Podcasts about future of work

David Pocock is one of Australia's most influential politicians, working as the Senator of the Australian Capital Territory. He brings a distinctive perspective to some of the country's biggest debates, from climate policy and energy security to democratic reform and the future of work. A former captain of the Australian rugby team, David entered politics after years of speaking out on issues including climate change, equality and environmental protection. Four years into his Senate career, he joins Michael Liebreich to explain how independent politics works in practice, what he's hearing from voters across Australia, his campaign to tax natural gas exports, and why he believes the country's clean energy transition must deliver lower household bills as well as lower emissions. The conversation explores Australia's world-leading rooftop solar uptake, the barriers slowing electric vehicle adoption, and why David believes Australians deserve a greater return from the country's gas exports. They also look ahead to the rise of AI and data centres, asking whether governments are paying enough attention to the implications for jobs, tax revenues and energy demand. Topics covered in this week's episode: David's journey from rugby player to Senator Australian voters' priorities Lowering household energy bills Australia's clean energy successes Why EV adoption lags Taxing Australia's gas exports Data centres and energy demand AI concerns and the future of work Leadership Circle: Cleaning Up is proud to be supported by its Leadership Circle. The members are Actis, Alcazar Energy, Arup, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Cygnum Capital, Davidson Kempner, EcoPragma Capital, EDP, Eurelectric, the Gilardini Foundation, KKR, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, National Grid, Octopus Energy, Quadrature Climate Foundation, Schneider Electric, SDCL and Wärtsilä. For more information about the Leadership Circle, visit cleaningup.live Links: David Pocock's bio: https://www.davidpocock.com.au/about David Pocock “Chains himself to digger” news article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/30272670 Aksel Lund Svindal on Cleaning Up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRc1VCBnVgI Alex Honnold on Cleaning Up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwmQf0mhHkE Prince Albert of Monaco on Cleaning Up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-eYHKpDBYU Håkan Agnevall (Wärtsilä) on Cleaning Up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUYjGT55g5A Subscribe to our newsletter: https://cleaninguppod.substack.com/ Acronyms: C&I: Commercial and Industrial ICE: Internal Combustion Engine ACT: Australian Capital Territory Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:48 From Rugby to Politics 11:46 Getting Arrested For Activism 16:35 What Voters Want 20:34 Rising Voter Frustration 26:16 Australia's Energy Report 28:57 Why EVs Lag Behind 31:19 Taxing Gas Exports 36:09 Data Centre Dilemma 39:46 AI vs Human Jobs 44:47 Delivering Real Results 49:44 Outro

In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality, Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with technologist, entrepreneur, TEDx speaker, and Avatar Buddy co-founder Stephanie Sylvestre for a conversation that goes far beyond artificial intelligence.Growing up in Belize, Stephanie imagined one day returning home to help build her country's future. But when an unexpected political shift changed those plans, she found herself on a different path—one that led from corporate technology leadership to entrepreneurship, community impact, and ultimately building AI solutions designed to empower people rather than replace them. Along the way, her experiences across cultures, industries, and communities shaped a leadership philosophy rooted in one belief: technology should always serve humanity. Together, Dr. Lola and Stephanie explore how our identities, lived experiences, and values influence the way we approach innovation, leadership, and the future of work. They discuss why the most valuable skills in the age of AI are still deeply human, how organizations can embrace emerging technologies responsibly, and why curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking will remain essential as workplaces continue to evolve.This conversation isn't simply about AI.It's about the people who build it, the values that guide it, and the humanity that must remain at its center.In This Episode, We Discuss Stephanie's journey from Belize to technology leadership  How identity and lived experience shape innovation  The role of AI in transforming—not replacing—the workplace  Why human skills matter more than ever in the age of AI  Responsible AI and the importance of human oversight  Resourcefulness, creativity, and critical thinking as future-ready skills  Building technology that amplifies people instead of replacing them  How AI can expand access, opportunity, and social impact  Leading organizations through technological change  Practical advice for professionals preparing for the future of work About the GuestStephanie Sylvestre is a technologist, entrepreneur, TEDx speaker, and Co-Founder of Avatar Buddy, an AI company helping organizations eliminate bottlenecks—not people—through human-centered artificial intelligence. With more than three decades of leadership experience spanning technology, operations, nonprofit leadership, and innovation, Stephanie has held executive roles with organizations including The Children's Trust, Burger King, Subway, Hewlett-Packard, and Avatar Buddy. Today, she helps leaders and organizations embrace AI responsibly while ensuring people remain at the center of innovation. Learn more about Stephanie and her work:

He put the “career” in Careerminds by knowing when to change his own! Keystone Partners is now part of Careerminds, bringing together two people-first organizations with a shared vision for the future of work. In this special episode of The Hennessy Report, host Dave Hennessy sits down with Careerminds' founder and president Raymond Lee to discuss the risks, relationships, and defining moments behind his journey from HR leader to entrepreneur. Raymond shares the advice that helped him grow the company, why human skills matter more than ever in the age of AI, and, in Coach's Corner, he advises how to recognize when commitment to a career is no longer serving you. Stay tuned for the reveal of the popular sitcom he has somehow never watched! Listen for an honest conversation about leadership, vulnerability, career fulfillment, and building a people-first organization.

Sonya Shelton is the founder of Executive Leadership Consulting, where she's spent 25+ years helping organizations like The Walt Disney Company, Nestlé, Microsoft, AECOM, and Experian align strategy, culture, and leadership. She's also the author of the Amazon bestseller You're an Executive, But Are You a Leader?, a book that lays out the enduring capabilities required to actually lead — not just hold a title.In this episode, Paul and Sonya discuss how rapid change, economic uncertainty, and AI have shortened planning horizons and made authenticity, vulnerability, trust, and intentional connection (especially in remote/hybrid settings) non-negotiable. They explore employee burnout and anxiety, the need for clarity over false certainty, and leaders' reluctance to make decisions without complete information. Sonya outlines her Red Thread model—purpose, plan, processes, positions, and passion—and argues culture and strategy must “have breakfast together,” using purpose to align teams, break silos, and build sustainable organizations.Humanity Working is a podcast focused on helping individuals, teams and organizations be ready for the future of work by maximizing their human potential.For more information, and access to our weekly newsletter, visit us at humanityworking.net.

Why AI is advancing faster than most people realize The truth about choosing a college major today Which careers may be most vulnerable to AI Why human skills matter more than ever How students can become future-ready The importance of AI literacy for every family Opportunities for students interested in AI research

This lecture was recorded by Professor Daniel Susskind on the 26th of May 2026Dr Daniel Susskind is a writer and economist. He explores the impact of technology, and particularly AI, on work and society. He is the Mercers' School Memorial Professor of Business at Gresham College. He is also a Digital Fellow at the Stanford Digital Economy Lab, a Senior Research Associate at the Institute for Ethics in AI at Oxford University, an Associate Member of the Economics Department at Oxford University, and a Research Professor at King's College London. He is a member of the UK Government's Expert Panel on AI and the Future of Work. His new book, Growth: A Reckoning (2024), was chosen by President Obama as one of his ‘Favourite Books of 2024' and was a runner-up for the Financial Times Business Book of the Year 2024. He is also the author of A World Without Work (2020), described by The New York Times as "required reading for any potential presidential candidate thinking about the economy of the future” and a runner-up for the Financial Times Business Book of the Year 2020, and co-author of the best-selling book, The Future of the Professions (2015). His TED Talk, on the future of work, has been viewed more than 1.7 million times. His next book, What Should My Children Do? How to Flourish in the Age of AI, will be published in 2026. And his first novel, The Basilisk Stare, will be published in 2027. Previously he worked in various roles in the British Government – in the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit, in the Policy Unit in 10 Downing Street, and in the Cabinet Office. He was a Kennedy Scholar at Harvard University. The transcript of the lecture is available from the Gresham College website: https://www.gresham.ac.uk/watch-now/education-limitsGresham College has offered free public lectures for over 400 years, thanks to the generosity of our supporters. There are currently over 2,500 lectures free to access. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to learn from some of the greatest minds. To support Gresham College's mission, please consider making a donation: https://www.gresham.ac.uk/get-involved/support-us/make-donation/donate-today Website:  https://gresham.ac.ukX: https://x.com/GreshamCollegeFacebook: https://facebook.com/greshamcollegeInstagram: https://instagram.com/greshamcollegeBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/greshamcollege.bsky.social TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@greshamcollegeSupport Us: https://www.gresham.ac.uk/get-involved/support-us/make-donation/donate-todaySupport the show

Are you the User of AI—or about to become a Looser? This is Episode 75 of Dare Real Agile, Coach AF (A. Frédéric Joly) opens the vault of the human brain for a bold solo tale on AI, agility, and the future of work. Part 1 decodes the User / Loser / Looser triple-play: why rigidity loses, why staying loose wins, and how the HI + AI equation keeps the human in the loop the real hero. Part 2 reviews Jürgen Appelo's essay "The Age of AI Will Reveal the True Agilists"—the daring, caring way—separating true agilists from pretenders inside the new AI industrial complex. Packed with practical insight for entrepreneurs, business owners, startups, executive coaches, agile people, Scrum Masters, Product Owners, project managers, and change consultants exploring Enterprise Scrum, Business Agility, Lean, Experience Design, and New Ways of Working. If you're into AI for Enterprise, AI Craftmanship, prompt engineering, Bitcoinpreneur thinking, digital nomadism, motivation coaching, and the Freedom Lifestyle Club—this one's for you. Empirical. Human-centered. Bold. Proceed and be bold. Dare real agile.

