Self-disclosure at work can build trust and connection, but it also carries risks—especially for women, leaders, and those whose values or identities set them apart. That tension is what Columbia professor Katherine Phillips explored in one of our earliest episodes of the podcast, back in 2018.

Now, we revisit Kathy’s research on inclusion and authentic relationships, and add a fresh perspective. Amy B speaks with Kathy’s longtime collaborators Tracy Dumas and Nancy Rothbard about how expectations around self-disclosure have shifted. The Amys also reflect on what they’ve learned about sharing personal details at work: when it builds connection, when it complicates things, and when they choose to hold back.

Katherine Phillips, before her death in 2020, was a professor of leadership and ethics at Columbia Business School.

Tracy Dumas is a professor at Ohio State University’s Fisher College of Business.

Nancy Rothbard is a professor at Wharton, as well as the school’s deputy dean.

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