015 | Escaping NYC and Flying the Flag For Women | Guest Interview

TUR015 - Escaping NYC and Flying the Flag For Women with Helen Appleby

This week on The Unwritten Rules Podcast: My Guest Interview from #CrisisCast2020

Today something a little different. I’m sharing my interview with Toby Goodman from CrisisCast 2020. It’s a new podcast from Podcast Network Solutions.
I’ve recorded a special intro and debrief at the end, just for you. Enjoy!

Discover…

• How the pandemic has affected Helen’s life in the heart of New York City
• My thoughts on how the pandemic will affect businesses and women in business
• Why what great leaders do now matters for the future
• Actions you can take today

Today On CrisisCast 2020 -  A Brit escapes Manhattan at the peak of the pandemic, drives 13 hours and self isolates with their kids in an Air B’n’B.

Despite all of this, Helen Appleby continues to lead and is starting to think seriously about how she will continue to fly the flag for the female workforce, as data shows… This crisis will disproportionately and negatively affect women.
Sitting on a box in an unfurnished house in South Carolina. I give you the wisdom from an always lovely, very wise and grateful Helen Appleby.

Check out more CrisisCast 2020 podcasts

Feeling Pod-Curious?
Check out Podcast Network Solutions free guide, ‘Podstar’

  • Writing the Rules of Women Leadership

    Thanks for tuning into today’s special episode of The Unwritten Rules with your host, Helen Appleby. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave a rating and review.

    Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for even more great content, insight, and inspiration on women’s leadership, visit our website. 

    While you’re there, be sure to grab your free gift - The Unwritten Rules of ‘Giving Good No’ - a free chapter of my latest book, The Unwritten Rules of Women’s Leadership.

013 | Launching and Leading After Leaving Big Agencies with Terri & Sandy

TUR013 - Launching and Leading After Leaving Big Agencies with Terri & Sandy

Terri Meyer and Sandy Greenberg are creative directors with two decades of experience working on Madison Ave. They are the co-founders of Terri & Sandy, which Ad Age named as the Small Agency of the Year in 2017.  Collectively, Terri & Sandy have contributed to the branding of several A-level companies such as Mars, Kraft, Gerber, Campbell’s, Disney, Nestlé, and Time. The company has won twelve Effie awards and, in 2019, the Effie Index ranked Terri & Sandy as the second-most effective independent agency in North America. 

Terri & Sandy join me today to share insight on their careers and their journey to founding and launching their agency.  They discuss the struggles they faced along their professional paths, the knowledge and perspective they have gained, and why relationships rule in the business world. They also highlight brands they are currently working with and what they are excited about as their agency moves forward. 

“If you don’t have a seat at the table, build your own table.” - Sandy Greenberg 

This week on The Unwritten Rules Podcast:

  • How Terri & Sandy met and their journey to launching their agency as two creatives

  • What prompted their decision to start their own business after working in a big agency

  • The impact of the recession on their careers and the politics within big agencies 

  • Whether Terri & Sandy believed themselves to be entrepreneurial before launching their business

  • What you should do if the people you work with diminish your self-esteem

  • Why you need to have people around you who celebrate and support you professionally

  • Struggles women face in asking for help, why it is essential, and how Terri & Sandy’s partnership has helped mitigate this challenge

  • How Terri & Sandy tangibly apply the guiding principles of their agency

  • The importance of building relationships

Our Favorite Quotes:

  • “The people that grow fast are the people that ask for help.”- Sandy Greenberg

  • “You can be whatever you want to be; you just have to… take it. Step up and take it.” - Terri Meyer

Resources Mentioned:

Connect with Terri & Sandy

  • Terri & Sandy

  • Email: terri@terrisandy.com 

  • Email: sandy@terrisandy.com 

  • Phone: (917) 261-6792

    1. Writing the Rules of Women Leadership

      Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of The Unwritten Rules with your host, Helen Appleby. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave a rating and review.

      Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for even more great content, insight, and inspiration on women’s leadership, visit our website. 

