Work in Progress: Corporate Career Podcast

What happens when you speak up about harassment—and the team goes silent? In this episode, guest host Elsie Rodriguez joins CJ to talk about what it’s really like to be the only woman in a male-dominated workplace. From second-guessing yourself to being punished for standing up, this is the conversation that too many women are having quietly. We’re saying it out loud.

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Hobbies can super-charge your career. Guest co-host Yvonne Pearson joins CJ to show how museums, concerts and content creation translate into real corporate skills—discipline, delegation and data-driven marketing included.

How can museum hopping, concert stalking, and content creation make you a sharper operator at work? In this episode of Work in Progress, guest co-host Yvonne Pearson (Coffee With Yvonne / Pink Dollhouse Market...

Flying solo, CJ Jennings-Hope unpacks why carefully-crafted relationships—not oversharing—fast-track your promotions. She introduces the Cup-of-Sugar Rule for knowing when a coworker bond is strong enough to swap favors, then shares a two-topic conversation hack that lets even introverts build strategic visibility without spilling their life story.

Stick around for a special announcement on the new formats coming to Work in Prog...

You finally land a meeting to pitch your big idea—and watch faces glaze over faster than a Teams outage. Turns out the idea isn’t the problem; the delivery is.

In this episode of Work in Progress, Courtney Jennings-Hope and co-host Larone Ellison break down corporate storytelling that actually moves the room:

• Hook → Context → Ask: the three-beat formula that keeps busy execs listening.

• “Pre-comms”: drop links and background before...

We’re chasing six figures—but at what cost? In this episode, Larone and CJ talk through the myth and the math of landing a six-figure job: from resume rewrites and interview ghosting to career pivots and office red flags. Expect stories, strategy, and spicy commentary on capitalism, ChatGPT, and the “gladiator sport” of career progression.

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Think you’re great at group projects because you get your work done on time? That might not be the flex you think it is.

In this episode, CJ and Larone break down what really makes someone a strong team player—and why doing your part isn’t always enough. From ghosting your project tracker to hiding updates out of fear or perfectionism, they cover the small habits that quietly derail teamwork (and your reputation).

Whether you’re neur...

What does accountability really mean at work—and how do you build it without burning out? In this episode, CJ and Larone explore how showing up with consistency, clarity, and self-awareness can shift how you’re seen by peers and leadership alike.

We talk through:

• The difference between accountability and ownership—and why it’s not just semantics

• What it means to be seen as reliable (and why it’s not about being perfect)

• Why def...

You can write the perfect bio, ace your intro, and still walk into a room where someone already made up their mind about you.

In this episode, we talk about the tension between your personal brand — the version of you that you want people to see — and your reputation — the version they pass around when you’re not in the room.

We get honest about where we’ve fumbled, where we’ve overpromised, and how we’re learning (sometimes ...

Stuck in an endless scroll of late-night emails? Bringing your laptop on vacation “just in case”? This episode dives into work creep — the sneaky way work invades every corner of our lives and how to finally set boundaries you can stick to.

Larone and CJ unpack the toll of always being “on,” the double standards of overworking, and why burnout hits different depending on gender, culture, and capitalism.

Plus: survival tips for hybri...

One-on-ones aren’t just check-ins—they’re one of the few moments you get your manager’s full attention.

In this mini-sode of Work in Progress, Courtney Jennings-Hope and Larone break down how to use that time to build trust, communicate clearly, and shape your reputation at work.

They explore why these meetings can feel uncomfortable, how psychological safety plays a role, and what to do when promotion paths feel vague or biased.

W...

Learning new skills at work is hard and it’s not just about time or talent.

In this episode of Work in Progress, CJ and Larone get real about the anxiety that comes with being a beginner, the sting of feedback, and why adulting in corporate America often feels like a crash course in self-reflection.

They explore how to reframe feedback as a tool for growth, the importance of giving yourself grace, and why setting realistic expectat...

Feeling fried at work? Struggling to keep up with emails, updates, and that never-ending to-do list? This week, we’re talking about the real reason you feel behind—it’s not your work ethic, it’s your lack of automation.

CJ and Larone get honest about burnout, brain fog, and the underrated power of a good email template. From Pomodoro timers to AI summaries, we’re sharing the small tools and mindset shifts that are helping us rec...

Feeling uneasy at work? Wondering if it’s time to move on—or ride it out?

In this episode of Work in Progress, CJ and Larone break down how to recognize the signs that your job (or your entire industry) might be in trouble, and how to pivot strategically before you’re forced to.

From hiring freezes and corporate “efficiency” talk to LinkedIn presence and documenting your wins, this episode is full of real talk, practical tips, a...

Why does taking time off feel like a career risk?In this episode of Work in Progress, CJ and Larone unpack the unspoken guilt around taking PTO in hustle-heavy work cultures. From burnout masked as dedication to the myth of being “indispensable,” we explore what’s really behind that vacation dread.

You’ll hear real talk on:

• Navigating time off without spiraling
• How to prep your team for your absence (without guilt)
• Building wor...

Working hard isn’t enough. If you want to grow, you need to manage up — strategically.

In this episode of Work in Progress, CJ and Larone unpack the real mechanics of career advancement; the visibility, the relationships, and the power moves no one teaches you. Promotions aren’t about pure merit. They’re about being seen, staying top of mind, and building the right alliances.

We cover:

• How managing up helps your boss advo...

Ever feel like you’re doing everything right at work — hitting deadlines, going above and beyond — but somehow, it’s the louder, more visible people who get the promotions? You’re not imagining it.

Promotions aren’t about pure merit, they’re about visibility, strategy, and knowing how to manage the unspoken rules. In this episode of Work in Progress, CJ and Larone break down the real mechanics of career growth: from how bias shapes...

Referring someone for a job sounds simple, until your name ends up tied to their performance. In this episode of Work in Progress, Larone and Courtney get into the messy middle of job referrals: when to say yes, when to say no, and how to protect your reputation without burning bridges. Whether it’s a close friend or a former colleague, navigating referrals is a leadership skill — not just a favor.

💬 If you’ve ever wondered:

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