Episode 293: PAY UP! Why Women Deserve More & How to Get It – with Reshma Saujani

Written By Erin Diehl
 
 
 

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In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with the powerhouse behind Girls Who Code and Moms First, Reshma Saujani, for a conversation that’s equal parts truth bomb and empowerment pep talk.

Together, they pull back the curtain on what it really means to be a woman—especially a mother—in today’s workplace. From pandemic burnout to midlife pivots, Reshma and Erin talk about how women can stop settling, start advocating, and finally rewrite the script we were handed.

This isn’t just a conversation—it’s a movement. If you’re tired of white-knuckling your way through uncertainty while doing emotional labor on the side? This one’s for you.

When the System Wasn’t Built for You 

Reshma doesn’t sugarcoat it: we make it hard to be a mom in America. The pandemic exposed what’s been true all along—women are overextended, underpaid, and fed myths that if we just hustle harder, we’ll finally “make it.” Spoiler: the hustle is a trap.

From Overachieving to Overwhelmed

We talk imposter syndrome, why burnout isn’t your fault, and how so many women end up shrinking themselves just to survive. But Reshma offers a reframing: What if we stop performing worthiness and start owning it instead?

The Midlife Reboot You Didn’t Know You Needed

Midlife doesn’t have to be a crisis—it can be a revolution. Reshma shares how aging isn’t something to fear, but something to celebrate. It’s a chance to shift your mindset, realign your values, and finally say: “I’m not here to play small.”

Your New Playbook for Power, Purpose & Peace

This episode isn’t just about what’s wrong—it’s about what we can do about it. Reshma offers powerful tools and mindset shifts to help women:

  • Practice self-advocacy without apology

  • Prioritize rest without guilt

  • Reclaim their voice (and use it loudly)

  • Find joy in aging and growth

  • Build communities of care and support

  • Lead lives rooted in purpose, not just productivity

Takeaways from Erin & Reshma’s Conversation:

  • We make it hard to be a mom in America—and it’s time to fix that

  • Midlife can be a time of transformation, not decline

  • Women have been conditioned to please—now it’s time to lead

  • Self-advocacy is a leadership skill (not a luxury)

  • Imposter syndrome is learned—and unlearning it is power

  • Men must be allies in this movement

  • Aging = wisdom, not irrelevance

  • You don’t need to manifest your worth—you already have it

  • Purpose is the anchor when everything else feels uncertain

  • Play is not a distraction—it’s a leadership tool

Who This Episode Is For: Working moms navigating burnout or mid-career crossroads, leaders looking to build equitable, human-centered cultures, or anyone questioning their worth or power at work.

Ready to take one small step toward showing up with more clarity and confidence? 
Download our newest freebie—The Confident Leader’s Toolkit—a 4-step guide to crafting a professional persona that actually feels like you. This plug-and-play resource helps you define how you want to be seen, align your presence with your purpose, and lead with authenticity (not performance).

No, You Hang Up First (Let’s Keep Connecting) 

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Connect with Reshma Saujani 

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Erin Diehl
Next

Snack 16: Tired of Settling? Here’s How Women Can Start Earning What They Deserve at Work