How To Survive Your Boss

Navigating workplace trust is one of those career lessons nobody actually teaches you — and in this episode of How to Survive Your Boss, Rajni Dhanjani drops the kind of real, hard-earned wisdom that only comes from years of battle scars across startups, corporate environments, creative agencies, and everything in between. From growing up in a cultural household that didn't quite match the room she walked into at her very first job, to managing toxic bosses, office politics, and the fine line between work bestie and professional liability — Rajni gets into all of it. She and hosts Kiana and Tara unpack why blindly trusting your coworkers (or your company) is one of the most costly early-career mistakes you can make, how to build a "professional persona" that protects you without killing your authentic self, and why being a human at work — not just an employee — is the single most underrated career skill. Whether you're fresh out of school, climbing the corporate ladder, or rebuilding after getting burned, this episode is exactly the conversation you didn't know you needed.Key Takeaways:🚨 Don't trust blindly — but don't go full cynic either. There's a difference between selective trust and walking into the office assuming everyone is out to get you. Find the middle ground.🪞 You are a human first, an employee second. It took an entire MBA class 10 minutes to answer "what are you when you walk into work?" — and someone finally said a human. Don't forget that.🎭 Build your professional persona. Your persona isn't fake — it's your authentic self with just enough protective distance. Think of it as your armor and your sparkle at the same time.👀 Observe before you trust. People tell you who they are through their behavior, their talking points, and how they treat others. Pay attention before you open up.🤫 Be careful who you vent to at work. If someone gossips with you, they'll gossip about you. There are no different rules for the workplace than there are for life.💡 Be intentional about your workplace relationships. Don't rely on natural social instincts — work relationships require deliberate strategy, especially when promotions and visibility are on the line.🧠 Bring your spidey senses to work. The same instincts you use to fact-check Instagram content or spot a red flag in dating? Use those at the office too.🧭 Know your environment before you trust it. Company culture, regional culture, leadership style, and team dynamics all change what's appropriate — read the room, always.📣 How you pitch an idea matters as much as the idea itself. "This is stupid" closes doors. "Help me understand this, because I think there might be another way" opens them.💪 Don't lose yourself — even when it gets really bad. Getting burned doesn't mean you give up on who you are. Your career is yours. You have every right to be there.TIMESTAMPS:0:30 — Intro & guest welcome2:34 — "Don't trust too easily" — Rajni's #1 career advice4:06 — Don't go full cynical; keep your humanity6:02 — You're a human at work, not just an employee13:55 — Reading the room: spotting red flags in people17:51 — Corporate vs. agency cultures — different animals20:00 — Slack is not your friend; assume everything is monitored25:19 — The "work bestie" trap and trauma bonding26:35 — Specific story: gossiping with a coworker backfires28:00 — Company culture reflects leadership character37:55 — Don't bring your emotional needs to work45:11 — School dynamics vs. workplace dynamics56:41 — How to navigate trust with your boss59:10 — Finding your "persona" — the balance between authentic and strategic1:01:09 — Being intentional with workplace relationships1:03:44 — Rajni's socials & wrap-up1:07:32 — Top 5 takeaways from the episode

What does it actually look like to build a career without borders — and still thrive? In this episode, Kiana sits down with Kristine Young, an OG digital nomad and global marketing executive who has lived and worked across 8+ countries, from Russia to Hong Kong to South America, long before remote work was even a buzzword. Kristine gets real about ditching pre-med at Berkeley, ignoring the naysayers (including her own parents), and chasing a life that felt fully hers. She breaks down how she built a powerhouse career at brands like Adidas and Levi's while moving across continents, how to get credit for your work when you're not in the room, and why your network is only as strong as the real friendships behind it. Whether you're dreaming of working abroad, going remote, or just trying to stop living someone else's life plan — this one's for you.Key Takeaways:✈️ How Kristine went from pre-med at Berkeley to working across 8+ countries with zero blueprint🌍 Why choosing a globally-relevant career (like marketing) makes the nomadic lifestyle a strength, not a liability🧠 The mindset shift that made her walk away from med school — and why she has zero regrets🏢 How to stay high-performing and respected at work even when you're remote or halfway around the world📣 The real way to get credit for your work (hint: it's not just working hard in silence)🤝 Why your colleagues become your best career currency — and how friendships, not just contacts, land you your next role🌐 The non-negotiable traits you need to thrive in international business: flexibility, adaptability, and clear communication📅 Small but powerful ways to show cultural respect that make you the easiest person in the room to work with🗺️ What it was really like working for Adidas across 14 Asia-Pacific markets — Tokyo, Seoul, Beijing Olympics and all💡 Why you don't have to choose between your career and the life you actually want to liveTimestamps:0:00 Intro & guest introduction3:39 How Kristine got started — medicine to travel4:43 First international trip to Peru5:17 Working & living in Russia6:51 Quitting medicine & moving to South America13:24 Building your personal brand & reputation15:08 Self-promotion & getting credit at work21:00 Networking — knowing people is key22:02 The Adidas story — coffee to job offer in Hong Kong26:16 Building a network early in your career30:01 Maintaining your network over time32:37 Key traits for international business44:08 Adulting as a nomad — healthcare, taxes, laundry53:36 Favorite country — Hong Kong & APAC marketing at Adidas57:23 Wrap-up & call to action

In this episode, Kiana and Tara sit down with former Google and Amazon manager Jasper Seldin to crack the code on workplace success. Drawing from over a decade of experience in big tech and people leadership, Jasper shares actionable strategies for navigating office politics, managing difficult bosses, and accelerating your career. They discuss how to identify a rational manager, why your boss's boss is the most important person to impress, and how to advocate for your work so effectively that others promote it for you. Whether you're feeling stuck, misunderstood, or just ready to level up, this conversation is packed with tactical advice for working smarter and building a career that thrives.Key Takeaways:🎯 Reframe your manager as a human ally, not a corporate obstacle. Success comes from aligning your work with their goals.📈 Master the art of the 2–3 sentence "win." Package your accomplishments so clearly that your boss can't help but share them upward.⚠️ Learn to spot an irrational manager—poor communication, disorganization, misplaced priorities—and develop a plan before it derails your growth.🫅 Your real job is to make your manager look good to their boss. Always tie your work to the organization's top-tier objectives.🔒 Audit your social media like a hiring manager would. Your digital footprint can be the difference between a promotion and a pink slip.Timestamps:0:31 Intro & Jasper's background4:50 Core advice: See your boss as human & align with their goals7:47 Rational vs. irrational managers16:33 What the boss's boss cares about & how to align19:08 Advocating for yourself: situation-behavior-impact format24:51 Specialize early & balance menial vs. strategic work28:17 Why the boss's boss strategy works (even for introverts)36:27 Work-life balance & finding purpose beyond the grind43:35 Social media & career risk54:13 Tech overhiring & STAR interview format