Every January, we’re pushed to reset and “start strong,” often while still exhausted from the year before. This blog explores the psychological cost of starting the year in deficit, looking at burnout, chronic stress, productivity culture and workplace pressure, and why focusing on your recovery leads to healthier beginnings.

50 Cent’s Netflix documentary Sean Combs: The Reckoning is about more than Diddy. It is a case study in narcissistic leadership, complicity and systemic abuse of power at work. DEI and workplace-culture consultant Leyya Sattar unpacks what the film reveals about enablers, proximity to power and how we stop feeding toxic systems.

One of the year’s highlights was speaking at B Lab UK’s ‘B Collective Gathering’, celebrating 10 years of the UK B Corp movement and the launch of their new global standards. As a long-time DEI partner to B Lab, Other Box led a session on Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Systems Change exploring how businesses can be a genuine force for good by embedding accountability, empathy and inclusion into everything they do.

Unconscious bias was meant to change how we think but has it just become a corporate excuse? In this piece, we unpack how awareness without accountability keeps workplaces stuck. From tech’s diversity problem to the ethics of AI, we explore why inclusion can’t be automated and what it really takes to build human-centred, equitable cultures that last.

In this Listener Letter, Jay shares how his manager weaponised race and gender to mask narcissistic abuse. Dr. Daksha Hirani unpacks the weight of F.O.G. (fear, obligation, guilt), the pressures of masculinity, and how to rebuild confidence with discernment and self-trust.

In this final episode of our series, we discuss how to move beyond toxic workplaces and build healthier, more inclusive environments. Learn about the key elements of psychological safety, empathy in leadership, and advocacy in toxic work cultures. Discover actionable insights on creating spaces where respect, care, and accountability thrive.

Dani’s eight-year working relationship with a narcissistic colleague nearly cost her everything. In this episode, we explore how avoidance behaviours like alcohol use become survival strategies and what it takes to break the trauma bond and reclaim your life, featuring expert insight from Dr. Daksha Hirani.

In Episode 7 of Narcissism at Work, we dive into the emotional tipping points that force us to confront toxic workplace dynamics. From boundary-setting and trauma bonding to the decision to walk away, this episode unpacks the psychology of narcissistic abuse at work and what it takes to protect your peace.

Narcissism At Work Just Hit #11 on Apple’s Mental Health Charts! Here’s a look at what it really means to launch an impact-driven podcast without a PR machine. From toxic leadership and gaslighting to psychological safety and burnout, this is the behind-the-scenes story of how Narcissism At Work became a chart-topping podcast and why it matters.

In bonus episode #6 of Narcissism At Work, we hear from Faisa, a manager whose direct report weaponised mental health language to avoid accountability, leaving her anxious, burned out, and questioning her ability to lead. We unpack how emotional manipulation, gaslighting, and unjustified guilt can erode leadership confidence and enable toxic dynamics to thrive.

In Episode 6 of Narcissism at Work, Leyya and Dr. Daksha Hirani uncover the hidden toll of working with narcissists, from chronic anxiety to adrenal fatigue to total nervous system collapse. This episode sheds light on what many have endured in silence and offers tools for recovery, resilience, and reclaiming your power.

Ever walked out of a meeting with a tight chest and racing thoughts, wondering if it was you? The S.T.U.F. framework is a powerful tool to help you name and process what’s going on inside. Whether you're facing gaslighting, burnout, or confusion at work, this guide enables you to tune into your body, thoughts, and feelings without shame or self-doubt.

In episode 5, we discuss how narcissistic traits can take root in workplace systems, from DEI to leadership to HR itself. With insight from Dr. Daksha Hirani and our HR consultant Raakhi Tanvi, we explore the emotional toll of institutional gaslighting, the misuse of NDAs, and how marginalised staff are often the ones most harmed…then blamed.

In bonus episode #4 of Narcissism At Work, we hear from Mo, whose wife worked under a narcissistic boss, a relationship so toxic it nearly destroyed their marriage and her mental health. We explore the ripple effect of workplace abuse: how narcissistic leaders isolate their victims, hijack ambition, and reframe cruelty as coaching.

Narcissistic behaviour often thrives in founder-led startups, hidden behind visionary leadership and toxic hustle culture. Episode 4 exposes the dark side of startup life, from love bombing to gaslighting, and shares trauma-informed tools to help you spot red flags, set boundaries, and protect your self-worth.

In bonus episode #3 of Narcissism At Work, we meet Rani, a working mother whose trust in a so-called supportive colleague unravelled into manipulation, guilt, and burnout. This episode explores how narcissists weaponise mum guilt and performative allyship to control. With expert insight from Dr. Daksha Hirani, we unpack the emotional toll and how to heal from it.

Ever felt like someone at work feeds off your reactions, thrives on drama, or constantly pushes your emotional buttons? In our latest post, we explore Grey Rocking and Yellow Rocking, two powerful strategies for protecting yourself from narcissistic behaviour in the workplace.

In Episode 2 of Narcissism at Work, we highlight the Emotions Wheel, a powerful tool to help name what you’re truly feeling. Toxic leaders often gaslight you into self-doubt. The Emotions Wheel cuts through that fog, helping you move from “I’m fine” to “I feel dismissed” or “ashamed.” When you can name it, you can start to process it.

In Episode 3 of Narcissism At Work, we explore how narcissistic behaviour shows up between colleagues. These aren’t always the loudest voices in the room. Sometimes, they’re the charming coworker who praises you publicly but undercuts you privately. And the damage they cause is just as devastating.

We attended Feast, Melody and Adornment: The Art of Pichvai at the Mall Galleries in London, a landmark exhibition founded by the formidable Pooja Singhal. It’s the first major UK showcase of Pichvai, a 400-year-old sacred painting tradition from India, historically rooted in temple rituals but now beautifully reimagined for contemporary audiences.