In boardrooms, open-plan offices, and government corridors across Eswatini and the world over, there’s a quiet truth many professionals carry but rarely say out loud: sometimes the workplace isn’t just stressful—it’s toxic.
Pretty Suits & Poisoned Mugs — A Journey Through Workplace Toxicity steps into that silence and gives it a voice.
At first glance, the title may sound almost playful. But beneath it lies a powerful reality. The “pretty suits” represent the polished image many professionals present daily—composed, capable, and successful. The “poisoned mugs,” however, tell a different story: subtle sabotage, exclusion, manipulation, and the kind of workplace politics that slowly erode confidence and mental well-being.
But this is not an exposé. It does not name and shame. And it is certainly not a pity party.
Instead, it is a grounded, honest account of navigating difficult environments with dignity, strategy, and growth. It is a story about what happens when you refuse to be defined by what you endure—and choose instead to rise through it.
Drawn from close to two decades in the corporate world, the author shares her personal journey through workplace environments that tested her resilience, identity, and faith. What makes the memoir particularly compelling is that it doesn’t stop at one story. It weaves in the lived experiences of other women, creating a collective narrative that many readers—across industries and levels—will recognize instantly.
If you have ever felt overlooked despite your performance, experienced unfair treatment but struggled to prove it, been told to “just focus on your work” while navigating toxic dynamics, questioned your worth because of how you were treated at work; then this book is speaking directly to you.
For junior employees, it offers language for experiences you may not yet know how to articulate. For middle management, it exposes the hidden cultural cracks that often go ignored. And for executives and business leaders, it delivers a clear message: workplace culture is not a “soft” issue—it is a business risk.
Globally, toxic workplace environments are linked to decreased productivity, higher staff turnover, and long-term reputational damage. In a small and closely connected market like Eswatini, the impact is even more pronounced—culture travels fast.
What sets Pretty Suits & Poisoned Mugs apart is its tone. It balances emotional depth with moments of humour, making heavy experiences accessible without diluting their seriousness. Each chapter closes with reflections that encourage readers to pause, think, and, most importantly, begin to reclaim their power.
This is not just a story about what went wrong. It is a story about what becomes possible when you choose not to break.
Because behind every “pretty suit” in the office, there may just be a story no one has yet dared to tell.