
This Is Woman's Work with Nicole Kalil
Together, we're redefining what it means, looks and feels like, to be doing "woman's work" in the world today. With confidence and the occasional rant. From boardrooms to studios, kitchens to coding dens, we explore the multifaceted experiences of today's woman, confirming that the new definition of "woman's work" is whatever feels authentic, true, and right for you. We're shedding expectations, setting aside the "shoulds", giving our finger to the "supposed tos". We're torching the old playbook and writing our own rules. Who runs the world? You decide. Learn more at nicolekalil.com
Latest episodes

Mar 17, 2025 • 37min
The Broken Rung: When The Career Ladder Breaks For Women with Kweilin Ellingrud | 291
Women excel in school—higher GPAs, more degrees, more advanced education—yet the moment they enter the workforce, the advantage disappears. And when it comes time for promotions, the numbers tell a stark truth: for every 100 men promoted to manager, only 81 women make the jump. This gap compounds over time, keeping women from reaching senior leadership long before they ever get a shot at the top.
This is what our guest today, Kweilin Ellingrud, calls The Broken Rung—the single biggest obstacle preventing women from advancing in their careers. As a McKinsey senior partner, researcher, and co-author of The Broken Rung: When the Career Ladder Breaks for Women—and How They Can Succeed in Spite of It, Kweilin has spent years studying this issue and developing actionable strategies to help women navigate and overcome these barriers—regardless of whether their companies are ready to fix the system.
No one’s saying you have to climb the corporate ladder. If you want to build your own, take a completely different route, or burn the whole damn thing down—I support you. But if you do want to climb, the bare minimum should be that your ladder is as solid, as high-reaching, and as accessible as anyone else’s.
So climb. We’ll be holding the ladder for you.
Connect with Kweilin Ellingrud:
Book: https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/mckinsey-on-books/the-broken-rung
Women in the Workplace 2024 Report: https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/diversity-and-inclusion/women-in-the-workplace
Implicit Association Test: https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/takeatouchtestv2.html
Related Podcast Episodes:
QUALIFIED: How Competency Checking and Race Collide at Work with Shari Dunn | 284
Belonging (At Work) with Dr. Beth Kaplan | 286
Holding It Together: Women As America's Safety Net with Jessica Calarco | 215
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Mar 14, 2025 • 26min
How To Be An Influencer with Rachel Levin | 290
The word influencer gets thrown around a lot, but what does it actually mean in today’s digital world? It’s more than just followers and filters—it’s about impact, leadership, and showing up authentically on the world’s biggest online stages.
Rachel Levin, the force behind RCLBeauty101, is redefining what it means to be a digital creator, musician, and entrepreneur. With over 14 million YouTube subscribers, 4 million Instagram followers, and 1.4 million TikTok fans, she’s a trailblazer shaping trends and setting new standards across multiple industries. Her debut single, Myself, and latest release, IDWABF, continue her mission of empowering and inspiring audiences worldwide.
In This Episode, We Cover:
What it really means to be an influencer in 2024
How Rachel built a massive platform while staying authentic
The evolution of content creation and personal branding
Balancing creativity, business, and mental health in the digital space
How to use influence to inspire, empower, and create real impact
Not everyone wants to be an influencer, but we all have the power to influence. Whether it’s in your career, community, or creative work, the key is showing up with intention, purpose, and heart.
Connect with Rachel Levin:
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOn2ipDFGKckPixQ7MXd_OA
YouTube RCL Beauty: https://www.youtube.com/rclbeauty101
IG: https://www.instagram.com/rclbeauty101/?hl=en
Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/add/rclbeauty101?locale=en-US
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rclbeauty101?lang=en
Link To Single: “Lost In My Mind”
Related Podcast Episodes:
The Power of Positive Social Media: Insights from Upworthy's Lucia Knell | 261
How To Land Your TED Talk and Skyrocket Your Personal Brand with Ashley Stahl | 250
Creating A Connected Community to Grow Your Business with Kami Guildner | 221
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If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform!
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Mar 12, 2025 • 34min
Unlocking Your Hidden Genius: How to Harness Your Innate Talents with Betsy Wills & Alex Ellison | Ep. 289
Did you know there’s an actual science to uncovering your hidden genius? It’s not about filling out a “dream job” worksheet—it’s about understanding how your brain is wired, identifying your natural aptitudes, and using them to thrive.
