Ellen Taaffe

Many women face a mirrored door in their careers, a point where they hesitate to take on new opportunities because they don't feel ready or worthy enough. This is often due to gendered expectations that girls and women internalize over their lifetimes, creating a hidden barrier that prevents them from reaching their full potential. In her book "Unlocking the Mirrored Door: Break Through the Barriers That Are Holding You Back in Your Career," Professor Ellen Taaffe explains why these five perils of success—being prepared to perfection, eager to please, trying to fit the mold, pushing too hard, and patiently performing and expecting rewards to follow—can prevent women from taking the next step in their careers. She offers a new, empowering framework for navigating the challenges of the workplace with more awareness and expertise. Taaffe's book is based on research, stories from her own career, and those of her students and the mid-late career women she has coached. She teaches us about the realities of the workplace, how it influences perceptions of women, and what we can do to overcome the distorted self-reflections that ultimately hold us back. A former Fortune 50 senior executive turned board director and professor, Taaffe is on a mission for women to have more seats and voices at the table of workplace decisions. In The Mirrored Door, she guides us to assess ourselves and our situations realistically so that we can take charge of our career success and take the lead in our lives.