      While you’re there, be sure to grab your free gift - The Unwritten Rules of ‘Giving Good No’ - a free chapter of my latest book, The Unwritten Rules of Women’s Leadership.

012 | Become the Chief Soul Officer of Your Life! with Shelley Paxton

TUR012 - Become the Chief Soul Officer of Your Life! with Shelley Paxton

Shelley Paxton is a Chicago-based professional coach and the founder of Soulbbatical, an organization focused on helping organizations and leaders realize their purpose and potential. With nearly three decades of marketing and advertising experience with brands including Visa, AOL, and McDonald's, Shelley formerly served as Chief Marketing Officer of Harley Davidson and brings extensive insight and expertise to her coaching practice, working with Fortune 100 leaders and entrepreneurs alike.

Shelley is the author of Soubbatical: A Corporate Rebel's Guide to Finding Your Best Life. She has trained under thought leader Brené Brown, and serves as the Chief Soul Officer of her personal and professional life, honoring her values of authenticity, freedom, and courage. 

Shelley joins me today to discuss her professional journey from rising the ranks of Corporate America to leaving it all behind on a quest for inner alignment and peace. She shares why she decided to appoint herself Chief Soul Officer of her life, and what this title means to her. She explains the importance of incorporating self-care into your professional life, regardless of who you are or what you do. Shelley also highlights the large-scale impact that this type of self-empowerment could have and some practices and lessons she emphasizes to remain in alignment with her soul's calling.  

“Self-worth trumps net worth, every day of the week.” - Shelley Paxton

This week on The Unwritten Rules Podcast:

  • Shelley's journey through and out of Corporate America and what she felt was missing from her professional life at the time

  • The importance of listening to yourself to find alignment rather than merely pushing through

  • Untangling busyness from business and prioritizing being a human being over a human doing  

  • How meditation played a role in Shelley's transformation and helped her connect deeper within

  • What people thought when Shelley left Harley Davidson and why she gave herself the title of Chief Soul Officer 

  • The one assignment Shelley gave herself in her early soulbbatical and the three passions she hoped to reignite within herself

  • Practical steps for becoming the Chief Soul Officer of your life and the impact that building a movement of Chief Soul Officers could have

  • A practice Shelley incorporates into her mornings, inspired by Brené Brown 

  • Shelley's experience with imposter syndrome and her view on gender roles in Corporate America

  • The importance of giving yourself permission, and whether self-worth and net worth are mutually exclusive 

  • The truest form of rebellion and the powerful difference between rebelling for something and rebelling against something

  • Shelley's unwritten rules surrounding self-care and how she believes we should reframe holidays/time off 

  • What morning autonomy is and how it could be a game-changing gift for individuals and professional teams

  • Why Shelley created a "personal board of directors" and who is on her list 

  • A balanced life verses an aligned life and whether you need to sacrifice soul for salary 

Our Favorite Quotes:

  • “We need to stop asking for permission and we need to start giving ourselves permission.” - Shelley Paxton 

  • “Each one of us making the choice to become Chief Soul Officer of our own lives is a ripple, that becomes a wave, that becomes a tidal wave of change.”  - Shelley Paxton 

Resources Mentioned:

Connect with Shelley Paxton:

Writing the Rules of Women Leadership

Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of The Unwritten Rules with your host, Helen Appleby. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave a rating and review.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for even more great content, insight, and inspiration on women’s leadership, visit our website. 

While you’re there, be sure to grab your free gift - The Unwritten Rules of ‘Giving Good No’ - a free chapter of my latest book, The Unwritten Rules of Women’s Leadership.

011 | A White Guy on the Podcast? Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover - with Jay Pryor!

TUR011 - A White Guy on the Podcast? Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover!

