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In this episode, we talk to three of the authors of the upcoming anthology Joy@Work: When Women Lead — including our own JoDee Curtis. They share their stories, not from the mountaintop of perfection, but from the trenches of real life where burnout is a real threat and where workplace joy requires intention, courage, and often a mindset shift.

First is MeChelle Callen, who wrote about removing “just” from your vocabulary. Saying things like “I’m just an HR professional” or “I just manage a small team” diminishes your accomplishments and limits your power. This is a rallying cry for women to not make ourselves small, to find joy in being powerful, and to fully be our authentic selves unapologetically.

JoDee’s contribution to the book focuses on understanding your superpowers. Discovering and leaning into your superpowers sets you apart and fuels your fulfillment, and it can be the gateway to experiencing more joy. When we lead with what makes us come alive, we not only bring more of ourselves to work, but we can invite others to do the same.

Kerrie Weinzapfel offers her advice for career endings. Looking back at her career changes – not always changes she chose – she realized that her positive mindset helped her process negative situations and turn them into positive steps forward. All things come to an end at some point, and while you can’t always control the situation or the timing, you can control how you let it impact you, how you react to it, and how you use the situation to change your life going forward.

In this episode’s listener question, we’re asked about how in-house recruiters can be better partners to the business. In the news, fully remote workers are the most likely to be engaged at work, but less likely to be thriving in their lives.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Purple Ink
• Susan Tinder White Consulting
• JoyPowered®: Intentionally Creating an Inspired Workspace by JoDee Curtis
• The JoyPowered® Family by JoDee Curtis and Denise McGonigal
• The JoyPowered® Team by Erin Brothers, JoDee Curtis, Peggy Hogan, Denise McGonigal, Laura North, Susan White, and Liz Zirkelbach
• The JoyPowered® Organization by JoDee Curtis, Megan Nail, and Jeremy York
• JoyPowered® Networking: Real-Life Stories and Advice for Getting the Best from Your Connections by Christine Burrows and JoDee Curtis
• Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg
• MeChelle on LinkedIn
• MeChelle’s website
• CliftonStrengths®
• Email JoDee
• JoDee on LinkedIn
• Email Kerrie
• Kerrie’s blog
• ”The Remote Work Paradox: Higher Engagement, Lower Wellbeing”
• SHRM credit evaluation – the SHRM credit code for this episode will expire on June 16, 2026
• JoyPowered® Patreon Page
• JoyPowered® on LinkedIn
• JoyPowered® on Instagram
• Email JoyPowered®

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