Walking on Broken Glass with Shannon Nutter

What happens after a woman breaks through the glass ceiling—and finds herself walking on broken glass? Shannon Nutter is a longtime financial services executive, board member and co-author of Walking on Broken Glass: Navigating the Aftermath of the Glass Ceiling. After decades of working in male-dominated industries and holding senior leadership roles, Shannon knows firsthand how quickly a successful woman can go from being valued to being viewed as a threat. In this conversation, we unpack what workplace bias actually looks like, why accomplished women often question their own experiences and how the story around a woman’s leadership can suddenly begin to change. This isn’t a conversation about blaming, complaining or telling women to fix themselves. It’s about recognizing the warning signs, understanding the dynamics happening around us and being better prepared to respond. We talk about: What happens after women break through the glass ceiling How workplace bias and the “takedown playbook” show up Why successful women can still be caught completely off guard How to recognize when the problem isn’t your performance Why relationships and political capital matter How to document and protect yourself when things shift What meaningful support between women really looks like Why organizational change can’t rest solely on women If you’ve ever felt the narrative around you change at work—or watched it happen to another woman—this conversation will help you better understand what was happening and what to do next. Chapters 04:55 Why the glass ceiling isn’t the last barrier 06:47 Why great performance isn’t always enough 12:49 Recognizing bias in your workplace 14:45 The Goldilocks syndrome: Too much or not enough 17:26 The invisible org chart and office politics 23:28 The takedown: When high performers get pushed out 29:18 Warning signs you might be overlooking 32:59 Protecting your voice, results and network 36:13 Collaboration over competition: Supporting other women Links Purchase Walking On Broken Glass Connect with Shannon