Likeable Badass with Alison Fragale

For many leaders — especially women and emerging executives — one of the greatest professional tensions is the pressure to choose between being respected and being liked. Too often, confidence is misread as aggression, collaboration is mistaken for weakness, and ambition is judged differently depending on who expresses it. In a workplace shaped by visibility, perception, and influence, navigating these contradictions has become an essential leadership skill.

In this Book Talk conversation, the Executives’ Club welcomes Alison Fragale, organizational psychologist, professor, leadership expert, and author of Likeable Badass, for a candid discussion on power, perception, and the modern realities of leadership. Drawing from behavioral science, workplace research, and real-world executive experience, Fragale explores how leaders can build influence without sacrificing authenticity — and why the most effective leaders today combine competence with connection.

At the center of Likeable Badass is a practical framework for building what Fragale calls “status” and “warmth” simultaneously — earning credibility while strengthening trust, relationships, and impact. Rather than encouraging leaders to perform confidence or adopt outdated leadership archetypes, the conversation reframes influence as a skill rooted in self-awareness, communication, and intentional leadership behavior.

This conversation examines what leadership looks like in environments where expectations are shifting, visibility is heightened, and influence increasingly depends on emotional intelligence as much as expertise.

Pricing:
Members: $25
Nonmembers: $50

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