The coronavirus crisis immediately disrupted day-to-day work. And it’s increasingly disrupting women’s careers, with layoffs, hiring freezes, and promotions on hold, as well as entrepreneurial endeavors possibly lost forever. These setbacks raise a lot of questions: Why was I in the first round of layoffs? How realistic are my aspirations now? What conversations should I be having to help myself recover and set myself up for the future?  We hear from two women whose professional advancement has been interrupted by the crisis. Then sociologist Alexandra Kalev explains why organizations tend to lay off more women than men and what managers can do to avoid disproportionately damaging women’s careers. Finally, Daisy Auger-Domínguez, an HR executive and expert on inclusive leadership, gives advice on confronting and recovering from a setback. Our HBR reading list: “Research: U.S. Unemployment Rising Faster for Women and People of Color,” by Alexandra Kalev “Why the Crisis Is Putting Companies at Risk of Losing Female Talent,” by Colleen Ammerman and Boris Groysberg “When Losing Your Job Feels Like Losing Your Self,” by Aliya Hamid Rao Sign up to get the Women at Work monthly newsletter. Email us: womenatwork@hbr.org Our theme music is Matt Hill’s “City In Motion,” provided by Audio Network.

Healthcare workers are overwhelmingly women, but few are in positions of leadership. We hear from Sheila Davis, who became a nurse in the 1980s and is now CEO of Partners In Health. She talks about decision making and leading a team through the coronavirus crisis, as well as what she and her organization are doing to help fix the gender imbalance in healthcare leadership. Our HBR reading list: “How Women Manage the Gendered Norms of Leadership,” by Wei Zheng et al. “Fixing the Gender Imbalance in Health Care Leadership,” by Lisa S. Rotenstein, MD “7 Leadership Lessons Men Can Learn from Women,” by Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic and Cindy Gallop “How to Talk to Your Team When the Future Is Uncertain,” by Rebecca Knight Sign up to get the Women at Work monthly newsletter. Email us: womenatwork@hbr.org Our theme music is Matt Hill’s “City In Motion,” provided by Audio Network.

Many women feel pressure to hide their feelings in order to be seen as professional. But now, in the midst of this crisis, it may not be feasible — or even preferable — to force ourselves to keep it together or to expect other people to do so. What’s the right level of emotional disclosure these days, and what’s the next best step to take when emotions spill over? We speak with organizational consultants Liz Fosslien and Mollie West Duffy about the good that can come from being vulnerable with colleagues. Then Maureen Hoch, the editor of HBR.org, joins us to talk about the emotional labor it takes to control our feelings and how that comes with the territory of being the boss. Our HBR reading list: “How Leaders Can Open Up to Their Teams Without Oversharing,” by Liz Fosslien and Mollie West Duffy “Anxiety Is Contagious. Here’s How to Contain It.” by Judson Brewer “Handling Negative Emotions in a Way That’s Good for Your Team,” by Emma Seppälä and Christina Bradley “How to Control Your Emotions During a Difficult Conversation,” by Amy Gallo “New Managers Shouldn’t Be Afraid to Express Their Emotions,” by Kristi Hedges Sign up to get the Women at Work monthly newsletter. Email us: womenatwork@hbr.org Our theme music is Matt Hill’s “City In Motion,” provided by Audio Network.

A lot has changed in the past few weeks. The coronavirus crisis has affected everything from our well-being to our ability to do our jobs. But are there things about how we are working and living now — in the midst of a pandemic — that will benefit women in the future? Are there opportunities to redefine how women navigate their work and home lives and rewrite what it means to be a woman in the workplace? Is it possible that the recent shift toward more authenticity in professional settings will decrease the pressure we feel to be perfect? Behavioral scientist Ashley Whillans tells us about the initial findings from her interviews with women about how they’re getting by. She shares strategies for setting healthy boundaries around work and suggests conversations women can have about resetting expectations and boundaries that will help them not just in this moment but also months and years down the road. Our HBR reading list: “Give Yourself a Break: The Power of Self-Compassion,” by Serena Chen “Is It Even Possible to Focus on Anything Right Now?,” by Maura Thomas “How We Take Care of Ourselves,” from Season 4 of Women at Work Sign up to get the Women at Work monthly newsletter. Email us: womenatwork@hbr.org Our theme music is Matt Hill’s “City In Motion,” provided by Audio Network.