This isn’t just a self-discovery exercise. It’s a game-changer for your career, your relationships, and how you show up in the world.
Betsy Wills and Alex Ellison are redefining how we approach career discovery, proving that finding the right path isn’t just about landing a job—it’s about creating a life that aligns with who you actually are.
✅ Betsy Wills – Cofounder of YouScience, a groundbreaking psychometric assessment platform reshaping how we understand our talents. She’s also the Director of Marketing & Branding at Diversified Trust and a frequent lecturer at Vanderbilt University and NYU’s Stern School of Business.
✅ Alex Ellison – Founder of Throughline Guidance, a global college and career counseling practice. She’s a sought-after writer, speaker, and expert in college readiness and career development.
✅ Together, they co-authored Your Hidden Genius: The Science-Backed Strategy to Uncovering and Harnessing Your Innate Talents.
Discovering your hidden genius isn’t just about career success—it’s about tapping into what makes you, you.
Connect with Betsy & Alex:
Website (Free Downloads): www.yourhiddengenius.com
Book: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/your-hidden-genius-elizabeth-m-willsalexandra-ellison
Related Podcast Episodes:
How To Be You, But Better with Olga Khazan | 288
Finding Purpose Through Human Design with Emma Dunwoody | 228
195 / Finding (And Using) Your Voice with Amy Green Smith
Share the Love:
If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform!
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Mar 10, 2025 • 34min
How To Be You, But Better with Olga Khazan | 288
Ever caught yourself thinking, Why am I like this? Maybe you wish you were more outgoing, less anxious, better at setting boundaries, or just less awkward at small talk (or maybe that’s just me).
But this episode isn’t about forcing you to become someone you’re not. It’s about understanding how personality works, what’s actually within our control, and whether we can tweak the internal settings to become a version of ourselves we actually like being.
And that’s exactly what our guest set out to prove—through science and a little self-experimentation.
Olga Hazan is an award-winning journalist, staff writer for The Atlantic, and the author of Me, But Better, where she explores the science of personality change. But she didn’t just research it—she spent a year experimenting on herself, testing whether she could intentionally reshape key aspects of her personality. Because why just write about something when you can live it?
The truth is, whether you like it or not, you are changing. The question is: do you want to have a say in how?
Connect with Olga Khazan:
Website: https://olgakhazan.com/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/olganator/
Book: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Me-But-Better/Olga-Khazan/9781668012543
Substack: https://olgakhazan.substack.com/
X: https://x.com/olgakhazan
Related Podcast Episodes:
All The Ways We Get In Our Own Way with Thais Gibson | 235
Leading From The Inside Out with Dana Maor | 278
VI4P - Know Who You Are (Chapter 4)
Share the Love:
If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform!
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Mar 5, 2025 • 30min
How Is Your Spiritual Health? with Dr. Lisa Miller | 287
Dr. Lisa Miller, a New York Times bestselling author and Columbia University professor, discusses the profound connection between spiritual health and resilience. She emphasizes that spirituality goes beyond religion, serving as a vital source of strength and well-being. Dr. Miller shares groundbreaking insights from her research on how spirituality physically alters the brain and offers practical ways to nurture one's spiritual health. Listeners are encouraged to embrace their spiritual journeys, fostering intuition and connection in their lives.

Mar 3, 2025 • 34min
Belonging (At Work) with Dr. Beth Kaplan | 286
🤔What does it truly mean to belong at work?
💭How do we create workplaces where people can thrive without sacrificing who they are?
❓And what happens when belonging feels out of reach?
If you’ve ever felt like an outsider in your workplace or wondered how to cultivate a culture of true inclusion, this episode is for you.
Dr. Beth Kaplan is a leading expert in workplace resilience and belonging. As a sought-after consultant, speaker, and author of Braving the Workplace: Belonging at the Breaking Point, she has spent decades redefining what it means to belong in professional environments. She’s currently pioneering a groundbreaking belonging measurement tool with the University of Pennsylvania—one that predicts the likelihood of thriving in the workplace.
