For many young professionals, the corporate world is wrapped in layers of expectation, ambition and unwritten rules, so one woman is pulling back the curtain on what she calls "the unspoken truths" of office life.
Isobelle Panton, 32, lives in Manchester, England, and has spent more than a decade in the workforce. On February 13, she took to Instagram to share what she has learned throughout her years as a "career girly."
Panton, a corporate professional who runs @corporateagonyaunt on TikTok and Instagram, summed up her realizations about office life in a carousel post.
"Deinfluencing you as a BIG career girly who's seen the WORST of corporate life," the first image in the post said.
Panton went on to list seven common corporate myths, warning readers about the illusion of meritocracy in hiring and the misconception that busyness equates to career success. She also addressed, among other things, toxic workplace dynamics, the mistake of equating salary with seniority and the importance of salary negotiations.
'I'm Everybody's Big Sister in Business'
"My mission is to deliver the career advice we all desperately need but rarely hear—the unspoken truths, not the same old clichés," Panton told Newsweek.
"My dream is to help you land your dream job," she added. "I have built a community of over 100,000 followers, won awards for my work, worked with some of the biggest business people in England, but most importantly, helped thousands of people with their job hunt."
Panton said her decade as a corporate employee inspired her to create content that reflected the workplace experience so many professionals endured but rarely discussed openly. She said that while there was no shortage of traditional career advice, much of it failed to capture the nuance of real-world office politics and career advancement.
Her candid takes on corporate life have resonated widely, with many viewers on Instagram engaging with her content by sharing their own experiences.
"The online response has been overwhelmingly positive," she said. "Most importantly, the messages I get from people landing their dream jobs at places like Disney is a dream come true for me—and for them!"
Debunking Corporate Myths
Panton's post addressed seven key misconceptions about career success, drawn from her own experience and conversations she had with others navigating similar corporate environments.
Why These Workplace Realities Matter
To further break down these corporate myths, Newsweek spoke with Patrice Lindo, the CEO of Career Nomad, a consultancy specializing in leadership development and career strategy.
"Interviews favor those who understand corporate culture, unspoken rules and storytelling. It is not always the best person who gets the job—it is the best-positioned person," Lindo said, reinforcing Panton's take on the biases that may be inherent in the hiring process.
On hustle culture, Lindo agreed that prioritizing rest was essential. "Burnout does not lead to promotions, and being 'the hardest worker in the room' often just means you are the most exploited," the career strategist said. "Strategic professionals focus on impact, not hours. Work smarter, build visibility, and set boundaries."
Lindo also supported Panton's assertion that workplace resentment was unavoidable for those who stood out. "If you are excelling, someone will resent it. That is human nature," she added. "The real game is learning to navigate power dynamics, advocate for yourself, and keep receipts."
Regarding poor leadership in management, Lindo said: "Here is the kicker—knowing this is power. If your career strategy is based solely on 'doing a good job,' you are already losing. The best career moves come from positioning, mentorship, and actively seeking leadership opportunities outside of performance reviews."
Lindo also echoed Panton's advice about workplace attire: "This is not just about clothes—it is about branding. People promote and invest in those who look the part, and executive presence matters."
When it comes to salary negotiations, Lindo underscored the importance of focusing on individual worth rather than comparing your paycheck with those of your colleagues.
"Your paycheck is not a reward—it is a business decision," she said. "Companies pay what they think they can get away with and research industry benchmarks. Show your impact and frame salary discussions around the value you bring, not what your co-workers are making."
Making Career Advice Accessible
Panton, who works as a commercial lead while managing @corporateagonyaunt, believes traditional career guidance has failed to meet the needs of modern professionals—especially young women navigating corporate life.
"It just reiterates what I already knew about how underserved 18-to-40-year-olds, predominantly women, are when it comes to career advice," she said. "Where are we meant to access it in a way that is relatable and relevant?"
"Rather than formal services, we should meet people where they are—and where they discover: social media," she added.
As her platform grows, Panton remains focused on cutting through generic advice and offering the kind of insight that only experience can provide—in a style that younger millennial and Gen Z viewers will digest.
"That is why my posts resonate with people," she said. "I cut through the wishy-washy white noise of typical career advice and lean into the nuance that so many of us need but do not get exposure to."
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