Snack 16: Tired of Settling? Here’s How Women Can Start Earning What They Deserve at Work

In today’s Workday Playdate Snack, we’re serving up some truth for anyone who’s ever screamed into their steering wheel after a one-on-one like, “How does Brad STILL make more than me?” If you’ve ever been underpaid, undervalued, or under-celebrated—this snack is for you. The Problem: Here’s the tea: Women are doing the absolute most. More emotional labor. More coordinating. More everything. And yet—less recognition, less pay, and fewer opportunities. We’ve been fed a narrative that if we just negotiate better or manifest harder, things will change. But let’s be honest: the system wasn’t built for us. So, we end up overachieving and under-receiving—and wondering why we’re so exhausted. Here’s a stat to file under “rage fuel”: Women still earn 82 cents to every dollar a man makes. And for women of color? The gap only grows. If you’ve ever thought, “Why does this feel so hard?” —you’re not imagining it. You’re experiencing a system designed to burn you out and keep you quiet. But here’s the good news: We may not have built the system—but we sure as hell can break it. And rebuild it in our image. The Improv Hack to Try: The Reverse Résumé Game Here’s how it works: Partner up with a trusted friend, or just hit record solo. Pretend you’re your own agent. You’ve got 60 seconds to pitch yourself for a dream gig. The twist? You can’t mention anything from your actual résumé. No titles. No companies. Just the real you. Think: The time you calmed a furious client with zero drama. How you led a team through layoffs with compassion. That week you juggled three deadlines while your kid had the flu—and still delivered. Those stories? They’re your power. This improv hack rewires your brain from “Do I deserve this?” to “Damn right I do—and here’s why.” Coming up Wednesday: Feeling fired up? Then don’t miss Wednesday’s full episode—Episode 293: Pay Up with Reshma Saujani (yes, the founder of Girls Who Code + CEO of Moms First). If you're tired of overworking and under-earning, this episode is your invitation to burn the old rules and build new ones. Ready to take one small step toward showing up with more clarity and confidence? Download our newest freebie— The Confident Leader’s Toolkit —a 4-step guide to crafting a professional persona that actually feels like you . This plug-and-play resource helps you define how you want to be seen, align your presence with your purpose, and lead with authenticity (not performance). No, You Hang Up First (Let’s Keep Connecting) Did today’s episode resonate with you? Leave us a review sharing your favorite insight and we’ll send you a free signed copy of I See You! A Leader’s Guide to Energizing Your Team through Radical Empathy. Have another question that we can answer? Leave us a Speakpipe audio clip and we’ll answer it in an upcoming episode. Don’t want to miss another episode? If you’re a Spotify listener, find our show here and click “Follow.” If you’re an Apple Podcast listener, click here and make sure to hit “+Follow.” Want access to a bunch of free resources for your work life? This is your personal jackpot that gives you access to the frameworks that help us thrive both personally and professionally. Whether you’re trying to improve your daily routine, flesh out an idea that you’ve had for quite some time, or want to add more play into your day - these resources have got your back. Want 2 emails a week from us? One with a quick tip you can implement right away to enhance your personal and/or professional lives & one of our famous F.A.I.L. Fourward Friday newsletters? Subscribe here . Connect with Erin Diehl x improve it! Erin’s website Erin’s Instagram Erin’s TikTok Erin’s LinkedIn improve it!’s website improve it!’s Instagram See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .