Tracy Brower, PhD. discusses connection, community, and what actually makes work and life feel meaningful. #158

Your career doesn’t grow in isolation, and neither does your confidence. When we feel overlooked, stuck, or burned out, we often blame skills, strategy, or a lack of a personal brand. But what if the real lever is connection and community and the quality of the relationships around us?

On episode #158 of the 2B Bolder podcast, I sat down with Dr. Tracy Brower, a sociologist, author, and the VP for Workplace Insights at Steelcase, and got practical about what makes work and life feel meaningful. We talked about why sometimes the  “work is a grind” narrative misses something human and important: we all have an instinct to matter, and work is one of the biggest places we’re seen, supported, and shaped. Tracy breaks down the modern pattern of having more connections but fewer fulfilling relationships, plus how distraction, social media, and post-COVID habits can leave us with shallow “empty calorie” interactions.

We also get tactical about networking for women in business and tech without the icky, transactional vibe. Tracy shares how giving can be asynchronous, why you should build your network before you need it, and how to walk into coffee chats with less pressure by focusing on learning. If visibility is your challenge, she offers a clear framework for the kinds of people you need around you: advocates, honest challengers, and safe-harbor colleagues. You’ll also hear memorable data points from her latest book, Critical Connections, including how long it really takes to make a friend and why diverse relationships boost joy and fulfillment.

If you found this helpful, subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review so more women can build careers with stronger connection and real belonging.

Resources:
tracybrower.com
Connect with Tracy on LinkedIn
Order Critical Connections Here