Jay Pryor is a speaker, author, and facilitator of corporate trainings and workshops around the world. They are the author of the acclaimed book Lean Inside: 7 Steps to Personal Power: A Practical Guide to Transformation for Women and co-hosted the podcast Doing the Work with Jay and Becca, devoted to awakening people to their own power to transform their lives. Jay is an advocate & educator for inclusivity and gender consciousness and the creator of The Gender Reveal Party, a one-human performance about their experience growing up a transgender non-binary person in the heart of the Midwest.

Jay lives with their wife, Jessica, and two children in Lawrence, Kansas.

Jay joins me today to share their journey to becoming comfortable in their own skin as a transgender/non-binary individual, and the insights they have learned about sexism and male privilege along the way. Jay shares the realizations that have allowed them to offer a unique consulting perspective, as well as views on leadership and accountability. Jay also highlights the role we all have to play in working towards a more equitable professional landscape and the most pressing societal issues that companies need to address. 

“I’m a bit of a trailblazer; I’m always going to blaze my own trail.”- Jay Pryor

This week on The Unwritten Rules Podcast:

  • Jay’s journey to becoming comfortable in their own skin and identity

  • How the language used within and surrounding the LGBTQ community has evolved over time

  • The unique perspective Jay has on sexism as a transgender/non-binary individual 

  • How the Me Too Movement dropped the invisible curtain and opened up the conversation about sexism

  • How the new generation has helped advance the societal discussion about gender

  • How going off of testosterone impacted Jay

  • How Jay’s story highlights why you should never judge a book by its cover

  • The unique perspective Jay has when it comes to consulting women 

  • The entitlement of male privilege and how we unknowingly play into it as women 

  • How male privilege comes into play in the business world

  • What Jay knows now that they wish they’d known earlier and what they would do differently

  • The power of mindset and how Jay’s mindset prevents them from slipping into the victim mindset

  • Jay’s belief in the importance of leadership accountability 

  • The emotional labor that comes with being “the one” and the importance of taking the burden off of women and transgender people when it comes to addressing inequalities

  • Jay’s perspective on the next generation

  • What Jay has been investing time in lately

  • The percentage of millennials and Gen X-ers who have left their jobs for mental health reasons

  • The definition of spiritual intelligence and why we need to step into it 

Our Favorite Quotes:

  • “The world treats you as what they see.” - Jay Pryor

  • “One of the things that we have to deal with as women is the part that we play in the systemic sexism.” -  Jay Pryor

  • “I don’t let myself be victimized by anything. I am 100% responsible for it. I create it all.” - Jay Pryor

Resources Mentioned:

Connect with Jay Pryor:

Writing the Rules of Women Leadership

Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of The Unwritten Rules with your host, Helen Appleby. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave a rating and review.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for even more great content, insight, and inspiration on women’s leadership, visit our website. 

While you’re there, be sure to grab your free gift - The Unwritten Rules of ‘Giving Good No’ - a free chapter of my latest book, The Unwritten Rules of Women’s Leadership.

010 | Embedding Authenticity Into Your Professional Life with Lisa Calicchio CHRO GAF

TUR010 - Embedding Authenticity Into Your Professional Life with Lisa Calicchio CHRO GAF

Lisa Calicchio is an established HR leader with nearly 30 years of experience working in global business and HR with companies in industries including hospitality, life sciences, and pharmaceuticals. She currently works at GAF as Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer, and Head of Sustainability, and has also served as an executive coach to Fortune 500 companies. Lisa is SPHR certified and is a guest blogger at Thrive Global. 

Lisa joins me today to share critical insights and lessons she has learned along her professional path, including the power of vulnerability, resiliency, and saying “I don’t know.” She highlights the importance of asking questions and gaining clarity, whether you are an executive leader or an employee, and why you should integrate authenticity and a positive mindset into your professional life. Lisa also explains why it is crucial to know your value as an individual as you launch forward in your career. 