Agents are getting more powerful by the day. And most workflows, outputs and human capabilities can't keep up. Is that a problem or opportunity? Before you answer that question, though, keep this in mind. Agents are *literally* about to become 20X faster overnight. Let's unpack what that means. Faster AI Agents, Fewer Human Coworkers: The Overly Productive Future of Managing Agents? -- An Everyday AI Chat with Jordan WilsonNewsletter: Sign up for our free daily newsletterMore on this Episode: Episode PageToday's Episode on LinkedIn: Thoughts on this? Join the convo on LinkedIn and connect with other AI leaders.Upcoming Episodes: Check out the upcoming Everyday AI Livestream lineupWebsite: YourEverydayAI.comEmail The Show: info@youreverydayai.comConnect with Jordan on LinkedInTopics Covered in This Episode:Managing Dozens of Productive AI AgentsOpenAI Cerebras: 20x Faster Agent ModelsImpact of AI Agents on Human CoworkersAgent-Driven Workflows vs. Human CollaborationIncreasing Agent Reliance and Fading MentorshipAccidental Deskilling and Compression TaxProtecting Human Judgment and Learning HandoffsExpert-Driven Loops in AI WorkflowsMonthly Rebuilding of AI Strategies and ProcessesMiddle Management Evolution in AI Native CompaniesTimestamps:00:00 Future of AI and Work Dynamics05:25 Advancements in AI and productivity tools09:51 Growing your business with AI13:52 AI productivity and collaboration shifts15:08 Improving AI processing speed18:53 Using AI agents for delegation24:46 Discussing AI-related work challenges28:16 Ensuring accountability and communication30:39 Adapting to rapid digital change32:35 Show outro and newsletter sign-upKeywords: AI agents, faster AI models, OpenAI, Cerebras chip, 20x speed increase, automated workflows, agent management, solo agent supervisor, generative AI, knowledge work automation, agent-powered productivity, parallel machine teams, inference speed, productivity acceleration, Codex, Cloud Code, Google Gemini, Cloud Cowork, Copilot, recursive self improvement, expert-driven loops, human handoffs, deskilling, mentorship loss, AI native workplace, workplace automation, transactional work, productivity roadblocks, accidental deskilling, agent bun sandwich, compression tax, human in the loop, expert collaboration, agent trust, AI decision making, domain expertise, rapid workflow rebuilding, unlearning processes, organizational adaptation, enterprise AI adoption, future of work, middle management AI, AI-powered teamwork, human-agent collaboration, manager-agent ratios, personalized agent output, multi-agent coordination, skillset sharing, intentional automation, productivity strategySend Everyday AI and Jordan a text message. (We can't reply back unless you leave contact info) Ready for ROI on GenAI? Go to youreverydayai.com/partner 

Are you worried about what AI means for your job and the future of work? How do you stay grounded when technology is changing faster than you can keep up? In this episode, I sit down with Oxford Road CEO and founder Dan Granger to talk about AI anxiety, uncertainty, and what it takes to keep moving forward when the future feels impossible to predict. We dive into how to recognize when anxiety is useful, why focusing on the process can pull you out of the “what if” spiral, and how curiosity and adaptability can help you navigate rapid change. Tune in to learn how to work with uncertainty, focus on what you can control, and lean into the uniquely human value you bring to your work. Check out our sponsors: Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever Chime - Head to chime.com/achiever to sign up Monarch - Use code ACHIEVER at monarch.com to get 50% off your first year Physician's Choice - Use code PCPODCAST10 at physicianschoice.com to get 10% off your entire order Whatnot - Get free shipping on your first order. Just search W-H-A-T-N-O-T in the app store and start scoring amazing deals Pebl - Take advantage of Pebl's limited-time offer before it's gone. Visit hipebl.ai today. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Meet Dan Granger, CEO and Founder of Oxford Road. 03:15 Can you build a healthier relationship with anxiety? 06:00 Why anxiety is a necessary part of the human experience. 09:30 When does normal anxiety become unhealthy? 13:15 How to focus on what you can control when the future feels uncertain. 16:30 Is the fear of AI taking your job actually rational? 20:15 Finding your unique value in a world increasingly shaped by AI. 27:45 What a podcast can give you beyond money and downloads. 34:45 The role trust and authenticity play in podcast advertising. 40:15 Can anxiety actually become rocket fuel for achievement? 44:45 Is video changing what it means to be a podcast? Resources + Links Learn more about Oxford Road HERE! Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube  Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Dan: on LinkedIn @dangranger

What if the safest career path in an era of rapid AI disruption is actually doing something entrepreneurial or mission-driven? In this episode of Trending in Education, Mike Palmer is joined by Arun Gupta, CEO of NobleReach Foundation and author of The Mission Generation: Reclaim Your Purpose, Rewrite Success, Rebuild Our Future. Drawing from his background as a venture capitalist, Georgetown and Stanford instructor, and public service advocate, Arun breaks down why traditional stability is becoming the new risk and how emerging generations—and professionals at all career stages—can align personal ambition with civic purpose. They discuss why fewer than 7% of government tech workers are under the age of 30, how to modernize public service pathways beyond outdated hiring portals, and why AI will elevate human-centric strengths like curiosity, judgment, and cross-domain experience. Arun also introduces a framework for rethinking individual net worth around five "hidden capitals"—trust, learning, experiential, mission, and health capital—that compound over a 60-year career horizon. KEY INSIGHTS: Stability as the New Risk: Relying strictly on traditional prestige markers (where you work) over purpose markers (the problems you solve) leaves professionals vulnerable to rapid technological and economic shifts. The Five Hidden Capitals: Career value extends far beyond financial metrics, compounding over time through trust, curiosity, diverse experience, mission impact, and sustained health. Public Service as a Career Accelerator: Short-term civic stints should be framed as resume-enhancing accelerators rather than lifetime commitments, making public service more accessible for tech and business talent. Inverting the Risk Equation: A venture capital mindset shifts the focus from "what if it goes wrong?" to "what if it goes right?"—encouraging transformative, mission-oriented bets over incremental safety. From Independence to Interdependence: Solving large-scale modern challenges requires building cross-sector pathways between public, private, and social institutions. Subscribe to Trending in Ed wherever you get your podcasts to stay ahead of the curve in learning, media, and the future of work. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 – Introduction: Arun Gupta and The Mission Generation 01:00 – From VC Bets to Public Service: Teaching "Valley Meets Mission" at Stanford & Georgetown 03:30 – The Tech Talent Gap: Why Under 7% of Government Tech Workers Are Under 30 06:00 – An Intergenerational Quest: Finding Purpose Across Every Stage of Life 07:00 – Purpose Markers vs. Prestige Markers: Why Stability is the New Risk 10:00 – Advice for Graduates: Service Stints, Entrepreneurial Mindsets, and Action-First Clarity 14:40 – The 4 Barriers to Mission Work & How AI Crosswalks Sector Silos 18:00 – Redefining Net Worth: Investing in the 5 Hidden Capitals 21:00 – Rebuilding Civic Pathways: Framing Public Service as a Career Enhancer 25:40 – Mid-Career Civic Sabbaticals & Purpose as a Longevity Driver 28:30 – From Independence to Interdependence: Designing Systems for Complex Problems 31:20 – The VC Risk Model: Reframing Decisions around "What If It Goes Right?" 38:00 – Silo Busting & Final Takeaways

You just invested in the latest feedback tool, the best collaboration platform, the smartest productivity software. And nothing changed. Not because the tools are bad — but because you're still measuring the wrong things. You're still rewarding the visible. You're still missing the people who quietly hold your organization together. The future of work isn't about better tools. It's about measuring what actually matters. And what actually matters — reliability, leadership, attitude, the intangibles that move teams — has been invisible to your reward systems for too long. Jess Dewell talks with Jacob Chase, Founder & CEO of The INFIN, on how organizations can stop chasing innovation for innovation's sake and start measuring the human contributions that technology can't replace. Jacob has built systems that capture what traditional evaluation misses: the peer-recognized strengths that drive real organizational change. In this episode, you'll discover: Why innovative tools fail to drive change — and the real hurdle isn't the technology, it's understanding how people actually want to work. How to build feedback systems that tell you the truth — and why anonymity and safety are non-negotiable for honest insights. Why it's time to redesign your entire measurement and reward infrastructure — not just tweak the old system. How autonomy, initiative, and transparent reward systems create sustainable growth without chaos. Why real-time, continuous feedback outperforms annual reviews — and what that looks like in practice. How to measure the intangibles — leadership, reliability, attitude — that have the biggest impact on team performance. What a decentralized feedback system can capture that traditional metrics miss entirely. It is BOLD to reimagine culture and measuring formerly intangible value for all stakeholders. The organizations winning today aren't the ones with the fanciest tools. They're the ones measuring what matters. They're recognizing contributions that numbers alone can't capture. They're willing to look beyond job titles and formal roles to see who's actually driving value. They've built systems where peer recognition and transparent rewards amplify the strengths that move culture forward. The disconnect between tools and culture is growing. Companies invest heavily in platforms for feedback but still rely on outdated evaluation methods. They claim to value collaboration but reward individual achievement. They say culture matters but measure only output. That gap is costing you talent, innovation, and resilience. If your feedback systems feel disconnected from reality, if your best people aren't getting recognized for their true contributions, or if you're wondering how to measure the intangible qualities that are actually holding your team together, this conversation will reorient what's possible. —--------- If you're ready to build the kind of business that doesn't just survive uncertainty but leads through it, check out the Driving Solutions Strategic Intensive program, designed to support leadership teams through high-stakes strategic decisions.    --------------------   You can get in touch with Jess Dewell on Twitter,  LinkedIn or Red Direction website.

