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
How childhood bullying shaped Mita's gift of empathy
The surprising truth: bosses have the most negative impact on mental health
What inclusion really means in the workplace
How grief course-corrects your life
Why the number one job of leaders is to create good leaders
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
00:02:52 – The origin story: a flooded childhood home
00:08:04 – The gift of empathy
00:13:12 – Boundaries and power dynamics
00:14:18 – The sheriff
00:22:52 – What inclusion really is
00:27:42 – From business to purpose
00:37:17 – Leaders and mental health
00:43:10 – Leaning into being human
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.
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
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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