“Nobody has to guarantee you answers you like in life, but they should be very committed to giving you answers that are truthful, transparent, and have context.”- Lisa Calicchio


This week on The Unwritten Rules Podcast:

  • Lisa’s career path and what aspect of her journey she is most grateful for

  • How asking questions can be a catalyst for change and understanding

  • Some of the highs, lows and defining moments of Lisa’s professional journey

  • Why it is important to be authentically you in both your personal and professional life

  • The power of learning how to say “I don’t know”

  • Lisa’s advice to those struggling with balancing the demands of their job with their desire for authenticity

  • Why you should attempt to understand a decision, even if you don’t agree with it

  • Why it is okay for leaders to change their minds about things 

  • How I define vulnerability, and why it matters

  • The types of businesspeople that have the most trouble admitting that they don’t know something

  • Struggles Lisa has faced along her journey and lessons she has learned about resiliency

  • The importance of gratitude, knowing your worth and taking every moment as a learning opportunity

  • A practice Lisa implements to get away from the “woe is me” mindset

  • The importance of actively seeking feedback from your managers and tips on how to do it

  • When data is and isn’t effective

  • What’s next for Lisa and the aspects of her work she is excited about moving forward

Our Favorite Quotes:

  • “If you’re not careful and conscious about what’s at your core, it’s very easy to become something that you’re really not.” - Lisa Calicchio

  • “Don’t let other peoples’ definitions of you define you. Know who you are and be confident. You’re worthy, no matter what anybody else says. Remember that, above all.” - Lisa Calicchio

  • “Be forgiving of yourself. You’re human. You’re going to make mistakes, and you’re going to learn from them.” - Lisa Calicchio

Resources Mentioned:

Connect with Lisa Calicchio:

Writing the Rules of Women Leadership

Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of The Unwritten Rules with your host, Helen Appleby. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave a rating and review.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for even more great content, insight, and inspiration on women’s leadership, visit our website. 

While you’re there, be sure to grab your free gift - The Unwritten Rules of ‘Giving Good No’ - a free chapter of my latest book, The Unwritten Rules of Women’s Leadership.

008 | Advancing Your Career as a Working Mother with Gerilyn Horan, SVP, Hotel Industry

TUR008 - Advancing Your Career as a Working Mother with Gerilyn Horan

Gerilyn Horan is a Senior Vice President of a worldwide hotel group where she is responsible for overseeing the growth of the Regional, Intermediary, Association, and Corporate sales teams as well as ensuring their team members serve as collaborative partners and advisors for their customers. Gerilyn has over 25 years of experience in executive and leadership roles in the luxury hotels industry, including serving as the former VP of HelmsBriscoe as well as the former Director of Global Sales - North America at Langham Hotels International and Meadowood Napa Valley. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Behavior from the University of San Francisco.

Gerilyn joins me today to share how she got started in the luxury hotel industry and the challenges she’s faced throughout her career. She shares how she coped with extensively traveling while raising her son as a single mother and advancing her career and how she coped with feelings of guilt. We discuss the value of building a personal support system to advance your career as a working mother. She also shares the lessons she’s learned about ensuring your voice heard and making sure you receive recognition for the ideas and concepts you present to your organization.

“There should be no judgment around what decisions any of us make. It’s what’s right for you and your family at the time.” - Gerilyn Horan

This week on The Unwritten Rules Podcast:

• Gerilyn’s career journey and what inspired her to work in the luxury hotel industry

• Coping with extensive travel while raising a child as a single parent

• The importance of building a support system and how she coped with feelings of guilt

• Lessons Gerilyn has learned about being heard

• Why she believes many women are hesitant of stepping into their power, voicing their opinions, and asking questions

• Ensuring you are recognized for your ideas and the concepts you bring to the table

• What she knows now that she wished she knew at the beginning of her career

• The difference between mentors and sponsors and how they impact your career

Our Favorite Quotes:

“Your career might not look like what you think it’s going to look like in the beginning, but there are ways to get there.”
- Gerilyn Horan

“Continue to keep your network strong and things will present themselves. There are options.”
- Gerilyn Horan

Writing the Rules of Women Leadership

Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of The Unwritten Rules with your host, Helen Appleby. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave a rating and review.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for even more great content, insight, and inspiration on women’s leadership, visit our website. 

While you’re there, be sure to grab your free gift - The Unwritten Rules of ‘Giving Good No’ - a free chapter of my latest book, The Unwritten Rules of Women’s Leadership.

009 | Building Relationships with Sponsors to Accelerate Your Career

TUR009 - Building Relationships with Sponsors to Accelerate Your Career

What is the difference between your boss, your mentor, and your sponsor? Many ambitious, motivated, high-performing women in business confuse the roles of a sponsor and a mentor. Even more believe the misguided concept that their boss will sponsor them, vouch for them, and guide them on the path of true success for their careers.

In today’s episode, I explain the difference between your boss, your mentor, and your sponsor. I explain how sponsors can be more powerful than mentors and the role that sponsors play in accelerating your career. I share the challenges many ambitious women face when looking for sponsors and the importance of building relationships with potential sponsors. I also explain why it’s critical for women in business to seek sponsors beyond their boss and why it’s a critical mistake to rely exclusively on your boss to sponsor your career.

“Sponsorships - the ability for someone else to talk about you when you’re not in the room - is a really strong career accelerator.” - Helen Appleby

This week on The Unwritten Rules Podcast:

• The difference between a mentor and a sponsor

• How sponsors help accelerate your career - even when you’re not in the room

• The challenges of finding a sponsor to advance your career

• Why you shouldn’t rely exclusively on your boss as a sponsor

• How to build relationships with potential career sponsors

• The importance of sharing your career aspirations with your sponsors

Writing the Rules of Women Leadership

Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of The Unwritten Rules with your host, Helen Appleby. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave a rating and review.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for even more great content, insight, and inspiration on women’s leadership, visit our website. 

While you’re there, be sure to grab your free gift - The Unwritten Rules of ‘Giving Good No’ - a free chapter of my latest book, The Unwritten Rules of Women’s Leadership.

007 | Accelerate Your Career Through Visibility

TUR007 Accelerate Your Career Through Visibility

If there was one thing you could do to truly accelerate your career, what would it be? Is it networking with powerful thought leaders in your industry? Is it about simply working hard and doing good work to get promoted up the corporate ladder? Is there another solution to drive your success, achieve your goals, and advance your career as an ambitious female leader?

In today’s episode, I explain the difference between visible work and invisible work and how women can accelerate their careers by being more visible. I explain why working hard and doing great work are often not enough for women to advance up the corporate ladder and land the executive roles they desire. I discuss the importance of making a list of the invisible work you do and the value you bring to your company and why it’s important for your personal stakeholders to be aware of this work. I also explain why women need to reframe the concept of visibility as a way to educate others about the value they bring to their organization instead of as self-promotion.

“Being visible - making the work they do visible - is the most important thing that can accelerate a woman’s career.” - Helen Appleby


This week on The Unwritten Rules Podcast:

• The difference between visible work and invisible work

• Why working hard and doing great work is often not enough to advance your career as a woman

• Making a list of all of the invisible work you do

• Identifying your personal stakeholders and ensuring they know about your invisible work

• The difference between self-promotion and educating others on the value you bring to the table

• Sharing the accomplishments you’re proud of

Writing the Rules of Women Leadership

Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of The Unwritten Rules with your host, Helen Appleby. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave a rating and review.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for even more great content, insight, and inspiration on women’s leadership, visit our website. 

While you’re there, be sure to grab your free gift - The Unwritten Rules of ‘Giving Good No’ - a free chapter of my latest book, The Unwritten Rules of Women’s Leadership.

006 | Being Bold About Voicing Your Ideas with Ali Kole, Founder of 'Sensual Embodied Dance' & Managing Partner at 'Meridien Partners LLC'

TUR006 Being Bold About Voicing Your Ideas with Ali Kole

Ali Kole is the founder of Sensual Embodied Dance and the Managing Partner at Meridien Partners LLC. She is a beauty and retail investor, advisor, and strategic brand development consultant that has held executive leadership roles at several well-known beauty organizations, including Kendo Brands Inc, Ole Henriksen, and SEPHORA. Ali earned her Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Public Policy from Brown University and her MBA from Harvard Business School.

