The Grey Areas Podcast with Kelsey Donlon – Details, episodes & analysis

Welcome back to another episode of The Grey Areas Podcast! I am thrilled to be here with you all again, diving into inspiring stories and meaningful conversations. Today, I am joined by the incredible Danielle Moss, a true powerhouse in the world of content creation and entrepreneurship.

Danielle's journey is nothing short of extraordinary. As the founder of The Everygirl and The Everymom, and co-founder of Anecdote, Danielle has carved out a path that blends passion, purpose, and profound resilience. Her story took a significant turn when her daughter's cancer diagnosis prompted her to reevaluate her priorities, leading to a renewed focus on both personal happiness and professional fulfilment. Since then, Danielle has welcomed a third child and embraced a balanced life that allows her to create content that deeply resonates with her audience.

Today, we delve into Danielle's evolution through challenges, the pivotal role of trusting her instincts, and the intricacies of entrepreneurship. Join us as we explore her journey from starting her blog in 2007 to becoming a celebrated entrepreneur and advocate for women's empowerment.

Listen in for more:
• 6:15 - The beginning of Danielle’s blog and its transformative evolution over the years.
• 10:30 - The time in Danielle’s life where she jumped into entrepreneurship as a blog designer.
• 19:45 - The inception of The Everygirl and the dynamics of building and leading a team.
• 27:30 - Networks that helped her overcome the early stage hardships or challenges of entrepreneurship.
• 34:00 - Danielle’s decision to sell half her company and how it impacted her life, as well as prompting her to support others in similar situations.
• 40:00 - A glimpse into Danielle’s daily life and how she balances her various roles with grace and purpose.
• 46:15 - Cubicle Confessions: Making a career change with financial risk.

Tune in to hear Danielle Moss's inspiring journey firsthand and discover invaluable lessons in resilience, intuition, and the transformative power of entrepreneurship. This episode promises to enlighten and empower you on your own path to success.

Danielle’s Links
Website
Instagram
Substack

Kelsey's Links For You:
Website
Grey Areas Instagram
Kelsey's Instagram
LinkedIn
TikTok

Welcome to another insightful episode of The Grey Area’s Podcast! This week, I am thrilled to sit down with Stephanie Lemek, a seasoned Culture, Talent, and HR expert with over 16 years of experience. Stephanie's journey spans from large-scale corporations to dynamic startups, where she has honed her expertise in HR, culture, and talent strategy. With a special focus on the built environment, Stephanie supports construction and engineering teams, navigating their unique challenges and rewards.

Stephanie is deeply passionate about creating inclusive organizational cultures where everyone can thrive. Her research in trauma-informed workplaces is groundbreaking, helping leaders understand and address the impacts of trauma on employee engagement and well-being.

In this episode, we delve into critical topics:
• 12:15 - Workplace and HR strategies tailored for the construction industry.
• 18:15 - Tactical examples of creating trauma-aware workplaces.
• 21:30 - 7 principles of trauma-informed workplaces.
• 27:30 - How to implement and measure the impact of these principles.
• 34:00 - Various power dynamics within organizations.
• 40:00 - Insights into how the 7 principles can aid new managers facing challenges in their roles.
• 54:00 - Cubicle Confessions segment: work-life balance and specific challenges new managers encounter.

Join us as we uncover strategies to foster supportive workplaces and enhance employee engagement. Tune in for an episode packed with practical advice and deep insights into creating thriving organizational cultures. If you found value in today's discussion, please consider subscribing, rating, and reviewing the podcast on your favourite listening platform!

Stephanie's Links
Linkedin
Website
Instagram
Podcast
Youtube

Kelsey's Links For You:
Website
Grey Areas Instagram
Kelsey's Instagram
LinkedIn
TikTok

Welcome To The Grey Areas Podcast - we are SUPER excited to have you! Curious what that means? Well...

The Grey Areas Podcast with Kelsey Donlon is ready to disrupt corporate America! This is a space for candid conversations and deep dives into the complexities of the workplace. The mission: to empower women with transparent, inspiring narratives and challenge the status quo in corporate culture.

Grey Areas is a safe, non-judgemental digital platform, podcast and community that inspires and empowers women to navigate the grey areas in the workplace. So what does that mean? Well, the ‘grey area’ is an ill-defined situation…or in other words, it’s murky AF. Kelsey is here to help make this vague situation, much clearer. This community and podcast will hold corporations, executives and Human Resources accountable by leveraging legal education, transparency, and shared stories to drive change.

