At some point in their careers, many women encounter the “mirrored door” ― the place where, when presented with opportunities, they reflect inward and hesitate, deem they’re not ready or worthy enough to move forward, whether that is to raise their hands or go for the next role. But there is a way to overcome the gendered expectations that girls and women internalize over our lifetimes that create a hidden barrier that keeps them from reaching their full potential.

In her new book The Mirrored Door: Break Through the Hidden Barrier that Locks Successful Women in Place, Ellen Connelly Taaffe, clinical associate professor at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, draws on research, stories from her own career, and those of her students and the mid-late career women she has coached. She explains why the five perils of success ― preparing to perfection, being eager to please, trying to fit the mold, pushing too hard, and patiently performing and expecting rewards to follow ― get women to a certain level, and then may prevent them taking the next step in their careers as expectations rise. She offers a new, empowering framework for navigating the challenges of the workplace with more awareness and expertise.

Taaffe is the director of Women’s Leadership Programming at Kellogg and serves as a director on several boards. She will be in conversation with Deepa Purushothaman, a former senior executive at Deloitte and author, speaker, and founder of multiple businesses. Her debut book, The First, The Few, The Only, was published to international acclaim in 2022. She recently founded the re.write, an unconventional think tank advancing a new story of work. She is also an Executive Fellow at Harvard Business School.

This event suitable for youth 12+. It will be recorded and available on FAN’s website and YouTube channel.

BONUS AFTER-HOURS EVENT: Attendees who purchase a copy of The Mirrored Door from FAN’s partner bookseller The Book Stall are invited to attend an AFTER-HOURS event hosted by Taaffe that will start immediately after the webinar. Details on the webinar registration page.