Welcome to BEYOND LEANING IN, a podcast designed to inspire candid discussion about gender gaps in the workplace. All too often, the “real talk” about the challenges that professional women face happens behind closed doors. Author Melanie Ho is on a mission to change that through her new book, BEYOND LEANING IN. She is joined in this podcast by co-host Carla Hickman as the two longtime friends discuss the ideas and research that inform Melanie’s book. You will also be invited to listen and join the conversation with early readers, women and men across generations and a wide range of professions, as they reflect, discuss and debate the ideas in the book. On the first episode, our hosts give us a quick glimpse at Melanie's book, Beyond Leaning In, talking about the inspiration behind the book, the major issues it covers, why Melanie wrote a business book as a novel, and how this podcast will become a platform for discussion about positive change and impact in gender equity. Jump straight into:

- The problem with “just leaning in” - “It felt like the blame was being put on us, that the lack of gender equity was our fault.” 

- On the three main systemic barriers in the workplace for women - “Why aren't the men told that maybe they should listen and maybe this is a point to lean out and to help amplify the voices of others around the table?”

- The opportunity gap and what makes it so hard for females to speak up - “It reminds me of how often in my early career, as a manager, I would frame my opinion as a question, instead of simply stating what I think we should do or what I believe.”

- Teaching through fiction: The power of storytelling to educate generations - “I loved this idea of novels that can help us learn and make sense of the world around us, and it was something that I actually didn't realize until I entered the corporate world, it was more common than I had realized.”