Attention is no longer something leaders can assume.It must be intentionally designed.In this thought-provoking solo episode, Jay Doran examines one of the defining challenges facing organizations today: how to keep employees focused on creating value for customers in a world increasingly centered on individual identity, constant distraction, and rapidly shifting workplace expectations. Rather than viewing culture as something that simply emerges, Jay argues that culture is intentionally engineered through stories, language, rituals, symbols, and daily leadership behaviors that continually redirect attention toward a shared purpose. Building on previous conversations about culture as a leading indicator, Jay explores how organizations can balance individual fulfillment with collective mission without sacrificing either. As technology reshapes work, careers become increasingly fluid, and employees seek greater personal meaning, leaders must become architects of attention rather than managers of activity. In this episode, you'll discover:Why attention has become one of leadership's most valuable responsibilitiesHow stories and rituals reinforce culture more effectively than policies aloneThe growing tension between individual identity and organizational purposeWhy customer focus can erode when organizations become internally consumedThe importance of designing cultures that earn commitment rather than demand complianceHow mentorship, storytelling, and intentional gatherings strengthen organizational alignmentWhy large organizations naturally struggle to preserve innovation as they growThe relationship between leadership, trust, and information flowing throughout an organizationHow the future of work may reshape entrepreneurship, private markets, and organizational designThroughout the episode, Jay reflects on how businesses must adapt as employees seek greater ownership over their careers while organizations compete to retain exceptional talent. He argues that tomorrow's most successful leaders won't simply optimize systems—they will intentionally create environments where attention flows outward toward customers, teammates, and meaningful contribution rather than inward toward distraction and fragmentation. This conversation challenges leaders to rethink one of the most overlooked questions in business:What is your organization teaching people to pay attention to?Because attention isn't accidental.It's designed—and wherever attention consistently goes, culture inevitably follows.

Send us Fan MailNik Sharma breaks down the startup survival guide for the AI era, revealing how AI agents are changing entrepreneurship, business strategy, brand building, and e-commerce. He explains what founders need to know about startup funding, marketing automation, AI tools, competitive advantage, and the future of work—and how small teams can now compress weeks of execution into hours.This conversation explores why traditional business moats are disappearing, what gives a company a genuine reason to exist, and why distribution, proprietary data, supply-chain advantages, and creator partnerships matter more than ever. Nik also compares agencies with consumer brands, explains why agencies become harder to operate around $200,000–$250,000 per month, and reveals how raising too much capital can trap a startup before it proves product-market fit.You'll learn how to test business ideas efficiently, build an AI-native team, choose stronger business models, and identify overlooked opportunities in niche agencies and Main Street businesses. Subscribe to The Alchemist's Library for more conversations about business, technology, wealth, health, psychology, and self-mastery.#AIBusiness #StartupStrategy #NikSharmaTIMESTAMPS:00:00 – How AI Agents Are Reshaping Startups00:59 – Building a 20-Agent AI Operating System03:22 – How AI Builds Ads and Landing Pages Faster05:14 – Why AI Gives Small Teams More Leverage07:01 – Why Waiting to Learn AI Puts You Behind11:46 – The Future of Marketing Agencies With AI13:19 – How to Test Startup Ideas With AI15:43 – What Makes a Business Moat Defensible21:30 – Agency vs E-Commerce Business Models26:24 – The Best Consumer Brand Business Model27:47 – How Commodity Businesses Lose Pricing Power35:28 – When to Pivot or Kill a Business36:33 – How Much Money You Need to Launch a Brand38:31 – Why Too Much Startup Funding Is Dangerous39:59 – How AI Is Changing Media Buying42:01 – Best AI Tools for Founders and Marketers43:23 – How AI Changes Hiring and Team Size46:43 – How to Source Products From China Safely49:13 – Best AI Business Opportunities for Beginners51:17 – Buying Main Street Businesses With MarketingConnect with Us!https://www.instagram.com/alchemists.library/https://twitter.com/RyanJAyala

Nobody actually knows where AI is heading. Anyone who tells you they do is speculating. But history has never lied and the doom and gloom narrative has been wrong every single time.Morgan sits down with Dale Beaumont, founder of Business Blueprint and author of 19 books, to break down the real AI timeline, which businesses are genuinely at risk, why governments will step in before things implode and what the smartest founders are positioning themselves for right now while everyone else is either panicking or pretending nothing is changing.This is one of the most grounded and honest conversations about AI, the future of work and what it actually means for your business that you will hear this year.Listen To The Full Episode Here

HR fixes everyone else's workflows, but who fixes HR's?In the most recent HR Leaders Podcast episode, I had an inspiring conversation with Barbara Matthews, Chief People Officer at Remote.She explains how her team successfully operates across 85 countries without traditional office mandates or endless meetings. By replacing friction with clear asynchronous documentation, Remote maintains connection and speed at scale.5 things you'll learn from this episode:Integrating AI into performance management and HR operationsBuilding trust and culture in fully remote asynchronous teamsTransitioning HR from lagging reporting to predictive indicatorsDeveloping leadership pillars and manager capabilitiesPrioritizing human power skills and process mapping in tech adoption

How will artificial intelligence reshape the future of work—and will it create enough opportunities for the next generation?Over the next decade, 1.2 billion young people are expected to enter the workforce, but only around 400 million jobs are currently projected to be available. In this episode, host Tanvir Gill explores whether AI could help close that gap—or make the challenge even greater.Entrepreneur and content creator, Marina Mogilko, explains how workers can build an advantage through AI systems, agents and “vibe coding.”Mohamed Eissa, IFC Chief Investment Officer and Global Head of Venture Capital and Direct Technology Investments, examines how AI could transform businesses and create opportunities across emerging markets.Sharat Raghavan, Director of Data Science and Research at LinkedIn, shares what their data reveals about changing jobs, rising skills and the future of career progression.Timestamps[00:00] Will AI make or take the next billion jobs?[00:48] What Nairobi's tech community thinks[02:51] Marina Mogilko on vibe coding and AI as opportunity[05:06] AI and the future of content creation[08:00] The top skill for an AI economy[09:29] Introductions: Sharat Raghavan from LinkedIn and Mohamed Eissa from IFC[13:04] Human skills and AI entrepreneurship[14:40] AI opportunities in emerging markets[16:25] Where jobs are growing[17:25] AI for development: healthcare in Africa[18:35] The changing career ladder[21:44] AI disruption: reality or hype?[25:27] AI, SMEs and the missing middle[26:23] How to future-proof a career

AI is transforming the way organizations work, but successful AI adoption starts with understanding the work itself. In this episode of the Performance Matters podcast, Bob Mosher welcomes back Dr. Con Gottfredson to explore the emerging concept of task intelligence and why understanding work at the job-task level is critical for organizations seeking to leverage AI effectively. Together, Bob and Con discuss why many skills-based initiatives have struggled, how task intelligence provides a more practical path forward, and why organizations must move beyond a technology-first approach. They explore how AI can augment human performance, the importance of maintaining the right human-AI balance, and how methodologies like Rapid Workflow Analysis help organizations identify which tasks can be automated, augmented, or require human expertise. A must-listen for L&D leaders, business leaders, and anyone navigating the future of work, AI, and human performance. Listen or download the episode today!   Have questions about this content or another resource on the site? Let us know! Use this form to let us know you're interested in scheduling a call with a member of the team. We're always happy to discuss your current, future, or aspirational initiatives in real-time. For more 5 Moments of Need resources, visit our website, join the conversation, and subscribe to this podcast so as not to miss a single episode. Copyright © 2026 by APPLY Synergies, LLC | All Rights Reserved. 

The best careers rarely follow a straight line. They evolve through curiosity, calculated risks, unexpected opportunities, and the courage to keep moving forward, even when the destination isn't clear.In this episode of the 2B Bolder Podcast, host Mary Killelea sits down with Tracey Miller, co-owner and Managing Partner of 9iFX, an award-winning creative visual studio that helps some of the world's most recognizable brands tell unforgettable stories through visual effects, animation, immersive experiences, and cinematic storytelling.But this conversation isn't just about visual effects—it's about building a career with intention, embracing uncertainty, and creating opportunities instead of waiting for them.Tracey shares the unconventional path that led her from backpacking through South America at 18 to graduating into the 2008 financial crisis, launching an entrepreneurial venture, earning a Fulbright Scholarship to complete her MBA in Madrid—in Spanish—and ultimately co-founding 9iFX with her husband. Her journey is a powerful reminder that resilience, adaptability, and a willingness to take thoughtful risks often lead to the most rewarding careers.Mary and Tracey also explore what it really takes to grow a creative business—from balancing entrepreneurship with marriage and leadership to hiring employees, building client relationships, and navigating the realities of running a studio in an industry that's constantly evolving.The conversation also dives into one of today's biggest topics: AI and the future of creativity. Tracey shares her perspective on how artificial intelligence is changing visual storytelling, where it creates new opportunities, and why human creativity, taste, collaboration, and craftsmanship remain essential. Together, they discuss the growing importance of originality, copyright, client trust, and creating work that genuinely connects with people.Whether you're building your career, considering entrepreneurship, leading a creative team, or wondering how AI will reshape the future of work, this episode offers practical insights and inspiration for embracing change with confidence.In this episode, you'll discover: Why the most fulfilling careers are rarely linear  How curiosity and calculated risk create unexpected opportunities  What it really takes to build a successful creative business  Lessons from partnering with your spouse while growing a company  Why the best visual effects are often the ones you never notice  How great storytelling creates emotional connection  The opportunities—and challenges—AI is bringing to creative industries  Why human judgment, creativity, and craftsmanship still matter  Advice for women considering entrepreneurship or their next bold career move  What it means to build a career you couldn't have predicted, but wouldn't trade for anything If you've ever questioned whether you're on the "right" career path, this conversation is a reminder that some of the best opportunities come from following your curiosity, saying yes to the unknown, and trusting yourself to figure it out along the way.

How do you discover God's purpose for your life? Is your career the same as your calling? As AI reshapes the future of work and higher education continues to change, many young adults are asking deeper questions about purpose, vocation, identity, and meaningful work. In this episode of Truth Changes Everything, Jonathan Brush, President and CEO of Unbound, explains how a biblical worldview transforms the way Christians think about career, calling, success, and God's Kingdom. Rather than chasing status, achievement, or the "perfect" job, Jonathan shows why Scripture calls us to faithfully serve God wherever he has placed us. Together, Jonathan and Kasey Leander discuss Christian vocation, meaningful work, discipleship, resilience, higher education, and why ordinary faithfulness has extraordinary Kingdom impact. Whether you're a student discerning your future, a parent guiding a young adult, or someone seeking greater purpose in your work, this conversation will encourage you to pursue God's calling with confidence, wisdom, and joy.

