Welcome to the inaugural episode of The Climb podcast! I am Felicia Smith, your host and the founder of The Climb, a platform dedicated to empowering women of color in their journey towards leadership roles. In this episode, we delve into the crucial topic of the pitfalls of solely relying on your work as your ticket to success.

I kick off the episode by sharing my personal motivation behind creating this podcast - the lack of real and relevant conversations about how women of color navigate the workforce successfully. I address the common question of why women of color should aspire to leadership roles and emphasize the importance of their unique perspectives and contributions in executive positions.

We then dive into the main topic of the episode - the danger of thinking your work alone will lead to promotions and managerial positions. Drawing from a case study published in the Harvard Business Review, we explore the story of Sarah, a high-performing employee who kept getting passed over for promotions due to a lack of personal connections with her colleagues.

I introduce the concept of political capital, emphasizing the importance of building relationships, likability, and technical competency in the workplace. I stress the significance of measured connections and authenticity in fostering genuine relationships that can propel one's career forward.

In the segment "Another Rung Mended Inclined," we discuss the broken rung phenomenon hindering women of color from climbing the corporate ladder. By practicing measured connections and showcasing authenticity, individuals can mend these broken rungs and pave the way for career advancement.

I conclude the episode by highlighting the power of connection and the necessity of mastering political capital to achieve leadership positions. I express my passion for addressing these critical issues and tease upcoming episodes that will delve deeper into unspoken rules and strategies for success.

Join me, Felicia Smith, on this enlightening journey as we navigate the complexities of the workplace and empower women of color to ascend to leadership roles. Thank you for tuning in to The Climb podcast - see you next time!