What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedWorking Girl
Mike Nichols · Film · 1988
If you loved Working Girl, start with What's Wrong with Secretary Kim (Park Joon-hwa, 2018) — a series on the same thread. Below: 3 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Working Girl across media.
What hooked you in Working Girl is the thrill of watching an underdog navigate corporate power through wit and strategic reinvention.
Books on the same thread
Worthy Opponents
Danielle Steel · Book
Explores: work-life-balance, corporate-takeover, female-empowerment.
If the corporate ladder climb in Working Girl kept you glued to the screen, you will appreciate this intense look at high-stakes business takeovers and female leadership.
Romantic Comedy
Curtis Sittenfeld · Book
Explores: imposter syndrome, creative collaboration, power dynamics.
This story captures the same professional tension found in Working Girl, focusing on the complex power dynamics and creative collaboration that occur within a demanding workplace environment.
Nightwork
Nora Roberts · Book
Explores: protective lover, criminal underworld, high-stakes romance.
Much like the identity-driven schemes in Working Girl, this thriller explores the high-stakes consequences of living a double life while balancing a dangerous romantic entanglement.
Series on the same thread
What's Wrong with Secretary Kim
Park Joon-hwa · Series · 2018
Shares a thread with Working Girl: Workplace Comedy.
You will recognize the familiar office power struggles from Working Girl in this dynamic between an arrogant executive and his indispensable secretary who finally asserts her own worth.
30 Rock
Tina Fey · Series · 2006
Shares a thread with Working Girl: Workplace Comedy.
Anyone who enjoyed the chaotic New York media landscape of Working Girl will find a kindred spirit in Liz Lemon as she manages big egos and professional dreams.
Suits
Aaron Korsh · Series · 2011
Explores: Underdog, Mentor-Mentee Relationship, Moral Ambiguity.
The imposter syndrome and sharp-witted strategy that defined Working Girl are central to this legal drama, where a brilliant underdog bluffs his way into a high-powered career.
Business Proposal
Han Sul-hee · Series · 2022
Shares 2 threads with Working Girl: Mistaken Identity, Workplace Comedy.
The delightful chaos of mistaken identity in Working Girl carries over here, as a professional deception leads to an unexpected romantic proposal from the company CEO.
Podcasts on the same thread
Working Hard, Hardly Working
Podcast
Explores: entrepreneurship, career advice, personal growth.
If the spirit of ambition in Working Girl resonated with you, this series provides real-world success stories that mirror the drive required to disrupt traditional business paths.
Acquired
Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal · Podcast · 2026
Explores: entrepreneurial growth, market disruption, strategic decision-making.
For those fascinated by the corporate maneuvering in Working Girl, these deep dives into business strategy reveal the actual playbooks behind the world’s most successful companies.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What is the premise of Working Girl?
Working Girl follows a secretary who discovers her boss has stolen her professional idea. To reclaim her work, she seizes an opportunity to pose as her boss and take over the role herself to execute the plan.
Who directed the 1988 film Working Girl?
Working Girl was directed by Mike Nichols. The film centers on a secretary who navigates corporate deception after her superior steals an idea she developed, leading her to assume her boss's identity to regain control of her professional future.
Is Working Girl about a secretary stealing a job?
Yes, Working Girl is about a secretary who pretends to have her boss's job. She takes this action after her boss steals her original idea, using the deception as a way to reclaim her work and advance her career.
How does the plot of Working Girl begin?
The plot of Working Girl begins when a secretary identifies that her boss has stolen her professional idea. This betrayal prompts the protagonist to seize an opportunity to masquerade as her boss to steal her idea back.