The Girlboss is Dead. What Now?

In this episode of Next Gen Biz, host Natasha Navarro Gundersen unpacks the rise and fall of the “Girlboss” era—how it inspired a generation, and why it ultimately collapsed under the weight of hustle culture, toxic workplaces, and aestheticized capitalism.

From personal reflection as a business student to a deeper cultural critique, Natasha asks: If the girlboss is dead, what do we build in her place?
What does ambition look like when it’s rooted in care, equity, and sustainability, not just performance?

The girlboss era promised empowerment through entrepreneurship, hustle, and personal branding, but many of us are now living in its aftermath. In this episode of Next Gen Biz, I reflect on how ambition got aestheticized, how burnout became a badge of honor, and why so many high-achieving women feel like they’re quietly falling apart.

But this isn’t just a takedown, it’s a reimagining. I offer a vision of ambition that’s slower, softer, and more sustainable. One that leaves room for rest, collaboration, and actual joy.
A powerful, timely exploration of how we outgrew the girlboss myth, and what we might choose to build instead. Honest, warm, and quietly radical.

If you've ever felt overachieving and under-supported, this one's for you.