Susan Fowler Rigetti, author of "Whistleblower" and former Uber engineer, discusses the emotional toll of toxic workplaces and the vital role of speaking out against injustice. She shares her journey of calling out harmful practices, emphasizing how silence can perpetuate dysfunction. The conversation dives into coping strategies for overcoming challenges and the importance of documenting experiences to empower future generations. Fowler's powerful testimony encourages listeners to find their voice and advocate for psychological safety at work.
31:13
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
Past Experiences of Systemic Issues
Susan Fowler Rigetti felt unheard while witnessing mistreatment at Uber.
This mirrors her earlier experiences with systemic issues in poverty and college.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Leaving Toxic Environments
Recognize when a system is broken and cannot be fixed internally.
Leave such environments, as corrupt systems cannot foster true success.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Speaking Up
Do not be afraid to speak up about workplace issues.
Susan Fowler Rigetti emphasizes the importance of voicing concerns despite potential consequences.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
My Journey to Silicon Valley and Fight for Justice at Uber
Susan Fowler Rigetti
Whistleblower is the powerful and inspiring true story of Susan Fowler Rigetti, who at 25 years old, faced down one of the most valuable startups in Silicon Valley history. Her blog post about the sexual harassment and retaliation she experienced at Uber went viral, leading to the ouster of Uber's CEO and sparking a broader movement against sexual harassment. The book chronicles her journey from an impoverished childhood to the Ivy League and then to a coveted position at Uber. It reveals the toxic workplace culture at Uber, the aftermath of her blog post, and her determination to fight for justice despite significant personal risks. The memoir serves as both a personal narrative and a rallying cry for a more just and equitable world.
Cover Story
Cover Story
Susan Fowler Rigetti
Radical Candor
Be a Kick-ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity
Kim Scott
Radical Candor by Kim Scott offers a practical approach to management by emphasizing the importance of caring personally and challenging directly. The book argues that effective managers must find a balance between being empathetic and providing clear, honest feedback. Scott draws from her experiences at Google and Apple to provide actionable lessons on building strong relationships, giving feedback, and creating a collaborative work environment. The book introduces the concept of 'radical candor' as the sweet spot between obnoxious aggression and ruinous empathy, and provides tools and strategies for managers to implement this approach in their daily work[1][2][5].
Susan Rigetti on speaking up, keeping receipts, and why silence is never the answer.
We’re shaking up the workplace and diving deep into the raw reality of whistleblowing and the courage it takes to speak up with this special episode from the Radical Respect podcast. Kim, Wesley, and special guest Susan Rigetti, author of Whistleblower, break down the challenges of calling out toxic systems while being real with yourself. When harmful practices go unchecked, they don’t just derail careers—they damage the core of psychological safety that we all need to do our best work. So how do you find the strength to raise your voice when the stakes feel impossibly high? Susan shares her own powerful story of calling out the broken culture at Uber, laying out what happens when you decide you’ve had enough and choose to act. If you’ve ever struggled to raise your voice in the face of workplace dysfunction, learn why silence is never the answer and how respect and courage can transform even the most challenging environments. Get all of the show notes at RadicalCandor.com/podcast.
(00:00:00) Introduction Amy introduces the Radical Respect podcast with Kim, Wesley and guest Susan Rigetti, author of Whistleblower. (00:03:24) Whistleblower and Lessons from Uber Susan discusses her book, Whistleblower, and her challenges at Uber. (00:07:13) Advice to Younger Self The hard lesson of recognizing when a system can’t be fixed from the inside. (00:10:33) The Cost of Staying Silent The psychological and financial struggles many face when they stay silent. (00:14:25) Staying True to Your Values How keeping a list of values helped navigate a toxic work culture. (00:16:20) Writing Whistleblower Addressing misconceptions and setting the record straight with Whistleblower. (00:21:18) Understanding Systemic Barriers The systemic barriers that individuals face in the workplace. (00:23:55) Reporting to HR Documenting and reporting issues to hold organizations accountable. (00:26:20) Keeping the Receipts Advice on documenting conversations and emails to protect oneself. (00:29:07) Conclusion
Radical Candor: Communication at Work 
