What Rules!?: A career podcast for women of color

About What Rules!?: A career podcast for women of color

After spending over two years interviewing multicultural women in the C-suite, entrepreneurs, authors and speakers, we’ve seen a running theme of how women are shattering the glass ceiling and breaking through the concrete ceiling: rule-breaking. But what rules are we talking about and why do they exist? That’s what we explore in the What Rules!? podcast. You’ll learn our six guiding principles for multicultural women looking to outsmart the game to advance their career.

Publisher

Zera Consulting

Category

business · business · education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

11 Feb 2020

Latest episode

5 Mar 2025

Latest episodes

106 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   5 Mar 2025

   100. Moving Forward Together

   It's our 100th episode! Since launching in 2020, we've been amplifying the voices of multicultural women in leadership—because our power, our stories, and our impact matter more than ever. Today, we celebrate the strength found in moving forward together, this year’s theme for Women’s History Month. Our conversation explores how multicultural women can turn challenges into assets, support each other through community, and redefine leadership on their own terms. We discuss the idea that failure isn’t a roadblock—it’s a stepping stone. "You have to fail to get to the next level," says co-host Alisa Manjarrez, emphasizing that every setback brings growth and resilience. This episode is a powerful reminder that we must break the rules that limit us and bring others along with us. We challenge you to take action—whether it’s mentoring, sponsoring, advocating for inclusivity, or simply choosing joy in daily life. Episode Highlights: • Celebrating our 100th episode! • Why leading with purpose starts with knowing your worth • How to embrace diversity and turn it into a leadership advantage • Failing to get to the next level • Why resilience and intentionality are key • Building a strong support system and community • Owning your power through breathwork and mindfulness • Flexing your style vs compromising your values • Setting boundaries to maintain authenticity Mentioned in this Episode: Open (https://o-p-e-n.com/global) - a studio and app for breathwork Alisa’s Bio: Alisa Manjarrez is a storyteller, marketer and executive coach. She is the Managing Director of a B2B creative agency, co-host of the What Rules!? podcast, and has her Master's in Organizational Management &amp; Leadership. Alisa is Mexican American and is passionate about advancing women of color in corporate America as co-CEO of Zera Consulting. Merary’s Bio: Dr. Merary Simeon, a seasoned Human Resources executive, brings 25 years of experience as a trusted advisor to C-suite executives in Fortune 50 corporations. Dr. Merary has a doctorate in Strategic Leadership. She is a best-selling author and co-host of the What Rules!? podcast. As co-CEO of Zera Consulting, she passionately advocates for the advancement of multicultural women in the workplace. Dr. Merary is from Puerto Rico and is fluent in Spanish. Courtney’s Bio: As an Accountability and Mindset Coach, Courtney is committed to helping her clients achieve their career goals to gain clarity, confidence, and alignment in their job search. With a passion for coaching and a deep understanding of what it takes to succeed in today's competitive job market, Courtney works closely with clients to provide guidance, support, and actionable strategies that drive results to level up their career. Connect with us on our social media: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/whatrulespod/) and LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/what-rules/) More from Alisa Manjarrez: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/alisa.coach/) and LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisam/) More from Courtney Copelin: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/courtneymcopelin/) and LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtneycopelin2023/) More from Dr. Merary Simeon: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/merarysimeon/) and<a...

2. 

   5 Feb 2025

   99. Wellness in the Workplace

   Did you know? Women who experience high levels of stress are 46% more likely to seek new job opportunities. We take a holistic approach into the critical topic of wellness in the workplace and how it intertwines with our overall career satisfaction and significantly impacts how we show up in our personal lives. HR executive Dr. Merary Simeon and career coach Courtney Copelin share their insights on how both employers and employees share the responsibility of fostering a healthy work environment. Learn how to identify your own needs and stressors, whether they stem from your workload, workplace culture, or personal circumstances. Get help to better assess these factors, so you can engage in meaningful conversations with your manager about available resources and benefits that can support your well-being. We also highlight the importance of energy management over traditional notions of work-life balance. How you spend your time outside of work and how those activities contribute to or detract from your overall wellness are also part of the equation. Episode Highlights: • Accessing benefits and resources at work • Taking a holistic perspective with your career • Identifying your needs • Setting boundaries • The role of leaders in supporting wellness • Wellness beyond the workplace • Managing your energy, not your time Mentioned in this Episode: “More than A Program: A Culture of Women’s Wellbeing at Work (https://www.gallup.com/workplace/653843/program-culture-women-wellbeing-work.aspx)” by Gallup, 12/4/24 “Work-Life Balance is a Cycle, Not an Achievement (https://hbr.org/2021/01/work-life-balance-is-a-cycle-not-an-achievement)” by Harvard Business Review, 1/29/21 Bright Horizons (https://www.brighthorizons.com/) daycare solutions 2024 State of Workforce Mental Health Report (https://disabilityin-bulk.s3.amazonaws.com/2024/Inclusion+Works/2024-State-of-Workforce-Mental-Health-Report.pdf) by Lyra Health The Corporate Athlete (https://www.amazon.com/Corporate-Athlete-Achieve-Performance-Business/dp/0471353698) by Jack Groppel, PhD Merary’s Bio: Dr. Merary Simeon, a seasoned Human Resources executive, brings 25 years of experience as a trusted advisor to C-suite executives in Fortune 50 corporations. Dr. Merary has a doctorate in Strategic Leadership. She is a best-selling author and co-host of the What Rules!? podcast. As co-CEO of Zera Consulting, she passionately advocates for the advancement of multicultural women in the workplace. Dr. Merary is from Puerto Rico and is fluent in Spanish. Courtney’s Bio: As an Accountability and Mindset Coach, Courtney is committed to helping her clients achieve their career goals to gain clarity, confidence, and alignment in their job search. With a passion for coaching and a deep understanding of what it takes to succeed in today's competitive job market, Courtney works closely with clients to provide guidance, support, and actionable strategies that drive results to level up their career. Connect with us on our social media: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/whatrulespod/) and LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/what-rules/) More from Alisa Manjarrez: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/alisa.coach/) and...

3. 

   11 Dec 2024

   98. Advocating for DEI

   Dr. Merary Simeon and career coach Courtney Copelin argue that systemic change is needed to overcome the ongoing challenges faced by multicultural women in the workplace, emphasizing the importance of self-advocacy and collective action.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

7,749

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

45 ratings

Spotify

4.9 / 5

11 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 60 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

51

Social presence

94

YouTube

74

Engagement

51

Contact What Rules!?: A career podcast for women of color

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.