What if the singularity isn't a future event—but something that's already happening inside today's startups? In this fascinating episode of Let's Have This Conversation, Kevin McShan sits down with Gabe Campbell, founder of aiOS and AI Genesis, to explore what it looks like when artificial intelligence evolves from being a productivity tool into a true business operator. Gabe no longer runs many of the day-to-day operations of his own company. His AI handles customer conversations, manages inboxes, creates marketing campaigns, books podcast appearances, negotiates with lawyers and lenders, oversees outreach, and has even hired human creators for business projects. In many ways, the AI has become an employee—and sometimes, the employer. But beyond the headlines lies a much bigger conversation. Growing up homeless at 17, Gabe taught himself to code while working overnight shifts. That journey eventually led him to helping build AI products at BMW, designing systems at Google that reached more than 50 million daily users, and leading AI innovation for digital banking platforms serving millions more. Today, he's building production-ready AI systems that are transforming how businesses operate. Rather than relying on hype, Gabe shares measurable results. One deployment reduced a four-person customer support team to a single part-time employee while automatically resolving approximately 92% of customer inquiries and saving an estimated $15,000 per month. The conversation also tackles one of artificial intelligence's most pressing challenges: trust. Gabe argues that most AI products don't fail because the technology isn't capable—they fail because people don't trust them. He explains why he abandoned many traditional AI guardrails in favor of behavioral contracts and transparent evaluation systems, and why he believes responsible AI requires accountability, not simply more restrictions. Throughout this thought-provoking discussion, Kevin and Gabe explore questions that every business leader, entrepreneur, and knowledge worker should be asking: This episode isn't about science fiction. It's about technologies that are already operating inside real businesses today—and what that means for organizations trying to remain competitive in an AI-driven economy. Whether you're a business executive, entrepreneur, software developer, AI enthusiast, HR leader, or simply curious about where artificial intelligence is headed next, this conversation offers a practical and provocative look at one possible future that's already unfolding. Join Kevin McShan and Gabe Campbell for an insightful discussion about AI agents, autonomous businesses, trust, innovation, and why the future of work may already be here.     For more information: https://myaios.app/ Instagram: @gabecampbellofficial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Note: This is a replay of a previous popular episodeDr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic is the Author of Don't Be Yourself: Why Authenticity Is Overrated (and What to Do Instead). In this episode, Tomas challenges the conventional wisdom that authenticity is always a virtue, especially in leadership. He explains why showing up as your “whole self” can backfire, and why striving to bring your best self is a more powerful approach. Along the way, Tomas connects these ideas to his broader research on technology, AI, and the future of work.LinksWebsite: https://www.drtomas.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drtomaschamorro/Book: https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Be-Yourself-Authenticity-Overrated/dp/1647829836HBR Article: https://hbr.org/2025/07/why-leaders-should-bring-their-best-self-not-their-whole-self-to-work 

After years building software products, Chris Metcalfe crossed into People & Culture and noticed something surprising. Organizations invested enormous effort into understanding customers, testing ideas, and improving products, yet the work people did every day was rarely designed with the same discipline. That realization led him to ask a different question: what if work itself were managed like a product? In this episode, Dart and Chris discuss what happens when organizations move beyond HR as a service function, how product thinking changes the way work is designed, and why better work begins with solving the right problems.Chris Metcalfe is a product leader and organizational strategist helping organizations apply product management to the design of work. After leading product teams at Workday, Docebo, and Primark, he now helps People teams build product capabilities through Red Oak and PX as a Product.In this episode, Dart and Chris discuss:- HR through a product lens- Treating work like a product- The customer inside your company- Solving real work problems- Outcomes over outputs- The power of constraints- Product thinking for HR- Rethinking HR as product- And other topics…Chris Metcalfe is a product leader and organizational strategist who helps organizations apply product management to the design of work. He has held product leadership roles at Workday, Docebo, and Primark, where he led product teams spanning enterprise software and People & Culture. Today, he is the founder of Red Oak and PX as a Product, where he helps organizations build product-led People functions and apply product operating models to the design of work. He also writes The Operating Model, a newsletter on product leadership, organizational design, and the future of work.Resources Mentioned:Inspired, by Marty Cagan: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1119387507 Transformed, by Marty Cagan: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1119697336SapienX: https://sapienx.co.uk/Chris's newsletter, The Operating Model: https://metcalfec.substack.com/ Connect with Chris:Red Oak: https://www.red-oak.agency/PX as a Product: https://pxasaproduct.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-metcalfe-red-oak/ Work with Dart:Dart is the CEO and co-founder of the work design firm 11fold. Build work that makes employees feel alive, connected to their work, and focused on what's most important to the business. Book a call at 11fold.com.

Send us Fan MailAbout This EpisodeIn this episode, leadership strategist and bestselling author Dan Pontefract explores why age may be the most overlooked diversity dimension in the workplace. Drawing from his new book, The Future of Work is Grey, Dan challenges the outdated belief that talent has an expiration date and shares what organizations lose when they fail to value multigenerational wisdom, trust, purpose, and evolving career paths. Together, Leigh and Dan discuss the difference between stated values and lived values, the leadership choices that shape psychological safety, the impact of AI on entry-level work, and how leaders can build stronger teams across generations using Dan's “rivers, rocks, and rubies” framework. About Dan PontefractDan Pontefract is a renowned leadership strategist, award-winning author of six books, and keynote speaker with three decades of experience helping organizations and leaders improve overall performance. He has presented at four TED events and earned multiple industry awards, including Thinkers50 Radar, HR Weekly's 100 Most Influential People in HR, PeopleHum's Top 200 Thought Leaders to Follow, and Inc. Magazine's Top 100 Leadership Speakers. Dan's best-selling books include his latest bestseller, The Future of Work Is Grey, Work-Life Bloom—the 2024 Thinkers50 Best New Management Book and the Gold Medal Winner of the Axiom Business Book Awards, as well as the award-winning Lead. Care. Win. He also writes for Forbes and Harvard Business Review. Additional ResourcesWebsite: danpontefract.comNew Book: thefutureofworkisgrey.com LinkedIn: @DanPontefractSupport the show--------Stay Connected www.leighburgess.comWatch the episodes on YouTube Follow Leigh on Instagram: @theleighaburgessFollow Leigh on LinkedIn: @LeighBurgessSign up for Leigh's bold newsletter

Revelation 21:22-26

Elon Musk’s bold predictions about AI, humanoid robots, and the future of work. Plus, the controversy surrounding the DSA, Fauci’s diary revelations, Thomas Massie’s fight over Flock Safety cameras, the balance between privacy and security, and a look back at Atlanta’s 1996 Olympic bombing. Also featuring birthdays, history, movies, and Pete’s geography challenge.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

During these periods of constant change, strong leadership is all the more important to keep teams feeling grounded and safe at work. Dara Treseder is the chief marketing and commercial officer at the tech company Autodesk, and unlike many leaders, she has been thriving in her leadership in this fast-moving moment. In this episode, Anne and Frances pick Dara's brain about her approach to AI and the future of work, and how she addresses and assuages her team's struggles and concerns with change. Dara also offers advice on building relationships with people who will advocate for you early in your career, and reflects on a teaching from her mother about persistence.Featured guestFollow Dara Treseder on Instagram, LinkedIn, and at https://daratreseder.com/Connect with the teamFollow Anne on Instagram and LinkedIn Follow Frances on Instagram and LinkedInWatch Fixable videos on youtube.com/@TEDPodsVisit Anne and Frances' websiteHave a question you want Anne and Frances to solve? Email the team at fixable@ted.com or leave a voicemail at 234-349-2253Follow TED on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTokFor the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/fixable-transcripts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Send us Fan MailSid explores why fear often keeps us from making the very moves that would create growth, and why the better question is not “what if it doesn't work?” but “what if it does?” He breaks down the three traits we see in leaders who build momentum and how you can apply them right now. The Trend Report is your inside look at the people, products and ideas shaping the future of workplace design.  We explore the evolving world of contract interiors, office furniture, and workplace design. From the interior design industry to commercial furniture and the future of work, we share insights, trends, and strategies that keep the office furniture industry and the interior design community informed and inspired.Connect with Sid:Home Page: www.sidmeadows.comPodcast Website:  https://www.sidmeadows.com/podcast Sid on LinkedInSid on InstagramSid on YouTubeThe Trend Report introduction music is provided by Werq by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4616-werq License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Many HR teams struggle to move beyond transactional order-taking. Ty Beasley, Chief Talent Officer at RSM US LLP, shares how grounding HR in financial realities transformed his team into trusted strategic advisors. Through the Drive Peak Performance framework, RSM redesigned performance advisor training and held partners directly accountable for the talent experience. This strategy replaces rigid office mandates with physical agility to support individual employee growth. This episode provides a concise roadmap for connecting talent strategy directly to business growth. It shows leaders how to build a stronger HR function that drives measurable business outcomes.

