In this episode of Breaking with Tradition, we sit down with Charlene Polite Corley, VP of Inclusive Insights at Nielsen, to explore the powerful feedback loop between media and the workplace. We’ll unpack how media influences everything from the culture we work in, to the managers we emulate, to the leaders we aspire to become.

Charlene brings fresh data and cultural insight to the conversation, helping us understand how Gen Z’s media diet is reshaping how a new generation sees leadership, labor, and inclusion. We’ll also reflect on key cultural moments that have shifted the narrative around women in leadership and what their popularity reveals about our collective expectations.

Whether you’re a pop culture junkie or a workplace changemaker, this episode will challenge you to rethink the stories we consume—and the ones we live out at work.

The views expressed by our guest are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Catalyst.

Charlene Polite Corley, VP, Inclusive Insights, Nielsen

Charlene Polite Corley is a researcher, thought leader and speaker that’s passionate about representation in media. She combines data and storytelling to amplify the power of historically excluded audiences. Her work showcases media trends and the influence of Black culture to highlight opportunities for brands and programmers to connect through inclusion.

She is a graduate of Florida A&M University and has over 15 years of experience across multiple media, sales and market research roles. As VP, Inclusive Insights at Nielsen, Charlene is the lead researcher for Black/African American audiences on the Business Impact, Inclusion & Belonging Thought Leadership Team. Charlene’s work has been featured on Good Morning America, Essence, eMarketer, Cannes Lions, SXSW and more.

LinkedIn profile

Victoria Kuketz, Director, Corporate Engagement, Canada, Catalyst

LinkedIn profile

Tara Van Bommel, Senior Director, Head of Research, Catalyst

LinkedIn profile

• 1:10 | Trends in women behind & on the screen. Tara, Victoria, and Charlene break down the latest data.
• 4:32 | Where's the best representation on TV? Charlene shares her favorite shows where women get to lead and break the...

Welcome to Season 1, episode 10 of Breaking with Tradition, Catalyst’s podcast that explores trends and ideas that will impact the future of the global workplace. This episode marks the end of our first season and is called The state of play for women in business.

In 2025 so far, conversations about workplace culture are increasingly shaped by debates over leadership styles and gender dynamics. Some argue that corporate culture needs to re-embrace so-called "masculine energy," while others advocate for a more inclusive approach.

But what does this mean for women in the workplace today?

In this season finale, host Victoria Kuketz sits down with Emma Hinchliffe, reporter for Fortune’s Most Powerful Women daily newsletter, to discuss the current landscape for women at work. They'll explore the rise of women in leadership—including the record-breaking number of women Fortune 500 CEOs— and highlight some of the most influential people Emma has profiled in recent months. Plus, they’ll examine promising trends in women’s sports and business, and what these shifts signal for the future of the workplace.

Join us for an insightful conversation on the challenges, victories, and next steps for women in the workforce.

The views expressed by our guest are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Catalyst.

Victoria Kuketz, Director, Corporate Engagement, Canada, Catalyst

LinkedIn profile

Emma Hinchliffe, Senior Writer, Fortune and Co-chair, Fortune Most Powerful Women

Emma Hinchliffe is a senior writer at Fortune, where she covers women in business and gender issues across business, politics, and culture. Emma is the author of Most Powerful Women Daily (formerly the Broadsheet), Fortune’s daily newsletter for and about the women leading the business world. She is a co-chair of Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Summit, where she’s interviewed everyone from Fortune 500 CEOs and US politicians to Hollywood stars, and previously co-chaired Fortune’s MPW Next Gen Summit and the Fortune/US Department of State Global Women’s Mentoring Partnership. Her work, which includes magazine features with subjects ranging from Meta and CVS Health to Canva and the WNBA, has been honored by the Silurians Press Club. Before joining Fortune, she worked as a reporter for Mashable and the Houston Chronicle. She is a graduate of Georgetown University and lives in Brooklyn, NY.

LinkedIn profile

• 1:48 | Tell us about yourself! Emma talks about her work at Fortune and its longtime commitment to featuring women in business.
• 3:10 | The comeback of “masculine energy?” 2025 started off with a surprising cultural shift—Emma and Victoria break it down.
• 6:42 | Women leaders hit record high. Is the recent uptick in women leading Fortune 500 companies a trend or anomaly?
• 9:10 | A positive trend for 2025: women’s sports. This fast-growing, high-impact audience is a big opportunity for brands.
• 12:29 | The leading women in business. Emma breaks down some of her favorite...

Welcome to Season 1, episode 9 of Breaking with Tradition, Catalyst’s podcast that explores trends and ideas that will impact the future of the global workplace. This episode was filmed live at 2024 Catalyst Honours and is called Workplace inclusion in the age of AI.

The way we approach workplace inclusion is evolving at lightning speed, driven by socio-political pressures and the rapid advancement of AI.

Without careful design, AI can reinforce existing biases—elevating some perspectives while sidelining others and creating new challenges for distinct groups, such as Black communities. But when used intentionally, AI can be a powerful force for innovation, helping businesses attract top talent and build stronger, more diverse teams.

Join host Victoria Kuketz as she sits down with Patrice Njoh, Partner, Deloitte Canada and Kike Ojo-Thompson, Partner, Human Capital at Deloitte, to explore the risks and opportunities AI presents for workplace inclusion. Together, they dive into some of the latest research, including the role of inclusive leadership and strategies for companies to harness AI as a tool for innovation and fairness.

AI is changing the way we work—let’s make sure it changes our work for the better. Tune in now and be part of the conversation.

LinkedIn profile

Patrice Njoh is a Partner in Deloitte’s Technology & Transformation Consulting Practice with over 15 years of experience in strategic consulting, change management, and transformation. She specializes in leading large-scale change efforts, particularly in financial services and the public sector. Patrice focuses on aligning clients' business objectives with technology-driven transformations and high-performance culture shifts. She advocates for diversity, equity, and inclusion, co-leading Deloitte’s Black Action Council. She is also a certified PMP and PROSCI professional, contributing to Deloitte’s transformation initiatives across Canada. Patrice has authored several white papers on transformational change, leadership, and EDI.

LinkedIn profile

Kike Ojo-Thompson is an award-winning equity thought leader, renowned for her expertise in organizational and system change. For more than 25 years, she has guided public and private organizations across a broad range of sectors toward more equitable outcomes.

Eager to bring her transformative impact to more organizations, Kike founded the KOJO Institute, which has now joined Deloitte Canada, where Kike is Partner in the Human Capital practice. For every client, Kike develops and facilitates bespoke DEI strategies designed to address inequities while supporting critical business outcomes like diverse recruitment and retention, employee engagement, and establishing an equity-informed organizational culture.

LinkedIn profile

• 1:12 | Tell us about...