Breaking Through The Mirrored Door: an interview with Ellen Taaffe, Professor at Kellogg School of Management

Ellen (Connelly) Taaffe is a Clinical Associate Professor at the Kellogg School of Management, where she teaches Personal Leadership Insights and is the Director of Women's Leadership Programming. Previously, she was a senior executive at PepsiCo, Royal Caribbean, and the Whirlpool Corporation and is now a board director for three companies. She shares her insights in media like Harvard Business Review, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, the Washington Post, and TEDx. Her new book, The Mirrored Door: Break Through the Hidden Barrier that Locks Successful Women in Place was named an Editor’s Pick by Publishers Weekly BookLife.Ellen's newly published book, 'The Mirrored Door: Breaking Through the Hidden Barriers Holding Successful Women in Place,' combines research findings and her own career experiences. It identifies five common hurdles women often encounter in the workplace and provides perspectives and solutions for overcoming these roadblocks, helping to conquer career obstacles."This is not a quick fix book, but it's a bit of the realities of what's at stake if we stay in these habits, these patterns that I think are a lot about ingrained expectations as kids, that can stay with us in the workplace and can hold us back. They contribute to us staying at the mirror door and thinking I'm not worthy or ready when, in fact, we are so much more ready than we realize. "- Ellen TaaffeKey takeaways:- Listen to yourself through your body. In one of her last roles in her tenure with PepsiCo, Ellen found that she was really burning herself out. Specifically, she was grinding her teeth, and asked her doctor what she could do about this. After asking her some questions, he recommended that she get a new boss!She switched roles and was approved to work reduced hours. For the first time in her 20 year career with the Company, Ellen admitted to herself that she can’t do it all. - Make room for serendipity and remain open and curious, especially when you’re figuring out what is next. Ellen was speaking with her alma mater, Kellogg School of Mangement of Northwestern University, about the Chief Marketing Officer role when she learned at a lunch that they were starting a Women’s Leadership initiative. Although that job was a more junior role than that of CMO, she was drawn to doing something where she could have a broader impact versus something that sort of felt like she’d “been there done that” before.- Learn how to delegate, and to make decisions with less information. From her role as Director of Women’s Leadership Programming, Ellen can see first hand how women hold themselves back. She has identified 5 strategies that work for us but can also work against us, which she details in her book: The Mirrored Door: Break Through the Hidden Barrier that Locks Successful Women In Place" One strategy she calls Preparing for Perfection, where women in general want to get it all done perfectly. The problem is, as we rise in responsibility, we have to learn to make decisions without perfect information, to take risks, and to ask for help. She acknowledges that this is a change that we can do in small steps, like building muscle. About the guest:Ellen (Connelly) Taaffee helps leaders create the futures they desire. She is an author, a Board Director, MBA Professor, an Executive Leadership Coach/Advisor, and Speaker. She is passionate about helping businesses and people ascend to higher performance levels, possibility, and purpose, and is on a mission to advance women, inclusion, and walk-the-talk leadership in the workplace. Ellen works to help women recognize and understand what holds them back and through her book, "The Mirrored Door: Unlocking the Secrets that Hold Successful Women in Place," shares with them powerful strategies to push forward and make their mark. Purchase The Mirrored Door: Unlocking the Secrets that Hold Successful Women in PlaceFree resource: Ten Tips I Wish I Knew EarlierEmail: [email protected]: https://ellentaaffe.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellentaaffe/Instagram: @ellentaaffeX: @EllenCTaaffe Interested in booking a free consultation? Schedule a call.Stay connected:Connect with Laura on LinkedIn@Rotters5 on TwitterConnect with Laura on FacebookSubscribe to my YouTube channelSubscribe to my newsletterGet your free copy of Unlock Your Money Blocks Workbook : Your step-by-step guide to unlocking your blocks to financial freedom.Disclaimer: Please remember that the information shared on this podcast does not constitute accounting, legal, tax, investment or financial advice. It’s for informational purposes only. You should seek appropriate professional advice for your specific information.