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The Good Student Trap: 5 Habits Holding Smart Women Back at Work

The Thrive Careers Podcast

The Thrive Careers Podcast
The Good Student Trap: 5 Habits Holding Smart Women Back at Work
May 14, 2026 Season 1 Episode 48
Olajumoke Fatoki

Are your "good student" habits secretly holding your career back?

You did everything right. Got the grades. Stayed responsible. Worked hard. Kept your head down.

So why does the workplace suddenly feel confusing, frustrating, and exhausting?

In this episode of the Thrive Careers Podcast, Olajumoke Fatoki sits down with returning guest Brianne Carlon Rush — COO, hiring leader, and career strategist — to unpack the hidden habits quietly keeping high-achieving women invisible at work.

From perfectionism and people-pleasing to approval addiction and overworking, this conversation reveals why the exact behaviours rewarded in school can sabotage your confidence, visibility, and career growth once you're in the workforce.

If you're entering the workforce, navigating your first few years, or trying to stop shrinking yourself professionally — this episode will completely change how you approach your career.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

  • Why perfectionism is quietly costing talented women promotions and opportunities
  • The "extra credit mindset" that keeps women overworked but overlooked
  • How to stop being invisible in meetings — and become influential instead
  • Why employers (including McKinsey) now care more about your thinking than flawless answers
  • The SHIFT Framework for breaking career-limiting habits
  • How to use the network you already have to land interviews faster — without cold DMs

Connect with Brianne:

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