The Devil Emails at Midnight

featuring Mita Mallick

Wall Street Journal & USA Today Best Selling Author

Mita Mallick, Wall Street Journal & USA Today Best Selling Author, discusses the archetypes of bad bosses featured in her new book with our president, Steve Gilman.

Bad bosses are everywhere. The ones who steal the spotlight. The ones who send late-night emails just to prove a point. The ones who rule with fear instead of empathy. We’ve all worked with them, and if we’re honest, we’ve all had moments where we’ve been them.

In this episode of Brand Story, Mita returns to the podcast for the third time to talk about her new book, The Devil Emails at Midnight. Drawing from her own experiences surviving 13 types of bad bosses, Mita reveals what they taught her about leadership, and how the habits that hold teams back can be replaced with empathy, awareness, and authenticity.

We explore why toxic behaviors are so persistent in the workplace, how leaders can recognize when they’re slipping into bad habits, and what it takes to build cultures that people actually want to be part of. Along the way, Mita shares the leadership practices that matter most: sharing the spotlight, practicing empathy, and embracing vulnerability as strength.

Whether you’re leading a team or hoping to one day, this episode is a reminder that good leadership isn’t about perfection—it’s about paying attention, doing better, and never underestimating the impact of how you show up.

About the Guest

Mita Mallick

Wall Street Journal & USA Today Best Selling Author

Mita is a LinkedIn Top Voice and a changemaker in the world of diversity, equity, and inclusion. She’s had an extensive career as a multicultural marketer in the beauty and consumer goods space, being a fierce advocate for including and representing Black and Brown communities. Her first book, Reimagine Inclusion, which addresses the 13 DEI myths in the workplace, is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestseller, while her second book, The Devil Emails at Midnight, shares 13 types of bad bosses to help you become a better leader.

Quickfire Q&A

What was the moment that made you think you needed to write about this?

Mita: I was in my childhood bedroom, and I found a notebook from my 20s that had nicknames of bosses I’ve had and descriptions of things they’ve said and done, and I was like, what if I’m in someone’s notebook? It’s very easy to talk about the bad boss and spill the tea, but what if you’re the person who’s acting this way? So that was the genesis of the book, and that’s how I decided to position it.

How do you feel about bringing this topic into the light?

Mita: I’ve been the person who’s written a lot on how to survive a toxic workplace. It’s the number one DM I get from people. And it’s so heartbreaking. Why do we do this to each other? Why can’t we think about the role we each play in our workplaces and how I might have a really toxic habit, or just an annoying one that’s stopping people from doing their best work? And that’s really the message of the book.

The Devil Emails at Midnight

About the Guest

Quickfire Q&A

Related Links

Steve Gilman