Narcissism At Work14 Juli 2025

The Narcissistic Startup

On this episode of Narcissism At Work, we're diving into what happens when a respected visionary founder turns into a source of emotional manipulation, fear, and chaos. Startups are often praised for their innovation and drive, but they can also be prime territory for narcissistic behaviours, cleverly disguised as passion, purpose, and progress. We're joined by clinical psychologist Dr. Daksha Hirani to break down how narcissistic entrepreneurs weaponise values like "resilience" and "loyalty," using charm, ambition, and even therapeutic language to exploit trust and blur boundaries.

What we cover:

When charisma and “big vision” mask control and abuse
Red flags in startup culture e.g. love bombing, mirroring, gaslighting, and burnout
Why narcissists are drawn to entrepreneurial roles
How values like “grit” and “purpose” are twisted to justify exploitation
Emotional debt, blurred lines, and the illusion of family in toxic work cultures
How to set boundaries, break free from trauma bonding, and protect your peace

Why it matters:

These environments don’t just hurt careers, they destabilise lives. And because they’re often masked by ethical branding or progressive language, many people don’t realise what’s happening until the damage is done.

Connect with Other Box: otherbox.co/podcast for further resources | @otherbox

Subscribe to get new episodes as soon as they drop.

Narcissism At Work is a co-production from Other Box and Breaking Atoms.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Det här avsnittet är hämtat från ett öppet RSS-flöde och publiceras inte av Podme. Det kan innehålla reklam.

Avsnitt(18)

Listener Letter: Meet Jay

What happens when harm comes from someone you expected to feel safest with? When your shared identity becomes the very weapon used against you? In this final Listener Letter, Jay shares the story of h...

14 Aug 202514min

How to build healthy inclusive workplaces

In our final episode, we explore what it actually means to build a healthy workplace, shifting our focus from toxic behaviours to constructive solutions. We welcome back clinical psychologist Dr. Daks...

11 Aug 202553min

Listener Letter: Meet Dani

In this week’s Listener Letter, we meet Dani, who shares their experience of a working relationship that spanned eight years, one that began in mutual respect and creative fire, and slowly devolved in...

7 Aug 202512min

Boundaries, Burnout and Breaking Free from Toxic Workplaces: How to Protect Yourself Against Narcissists

What happens when trying to protect yourself at work gets twisted into “not being a team player”? Or when being firm gets labelled as “aggressive”?In Episode 7 of Narcissism At Work, Leyya and Dr. Dak...

4 Aug 202535min

Listener Letter: Meet Faisa

In this bonus episode, Faisa writes in as a manager whose confidence was shattered by a direct report who consistently blurred the line between vulnerability and manipulation. From rejecting basic fee...

31 Juli 202511min

The Mental and Physical Toll of Working with a Narcissist

Have you ever left a job feeling like a shell of yourself—anxious, exhausted, second-guessing everything, and unsure how it got so bad?In this episode of Narcissism at Work, Leyya and Clinical Psychol...

28 Juli 202538min

Listener Letter: Meet Hannah

In this Listener Letter, we hear from Hannah, a former employee who found herself working under the same narcissistic CEO twice, a decade apart.At first, she returned believing things would be differe...

24 Juli 202514min

Is HR complicit?

Have you ever dealt with an HR team that protects toxic leaders and silences the people they hurt? In this episode of Narcissism at Work, we explore how narcissism can show up not just in individuals ...

21 Juli 202541min