Discover entrepreneurship, innovation, business growth, scaling, and intellectual property strategies from successful founders and industry leaders. Richard Gearhart and Elizabeth Gearhart, co-hosts of the Passage to Profit Show interview Leah Solivan from Taskrabbit and Precedent.vc, Nate Amidon from Form100 Consulting and Lauren Hidalgo from Aware House. What does it take to leave the security of a corporate career and build a company that changes how millions of people work? Taskrabbit founder Leah Solivan shares the entrepreneurial mindset that helped her challenge convention, create one of the world's leading technology marketplaces, and ultimately sell the company to IKEA. Now a venture capitalist investing in AI-native startups and and founder of Precedent.vc, Leah explains why outsider thinking fuels innovation, how AI agents are transforming productivity, what founders should know about the future of work, and why the greatest entrepreneurs focus on building lasting impact—not just successful exits. This inspiring conversation is packed with practical insights for entrepreneurs, startup founders, business leaders, and anyone navigating the rapidly changing world of artificial intelligence. Read more at: https://www.leahsolivan.com/ As AI accelerates the pace of business, strong leadership has never been more critical. In this episode, Nate Amidon, Founder and CEO of Form100 Consulting, explains why military-trained leaders are uniquely equipped to help organizations navigate rapid technological change, improve communication, and build high-performing teams. Discover how veterans bring integrity, trust, mission-focused execution, and proven leadership into enterprise technology organizations—and why these skills can help businesses of every size avoid costly mistakes while scaling faster. Read more at: https://www.form100consulting.com/ What if the future of online shopping isn't bigger marketplaces—but smarter ones? Lauren Hidalgo, Founder of Aware House, shares how she built a curated marketplace that helps consumers discover exceptional products from American small businesses while promoting transparent supply chains, sustainability, and authentic craftsmanship. She explains why she chose slow, organic growth over aggressive scaling, how abandoning paid advertising actually improved her business, and why trust, quality, and personal relationships may be the greatest competitive advantages for entrepreneurs in today's marketplace. Read more at: https://awarehouseshop.com/ Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur, startup founder, inventor, or small business owner, the Passage to Profit Show is a leading podcast for insights on entrepreneurship, innovation, intellectual property and business strategy. Hosted by Richard Gearhart and Elizabeth Gearhart, the show features industry leaders, investors, and founders who share real-world lessons on scaling companies, protecting ideas, building generational wealth, and navigating today's evolving business landscape. Visit https://passagetoprofitshow.com/ for the latest episodes, expert interviews, and resources designed to help you grow, protect, and profit from your ideas. Chapters (00:00:00) - Passing to Profit: How to Get Out of Trap(00:00:22) - Gerhard Law's 20th Anniversary Party(00:03:18) - Happy 4th Anniversary! Helicopters Fly By(00:04:22) - In the Elevator With Leah Sullivan and More(00:05:21) - Decision Made That Changed the Direction of My Business(00:07:06) - Decision Made That Changed the Direction of My Career(00:08:17) - The Decision That Changed the Direction of My Business(00:10:02) - The Branding of Intellectual Property(00:11:33) - In the Elevator With Peter Thiel(00:13:16) - TaskRabbit: IKEA Furniture Jobs(00:13:51) - You Had Planned to Sell TaskRabbit to IKEA(00:14:36) - In the Elevator With Ikea's CEO(00:15:30) - How AI Is Affecting the Future of Work(00:21:54) - What Kind of Companies Are You Investing In?(00:25:56) - Favorite Companies in the United States(00:28:41) - Better Health Insurance for You and Your Family(00:29:41) - Setting New Precedents for Business(00:30:50) - What Motivates People to Take a Different Path?(00:33:08) - Outside the IBM Culture(00:35:11) - Why Business Is So Different For Women(00:36:27) - Coming soon: The Transition to Entrepreneurs(00:39:09) - Real AI Use Cases(00:40:24) - How Microsoft's Copilot is Using AI in Business(00:41:13) - Six Ways Business Owners Are Using AI(00:44:42) - Divorce Debt Relief Hotline(00:47:05) - Intellectual Property News: Site-Blocking(00:51:05) - What is IT Staffing and Execution?(00:53:26) - The Manufacturing-IT Collangage(00:57:12) - The Need for Leadership in the IT Organization(00:59:56) - Leading with Integrity and Accountability(01:02:23) - Does the Military Model Work for Technology Companies?(01:05:01) - What Should an Entrepreneur Do About Veterans?(01:06:40) - Where Everything Clicks: The Aware House Shop(01:11:58) - Where everything clicks: The 'Huckberry' business(01:13:52) - Lauren's Influencers(01:14:49) - Have You Plan to Scale Your Business?(01:17:33) - How Do You Find a Vendor for your Website?(01:18:37) - Aware House Shop: Looking for new products to add(01:20:52) - Passing to Profit(01:22:04) - Noah Fleishman on Dreaming(01:23:32) - Secret of the Entrepreneurial Mind

What happens when the person telling your success story wasn't actually in the room? That's the moment that pushed John Winsor — Founder and Chairman of Open Assembly, Harvard Business School executive fellow, and author of six books including the bestselling Open Talent — to write a widely discussed piece questioning the entire thought leadership industry. In this conversation with Peter Winick, Winsor traces his path from launching a regional sports magazine (sold to Condé Nast) through decades of building and exiting companies, to his current work at Harvard's AI Institute studying the future of work. Along the way, he unpacks a tension every expert eventually faces: when does an idea deserve a blog post, a keynote, or a book — and when is it just filler dressed up as insight? Winsor and Winick dig into what separates "thought leaders" from "thought doers," using everyone from Malcolm Gladwell to Domino's Patrick Doyle as examples of how firsthand experience — not borrowed theory — is what actually earns an audience's trust. They also tackle a question with real urgency for anyone building a business around ideas: if generative AI can produce a working website, investor deck, and full brand in a single prompt, what's left for humans to do? Winsor's answer centers on relationships, judgment, and the irreplaceable value of live, human-to-human experience — a case he backs with striking data from executive AI workshops at HBS. This is a candid, occasionally pointed conversation about ego, authenticity, and the mechanics of building influence in a market flooded with polished — but often hollow — expertise. Worth a listen for anyone deciding what to write next, whether to take the stage, or how to stay relevant as AI eats the easy parts of the job. Three Key Takeaways: • Experience should come before the platform, not after. Winsor argues that credible thought leadership starts with real, specific experience — "go have a bunch of really killer specific experiences" — rather than reverse-engineering content to match a trending topic or keyword. • AI is pushing execution toward zero cost, which raises the value of judgment and relationships. Winsor points to tools that can generate a full company's assets — website, investment deck, brand — from a single prompt in under two hours. What AI can't replace is the human trust required to sell, evangelize, and validate an idea. • Format should follow curiosity, not ambition. Rather than deciding upfront that an idea "deserves" a book, Winsor tests ideas publicly through Substack, HBR, and Forbes articles first, using audience response to gauge whether something is worth developing further — or whether it was only ever his own curiosity. Before you go — Peter has a new book. The Thought Leadership Handbook: How the Experts Elevate Their Big Ideas—and How You Can Too, co-authored by Bill Sherman, Peter Winick, and Naren Aryal, draws on more than 700 conversations from this very podcast to map out the patterns that separate thought leaders who build lasting impact from those who never scale past their own curiosity. It introduces five thought leadership avatars — Growth-Minded CEOs, Impact and Legacy Executives, Thought Leaders on the Run, In-House Experts, and Hall of Fame Thinkers — and gives readers the frameworks and tools to find their own path. Endorsed by Mel Robbins, Ken Blanchard, Stephen M. R. Covey, Marshall Goldsmith, and 50+ other leading voices, with a foreword by Lisa Bodell. Order now: Amazon Barnes & Noble Bookshop.org Amplify Publishing Apple Books Learn more at thoughtleadershiphandbook.com

Welcome to episode #1046 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). Dr. Liane Davey has spent her career helping leaders and teams perform at their best. As an organizational psychologist, bestselling author,  trusted advisor to companies around the world and dear friend, she has long explored what separates high-performing teams from those that quietly struggle beneath the surface. Her latest book, Thoughtload - Manage The Madness And Free Your Team To Do Great Work, introduces a deceptively simple but powerful idea: the biggest challenge facing today's organizations isn't workload... it's thoughtload. While most leaders focus on reducing tasks and increasing productivity, Liane argues that the real drain on performance comes from the invisible cognitive, emotional, and energetic burden people carry every day. In this conversation, we explore why organizations have become obsessed with measuring outputs instead of outcomes, how constant urgency creates the illusion of productivity while undermining effectiveness, and why many of today's workplace frustrations... from endless meetings to return-to-office debates to AI-generated "work slop"... are symptoms of a much deeper problem. We also discuss what thoughtful leadership looks like in an era of intelligent machines, why collaboration breaks down when people are cognitively overloaded, and how AI might eventually become a tool for reducing thoughtload rather than amplifying it. More than a conversation about burnout or workplace wellness, this is a discussion about attention, focus, judgment, and what it will take to build organizations where people can once again do their very best work. Liane is also the author of You First and The Good Fight and have been a guest of this show countless times. Enjoy the conversation... Running time: 51:58. Hello from beautiful Montreal. Listen and subscribe over at Apple Podcasts. Listen and subscribe over at Spotify. Please visit and leave comments on the blog - Thinking With Mitch Joel. Feel free to connect to me directly on LinkedIn. Check out ThinkersOne. Here is my conversation with Dr. Liane Davey. Thoughtload - Manage The Madness And Free Your Team To Do Great Work. The Good Fight. You First. Follow Liane on LinkedIn. Follow Liane on Instagram. Chapters: (00:00) - Understanding Thoughtload. (02:46) - The Productivity Trap. (05:56) - Measuring Outputs vs. Outcomes. (09:00) - The Role of Management in Work Value. (12:02) - Identifying Worthwhile Work. (15:00) - Managing Thought Load Effectively. (17:50) - The Impact of Office Environment on Thoughtload. (21:09) - Navigating the Return to Office. (24:11) - The Future of Work and Thoughtload. (27:10) - Navigating Work Culture and Diversity. (27:57) - Attention Span and Modern Content Consumption. (30:08) - The Illusion of Speed in Work. (32:13) - Thoughtload and Workplace Dynamics. (35:12) - The Impact of AI on Work and Thoughtload. (38:58) - Prioritization in the Age of AI. (43:05) - Collaboration Challenges and Thoughtload. (45:59) - AI as a Tool for Managing Thoughtload. (48:00) - The Cost of Being You and Personal Reflection.

Join us for this episode of the "Leaders Who Care" series as Mark Sadovnick sits down with Vandana Tolani, Founder & CEO of Convanto, one of India's most recognized boutique investment banks led by a female founder.Vandana shares her inspiring journey from Singapore and Jakarta back to India, revealing how she built a successful career in wealth management and broke through gender barriers in the investment world.Discover Vandana's personal story, the challenges she faced as a self-made woman, and the values that drive her mission to empower founders and startups across the globe. Learn about her approach to fundraising, the importance of building trusted relationships, the evolution of technology and AI in business, and her leadership style, which focuses on empowering employees.Stay tuned for valuable advice for entrepreneurs, insights into the future of work in the age of AI, and what gratitude means to a leader who truly cares.

