WIL Talk

What if being called a “superwoman” isn’t a compliment, but a warning sign? In this powerful episode of Women in Leadership Talk, Vicky Bradley sits down with trailblazing executive and author Gladys H. DeClouet, whose memoir A Layered Life shares how she broke barriers as the first female engineer in offshore oil and gas and rose to lead multi-billion-dollar businesses in male-dominated industries like oil and fast food.

Gladys opens up about growing up during desegregation, facing racism, sexism, and extreme sexual harassment, and why she refused to let society define what was possible for a Black woman in corporate America. She shares the real cost of the “superwoman” label, the invisible load women carry, and why asking for help and building a support system is not a weakness but a leadership strength.

You’ll hear:

What it felt like to be the only woman on an offshore rig

A pivotal story that shaped her entire leadership philosophy

Why integrity, inclusive leadership, and psychological safety are non-negotiable

How women leaders can stop trying to “do it all” and still excel

What she hopes the next generation of women in leadership will carry forward

If you’re a woman in leadership (or aspiring to be), this conversation will challenge the “superwoman” myth and invite you to lead with courage, boundaries, and integrity.

👉 Grab Gladys’ book, A Layered Life: Breaking Barriers as a Trailblazing Black Woman in Corporate America
👉 Take the free leadership quiz at: https://willmpowered.com

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this episode with another woman who needs to hear she doesn’t have to do it all alone. 💛