Fran Hauser wants you to know that you don’t have to choose between being nice and being strong. In her first best-selling book, The Myth of the Nice Girl: Achieving a Career You Love Without Becoming a Person You Hate, Fran teaches that being nice is a superpower. Now she’s back with a tactical workbook, Embrace the Work, Love Your Career, which is quickly becoming the go-to for women seeking more joy and fulfillment in their careers. Fran has pivoted in her career from accounting to media to start-up investing. Her passion lies in leveling the playing field for women through her roles of investing, writing, and speaking. Fran has invested in over 30 female-founded companies across consumer tech, CPG, media & publishing, and wellness. Much of her current work is informed by 15 years spent in media, where she rose through the ranks at Time Inc. to President of Digital.

In this episode, Fran shares the importance of creating a “smile file,” having workplace champions, and why you need to build out a diverse network. She also warns about not falling prey to “distractors” at work. As an introvert, Fran shares some valuable advice on how to network, why you need to speak up no matter where you are in your career, and so much more.