

S8 E6: The Corporate Hunger Games: May the Ass-Kissing Be Ever in Your Favor with Jessica Winder
Whether we like it or not, office politics are an unavoidable part of corporate life.
But don’t worry—you’re in for a TREAT today because one of my absolute favorite humans, Jessica Winder, is back on the pod, and we’re diving into the BS of corporate life in detail!
You know, the kind where you’re expected to read minds, kiss ass, and perform miracles while leadership acts like promotions are some kind of Da Vinci Code situation.
We’re talking about why “being liked” often beats “being right,” how LinkedIn is just one giant performance of corporate cringe, and why trust is literally cheaper than surveillance (but somehow, companies still don’t get it).
There’s value in learning how to play the corporate game without compromising your integrity, so let’s get into it!
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0:03:17 - One Truth Jessica Wishes More Leaders Understood
0:04:16 - What Does Kissing Ass Mean in the Workplace?
0:06:02 - When Good Work Isn’t Enough to Get Ahead
0:08:57 - Unwritten Rules of Career Advancement That Nobody Talks About
0:12:06 - Is Playing Office Politics Part of the Job, or is There Another Way to Succeed?
0:15:01 - How Race and Gender Tie Into Unspoken Rules of Advancement
0:24:23 - Hebba’s Round of Spicy Questions
0:35:11 - How Jessica Would Rewrite the Rules of Career Advancement
0:38:44 - Employees Who Feel Stuck Because They Refuse to Kiss Ass
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Follow Jessica:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicadwinder/
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