The Grey Areas Podcast with Kelsey Donlon
The Grey Areas Podcast with Kelsey Donlon is ready to disrupt corporate America! This is a space for candid conversations and deep dives into the complexities of the workplace. The mission: to empower women with transparent, inspiring narratives and challenge the status quo in corporate culture.
Grey Areas is a safe, non-judgemental digital platform, podcast and community that inspires and empowers women to navigate the grey areas in the workplace. So what does that mean? Well, the ‘grey area’ is an ill-defined situation…or in other words, it’s murky AF. Kelsey is here to help make this vague situation, much clearer. This community and podcast will hold corporations, executives and Human Resources accountable by leveraging legal education, transparency, and shared stories to drive change.
Each episode will tackle aspects of the grey area; managing anxiety in the workplace, tension between coworkers or managers, understanding employer boundaries, working with HR in an appropriate and effective way, navigating job loss, and so much more. So tune in, to hear Kelsey and her guests share a wealth of information and to be part of a safe space for people who have a hard time navigating the toxic workplace.
Let’s navigate grey areas, together!
The Grey Areas Podcast with Kelsey Donlon
From Invisible to Influential: How Sophie Hirst, Workbaby CEO, Is Rewriting Early Career Rules
Welcome back to The Grey Areas Podcast! This week, we’re joined by Sophie Hirst, career coach, viral TikTok creator, and founder of Workbaby. From magician’s assistant to Google exec, Sophie has done it all, and now she’s helping Gen Z navigate work with clarity, confidence, and influence.
In this episode, we dig into how to communicate like a leader, build credibility before the title, and manage up without the cringe. Sophie shares powerful mindset shifts, practical templates, and the career truths no one teaches but everyone needs.
Highlights include:
2:43 – The two versions of Sophie’s résumé: Why your career doesn’t need to make sense, but your story does.
4:38 – The five early-career cornerstones behind Workbaby and how to shortcut success without burnout.
8:47 – “You’re not special—and you’re very special”: The paradox mindset that builds resilience and growth.
15:29 – Communicate like the 1%: How “How We Work” sessions and bottom-line-first emails build instant credibility.
31:45 – Managing up made simple: Sophie’s 3-part framework to think ahead, get in your manager’s head, and close the loop.
46:50 – Influencing without authority: From strategic tone to individual connection, how to lead before you’re in charge.
59:45 – Cubicle Confession: Sophie’s advice on how to get noticed without faking it if you’ve ever felt overlooked at work
This episode is packed with tactical tools and honest insights to help you lead yourself and others, no matter your title.
Sophie’s Links:
Sophie's Guide 'How We Work': www.workbaby.com/howwework
Website: www.workbaby.com
Instagram: @sophworkbaby
TikTok: @soph.workbaby
Kelsey's Links For You:
Website
Grey Areas Instagram
Kelsey's Instagram
LinkedIn
TikTok
