Mita Mallick — multicultural marketing leader, Wall Street Journal bestselling author, and fierce advocate for inclusion — joins Dr. Dan to talk about bad bosses, workplace culture, and what it really takes to lead with humanity. From the origin story behind The Devil Emails at Midnight (found in a flooded childhood bedroom) to the 13 boss archetypes we've all encountered, Mita unpacks how empathy, boundaries, self-awareness, and genuine care are the true levers of leadership — and why no job is worth your mental health.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
Why bad bosses aren't born — they're made (and how we all have the potential to become one)
How childhood bullying shaped Mita's gift of empathy and her ability to read what's unspoken
The surprising truth: bosses have the most negative impact on mental health — more than partners, parents, or friends
What inclusion really means in the workplace (and why it's the #1 retention tool companies have)
How grief course-corrects your life and why Mita finally pursued her calling after losing her father
Why the number one job of leaders is to create good leaders — and how to incentivize that
LEARN MORE
Get new episodes every Thursday
January 15, 2026
Mita Mallick
Bad Bosses, Boundaries, and Burnout: What We Can Learn From Toxic Bosses
“Bad bosses aren’t born—they’re made. And we all have the potential to become one.”
TIMESTAMPS
02:52 – The origin story: a flooded childhood home, a rediscovered journal, and the realization that "I'm in someone's notebook"
08:04 – The gift of empathy: how childhood bullying made Mita attuned to exclusion, body language, and what's left unsaid
13:12 – Boundaries and power dynamics: why Mita kept attracting (and choosing) toxic bosses early in her career
14:18 – The sheriff: when a boss refused to learn Mita's name and what she wishes she'd said (but couldn't at the time)
22:52 – What inclusion really is: feeling seen, valued, and recognized — and why it's tied directly to productivity
27:42 – From business to purpose: how grief after her father's sudden death in 2017 shifted everything
37:17 – Leaders and mental health: the 66% stat that shows bosses have the biggest impact on our well-being
43:10 – Leaning into being human: why people who don't take care of themselves can't take care of others
SHOW NOTES
Dr. Dan continues his Make It a Great One in 2026 kick-off by interviewing author and advocate Mita Mallick to explore the real impact that leadership has on mental health, identity, and workplace well-being. Drawing from her bestselling books Reimagine Inclusion and The Devil Emails at Midnight, Mita shares personal stories of toxic leadership, bullying, grief, and growth, while challenging leaders to confront their own behaviors with honesty and compassion.
Together, Dr. Dan and Mita unpack why bad bosses aren’t born but made—and how self-awareness, empathy, and accountability can transform workplaces into environments where people feel seen, valued, and empowered to do their best work.
This episode invites listeners to reflect on the profound effect leaders have on mental health and well-being – and the importance of self-care, reflection, and emotional intelligence in all aspects of our lives.
LINKS & RESOURCES
Mita Mallick
Website — MitaMallick.com
LinkedIn — Mita's preferred platform for connecting; DM her there
Brown Table Talk podcast — co-hosted with DC Marshall
Mita's Books
The Devil Emails at Midnight: What Good Leaders Can Learn from Bad Bosses — Mita Mallick (available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and local independent bookstores)
Reimagine Inclusion: Debunking 13 Myths to Transform Your Workplace — Mita Mallick
The 13 Bad Boss Archetypes (from The Devil Emails at Midnight)
The Sheriff
Medusa
The Devil
The Napper
The White Rabbit
The Chopper
The Great Pretender
The Grinner
The Cheerleader
Gossip Girl
Spotlight
Tony (a.k.a. Tony Soprano — the only one with a "regular" name)
GUEST BIO
Mita Mallick is a changemaker, DEI advocate, and multicultural marketing leader with an extensive career in beauty and consumer goods. She is the Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of Reimagine Inclusion: Debunking 13 Myths to Transform Your Workplace and The Devil Emails at Midnight: What Good Leaders Can Learn from Bad Bosses. Mita co-hosts the Brown Table Talk podcast and builds community on LinkedIn, where she speaks openly about leadership, inclusion, and workplace culture.
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