Managing Up, One Conversation at a Time

Managing Up, One Conversation at a Time

Author: Harvard Business Review June 2, 2025 Duration: 37:32
Have you ever realized, mid-project, that you and your boss weren’t aligned on what success looked like or how to get there? Executive coach Melody Wilding explains why getting clear on goals and understanding each other’s working styles is essential, even when you’re already in a leadership role. They share advice on how to start these conversations in a way that feels natural and constructive, break down common style mismatches, and offer guidance for adapting without losing your authenticity.

From the newsroom of the Harvard Business Review comes Women at Work, a conversation grounded in the daily realities of professional life. Hosted by HBR editors Amy Bernstein, Amy Gallo, and Emily Caulfield, this podcast moves beyond abstract theory to tackle the specific, often frustrating challenges women navigate in their careers. Each episode picks apart a knotty problem-like confronting a persistent wage gap, handling frequent interruptions in meetings, or managing disproportionate office housework-with a focus on practical strategies. The hosts bring in researchers, leadership coaches, and seasoned executives who offer evidence-based advice and share their own hard-won insights. Listening feels like joining a candid discussion among knowledgeable colleagues who aren’t afraid to name the awkward stuff. You’ll find a blend of personal stories, tactical guidance, and deeper analysis about systemic issues, all aimed at helping you strengthen your position and advance your ambitions. It’s a resource for anyone looking to build a more effective and equitable career, one concrete step at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Women at Work
Podcast Episodes
The Essentials: Negotiating Strategically [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:20
How can we get better at negotiating? We hear from a butter maker and entrepreneur about a sensitive deal she recently navigated and then use that experience to draw out the principles and practices essential to any nego…
The Essentials: Being Productive [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:10
Alice Boyes, a writer and former clinical psychologist, shares the principles and practices that keep her creative and productive, but not busy. She gives Emily and a social worker guidance on where to focus their energy…
The Essentials: Dealing with Stress [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:31
A nurse practitioner joins Amy B and an expert on workplace well-being to discuss different aspects of stress, plus principles and practices for managing it.
The Essentials: Giving Feedback [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:48
Giving feedback is critical to being a good manager, somebody people look up to and not just report to. But very few of us actually like to do it. So how can we get better at this essential skill? Amy G is joined by a sc…
Family Management: Looking to a Post-Pandemic Future [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:31
As more and more people get vaccinated against Covid-19, how do you lead your family through this safer but not coronavirus-free new world? Two parents in Israel — a child psychologist and an infectious disease doctor —…
Family Management: On the Cusp of Parenthood [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:09
We get inside the head of a woman whose due date is just days away. She shares with Erica her worries, hopes, and questions about how having a baby will change her career. Erica offers practical advice for managing a new…
Family Management: Everyday Joys [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:11
Everyday joys can boost our energy and productivity, so long as we’re able to notice and appreciate them. Kevin reflects on the presence of joy in his life and what keeps him from feeling it. Then, leadership development…
Family Management: Meet the Parents [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:32
Erica and Kevin show snapshots of life for them these days — basically, frantically working when not giving their all to childcare. They discuss how they’re handling the latest challenges working parenthood has thrown at…
Introducing a Pick-Me-Up for Moms and Dads [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:11
Amy Gallo introduces Erica Truxler and Kevin Evers, two HBR editors hosting a series in which they confront the challenges of managing everything and everyone.
May We Recommend…Coaching Real Leaders [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:09
Leadership coach Muriel Wilkins has shared her wisdom on our show multiple times. Now you can listen to and grow from it regularly through Muriel’s new podcast, Coaching Real Leaders. The show takes you inside real-life…