414 - How Power, Access, and Status Shape Our Lives with Rosalind Chow
414 - How Power, Access, and Status Shape Our Lives with Rosalind Chow
Listeners, this week we have a conversation with Rosalind Chow
On this week's episode, Pam chats with Rosalind Chow, author of "The Doors You Can Open: A New Way to Network, Build Trust, and Use Your Influence to Create a More Inclusive Workplace," for a real and relatable conversation about what it actually takes to build stronger networks and more inclusive workplaces. Rosalind opens up about her journey as a Chinese American, growing up in San Diego, the realities of feeling like an outsider in elite spaces, and how those experiences inspired her research into power, mentorship, sponsorship, and social capital on the job. This episode is packed with honest stories, helpful advice, and plenty of laughs—plus, some super practical tips for anyone looking to open more doors for themselves and others at work.
Rosalind Chow is an Associate Professor of Organizational Behavior and Theory at Carnegie Mellon University, where she studies the power of social hierarchy and its impact on diversity and inclusion efforts within organizations. Drawing on her scholarly expertise, Rosalind has worked with or advised organizations on how to use sponsorship to create more inclusive workspaces, including Google Workspace, Amazon Web Services, Kaiser Permanente, BNY Mellon, PNC Bank, and Deloitte. Her forthcoming book, The Doors You Can Open: A New Way to Network, Build Trust, and Use Your Influence to Create a More Inclusive Workplace, has been selected by Next Big Idea Club as an April 2025 must-read.
During this episode we talked about:
00:00 "High School Privilege and Perception"
05:48 Library Textbook Return Incident
08:02 Teenager's Checkbook Rage
12:26 Navigating Social Status and Belonging
13:46 Navigating Workplace Social Capital
17:54 "Sponsorship: Networking for Inclusivity"
22:41 Thoughtful Introduction Criteria
25:30 Strategic Sponsorship Approaches
28:42 "The Power Dynamics of Networking"
32:22 Overlooked Voices Lack Representation
34:51 Mentor Pay Gap: Men vs. Women
36:48 Mentorship vs. Sponsorship Impact
43:26 "Book Title Dilemma"
44:07 Opening Doors for Each Other
47:28 Academic Title Controversy
Check out today's sponsor Savvy Ladies, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping women like YOU take control of your financial future. They offer free resources, webinars, and my favorite: a free financial helpline where you can connect one-on-one with trusted financial experts. Visit www.savvyladies.org today and connect with the financial helpline to get the personalized support you deserve. Your journey to financial independence starts here.
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Also On The Menu:
Maybe this week's episode is totally your cup of tea, so we dug up on our archives and found these episodes in the same type of taste palette:
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