This pandemic is affecting men and women differently. Women are bearing an even greater burden at home, in their communities, and at work—and many aren’t sure how to cope with the increased emotional and logistical load. We hear from women around the world about how the coronavirus crisis has intensified the invisible labor they do and put even more pressure on them professionally and personally. Aliya Hamid Rao then shares her macro-level insights based on her research about economic crises and the impact on women’s careers. Finally, Ruchika Tulshyan joins us to discuss how we’ve been coping and to give advice for handling all of this extra stress. Our HBR reading list: “How to Be an Inclusive Leader Through a Crisis,” by Ruchika Tulshyan “How Dual-Career Couples Can Work Through the Coronavirus Crisis,” by Jennifer Petriglieri “3 Tips to Avoid WFH Burnout,” by Laura M. Giurge and Vanessa K. Bohns “The Contagion We Can Control,” by Sigal Barsade “15 Questions About Remote Work, Answered,” by Tsedal Neeley Sign up to get the Women at Work monthly newsletter. Email us: womenatwork@hbr.org Our theme music is Matt Hill’s “City In Motion,” provided by Audio Network.

Women at Work is back April 13 with stories, conversations, and practical advice about being a woman in the workplace. Expect to hear from us every Monday through the spring.

Our dear co-host is leaving the show.

The shift from being part of a team to leading one isn’t like flipping a switch; it’s a process, and often an awkward one. Not only do you have to convince other people that you can and should lead, but sometimes you have to convince yourself. That’s not always easy for women, given that leadership has long been defined by how men act. Finding a style that’s authentic and resonates with others requires reflection and patience. We talk to two leadership coaches about what distinguishes a leader, how to know if you’re ready to be one, and how to best make the transition. Then our hosts discuss their own leadership journeys, and the Amys share tips with Nicole that they’ve learned along the way. Our HBR reading list: “Why Do So Many Incompetent Men Become Leaders?” by Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic “How Women Manage the Gendered Norms of Leadership,” by Wei Zheng et al. “To Be Authentic, Look Beyond Yourself,” by Amy Jen Su and Muriel Maignan Wilkins “Ego Is the Enemy of Good Leadership,” by Rasmus Hougaard and Jacqueline Carter “Improve Your Leadership Presence,” HBR Video with Muriel Maignan Wilkins Sign up to get the Women at Work monthly newsletter. Email us: womenatwork@hbr.org Our theme music is Matt Hill’s “City In Motion,” provided by Audio Network.

Being treated like an outsider. Feeling like you have to prove yourself. Struggling to make your voice heard. Whether it’s overt discrimination or more subtle forms of bias, male-dominated industries like engineering can pose challenges for women. Research shows that even well-meaning mentors direct female engineers into less technical, less valued roles. It’s no wonder so many women end up leaving the industry. We talk to a professor and two students at Olin College of Engineering about their experiences working among mostly men, what it means to “play nice,” and how male colleagues can help (listen!). Then we talk to an expert about how to evaluate a company’s gender culture before you accept a job and how to stay true to your career goals when other people think they know what’s best for you. Our HBR reading list: “The Subtle Stressors Making Women Want to Leave Engineering,” by M. Teresa Cardador and Brianna Barker Caza “The Problem of Visibility for Women in Engineering, and How They Manage It,” by Dulini Fernando et al. “How the Imagined ‘Rationality’ of Engineering Is Hurting Diversity — and Engineering,” by Joan C. Williams and Marina Multhaup “Why Do So Many Women Who Study Engineering Leave the Field?” by Susan S. Silbey “What Managers Can Do to Keep Women in Engineering,” by Dulini Fernando et al. Sign up to get the Women at Work monthly newsletter. Email us: womenatwork@hbr.org Our theme music is Matt Hill’s “City In Motion,” provided by Audio Network.

Starting sometime around our mid-50s, work presents us with a new set of biases. Coworkers assume that older people are tired and uninterested in professional development. Eventually they start asking when you’re going to retire. But experience and maturity can give women an advantage in the workplace. Amy B. and Amy G. interview aging expert Nancy Morrow-Howell about putting in the effort to stay current, how to assert yourself when you feel overlooked, and what to say when people ask that annoying retirement question. Then, HBR.org editor Maureen Hoch joins the Amys to talk about what growing older has been like for them. They also give advice on leaving a secure job for new opportunities and managing the combined stress of parenting, a demanding career, and menopause. Our HBR reading list: “When No One Retires,” by Paul Irving “The Case for Hiring Older Workers,” by Josh Bersin and Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic “Four Ways to Adapt to an Aging Workforce,” by Michael North and Hal Hershfield “Generational Differences At Work Are Small. Thinking They’re Big Affects Our Behavior,” by Eden King et al. Sign up to get the Women at Work monthly newsletter. Email us: womenatwork@hbr.org Our theme music is Matt Hill’s “City In Motion,” provided by Audio Network.