Wait, Did He Just Say ‘You Should Smile More’? What Women Still Hear at Work

2025-09-02

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In this episode of Career Club Live, host Bob Goodwin reconnects with two powerhouse leaders from The Band of Sisters, Lori Tauber Marcus and Cie Nicholson, both former PepsiCo executives and co-authors of You Should Smile More. This follow-up conversation explores the real-world impact their book has had since its release and dives deeper into how subtle workplace microaggressions affect women—and what everyone can do to create more inclusive environments. Lori and Cie reflect on: How the idea for the book emerged (hint: it w...

In this episode of Career Club Live, host Bob Goodwin reconnects with two powerhouse leaders from The Band of Sisters, Lori Tauber Marcus and Cie Nicholson, both former PepsiCo executives and co-authors of You Should Smile More. This follow-up conversation explores the real-world impact their book has had since its release and dives deeper into how subtle workplace microaggressions affect women—and what everyone can do to create more inclusive environments.

Lori and Cie reflect on:

How the idea for the book emerged (hint: it wasn’t planned!)
Why "You Should Smile More" hits women in the gut and leaves men puzzled
The power of small “micro-corrections” and how they can shift culture
Why allyship—especially from men—is essential, not optional
What’s surprised them most since launching the book

This isn’t just a conversation—it’s a playbook for action. Whether you're a leader, a peer, or early in your career, you'll walk away with practical tips to make your workplace more equitable.

Key Timestamps:

00:01 – Intro & Guest Updates: Travel, anniversaries, and handstands in Portugal
03:30 – How the Book Was Born: From dinner with Indra Nooyi to microaggressions
10:50 – Microaggressions Explained: “Smile more,” “office housework,” and being called a “girl”
18:10 – Audience Reaction: Why the stories resonate across industries
24:25 – Practical Corrections: Note-taking, swag bags, and behavior patterns
30:05 – Meeting Dynamics: "Meeting before the meeting" & the role of informal norms
35:45 – Good Idea, Greg: How to support colleagues whose ideas get ignored
42:10 – What’s Changed Since Publishing: Surprising feedback from every industry
47:20 – Current DEI Landscape: Adjusting language without losing impact
51:40 – What Allyship Looks Like: Conscious action and humble curiosity
1:00:30 – What’s Next: Speaking tours and deep dives on mentorship and feedback

Listen now on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/career-club-linkedin-live-with-bob-goodwin/id1609808305
...or Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1cIoFUM1yDsf6Iy1tTCuw5

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