Most organizations overlook the true power of vulnerability and flexibility—until they discover that empathetic leadership fuels higher engagement, loyalty, and results. Lindsey Ray Kortan reveals how her unconventional approach transformed her organization and her life, showing that leading with authenticity and compassion isn't a weakness—it's a game-changer. In this eye-opening conversation, Lindsey shares her journey from a California childhood marked by illness and perseverance to leading one of Nebraska's most impactful nonprofits. You'll discover how her upbringing shaped her leadership style—one rooted in work ethic, purpose, and vulnerability—and how she's redefining what it means to support your team both professionally and personally. We break down the tangible strategies Lindsey employs: fostering psychological safety through policies like unlimited PTO and emotional vulnerability, creating a culture where life outside work is valued, and building trust through transparency. You'll learn how authentic leadership inspires your team to show up fully, even when personal crises hit, and why pulling back from perfection builds resilience and innovation. Plus, Lindsey candidly discusses the importance of mentorship, surrounding yourself with high-potentials, and the courage it takes to pivot toward purpose—even when it feels risky. Her insights will inspire you to rethink your leadership approach, prioritize genuine connection, and embrace the human side of work to unlock massive organizational and personal growth. Perfect for managers, founders, and anyone serious about making meaningful impact—this episode offers a fresh perspective on leading with heart, building trust, and creating a workplace where people thrive through vulnerability and compassion. Are you ready to lead differently? Lindsey Ray Kortan is the CEO of Ronald McDonald House Omaha, passionate about serving families and transforming culture through authentic, people-first leadership. Her innovative strategies have empowered her team to deliver exceptional care while cultivating an environment where life outside work is prioritized—a vital lesson for leaders at any level. Tune in to discover how embracing vulnerability and redefining workplace support can revolutionize your leadership, your team, and your impact. Don't miss this conversation if you believe that the future of work is rooted in authenticity and care—because when leaders lead with compassion, everyone wins. #RonaldMcDonald #McDonaldhouse #Omaha #Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Did someone drop the ball?" is the wrong question when an escalation slips through the cracks. The right question: "Did we design a system where the ball could be seen at all?" @StacieBairdHX on how automating the routine tickets erodes the instinct to spot the non-routine ones — HX Podcast Episode 2 out now.   Key data points: Klarna cut "hundreds" of support roles for AI, saw quality decline, began rehiring1 CEO admitted "prioritizing cost over experience"1 Salesforce cut support from ~9,000 to ~5,0002 CEO said AI handles about half of cases, meaning humans still do the other half2 Gartner projects 50% of companies that cut support for AI will rehire by 20273 Visier analysis of 2.4M workers: highest boomerang rate since 2018 (Visier, 2026)4 Footnotes Orgvue Survey, 2025 ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 Forrester Research, Predictions 2026: The Future of Work ↩ ↩2 ↩3 Robert Half Survey, 2026 (via CNBC) ↩ ↩2 Careerminds Survey of 600 HR Professionals, 2026 ↩ ↩2 Harvard Business Review, Executive Survey, 2025 ↩ Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. AI-Attributed Layoffs, 2026 ↩ Stacie For more episodes, visit StacieBaird.com.

Is AI increasing your company's value—or putting it at risk of falling behind?In this episode of The Agent of Wealth Podcast, co-host John Williams is joined by Ted Wolf, CEO and Founder of Guidewise.ai and author of The Intelligent Business Equation. Ted shares why artificial intelligence is becoming a key driver of private company value, how business owners should approach AI implementation, and what buyers and investors will be looking for in the years ahead.In this episode, you will learn:Why AI adoption is quickly becoming a factor in private company valuations—and what happens if businesses fail to adapt.The three foundational steps every business should take before implementing AI.How AI can reduce operational risk, improve productivity, and make a business more attractive to buyers.Why the future of work will depend as much on critical thinking and emotional intelligence as it does on technical skills.And more!Tune in for an insightful conversation on how business owners can use AI strategically—not just to improve efficiency today, but to build a more valuable, resilient, and future-ready company.Resources:Episode Transcript & Blog | guidewise.ai | Email Ted: ted@guidewise.ai | Connect with Ted on LinkedIn: Ted Wolf | The Intelligent Business Equation | Bautis Financial: 8 Hillside Ave, Suite LL1 Montclair, New Jersey 07042 (862) 205-5000 | Schedule an Introductory CallWant to be a guest on The Agent of Wealth? Send us a message on PodMatch, here: https://tinyurl.com/mt4z6ywc

OpenAI has revealed that one of their AI agents went rogue during a test and hacked a startup. Hugging Face reportedly had to use an open-source Chinese model to contain the cyber attack. It comes as Kimi K3, a powerful new Chinese AI model, is challenging OpenAI and Anthropic's most capable systems on some benchmarks – calling America's tech dominance into question. Danny Fortson and Katie Prescott discuss what this means for the global AI race and how it casts doubt over OpenAI and Anthropic's mega IPOs. But while the rest of the world is racing ahead to build the best AI, Britain's new Prime Minister Andy Burnham has caused a stir by scrapping the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. Katie explains why the tech community is concerned. Plus, they hear from James Morgenstern, the founder of MeatLayer, a marketplace where AI bots can hire humans to do small tasks. They talk about whether agents make better bosses than humans, and what the future of work looks like. Watch on YouTube Read more: China's cheap AI is a real threat to US tech giants Get in touch: techpod@thetimes.co.uk Producer: Marnie Duke Executive Producer: Priyanka DeladiaVideo Producer: Max HoldenImage: Getty Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former CFTC Commissioner Brian Quintenz is now on the board of Kalshi Exchange and a senior advisor to the Coalition for Prediction Markets. The morning after Kalshi unveiled a “Midterms Hub” for election contracts, Quintenz discusses prediction markets regulation and impact on U.S. elections. AI-native IT startup Serval is helping customers like SeatGeek bring IT engineers off of IT help desks and into business units, where they can focus less on support tasks and more on big picture problem solving for the organization. Serval CEO and founder Jake Stauch and SeatGeek CEO Jack Groetzinger discuss the future of work in the age of AI. Plus, Google parent Alphabet has hiked capital expenditures, and Meta has unveiled its newest perspective on AI.    Brian Quintenz - 19:00 Jake Stauch & Jack Groetzinger - 35:28   In this episode: Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin Katie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Something fundamental has shifted in how people relate to work, and most leaders are still operating from a story that the workforce has already left behind. Jonathan David Lewis, president of brand strategy firm McKee Wallwork and author of The Rebuilders, makes the case that the old shared narrative of careers, retirement, and institutional trust has fractured. What comes next depends entirely on whether leaders choose to rebuild it. In this episode you’ll learn: What forgetting obvious things costs a leader over time (2:34) Why Jonathan wrote a daily reader instead of a conventional leadership book (5:05) How the shared story of work collapsed and what replaced it (8:14) What TFS reveals about the current workforce’s relationship to the future (11:41) Why counter-trends in the trades and faith communities signal a rebuilding moment (16:29) How the shift from print-first to digital-first thinking is reshaping the workforce (19:30) What inside-out leadership means when the burden gets heavy (24:41) Whether optimism is a feeling or a daily choice (28:30) Why the era of postmodernism is over and what younger generations are seeking instead (30:41) “When you see the crack, look for the light that’s being let in.” – Jonathan David Lewis Keep Learning If Jonathan’s argument about inside-out leadership resonated, the School of Leadership offers a structured way to develop the character and practices that sustain that kind of work over time. Learn More About School of Leadership at https://www.gembaacademy.com/leadership Podcast Resources Jonathan on LinkedIn McKee Wallwork “The Rebuilders” Get All the Latest News from Gemba Academy Stay current on new courses, podcast episodes, and continuous improvement resources. Sign up for the Gemba Academy newsletter at gembaacademy.com/news What Do You Think? In your organization, which part of the old story of work is your team still holding onto, and what would it look like to rebuild something more honest in its place?

For nearly two decades, Suzanne Lucas better known as The Evil HR Lady has challenged conventional HR thinking. In this episode, we unpack the conversations most organizations avoid.We explore why HR and Finance often struggle to align, why demanding a "seat at the table" isn't enough, and how leaders create stronger organizations by understanding the why behind policies before changing them.From the psychology of dress codes and onboarding to frontline workers, workplace culture, leadership, and even improv comedy, Suzanne shares practical insights that challenge assumptions and encourage more thoughtful leadership.In this episode, we discuss:Why HR and CFOs often misunderstand each otherEarning influence instead of demanding itThe hidden costs of turnover and poor workforce decisionsWhy context matters more than best practicesFrontline workers vs. white-collar HR prioritiesHow improv comedy makes leaders better communicatorsBuilding cultures through clarity instead of assumptionsWhy organizations should question every policy but understand why it exists firstIf you care about leadership, culture, talent, or the future of work, this conversation offers a practical perspective that cuts through the noise.https://www.linkedin.com/in/suzannemlucas/