Each episode will tackle aspects of the grey area; managing anxiety in the workplace, tension between coworkers or managers,  understanding employer boundaries, working with HR in an appropriate and effective way, navigating job loss, and so much more. So tune in, to hear Kelsey  and her guests share a wealth of information and to be part of a safe space for people who have a hard time navigating the toxic workplace.

Let’s navigate grey areas, together!

Kelsey's Links For You:
Website
Grey Areas Instagram
Kelsey's Instagram
LinkedIn
TikTok

Welcome to another episode of The Grey Areas Podcast! Joining me today is none other than the amazing Mita Mallick! She is currently the Chief Diversity Officer at Carta and has had an extensive career as a marketer in the beauty and consumer products good space. Her passion for change in the workforce around inclusion led her to write the Wall Street Journal and US Today’s bestseller ‘Reimagine Inclusion: Debunking 13 Myths To Transform Your Workplace.’ With many more impressive titles from co-host of the Brown Table Talk podcast, to LinkedIn Top Voice and DEI Thought Leader, Mita can be recognized as a corporate change maker.

Be a part of this conversation as we speak on inclusion and exclusion in the workplace and hear about Mita's personal experiences and the insights she has acquired throughout her impressive career!

Tune in to hear:
• 2:00 - Mita’s personal journey: How inclusion and exclusion have driven her.
• 5:40 - Social media’s role in fostering inclusion and company initiatives.
• 8:50 - Leadership impact on diversity, inclusion and our personal responsibility for change.
• 10:50 - Organizations strategies for measuring inclusion impact – narrowing down focus and making traction.
• 13:00 - Evolution and challenges of diversity and inclusion in corporate settings.
• 17:20 - Effectiveness of diversity, inclusion, and equity in hybrid and virtual work environments.
• 20:42 - Inspiration behind writing ‘Reimagine inclusion: Debunking 13 Myths To Transform Your Workplace’ and readers' responses. 
• 29:30 - Mita’s experiences with grey areas and toxicity in the workplace.
• 33:55 - Cubicle confessions: Gender bias, feeling excluded and dismissed despite expertise, wanting to promote diversity and inclusion in your company.

Do you have an anonymous Cubicle Confession you liked to share or ask about? Your experiences hold the power to inspire and guide others facing similar challenges! Head to https://greyareas.com/cubicle-confessions to write or record your message!

Thank you for joining me on another podcast adventure! If you found value in this episode, I'd greatly appreciate your support by subscribing, rating, and reviewing the podcast. Your engagement helps us in our mission to uplift women through candid, motivational stories, and to push boundaries in corporate norms!

Mita’s Links:
Instagram
LinkedIn
Her New Book: Reimagine Inclusion

Kelsey's Links For You:
Website
Grey Areas Instagram
Kelsey's Instagram
LinkedIn
TikTok

Welcome to the first episode of The Grey Areas Podcast! I am so excited to also invite my first guest Jaclyn Johnson to the show! A powerhouse and serial entrepreneur with an impressive track record, Jaclyn sold her first business by the time she was 28 and went on to launch and sell her second multimillion-dollar company, Create & Cultivate - before the age of 35. As an entrepreneur, Jaclyn recognized a gap in resources, events, and community for female entrepreneurs, and created  Create & Cultivate as a solution, the first-of-kind platform that incorporated brands of all sizes and categories to uplift female entrepreneurs.This passion for supporting underrepresented founders has led her to create Cherub, a double-sided marketplace bridging the gap between founders and funders.

Join us as we discuss the ins and outs of everything surrounding hiring, firing and managing and a look into the leadership wisdom and advice Jaclyn has gained over her extensive career thus far!

Tune in to hear:
• 3:30 - Qualities Jacyln looked for when hiring in her first business vs. hiring now.
• 6:42 - How to figure out if someone is a good fit for the culture of a company and strategies for finding top talent.
• 15:00 - Mastering systems and processes when onboarding new clients, as well as establishing critical feedback loops and valuable existing interviews.
• 25:00 - Navigating the post-pandemic world with hybrid employees and how the idea of good leadership has changed in the workplace.
• 31:55 - How to go about firing, and experiencing rejection from a job yourself.
• 37:05 - Resetting after burnout and learning how to protect your boundaries and energy.
• 43:01 - Cubicle Confessions: When you don’t get promoted, blending employees and the pressure of not disappointing your employer.

