Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce And The Career Perks Of The Right Partner

Taylor Swift appeared on Travis Kelce’s podcast this week, offering a rare glimpse into the relationship of this career-driven couple. Despite the glamorous lives of the pop icon and NFL superstar, Swift’s anecdotes made their relationship seem completely relatable—whether it was baking sourdough bread for Kelce to take to training camp or laughing about overhearing his booming podcast voice from another room in their home.

And if you’re wondering whether their relationship might pull focus from her music or his football, the research suggests the opposite. The right relationship can boost your career. Here’s what the data say about how a supportive relationship can elevate your career, regardless of whether you’re selling out stadiums or climbing the corporate ladder.

Partnering May Boost Your Career

One survey found that a large majority of people feel happier at work when they are in a healthy relationship outside of work, and positive emotions tend to make you more productive. Indeed, Swift mentioned in the podcast that Kelce “is a vibe booster.” When their relationships are going well, people actually spend more time at work. In addition, partners can be a great source of social support, and research indicates that people turn to their partners for support when they feel pressure at work.

Another study found that those in a romantic relationship are more likely to achieve their goals at work. Partners who share resources, align on objectives and champion each other’s ambitions can find themselves achieving more, as long as they are not in direct competition with one another or weighed down by different priorities. When Swift joined Kelce on his podcast, New Heights, she expanded her reach into the sports world and extended his reach to her loyal fans.

For dual-career couples, there’s one characteristic of your partner that’s particularly important for your own career: conscientiousness. When your partner is organized, responsible and hardworking, it can impact your paycheck. Researchers found that for every unit increase in your spouse’s conscientiousness, you’re likely to earn $4000 more per year. Why? You’re likely to mirror their diligent habits, and you’re more satisfied in your relationship when you can count on your partner. Both Swift and Kelce seem to check this box.

As an example of how partnering can lead to career success, researchers examined the women who had served as CEOs for Fortune 500 companies. Only one had never married.

However, not all relationships result in a career boost. When conflict seeps into the relationship, it can impact focus and productivity. For example, 94% of finance professionals report struggling to focus at work when they’re in conflict with their partner. In addition, competition between partners or clashing priorities can also undermine work productivity. A partner’s work stress can impact you as well. If one partner brings home stress, it can spill over to the other partner.

This is why Sheryl Sandberg, author of Lean In and former Meta executive, has long emphasized the importance of choosing the right life partner. As she put it, “I truly believe that the single most important career decision that a woman makes is whether she will have a life partner and who that partner is. I don’t know of one woman in a leadership position whose life partner is not fully—and I mean fully—supportive of her career. No exceptions.”

Problems Can Arise When Women Earn More

Swift became a billionaire in October 2023, and Forbes estimates her net worth at $1.6 billion. Kelce’s success is also impressive. But despite an estimated $52 million net worth and a two-year $34.25 million contract extension signed last spring, Swift’s earnings still outpace his by a wide margin.

Research shows that this income disparity can present challenges for straight couples. One study of marriages between men and women found that as women earned a larger share of the household income, relationship satisfaction dropped, particularly for men. Men who earned less than their female partner reported feeling less masculine and more inadequate, and those feelings were linked to lower relationship quality. Women who outearned their husbands also reported feeling uncomfortable challenging traditional gender roles, though the effect was smaller than it was for men.

Others have found a higher risk of relationship dissolution when the woman outearns her husband, and men in this situation have an 11% greater chance of being diagnosed with a mental health problem. Despite their higher earnings, women still typically shoulder more of the housework and caregiving, while men have more leisure time—though Swift and Kelce are likely to be able to afford any household help they need.

The Additional Burden Of Public Scrutiny

Finally, Swift and Kelce face an additional challenge of being in the public eye, which can add significant pressure to any relationship. One analysis found that celebrities are twice as likely to divorce as the rest of us, likely due to public scrutiny and the blurring of personal and professional boundaries.

Swift and Kelce tend to keep their relationship very private, drawing a clear line between their personal and private lives. Swift explains in the podcast, that she never checks her social media, adding “I’m not an online person at all.” It’s a reminder, even for those of us who are not celebrities, of the value in carving out time just for your relationship, free from work obligations and the draw of social media.