Heathrow isn't just an airport - it's one of the UK's largest workplaces. Every day, more than 200,000 passengers pass through Heathrow, supported by around 100,000 people working across hundreds of different roles. From firefighters and engineers to security teams, baggage handlers and AI specialists, it's a city-sized operation that has to work flawlessly, every single day. In this episode, Jimmy sits down with Thomas Woldbye, CEO of Heathrow Airport, to explore what it really takes to run one of Britain's most complex organisations. They discuss: Why Heathrow employs around 100,000 people The leadership challenges of running a 24/7 operation How AI is changing the future of airports Why security queues have fallen to under five minutes The case for Heathrow's third runway How Heathrow balances growth, sustainability and passenger experience What makes a great leader in high-pressure environments Whether you're interested in leadership, infrastructure, business, operations or the future of work, this conversation offers a rare look behind the scenes of one of the world's busiest airports. Chapters: 00:00 The UK's Biggest Workplace 01:28 Why Heathrow Is Britain's Biggest Workplace 05:12 What Does the Heathrow CEO Actually Do? 09:45 Leading 100,000 People 15:34 Behind the Scenes of Running an Airport 20:48 Security, AI & The Future of Travel 27:41 Why Heathrow Wants a Third Runway 34:26 Can Heathrow Keep Growing 40:55 Sustainability vs Growth 47:18 Crisis Leadership & Decision Making 53:07 Careers at Heathrow 58:14 Leadership Lessons from Running Heathrow 01:03:10 Quick Fire Questions ********** Follow us on socials! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimmysjobs Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jimmysjobsofthefuture Twitter / X: https://www.twitter.com/JimmyM Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmy-mcloughlin-obe/ Want to come on the show? hello@jobsofthefuture.co Sponsor the show or Partner with us: hello@jobsofthefuture.co Check out our clips channel here! ⬇️ https://www.youtube.com/@JimmysJobsClips Credits: Host / Exec Producer: Jimmy McLoughlin OBE Producer: Sunny Winter Producer: Thuy Dong This is a partnership with Heathrow Airport. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What if the greatest gift you can give your child has nothing to do with parenting techniques? In this conversation, Amy Jo Martin sits down with world-renowned clinical psychologist, New York Times bestselling author, and founder of the Conscious Parenting movement, Dr. Shefali Tsabary, for an honest discussion about what children are really asking of us, and why the work begins within ourselves. Together, they explore why so many parents feel pressure to optimize every moment, manage every outcome, and "project manage" their children, when what kids often need most is a regulated, present adult. Dr. Shefali shares why she felt compelled to write her new books, Raising Conscious Sons and Raising Conscious Daughters, after witnessing the growing mental health challenges facing today's children, and offers practical wisdom for navigating everything from co-parenting and divorce to guilt, identity, and emotional resilience. Amy Jo and Dr. Shefali also tackle one of today's biggest parenting questions: how should families think about AI? Rather than focusing on fear, they explore how to preserve original thinking, creativity, boredom, and genuine human connection in a rapidly changing world. In this episode you'll learn: Why healing yourself is one of the greatest gifts you can give your children How to navigate co-parenting, divorce, and guilt with greater awareness What today's mental health crisis is revealing about modern childhood Dr. Shefali's perspective on AI, technology, and protecting human creativity Why managing yourself, not everyone around you, is the foundation of a meaningful life Whether you're raising young children, navigating adolescence, leading a team, or simply trying to become a more conscious version of yourself, this conversation is a reminder that lasting change starts from the inside out.   Learn more about Dr. Shefali and her books here: https://www.drshefali.com/   Amy Jo Martin speaks globally on Humanizing AI, Leadership, Decision-Making, and the Future of Work. Learn more about keynote topics and availability: amyjomartin.com/speaking   Learn more about Amy Jo: https://amyjomartin.com/ Get Amy Jo's newsletter: https://amyjomartin.com/newsletter Watch Amy Jo's Speaking Reel: https://amyjomartin.com/speaking Follow Amy Jo… Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amyjomartin/ X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/amyjomartin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmyJoMartin/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AmyJoMartinRenegade Why Not Now? Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whynotnow/ Buy Amy Jo's book: https://amyjomartin.com/book Follow Renegade Global: https://www.instagram.com/renegade_global

The AI hype cycle is over. The scaling race has begun. In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott W. Luton welcomes special guest co-host Marina Mayer, Content Director of Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive and Co-Founder of the Women in Supply Chain Forum, for a wide-ranging conversation on how AI is actually reshaping global supply chains, manufacturing, and the workforce behind them. Marina unpacks data showing the AI in logistics and supply chain market is set to grow from just over $20 billion to nearly $196 billion by 2034, and explains why the real driver isn't AI adoption itself but companies learning to target it to the specific parts of the business where it belongs. From there, the two dig into a 2026 AI Skills Enterprise Benchmark from Workera, revealing that manufacturers committed to structured upskilling are hitting 79% workforce readiness scores, and why employee confidence, not just capability, is the missing piece in so many transformation efforts. The conversation builds into how KPMG research shows 73% of businesses are now planning a comprehensive overhaul of their supply chain operating model within the next three years, up from just 11% a year prior, and what that means for hiring, training, and the next generation of talent entering the industry. Marina and Scott also explore how mid-sized businesses are using AI to manage expenses and detect fraud, and revisit a conversation on putting frontline AI directly into the hands of workers on the floor to speed up onboarding and decision-making. Along the way, Marina previews the 2026 Women in Supply Chain Forum in Charleston, including its new mentorship program and self-advocacy theme. If you want a grounded, data-backed read on where AI in supply chain is headed next, this conversation delivers.   Jump into the conversation: (00:00) Intro (00:25) Meet Marina Mayer (02:00) Balancing work and sports mom logistics (05:28) The 196 billion AI supply chain boom (06:05) Why AI adoption needs a targeted approach (10:36) The 2026 AI Skills Enterprise Benchmark (13:02) Building employee confidence with AI (16:18) Lessons from MODEX and workforce transformation (19:38) Why 73 percent are overhauling operating models (25:47) Mid market businesses tackle AI and expenses (28:35) Putting frontline AI in workers hands (35:27) Women in Supply Chain Forum 2026 preview   Additional Links & Resources: Connect with Marina Mayer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marinamayer/ Learn more about Supply & Demand Chain Executive: https://www.sdcexec.com/ Learn more about Food Logistics: https://www.foodlogistics.com/ Upcoming Live Programming:  https://supplychainnow.com/upcoming-live-programming/ Supply Chain Now Resource Hub: https://supplychainnow.com/resource-hub/ Learn more about our hosts: https://supplychainnow.com/about Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now   Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/join   Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now's NEW Media Kit: https://bit.ly/3XH6OVkps://bit.ly/4aTlsRv WEBINAR- The Future of Supply Chains: Where Talent Meets Technology: https://bit.ly/4uUuxkc WEBINAR- Peak Reality Check: What Shippers, Analysts, and AI Models Are Predicting for 2026: https://bit.ly/4aTlsRv WEBINAR- From Volume to Resilience: How Automotive Supply Chains Are Adapting to a New Market Reality: https://bit.ly/4f6SUGA WEBINAR- The Automotive Industry's Next Digital Breakthrough: https://bit.ly/4vhUwT4 WEBINAR- From Disruption to Stability: Building Resilient Logistics Solutions in a Rapidly Changing Global Market: https://bit.ly/3TguZMt This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/ai-transforming-supply-chain-jobs-skills-future-workforce-1612 The content in this episode, including all audio, videos, visuals, and graphics, is the property of Supply Chain Now and is protected by copyright law. Unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, modification, or re-uploading of this content in any form is strictly prohibited without explicit written permission from Supply Chain Now.For licensing inquiries or permissions, please contact us at production@supplychainnow.com© 2026 Supply Chain Now. All rights reserved. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What separates great CEOs from everyone else?According to Shane O'Kelly, President and CEO of Advance Auto Parts, it starts by getting out of the boardroom and onto the front line.After taking over an $11 billion company with nearly 5,000 locations and more than 60,000 team members, Shane's first move wasn't another strategy meeting—it was visiting stores, listening to employees, and uncovering the leadership blind spots holding the business back.In this episode of Lead the Team, Shane shares the leadership philosophy that has guided him from West Point and Army Ranger School to leading some of America's largest organizations.You'll learn:Why leaders should never become "tourists"The power of leading from the front lineHow one store visit exposed major operational challengesWhy Advance invested $100 million in its people before it could comfortably afford toThe importance of the "Say-Do Ratio" in building trustHow to identify high-potential leaders earlyBreaking down organizational silosWhy servant leadership creates lasting business resultsThe habits Shane uses to sustain high performance under pressureWhether you lead a global enterprise or a growing team, this conversation offers practical lessons on building trust, staying connected to your people, and leading meaningful transformation.Chapters00:00 Introduction01:43 The Ranger School failure that shaped Shane's leadership08:21 His first days leading an $11 billion company09:07 Why every CEO should start on the front line12:00 "Don't be a tourist" leadership14:25 The $100 million investment in frontline employees15:24 The store visit that changed everything19:05 Why frontline employees tell you the truth21:09 The "Say-Do Ratio" and building credibility25:24 Fixing the employee experience first30:23 How Shane identifies future leaders35:31 Breaking down silos inside large organizations39:21 Staying healthy while leading under pressure42:16 What's next for Advance Auto PartsConnect with Ben FanningFollow Lead the Team for weekly conversations with CEOs and executive leaders on leadership, organizational transformation, AI, high-performance teams, and the future of work.-----Connect with the Host, #1 bestselling author Ben FanningSpeaking and Training inquiresSubscribe to my Youtube channelLinkedInInstagramTwitter

As careers last longer and AI accelerates workplace change, should extended career breaks become part of workforce strategy? Harvard Business School senior lecturer DJ DiDonna on burnout, reskilling, organizational resilience, and why sabbaticals may be a missing institution in modern work—for employees and employers alike.

Employee benefits can be the second-biggest people cost, yet many global organisations cannot clearly see what they offer, what they spend, or what value each provider delivers.In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast, I had an inspiring conversation with Chris Bruce, CEO and Co-Founder at Origin. He explains why fragmented policies, spreadsheets, and local systems have kept benefits out of strategic business conversations.

