Dear Madeleine, I am an EVP in a mid-sized service business. I created the role, as I was put in charge of two business units that had been quite siloed but shared some overlap. Part of my job was to create consistency in their approach to developing new business, data collection, and execution. I have…
Dear Madeleine, I work for a mid-sized global accessories brand. I was head of PR for many years but wanted to scale back when I had a kids. Now I serve as brand ambassador and influencer. The organization has been growing rapidly. About a year ago, it was sold and a new president was hired.…
Dear Madeleine, I have been working for a new boss for about six months. I think she is very organized and personable, and her whole team (me included) likes working for her. A while back, I had a rough time with the leader of another team. I won’t go into detail about exactly what happened—there…
Dear Madeleine, This isn’t so much a work question as a “my work is affecting my relationship” question. I met my husband in grad school when we were both studying to work in the same field. He got an amazing job with a good salary right out of school. I was happy for him and…
Dear Madeleine, I really like my job and tend to go the extra mile. I had scheduled my quarterly one-on-one meeting with my manager, and then got an email from him that said “Hey, do you mind if we cancel for this quarter? You are doing great and I never worry about you. Just keep…
Dear Madeleine, I am 28 years old and was hired five months ago at a globally recognized tech company. I moved across the country, took on a one-year lease, and furnished an apartment. I made some very solid friends among many of the people who were members of my orientation class. I was assigned to…
Dear Madeleine, I am a junior partner in a law firm and the expectation is that I work. A lot. Many of the partners work virtually in the summer, but I usually go into the office because it is easier for me to get things done there. My in-laws bought a house at the shore…
Dear Madeleine, I read Feeling Trapped with interest and it scared me. I have had several jobs in retail and have been promoted to manager in each one, only to become disillusioned with the owners. I also just ended my marriage and moved to a new city for a fresh start. My dream is to…
Dear Madeleine, I am an experienced manager. I really thought I was capable and prepared to deal with pretty much anything that shows up, but right now I am feeling a bit at loose ends. Our global manufacturing company is going through relentless change, which is normal. But the constant changes in the news about…
Dear Madeleine, I have had a great deal of success. My problem is now that I have achieved my goals, I realize this isn’t what I thought it would be. I am 38, married, with two young kids and another on the way and a massive mortgage (albeit at a low rate compared to today’s…