Liz Fosslien

Liz Fosslien is an American author, illustrator, and expert in workplace culture and emotions. She is the co-author of the books No Hard Feelings: The Secret Power of Embracing Emotions at Work and Big Feelings: How to Be Okay When Things Are Not Okay, both of which explore the intersection of emotions and professional life.

Early life and education Liz Fosslien studied mathematical economics at Pomona College.

Career After college, she worked as an analyst at an economic consulting firm, a job that she initially believed would be her dream career.

Fosslien began her career in the tech industry, where she served as the chief of staff at Parliament, and at Genius, focusing on rebranding and diversity inclusion efforts.

In 2019, Fosslien co-authored No Hard Feelings: The Secret Power of Embracing Emotions at Work with Mollie West Duffy. The book challenges the traditional notion that emotions should be kept out of the workplace and argues that acknowledging and managing emotions can lead to more effective and meaningful work experiences. The book resonated with millennial professionals, who often struggle with the rigid separation between "work life" and "personal life."

In 2022, Fosslien and Duffy released their second book, Big Feelings: How to Be Okay When Things Are Not Okay. The book was inspired by their own experiences with burnout, chronic pain, and the loss of loved ones, and it emphasizes the importance of sharing and acknowledging difficult emotions. These illustrations have gained traction on platforms like LinkedIn, where they are often shared and discussed by professionals seeking to better understand and manage their emotions. Her work has been praised for making complex emotional concepts accessible and relatable through simple yet powerful visuals. Big Feelings: How to Be Okay When Things Are Not Okay (2022)