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Description:

In this episode 19 of UnCeiling You, Natalie Luke, PhD, sits down with Ellen Leikind—author of Poker Woman and creator of the BOLD negotiation system—to unpack the hidden costs of “playing it safe” at work. From poker tables to boardrooms, Ellen shares how understanding power dynamics, owning your voice, and knowing when to fold (or go all in) are essential to advancing your career. If you’ve ever been overlooked for a promotion or felt like office politics were a game you weren’t even invited to play—this conversation is your wake-up call.

🎯 Key Takeaways:

• Why playing not to lose is the most dangerous move of all
• How to recognize when you're already playing the game of office politics
• Why assertiveness is a leadership strength, not a liability
• The power of knowing who holds the cards—and how to build relationships with them
• Ellen’s real-life stories of clients who asked, negotiated, and won
• How to read a room and adapt without losing authenticity
• Why your “win” doesn’t have to be being CEO—but you do need to define it

📚 Resources & Mentions:

• Poker Woman: How to Win in Love, Life, and Business Using the Principles of Poker — Find it on Amazon
• Learn more about Elen’s negotiation course: www.pokerdivas.com

💬 Connect with Us:

• Follow Natalie on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/natalielukephd
• Join the conversation and share your “all-in” career moment with #UnCeilingYou

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What if the rules you’ve been told to follow—work hard, be a team player, stay humble—are the very things holding you back?

In this episode, Dr. Anna Kallschmidt unpacks the invisible rulebook of the American workplace—and how it was built without most of us in mind. From class-based communication styles to gendered expectations in interviews, Anna brings decades of research to explain why marginalized professionals—especially women, people of color, and those from working-class or neurodivergent backgrounds—often get left behind, despite their talent.

Dr. Kallschmidt and host Natalie Luke explore how hidden cultural norms shape who is seen as “professional,” why “soft skills” aren’t soft at all, and how leaders can build fairer, smarter systems without compromising on performance.

• The 2 of the 8 hidden rules that impact who gets hired, promoted, or passed over
• Why direct vs. indirect communication can make or break your career
• How interdependence and humility may backfire in white-collar environments
• What it means to blend “I” with “we”—especially as a woman in leadership
• Why “soft skills” are the human edge AI will never replace
• Actionable tips for both professionals and hiring managers to break the bias loop

• Women navigating workplace advancement
• DEI advocates and HR professionals
• First-gen professionals and career changers
• Executives rethinking leadership and hiring bias
• Anyone who’s ever wondered, “Why didn’t I get that promotion?”

🌐 Website: drkallschmidt.com

🔗 LinkedIn, TikTok, Blue Sky, YouTube: @drkallschmidt

If this episode resonates with you, consider downloading it (it means more than just subscribing) and share it with a colleague, mentor, or emerging leader who needs to hear it. Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe to UnCeiling You—because the rules are changing, and it’s time to rise.

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Unspoken rules. Invisible barriers. Exhausting double standards.

In this compelling episode, Dr. Arin N. Reeves joins host Natalie Luke, PhD, to unpack the hidden dynamics that hold women and underrepresented professionals back—especially in leadership. Drawing on decades of research and personal experience, Arin explores how to navigate microaggressions, exclusion, and manipulation without losing your mind— or your career.

If you've ever felt like you're playing by a rulebook no one handed you, this conversation is your guide to owning your power, protecting your energy, and outsmarting the system from the inside.

• The invisible workplace rules that shape career outcomes
• Why emotional labor falls disproportionately on women
• How to respond to microaggressions and subtle exclusion
• The danger of trying to “prove” your value in a toxic environment
• Why intuition is a legitimate form of data
• How to find the real allies (and spot the enablers)
• Arin’s favorite disarming phrase that ends arguments instantly
• What to do when DEI gets stripped away—but bias remains

• Arin’s 10-Question Game Plan to deal with liars, gaslighters, and gatekeepers
• Practical advice on how to amplify other women in meetings
• The power of strategic silence—and the phrase: “You’re right.”
• Building networks that neutralize toxic power

• 📖 Smarter Than a Lie by Dr. Arin N. Reeves
• 📖 In Charge: The Energy Management Guide for Women
• 💻 Learn more at nexions.com

Dr. Arin Reeves is a sociologist, researcher, and author specializing in workplace culture, leadership, and inclusion. She is the President of Nextions, a leadership consulting firm that helps organizations build smarter, more inclusive systems. Arin has worked with Fortune 500 companies, law firms, universities, and nonprofits to support meaningful and measurable change.

If this episode spoke to you, please consider:

• ✨ Subscribing to UnCeiling You with Natalie Luke
• 💬 Leaving a review on Apple or Spotify
• 📩 Sharing this episode with a friend who’s navigating hidden workplace barriers

Mentioned in this episode:

Thrive in 25

Let's Thrive in 25. https://unceiling-you.captivate.fm/thrive-in25

Thrive in 25