Ali joins me today to share her career journey and how her unexpected divorce opened new opportunities that led to her success as a woman in business. She shares the challenges and obstacles she overcame to reach her version of success. We discuss the loneliness of leadership and the importance of seeking mentorship as the leader of an organization. We also discuss the importance of being bold about sharing your voice, ideas, and opinions and how ‘dropping your filter’ and building your confidence can help you advance your career.

“Women could stand to have a little overconfidence.” – Ali Kole

This week on The Unwritten Rules Podcast:

• How Ali’s upbringing set her on the path to success

• How her unexpected divorce opened new opportunities for her career

• The challenges Ali faced throughout her career and how she achieved her version of success

• The value of seeking mentors and guidance as a female leader

• Overcoming the ‘loneliness of leadership’

• The importance of taking risks and voicing your opinions

• The most powerful unwritten rule Ali has learned throughout her career

• Ali’s advice for young, professional women

Our Favorite Quotes:

• “Some women tend to have too high a filter and they need to drop that filter a little bit.” - Ali Kole

• “The biggest unwritten rule that I wish I had known was that my personal passions actually matter.” - Ali Kole

Connect with Ali Kole:

Writing the Rules of Women Leadership

Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of The Unwritten Rules with your host, Helen Appleby. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave a rating and review.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for even more great content, insight, and inspiration on women’s leadership, visit our website. 

While you’re there, be sure to grab your free gift - The Unwritten Rules of ‘Giving Good No’ - a free chapter of my latest book, The Unwritten Rules of Women’s Leadership.

005 | Mentors: What They Are and How to Find Them

TUR005 Mentors: What They Are and How to Find Them

Research shows that people are more likely to mentor others that remind them of themselves at a younger age. In many industries, men often hold senior and executive leadership roles, so it can be challenging for women that want to scale the corporate ladder and take their rightful place at the table to find good mentors. So, how do you know who to ask to be your mentor? More importantly - how do you ask someone to mentor you along your career journey.

In today’s episode, I explain what mentors are and how they can help you advance your career. I share how to find good mentors in your organization or industry and how to ask them to help you reach your full potential. I discuss the three key areas I focused on to advance my career and how finding great mentors helped me accomplish my goals. I also share the steps you should take to ask someone to be your mentor and the importance of mentoring others that are a few steps behind you in their career journey.

“Mentors are career accelerators. They make a difference.” - Helen Appleby

This week on The Unwritten Rules Podcast:

• Understanding what a mentor is and how they can impact your career

• Identifying the three areas in your career where you may need a mentor

• How to ask someone to be your mentor

• The importance of taking action on the advice your mentor provides

• The importance of staying determined and being resilient in the face of rejection

• The value of mentoring others on their career journey

Our Favorite Quotes:

• “People support what they help build. So if you can really show them how they’ve made a difference for you, then - unconsciously - they will start to support you.” - Helen Appleby

• “As you look at your career and your life ahead of you, think about the journeys ahead of you.” - Helen Appleby

Writing the Rules of Women Leadership

Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of The Unwritten Rules with your host, Helen Appleby. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave a rating and review.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for even more great content, insight, and inspiration on women’s leadership, visit our website. 

While you’re there, be sure to grab your free gift - The Unwritten Rules of ‘Giving Good No’ - a free chapter of my latest book, The Unwritten Rules of Women’s Leadership.

004 | Finding Mentors, Building Relationships, and Sharing Your Dreams with Sarah Kate Ellis, CEO GLAAD

TUR004 Finding Mentors, Building Relationships, and Sharing Your Dreams with Sarah Kate Ellis

Sarah Kate Ellis is the President and CEO of GLAAD, the world’s leading media advocacy organization delivering fair and accurate media coverage of the LGBTQ community to create cultural change. Sarah Kate is a communications strategist and a powerful, outspoken advocate that is moving the needle on widespread LGBTQ discrimination through media coverage and speaking out against discriminatory bills. Her stance and comments on LGBTQ acceptance have appeared in countless media publications including The New York Times, USA Today, TIME, and Vanity Fair.

