Episode 344: Walking on Broken Glass: Recognizing Workplace Bias and Career Takedowns with Shannon Nutter

Doing great work is supposed to protect your career. But what happens when being a high performer, speaking up, or challenging the status quo is exactly what puts you at risk? Melissa Joy, CFP® sits down with Shannon Nutter, a global executive, board director, and founder of My Classroom Economy, whose career includes leadership roles at Vanguard, Deloitte, and General Motors. Shannon is the co-author, with Julia C. Carreon, of the new book Walking on Broken Glass: Navigating the Aftermath of the Glass Ceiling, a decoder kit for recognizing the biases and double standards that have been normalized in so many workplaces. Shannon explains the idea of a "takedown," when accomplished people, many of them women, are purposefully managed out after they push back, question power, or simply succeed. After a single LinkedIn post flooded her inbox, she paused writing to interview more than 100 people, and she shares the early signs and signals that emerged from those stories. She and Melissa also unpack the Goldilocks syndrome, why so many women personalize what is actually systemic, and the everyday choices we can all make as colleagues, leaders, consumers, investors, and voters to change the culture. Along the way, Melissa connects it back to financial planning: your career is often your largest asset, and preparing for career risk is part of protecting your balance sheet. What You'll Learn What a "takedown" is, and why high performers who challenge the status quo, question compensation, or exceed their goals can be the ones managed out Early warning signs to watch for, from canceled one-on-ones and shrinking decision rights to a sudden performance plan after a new boss or merger Practical ways to protect yourself: documenting achievements, keeping your resume current, and building a network outside your company The Goldilocks syndrome, and why women are so often described as too much or too little but rarely just right Simple, low-risk phrases you can use in a meeting to redirect credit or reframe biased feedback for a colleague Why workplace bias is systemic rather than personal, and how that recognition can be validating How your choices as a leader, consumer, investor, and voter can push for change, even if you are not in the C-suite Why career risk belongs in your financial plan, since your human capital is often the largest asset on your balance sheet Guest Bio Shannon Nutter is a global executive, board director, business advisor, and author with more than two decades of leadership experience at organizations including the Vanguard Group, Deloitte, and General Motors. She is the founder of My Classroom Economy, a free K-12 program that teaches children financial responsibility through experiential learning. Shannon is the co-author, with Julia C. Carreon, of Walking on Broken Glass: Navigating the Aftermath of the Glass Ceiling (Practical Inspiration Publishing, 2026). She holds a BA from Macalester College and an MBA from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business. Connect with Shannon: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/shannon-nutter Co-author Julia C. Carreon on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/julia-c-carreon Book: Walking on Broken Glass: Navigating the Aftermath of the Glass Ceiling My Classroom Economy: myclassroomeconomy.org The previous presentation by PEARL PLANNING was intended for general information purposes only.  No portion of the presentation serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from PEARL PLANNING or any other investment professional of your choosing. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and it should not be assumed that future performance of any specific investment or investment strategy, or any non-investment related or planning services, discussion or content, will be profitable, be suitable for your portfolio or individual situation, or prove successful. Neither PEARL PLANNING’s investment adviser registration status, nor any amount of prior experience or success, should be construed that a certain level of results or satisfaction will be achieved if PEARL PLANNING is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services. PEARL PLANNING is neither a law firm nor accounting firm, and no portion of its services should be construed as legal or accounting advice. No portion of the video content should be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that he/she will experience a certain level of results if PEARL PLANNING is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services. A copy of PEARL PLANNING’s current written disclosure Brochure discussing our advisory services and fees is available upon request or at https...