In this lively interview, Linda Smith, the “meanest woman alive”, talks about why confidence, not competence is the key to career success, myths women buy into about their potential and three strengths unique to women leaders and how to capitalize on them.
Voted “Top Woman Litigator” by the National Law Journal, Linda has a reputation for waging battle and winning complex, “bet the company” litigation cases. Her upcoming book Lessons from the Meanest Woman Alive, reveals the wisdom she has gathered along the way.
Episode Highlights
• 040 – The truth behind the moniker “meanest woman alive”
• 1:13 – How to use being underestimated to your advantage
• 2:45 – A pivotal story, a life-changing lesson on summoning strength (courtesy of a Hitler-loving nun)
• 11:58 – Myths women buy into about their potential
• 12:21 – Why confidence, not competence is the key to career success
• 15:10 – How to be tough and nurturing
• 16:32 – How she holds her own in a room full of men with outsized egos
• 25:44 – Three strengths unique to women leaders and how to capitalize on them)
• 31:31 – How women can use sexuality to our advantage in an appropriate way
1. Favorite book for women?
- The Confidence Code by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman. They write about competence versus confidence and how confidence wins every time.
2. Favorite self-care hack?
- Reading a good fiction book or watching Game of Thrones on TV
3. Best piece of advice and who gave it to you?
- “Your reputation is everything!” (Bill Vaughan, her mentor)
4. Female CEO or thought leader you’re into right now?
- Sallie Krawcheck, CEO and Co-Founder of Ellevest, who has a new book, Own It: The Power of Women at Work. It’s new kind of career playbook for a new era of feminism
5. One piece of advice you’d give your 5 years younger self?
- “Fake it until you make it”
Resources and People Mentioned
• Website, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn
• Harvard Business Review, To Seem Confident, Women Have to Be Seen as Warm (July 8th, 2016)
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