Sarah Kate joins me today to share her career trajectory and how her role in journalism led to her career with GLAAD. She shares her passion for inspiring cultural change through media and journalism, how making mistakes along her journey helped clarify the career path she desired, and the turning point in her career that made her realize she wasn’t leading with authenticity. We also discuss the importance of finding and emulating mentors and the power of sharing your goals, dreams, and aspirations with the leaders of your organization.

“Mentor means what you need it to mean.” - Sarah Kate Ellis

This week on The Unwritten Rules Podcast:

  • Sarah Kate’s career journey and how she became the President of GLAAD

  • The value of making mistakes and how they can help you determine the career path you should follow

  • Leading with authenticity, honesty, and staying true to yourself and your values

  • Her dual pregnancy with her wife and how it sparked her career in LGBTQ advocacy

  • The challenges that many people in the LGBTQ community face

  • The importance of finding and emulating great mentors

  • Why Sarah Kate believes informal mentors are more valuable than formal mentors

  • The importance of sharing your realistic goals and dreams with others

  • Understanding the value of building a network

  • The upcoming LGBTQ advocacy initiatives

Our Favorite Quotes:

  • “Any good leadership wants to get you where you want to go because they understand great talent.” - Sarah Kate Ellis

  • “Realistic goals and dreams - if you share those with other people, they will become invested in your journey.” - Sarah Kate Ellis

Connect with Sarah Kate Ellis:

Writing the Rules of Women Leadership

Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of The Unwritten Rules with your host, Helen Appleby. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave a rating and review.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for even more great content, insight, and inspiration on women’s leadership, visit our website. 

While you’re there, be sure to grab your free gift - The Unwritten Rules of ‘Giving Good No’ - a free chapter of my latest book, The Unwritten Rules of Women’s Leadership.

003 | Avoid Leaky Language & Reclaim Your Power

TUR003 Avoid Leaky Language & Reclaim Your Power

As female leaders, it’s important to consider how we present ourselves, our ideas, and our opinions - especially within the workforce. But often, women use words, phrases, and language that does not serve their needs. The kind of language that leaks our power as ambitious, high-achieving, professional language. This language is what I call ‘leaky language’ - language that gives away our power as fierce, professional women to be reckoned with.


Today, I explain what leaky language is and how it impacts your ability to rise to the top of your professional career. I discuss when it’s appropriate for women to apologize for something and when it becomes ‘leaky language,’ undermining your power. I also share the type of words and phrases powerful women leaders should avoid using when speaking or writing emails as well as a few alternative phrases you can use without leaking your power.

“Leaky language is the way you use language that gives away your power.” - Helen Appleby

This week on The Unwritten Rules Podcast:

  • What is ‘leaky language’

  • Examples of leaky language phrases many women use that undermines their power

  • When apologizing becomes leaky language and leaks your power as a women leader

  • Words and phrases to avoid using and alternative phrase you can use without leaking your power


Writing the Rules of Women Leadership

Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of The Unwritten Rules with your host, Helen Appleby. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave a rating and review.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for even more great content, insight, and inspiration on women’s leadership, visit our website. 

While you’re there, be sure to grab your free gift - The Unwritten Rules of ‘Giving Good No’ - a free chapter of my latest book, The Unwritten Rules of Women’s Leadership.

