Balancing warmth with assertiveness can feel like an impossible juggling act—too soft, and you're overlooked; too strong, and you're “too much.”

Alison Fragale's book, Likable Badass: How Women Get the Success They Deserve, offers practical, research-backed strategies to help women excel at work and in life. 

In this episode, you'll get to understand the science of power and status, self-promotion without the cringe, and overcoming gender biases with authenticity and confidence. We also include real-world challenges, making this discussion both insightful and refreshingly relatable.

Listen and Learn: 

• How power controls resources, but status shapes influence and why respect is the key to real authority
• How women can play smart within unfair rules to spark real change
• The science behind being a likable badass
• Navigating the balance between assertiveness and warmth and finding your authentic style
• Overcoming biases in social and professional settings
• How to confidently share your wins without feeling boastful, while staying warm and relatable

Resources: 

• Alison’s Book: Likable Badass: How Women Get the Success They Deserve
• Alison’s Website: alisonfragale.com
• Connect with Alison on:

LinkedIn

Instagram

TikTok

• Alison’s Substack: The Upper Hand with Alison Fragale
• Alison’s Media Page: https://alisonfragale.com/media-research/
• Alison’s Hidden Brain episode: https://hiddenbrain.org/podcast/how-to-win-people-over/
• My WorkLife with Adam Grant episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-secret-to-success-isnt-power-its-status/id1346314086?i=1000668204498

About Alison Fragale 

Alison Fragale is the Mary Farley Ames Lee Distinguished Scholar of Organizational Behavior at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Kenan-Flagler Business School. As a research psychologist, award-winning professor, international keynote speaker, and author, she is on a mission to help others — especially women — use behavioral science to work and live better. Her scholarship has been published in the most prestigious academic journals in her field and featured in prominent media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Financial Times, Boston Globe, and Inc. Alison is the author of the national bestseller, LIKEABLE BADASS: How Women Get the Success They Deserve. She lives in Chicago with her husband and three children, who are all named after professional athletes.

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