Do you have an anonymous Cubicle Confession you liked to share or ask about? Your experiences hold the power to inspire and guide others facing similar challenges! Head to https://greyareas.com/cubicle-confessions to write or record your message!

Thank you for embarking on this podcast journey with me! If you enjoyed this episode, I would love it if you could take a moment to subscribe, rate and review this podcast so we can continue to empower women with transparent, inspiring narratives and challenge the status quo in corporate culture!

Jaclyn’s Links
• Jaclyn’s Instagram @jaclynrjohn 

Kelsey's Links For You:
Website
Grey Areas Instagram
Kelsey's Instagram
LinkedIn
TikTok

Welcome back to another episode of The Grey Areas podcast! This week, we are thrilled to be joined by the incredible Ginny Clarke. Ginny is a world-renowned conscious leadership expert, sought-after speaker, author, instructor, and advisor. Her approach to leadership is rooted in the five dimensions of conscious leadership, which encourages leaders to deepen their self-awareness, embrace their truth, inspire love, expand their consciousness, and activate their mastery. Ginny empowers individuals to become radically accountable and fosters a space for healthy, authentic leadership.

With over 30 years of expertise in executive recruiting and talent management, Ginny has held leadership roles at Google and Spencer Stuart. Among her many accomplishments, she is the author of "Career Mapping: Charting Your Course in a New World of Work" and the host of the Fifth Dimensional Leadership podcast. Ginny teaches people to demonstrate empathy, honour their competency, and drive positive change and growth.

In this episode, Ginny sits down with us to discuss conscious leadership and building inclusive work cultures. Tune in to hear more on:

• 6:30 - How to lead from the soul.
• 11:30 - The five dimensions of conscious leadership.
• 20:30 - Finding the courage and bravery to uphold boundaries.
• 23:30 - The first steps to instil action and change in senior roles.
• 25:30 - Burnout: How it affects leaders and how to work through it
• 31:30 - Practical ways to approach uncertain corporate situations.
• 43:10 - Cubicle Confessions: Conflict, negativity, and high-pressure positions.

Ginny’s Links
Youtube
Instagram
TikTok
Fifth Dimensional Leadership Podcast
Career Mapping: Charting Your Course in the New World of Work 

Kelsey's Links For You:
Website
Grey Areas Instagram
Kelsey's Instagram
LinkedIn
TikTok

Welcome back to The Grey Area’s podcast! We're thrilled to welcome our next guest, Craig Levey, who you may recognize from TikTok where he shares his expertise. Craig is an employment and business attorney, using social media to advise workers on corporate behavior. On his TikTok page, Craig addresses many common red flags in corporate environments today.

Craig’s practice focuses on civil litigation with a specialization in employment and business matters. He represents both individuals and companies, handling cases related to discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, wage claims, and partnership disputes. With extensive experience in federal, superior, and district courts, Craig is here to discuss employment law, Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs), retaliation, and discrimination in the workplace!

Tune in to learn more about:
• 3:30 - The most important rights employees should be aware of in the workplace.
• 4:50 - Practical steps employees can take if they feel their rights have been violated.
• 8:00 - Performance Improvement Plans (P.I.Ps) – What are they?
• 13:30 - Defining retaliation and how to prove it.
• 17:45 - Discrimination in the workplace and how prevalent is it?
• 24:40 - What to do if you think you are about to be fired and questions to ask.
• 32:50 - Cubicle Confessions: Dealing with unclear P.I.Ps and navigating harassment.

Don't miss this insightful episode packed with valuable information for employees navigating the complexities of the modern workplace.

Craig’s Links:
Tiktok
Instagram
Linkedin

Kelsey's Links For You:
Website
Grey Areas Instagram
Kelsey's Instagram
LinkedIn
TikTok

I am so excited to welcome the next guest onto The Grey Area’s podcast this week, Kate Winick! Kate is a powerhouse in the realm of social media strategies and brand building, bringing her extensive experience as a fractional social leader consultant. She has served as the head of social at Peloton and led initiatives at Who What Wear, Clique Media, and ELLE Magazine. Some of her recent clients include Fossil Group, StubHub, The Aspen Group, and many more. Kate’s expertise extends beyond traditional marketing roles, as she is also an accomplished writer and editor. As a mentor and leader in her field, Kate is dedicated to nurturing social media teams and fostering a culture of creativity and excellence.