Belonging isn’t just about feeling good at work—it’s about knowing you’re in the right place to thrive, contribute, and grow. It’s a foundation that fuels everything from innovation to resilience. And when we recognize our own value and claim spaces where we can show up authentically, we make room for others to do the same. That’s how we transform workplaces into communities.
Because here’s the truth: When you feel valued, you show up, speak up, and make the impact only you can.
Connect with Dr. Beth Kaplan:
Website: https://drbethkaplan.com/
Book: Braving the Workplace: Belonging at the Breaking Point
LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-kaplan/
Related Podcast Episodes:
Do You Need Job Therapy? with Dr. Tessa West | 239
Who’s Entitled Now?! with Dr. Jessica Kriegel | 237
The Sixth Level Of Leadership with Dr. Stacy Feiner | 236
Share the Love:
If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform!
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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 28, 2025 • 35min
How To Declutter Your Life with Lisa Woodruff | 285
In this conversation with Lisa Woodruff, founder of Organize 365, listeners discover the life-changing benefits of organization. Lisa discusses how clutter impacts both mental health and productivity, with only 18% of Americans feeling organized. She introduces the 'Sunday basket' system to manage household tasks efficiently and promotes the idea of simplifying our spaces. Learn how teaching kids organizational skills fosters independence, and explore practical ways to create environments that support joy and eliminate distractions!

Feb 26, 2025 • 36min
QUALIFIED: How Competency Checking and Race Collide at Work with Shari Dunn | 284
In this episode, we delve into the concept of being "qualified" in the workplace, examining who gets labeled as such, who doesn't, and the underlying reasons. We explore "competency checking"—the practice of scrutinizing individuals' abilities—and how it disproportionately affects underrepresented groups, often going unnoticed or unchallenged. Our discussion aims to redefine qualifications in a fair, equitable, and actionable manner.
Our guest, Shari Dunn, is an accomplished journalist, former attorney, news anchor, CEO, university professor, and sought-after speaker. She has been recognized as Executive of the Year and a Woman of Influence, with her work appearing in Fortune Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Ad Age, and more. Her new book, Qualified: How Competency Checking and Race Collide at Work, unpacks what it truly means to be deserving and capable—and why systemic barriers, not personal deficits, are often the real problem. Her insights challenge the narratives that hold so many of us back and offer practical solutions for building a more equitable future.
Together, we can build workplaces and communities that don’t just reflect the world we live in, but the one we want to create. A world where being qualified is about recognizing the talent and potential that’s been overlooked for far too long. It’s not just about getting a seat at the table—it’s about building an entirely new table, one designed with space for all of us.
Connect with Our Guest Shari Dunn
Website& Book - Qualified: https://thesharidunn.com
LI: https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/sharidunn
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thesharidunn
Related Podcast Episodes:
How To Build Emotionally Mature Leaders with Dr. Christie Smith | 272
Holding It Together: Women As America's Safety Net with Jessica Calarco | 215
How To Defy Expectations with Dr. Sunita Sah | 271
Share the Love:
If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform!
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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 24, 2025 • 36min
Healing Relationships: The 4 Essential Pillars for Lasting Love with Dr. Rachel Glik | 283
Dr. Rachel Glik, a licensed professional counselor with over 30 years of experience, discusses the four essential pillars for creating lasting love: Responsibility, Growth, Priority, and Purpose. She offers practical tips for transforming all kinds of relationships by emphasizing personal accountability and the importance of prioritizing partners. Dr. Glik also introduces the 'PBR' technique for defenseless communication and highlights the value of nurturing connections in a supportive network. Discover how these principles can lead to deeper, more fulfilling relationships.

Feb 19, 2025 • 34min
Gentleness: Cultivating Compassion for Yourself and Others with Courtney Carver | 282
Courtney Carver, the creator of Be More with Less and Project 333, discusses the transformative power of gentleness in her life and work. She emphasizes that gentleness is not weakness but a path to deeper connections and resilience. They explore practical methods like rest, less, and rise to cultivate self-compassion amidst productivity pressures. With anecdotes and insights, Courtney encourages listeners to celebrate small wins and embrace a gentler approach to life, underscoring that true strength comes from compassion for ourselves and others.