THE CONSCIOUS
Woman Podcast
#16: The Stories That Hold Women Back at Work with Mette Johansson
Listen on…
Welcome to The Conscious Woman Podcast, where we delve into the pervasive myths that perpetuate gender inequality in the workplace. In this episode, join your host, Bhavna Toor, as she engages with Mette Johansson—award-winning consultant, speaker, author, and coach. Drawing insights from her latest book, Narratives – the stories that hold women back at work, Mette challenges enduring stereotypes, such as the belief that women are too emotional for leadership roles.
Together, Bhavna and Mette scrutinize concepts like the ‘queen bee syndrome’ and explore the complex landscape of women’s ambition—especially after motherhood. They tackle the misguided notion that women inherently fail to support each other in professional environments, emphasizing the collective effort needed to rewrite these limiting stories.
In this episode, we discuss:
- (00:00) Introduction to Mette Johansson and her book, Narratives
- (01:16) Why Mette decided to write the book addressing myths that hold women back
- (03:02) Debunking the myth that women are too emotional at work
- (06:01) Research findings on emotional gender differences
- (08:00) Challenging the notion that women don’t support each other and highlighting the power of supportive environments
- (12:29) Addressing the burden of balancing work and home life
- (18:16) Countering the myth that mothers are less committed to their careers
- (27:14) Debunking the “slim pipeline” myth for women in leadership
- (47:30) Embracing authentic leadership, emotional intelligence, and defining core values
About Our Guest
Mette Johansson (MBA, PCC, CSP) is a highly awarded and sought-after consultant, speaker, author, social entrepreneur, trainer, and coach. She is the founder of MetaMind Pte Ltd, a training consultancy that creates great people leaders by focusing on the “people side of leadership skills.” Mette is also the Founder and Chair of the not-for-profit KeyNote Women Speakers. She has delivered talks on Authentic, Inclusive, and Inspirational Leadership to major corporations including Pfizer, Citibank, Microsoft, UPS, and Airbnb. Her latest book, Narratives – the stories that hold women back at work, was published in 2024 by Penguin Random House.
Connect with the Host:
Bhavna Toor, Founder & CEO of Shenomics LinkedIn
Learn more about Shenomics’ leadership programs visit website
🎧 Listen now and discover how to navigate ambition with clarity and confidence!
The Conscious Woman Podcast
Expert interviews and intimate conversations with me, your host, Bhavna Toor, all tied together by our mutual passion for living and leading with awareness, purpose, and FUN!
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The Conscious Woman Podcast
Expert interviews, and initimate conversation with me, your host, Bhavna Toor, all tied together by our mutual passion for living and leading with awareness, purpose and FUN!
