Episode 3 is about agency: how to stop shrinking, stop waiting to be chosen, and start making strategic moves toward a workplace where you can thrive. If you’re navigating a toxic boss, stalled career mobility, or bias disguised as “fit,” this episode offers language, perspective, and practical next steps.
About Our Guest:
Jenny Chen is the founder of Catalais Consulting (C-A-T-A-L-A-I-S Consulting). A first-generation Chinese Canadian immigrant and former investment sales leader, she previously led diversity, equity, and inclusion at a global wealth management firm of 6,000 professionals. Today, she works with organizations to redesign workplace ecosystems—building trust, accountability, and inclusive systems that create better outcomes for people and business.
She also hosts the podcast Tuneup Your Warrior and publishes a weekly newsletter grounded in real workplace experiences—focused on repair and redesign, not shame.
Find Jenny and her firm on LinkedIn and Instagram (she’s especially active on LinkedIn).
About the Host:
Lindiwe is a sought-after speaker, interviewer, and culture strategist across several industries, known for bridging theory and practice through storytelling and lived experience. With over 25 years of experience spanning leadership development, organizational effectiveness, coaching, and media storytelling, she is the founder of FutureState Collective—the culture and media platform that produces They Tried It.
Learn more about Lindiwe and view her media kit here.
Subscribe to They Tried It on all major podcast platforms.
🎥 Subscribe on YouTube
📸 Follow on Instagram: @lindiwe_speaks and @theytrieditshow
💼 Follow on LinkedIn
✍🏽 Subscribe to her Substack
View all episodes
By Lindiwe DavisIn Episode 3 of They Tried It, Lindiwe Davis sits down with Jenny Chen (“J Chen”), a first-generation Chinese Canadian immigrant, former wealth management DEI leader, and founder of Catalais Consulting, to unpack what happens when workplace culture punishes authenticity, rewrites the definition of “leadership,” and rewards toxic authority.
This conversation gets specific about how toxic environments operate: leaders who confuse authority with leadership, workplaces that protect high performers who harm others, and the quiet ways professionals end up switching jobs for self-preservation. Jenny and Lindiwe also discuss what actually helps you move forward when a manager is blocking you, building visibility beyond your reporting line, expanding your network, and “switching lanes” when you’ve been stuck in career traffic for too long.
Episode 3 is about agency: how to stop shrinking, stop waiting to be chosen, and start making strategic moves toward a workplace where you can thrive. If you’re navigating a toxic boss, stalled career mobility, or bias disguised as “fit,” this episode offers language, perspective, and practical next steps.
About Our Guest:
Jenny Chen is the founder of Catalais Consulting (C-A-T-A-L-A-I-S Consulting). A first-generation Chinese Canadian immigrant and former investment sales leader, she previously led diversity, equity, and inclusion at a global wealth management firm of 6,000 professionals. Today, she works with organizations to redesign workplace ecosystems—building trust, accountability, and inclusive systems that create better outcomes for people and business.
She also hosts the podcast Tuneup Your Warrior and publishes a weekly newsletter grounded in real workplace experiences—focused on repair and redesign, not shame.
Find Jenny and her firm on LinkedIn and Instagram (she’s especially active on LinkedIn).
About the Host:
Lindiwe is a sought-after speaker, interviewer, and culture strategist across several industries, known for bridging theory and practice through storytelling and lived experience. With over 25 years of experience spanning leadership development, organizational effectiveness, coaching, and media storytelling, she is the founder of FutureState Collective—the culture and media platform that produces They Tried It.
Learn more about Lindiwe and view her media kit here.
Subscribe to They Tried It on all major podcast platforms.
🎥 Subscribe on YouTube
📸 Follow on Instagram: @lindiwe_speaks and @theytrieditshow
💼 Follow on LinkedIn
✍🏽 Subscribe to her Substack