Josie Cox on Women, Money, Power, the Gender Pay Gap, and Why Work Needs to Change

Chris sits down with journalist, author, and former Wall Street Journal reporter Josie Cox to discuss her book Women Money Power and the ongoing challenges surrounding gender equality in the workplace.Josie shares her journey from growing up in Switzerland to becoming a financial journalist covering global markets in Europe, London, and New York. What began as a career covering finance eventually evolved into a deeper exploration of power, opportunity, and the economic realities facing women around the world.The conversation explores the gender pay gap, workplace culture, parental leave, childcare, leadership, and why progress toward equality has often stalled despite widespread awareness of the issue. Josie explains how economic systems, workplace expectations, and societal norms continue to shape opportunities for both women and men.Chris and Josie also discuss the role fathers play in creating change, the importance of flexibility in modern workplaces, lessons from countries like Sweden, and why creating better systems benefits everyone, not just women.This is a thoughtful conversation about work, family, leadership, and what it will take to build a more equitable future. https://www.josiecox.com/"Equality is not a zero sum game. When we create more opportunity, everyone benefits.""The workplace was built for a different era. The world has changed, but many organizations have not.""If we want better outcomes at work, we need better systems at home too.""Parenting is one of the hardest jobs in the world. Why wouldn't we want more perspectives involved?""The question is not whether we can afford flexibility. The question is whether we can afford not to.""Progress happens when leaders stop talking about change and start modeling it."For centuries, women were denied equal access to money and the freedom and power that came with it. They were restricted from owning property or transacting in real estate. Even well into the 20th century, women could not take out their own loans or own bank accounts without their husband’s permission. They could be fired for getting married or pregnant, and if they still had a job, they could be kept from certain roles, restricted from working longer hours, and paid less than men for equal work. It was a raw deal, and women weren’t happy with it. So they pushed back. In Women Money Power, financial journalist Josie Cox tells the story of women’s fight for financial freedom. This is an inspirational account of brave pioneers who took on social mores and the law, including the “Rosies” who filled industrial jobs vacated by men and helped win WWII, the heiress whose fortune helped create the birth control pill, the brassy investor who broke into the boys’ club of the New York Stock Exchange, and the namesake of landmark equal pay legislation who refused to accept discrimination. But as any woman can tell you, the battle for equality—for money and power—is far from over. Cox delves deep into the challenges women face today and the culture and systems that hold them back. This is a fascinating narrative account of progress, women’s lives, and the work still to be done.