002 | Imposter Syndrome and Building Relationships with Michelle Aragon, Senior Vice President of Business Solutions at MAGNA

TUR002 The Unwritten Rules of Impostor Syndrome and Building Relationships with Michelle Aragon, Senior Vice President of Business Solutions at MAGNA

Michelle Aragon is the Senior Vice President of Business Solutions at MAGNA Global, the centralized strategic investment and media intelligence unit of IPG Mediabrands. MAGNA Global works closely with agency teams and clients to develop intelligence, investment, and innovation strategies to create a competitive advantage in the market. Throughout her career, she has held managerial and executive roles at companies like MRM/McCann, Factory 360, Constellation Brands, and Poke New York. Michelle earned her Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Advertising, and Marketing at the University of Idaho and is an active member of the board for the John A. Reisenbach Foundation.

Michelle joins me today to discuss the unwritten rules of overcoming impostor syndrome and building relationships that she’s learned throughout her career. She shares how giving into her limiting beliefs early in her career has impacted her ability to authentically embrace herself and what she had to offer. She shares how she overcame the feelings of impostor syndrome and discusses the importance of focusing on areas you need to grow. We discuss the importance of identifying your personal mission in your life and your career. She also explains why it’s critical to be intentional when building relationships and the difference between connecting with people and true stakeholder management.

“Once you’re clear on what your mission is, then nothing else matters because that’s what you’re working toward.” - Michelle Aragon


This week on The Unwritten Rules Podcast:

  • Michelle’s career journey and how her tenacity, resiliency, and focus on building relationships led to her success

  • What the ‘lie of not enough’ is and why women leaders need to be mindful of it

  • How her limiting beliefs impacted her ability to authentically embrace who she was, what she had to offer, and her self-value

  • The importance of focusing on the skills you need to grow instead of your deficits

  • The value of identifying your personal mission

  • The difference between connecting with people, building relationships and stakeholder management

  • Why it’s critical to be intentional, thoughtful and authentic when building relationships

  • The challenges that many young, professional women face throughout their careers

  • Being a mentor and role model while continuing your journey as a leader

Our Favorite Quotes:

  • “There’s a difference between connecting with people, creating relationships, and actual stakeholder management.” - Michelle Aragon

  • “It’s not who you know. It’s what those people know about you.” - Michelle Aragon

Connect with Michelle Aragon:

Writing the Rules of Women Leadership

Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of The Unwritten Rules with your host, Helen Appleby. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave a rating and review.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for even more great content, insight, and inspiration on women’s leadership, visit our website. 

While you’re there, be sure to grab your free gift - The Unwritten Rules of ‘Giving Good No’ - a free chapter of my latest book, The Unwritten Rules of Women’s Leadership.

001 | The Power of Sisterhood

TUR001 The Power of Sisterhood

Throughout our careers, we’ve been told that building connections and expanding our professional network are the keys to lasting, long-term success. And while continuing to build your network is certainly important, for female leaders, it’s often more important to develop and nurture our inner circle of close friends and colleagues. In fact, research shows that women who have developed an inner circle - a sisterhood - of close female professional friends are often more likely to land executive positions with greater authority and higher pay.

Who’s in your sisterhood?

In today’s episode, I discuss the power of sisterhood and how building and nurturing your inner circle of female friends and colleagues can help you advance your career and climb the corporate ladder. I share how my sisterhood has helped me build my career and impacted my success. I explain why it’s critical to ask your sisterhood for support, guidance, and help when facing obstacles. I also share why I decided to launch The Unwritten Rules podcast and what you can expect from each episode.

“Individually, women have power. Together, we can have even more impact.” - Helen Appleby

This week on The Unwritten Rules Podcast:

  • How your inner circle impacts your ability to advance your career

  • How my ‘sisterhood’ of female friends and colleagues have impacted my career trajectory and success

  • The importance of investing time and energy and asking for support from your sisterhood

  • Identifying who you want in your professional sisterhood

  • What you can expect from future episodes

Writing the Rules of Women Leadership

Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of The Unwritten Rules with your host, Helen Appleby. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave a rating and review.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for even more great content, insight, and inspiration on women’s leadership, visit our website.

While you’re there, be sure to grab your free gift - The Unwritten Rules of ‘Giving Good No’ - a free chapter of my latest book, The Unwritten Rules of Women’s Leadership.

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