Join us today for an exclusive front-row seat to Kate’s insights and wisdom on mastering the art of social media and building brands that stand the test of time. Listen in as we dive into all things social media strategy, mentorship, and branding!

Tune in for more on:
• 16:00 - The best and worst: Working on a social team at a large company.
• 21:00 - How Kate demonstrated the value of her work and her team's efforts to essential stakeholders.
• 29:15 - Transitioning from managing social media as a career to doing it for herself.
• 34:00 - The most important qualities of a mentor and Kate’s approach to mentoring.
• 38:30 - Key advice for non-social team members working with a brand's corporate social team.
• 47:00 - Tips for individuals looking to grow their personal social media channels while adhering to social media policies.
•  59:15 - Cubicle Confessions: Dealing with online trolls, mental health impacts, and internal pressures.

Don’t miss this chance to learn from one of the best in the business. Tune in and get ready to elevate your social media game!

Kate’s Links:
Linkedin
Instagram
Website

Kelsey's Links For You:
Website
Grey Areas Instagram
Kelsey's Instagram
LinkedIn
TikTok

Welcome to this week's episode of The Grey Areas Podcast! Join me as I delve into a captivating conversation with the remarkable Whitney Howard. A powerhouse in her own right, Whitney wears many hats as a business consultant, professional mentor, and evolutionary astrologer based in LA.

In this episode, we explore Whitney's journey from her roles in corporate giants like Disney and Sony Music to founding her own venture, Starland Alchemy. She shares insights on navigating growth, redefining success, and advocating for a new paradigm in the corporate world.

Here's a glimpse of what we discussed:
• 5:20 - Breaking down the essential qualities of a mentor and how they contribute to personal and professional growth.
• 10:15 - Exploring the role of self-awareness in becoming an effective leader and fostering a positive work culture.
• 12:30 - Techniques to maintain balance and prioritize well-being while navigating the demands of a career.
• 27:30 - Strategies for dealing with emotional investment in workplace relationships and finding fulfillment in your career.
• 39:00 - Dissecting the different types of success and how they can be defined.
• 47:30 - Cubicle Confessions: Navigating scrutiny and micromanagement.

Tune in for an enriching discussion on mentorship, career development, astrology, and the pitfalls of workaholism. Join us as we unravel the mysteries of the modern workplace and pave the way for a more fulfilling professional journey.

Whitney’s Links:
Starland Alchemy Website
Instagram

Kelsey's Links For You:
Website
Grey Areas Instagram
Kelsey's Instagram
LinkedIn
TikTok

Welcome back to The Grey Areas podcast! This week, we're breaking new ground as we welcome our first male guest, Charlie Sull, to the show. Charlie is not just any guest; he's a true visionary in the realms of corporate culture and artificial intelligence.

Join us as we delve into Charlie's expertise, which has reshaped the landscape of corporate culture understanding. As the co-founder of CultureX, Charlie's data-driven insights have sparked meaningful change across industries worldwide. His work has garnered global recognition, earning him features in prestigious publications like the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal.

In this captivating episode, Charlie shares his unparalleled insights into the intersection of corporate culture and AI. We explore the strategies for enhancing organizational work culture and the intricate analysis of employee feedback and workplace dynamics.

Tune in as we explore:
• 8:20 - Unveiling the process behind a culture audit and leveraging AI for transformative insights.
• 15:30 - Tactical advice for leaders navigating toxic cultures head-on.
• 21:00- The pivotal role of middle managers in shaping work culture dynamics.
• 22:30 - Understanding the CEO's pivotal commitment to cultural detox efforts.
• 30:20- Exploring the profound impact of workplace stress on organizational culture.
• 34:50- Delving into the concept of psychological safety and its transformative power.
• 39:00 - Cubicle Confessions: Tackling the challenge of navigating toxic leadership and the indispensable role of HR in fostering cultural change.

Don't miss this enlightening discussion as we unravel the intricacies of corporate culture and chart a course for meaningful transformation!

Do you have an anonymous Cubicle Confession you liked to share or ask about? Your experiences hold the power to inspire and guide others facing similar challenges! Head to https://greyareas.com/cubicle-confessions to write or record your message!

Charlie’s Links:
CultureX Website
Charlie’s email: Charlie@culturex.com

Kelsey's Links For You:
Website
Grey Areas Instagram
Kelsey's Instagram
LinkedIn
TikTok