Robotaxis are spreading across the country, but the rules for policing them are still evolving. WSJ's Ellie Davis explains how local law enforcement is handling traffic violations when there's no one behind the wheel. Plus, new AI-native startups are reshaping how companies hire and grow. WSJ reporter Lindsay Ellis explains what that could mean for the future of work. Imani Moise hosts. Have you seen an AI-generated post you thought was real? We want to hear from you! Record a voice memo and send it to tnb@wsj.com or leave us a voicemail at (212) 416-2236. Sign up for the WSJ's free Technology newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The headlines said AI would be cheaper than your team. The receipts say otherwise. If you jumped in fast and are feeling the cost, or you've been holding back wondering if you're already behind, this one is your reset. Lia breaks down how to figure out where AI actually fits on your team — without an arms race, a Chief AI Officer, or a plan to replace the people who make your business run.In this episode you'll learn:- Why AI isn't the wholesale cost savings you were promised — and why that's actually good news- How to tell whether your business really needs a "Chief AI Officer" (most don't)- The tool mindset that separates teams who benefit from AI from teams who just spin their wheels- Where AI genuinely claws back hours — and where a team conversation solves it faster- Why the hard part was never the tech, and the people conversations to have first- How to start with foundations so AI augments your team instead of replacing itResources mentioned:- Grab Lia's free guide with 5 scripts to make any hard conversation easier: liagarvin.com/convo- Send Lia the AI challenge you're wrestling with (she'll cover them on the show): hello@liagarvin.com- Snippets — stay in the know of what your team is working on without having to micromanage: liagarvin.com/snippetsDownload my FREE guide to making hard conversations with your team easier at liagarvin.com/convoLooking for support for yourself of your team? I've got you covered.Explore manager training, leaders keynotes & offsites, and 1:1 advisory, or my 90-Day-COO program for business owners who want simple systems that actually work.I transform teams from cost centers to profit centers with practical tools and research-backed strategies that make managing EASIER.Get all the details at: www.liagarvin.comContact: liagarvin.com/contactEmail: hello@liagarvin.comFollow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lia.garvinWatch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Lia.Garvin--© 2026 Lia Garvin / Managing Made Simple

We are more connected and lonelier than ever. That paradox is shaping not just our personal lives, but our workplaces, our leadership, and our long-term well-being. And if we don't address it intentionally, loneliness becomes more than a social issue; it becomes a business risk.Today, welcome back Dr. Tracy Brower, who has spent her career studying exactly this intersection of community, happiness, and the future of work.Listen in as we unpack the epidemic of loneliness, the ROI of community in the workplace, and how leaders can balance the human need for connection with the flexibility employees have come to expect. Tracy also shares practical ways to create the conditions for belonging and meaningful relationships without manufacturing culture or mandating connection. Finally, we explore the power of mentorship and social capital, why diversity strengthens our communities when built with intention, and how even introverts benefit from thoughtful connection. This is a conversation about designing work and leadership around what humans actually need to thrive.To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com and search by episode title.Listen in for…Why loneliness is so prevalent, despite how digitally connected we now are. How work can be part of the solution to the loneliness epidemic. Building communities with intention. Thoughtful connection, for both introverts and extroverts. How to balance the need for human connection and the flexibility of hybrid work environments for leaders. "You won't be purely happy if everybody's like you; your best happiness and well-being come when your network is about 50/50 - 50% who are more similar to you, 50% who are different from you." — Dr. Tracy Brower Episode References: Book: Critical Connections: Build Relationships and Harness the Power of Community in Work and Life: https://www.porchlightbooks.com/products/critical-connections-tracy-brower-9781394362264The Empathy Edge podcast:Dr. Tracy Brower: The Secret to Happiness at WorkNeil Miller: How to Make Hybrid Work WORK!Jessica Swank: How Box Navigates the New World of WorkShasta Nelson: Why Successful Leaders Encourage Work FriendshipsAbout Dr. Tracy Brower, PhD: Author, Critical Connections, The Secrets to Happiness at Work, Bring Work to LifeDr. Tracy Brower is a PhD sociologist studying community, happiness, and the future of work and life. She is a Global 50 Thinker and the award-winning author of three books: Critical Connections, The Secrets to Happiness at Work, and Bring Work to Life. She is the vice president of workplace insights with Steelcase and a senior contributor to Forbes and Fast Company. She is a Top 101 Experience and Engagement Influencer, and her work has been translated into 25 languages, while her TEDx talk has been viewed 8.6 million times. Connect with Tracy:Website: tracybrower.com X: x.com/TracyBrower108 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tracybrowerphd Instagram: instagram.com/tlb108 TikTok: tiktok.com/@tracybrowerauthor Connect with Maria:Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/booksHire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-RossTake the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader LinkedIn: Maria RossInstagram: @redslicemariaFacebook: Red Slice

What if the future of work was focused on human beings flourishing and greater outcomes followed? Research suggests there is a great opportunity for leaders and cultures to embrace sabbaticals. Jason is joined by Harvard Business School lecturer and Sabbatical Project founder DJ DiDonna for an eye-opening conversation about the strategic necessity of extended rest and the true power of a leadership recharge. Please rate and review the podcast to help amplify these messages to others! Summary: In an era of relentless connectivity and mounting burnout, how do the most effective leaders sustain high performance without sacrificing their well-being? In this episode of The Thermostat, Jason V Barger sits down with DJ DiDonna, senior lecturer at Harvard Business School and founder of The Sabbatical Project. Drawing from deep social science research, DJ challenges executives to rethink the traditional corporate grind and exposes the hidden dangers of "functional workaholism." This conversation moves beyond standard time-management advice to address the core mechanics of human recovery and corporate retention. Jason and DJ explore the profound difference between a standard vacation and a true sabbatical—an intentional, extended leave from routine work. They deconstruct the business case for "big time off," revealing how providing structured recovery windows actually audits key-person risk, drives unparalleled loyalty, and aligns perfectly with the rising cultural demands of the next generation. Essential listening for C-Suite executives, HR directors, and team leaders committed to shaping compelling cultures, this episode offers actionable insights on eradicating the "worker devotion norm," utilizing inflection points in your career, and optimizing your team's long-term performance. Episode Notes & Timestamps: Intro: Jason welcomes listeners and sets the stage for a conversation on the power of recharging as a leader and a human being. Meet DJ DiDonna: Introduction to DJ's background teaching entrepreneurship at Harvard Business School, his creation of The Sabbatical Project, and his personal six-week Buddhist walking pilgrimage in Japan. Thinking in "Chunks": DJ shares his perspective on organizing life into intentional chapters and using sabbaticals as inflection points so your career doesn't become one giant "run-on sentence." Sabbatical vs. Vacation: Defining a true sabbatical as an "extended leave from routine work on purpose" and why the mental background script of work must be completely shut down to truly heal. The Vacation Deficit & Functional Workaholism: Discussing the 768 million unused vacation days in the U.S. and the trap of performing well on the outside while rotting away on the inside. The Duration of Disconnection: Why a short break isn't enough to drop your work identity, and the research supporting the ideal length for an effective sabbatical. The Business Case for Big Time Off: Deconstructing the corporate fear of extended leave—how over 80% of employees return after a sabbatical and why it builds a resilient, cross-trained organization. The Worker Devotion Norm: How leaders must proactively model taking time off to empower their teams to do the same, breaking the cycle of unused paid leave. The 30-Minute Cafe Challenge: A powerful exercise to help leaders zoom out, confront their future regrets, and make concrete plans to prioritize personal passions over non-stop productivity. Key Takeaways for Leaders: Eradicate Functional Workaholism: Shift your team's mindset to recognize that constant busyness does not equal effectiveness, and that chronic lack of rest is an operational risk. Culture Ownership & Role Modeling: Fight the "worker devotion norm" by actively taking and celebrating time away. If executives don't unplug, their teams never will. The Sabbatical Strategy: Utilize extended leave as an equitable benefit to attract Gen Z talent, audit your company's key-person dependencies, and significantly boost long-term employee retention. Listen to the full episode and access show notes at: https://jasonvbarger.com/podcast/the-leadership-recharge-dj-didonna/ Bio: Jason Barger is a husband, father, speaker, and author who is passionate about business leadership and corporate culture. He believes that corporate culture is the "thermostat" of an organization, and that it can be used to drive performance, innovation, and engagement. The show features interviews with business leaders from a variety of industries, as well as solo episodes where Barger shares his own insights and advice. Connect: Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JasonVBarger Make Your 2026 Effective! Book Jason with your team at https://www.jasonvbarger.com Like or Follow Jason

This Week In Startups is made possible by: Vanta https://www.vanta.com/twist Superhuman https://superhuman.com YSecurity https://YSecurity.io/TWIST Today's show: *Cybersecurity has long focused on cleaning up a system AFTER a breach but Ent founder Brandon Dixon says that's backwards. He just raised a $100M seed round to put an AI agent on everyone's company laptops that catches the risky clicks, leaked files, or rogue agents BEFORE they wreck havoc. PLUS Clawra creator David Im return swith his new project, Sume's Avatar, a multi-model orchestration layer that generates 60-second UGC videos from a single prompt… and gets it right on the first try, rather than falling back on trial and error. Guests: Brandon Dixon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonsdixon/ Ent: ****https://ent.ai/ David Im on X: https://x.com/davidim Sume: https://www.sume.com/ Relevant Links: WSJ: "Cyber Security Startup Ent Raises $100 Million in Seed Funding": https://www.wsj.com/pro/cybersecurity/cyber-startup-ent-raises-100-million-in-seed-funding-a3e9b6c6 Microsoft Security Copilot: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/business/ai-machine-learning/microsoft-security-copilot Engadget: "Meta 'pausing' employee tracking program…": https://www.engadget.com/2199458/meta-is-pausing-employee-tracking-program-after-it-let-the-whole-company-see-sensitive-data/ Seedance 2.0: https://seedance2.ai/ Timestamps: 0:00 Intro: Why AI + cybersecurity is the hot combo right now 2:29 How INT stops breaches before they happen 4:56 AI is giving non-technical employees dangerous new powers 10:26 Vanta - Compliance and security shouldn't be a deal-breaker for startups to win new business. Vanta makes it easy for companies to get a SOC 2 report fast. Get $1,000 off for a limited time at https://www.vanta.com/twist 13:54 Why on-device AI beats cloud-based security 20:08 Superhuman - Get AI that works where you work. Unlock your Superhuman potential at https://superhuman.com 25:18 INT's business model and go-to-market 30:26 YSecurity - The on-demand security team for startups. Need enterprise-grade security without hiring a $400k CISO? YSecurity gives you 40+ expert engineers, matched to exactly what you need, by the hour, with your first six hours completely free. Go to https://YSecurity.io/TWIST 34:18 David M. of Sumi Labs: one-shotting AI video 36:10 Live demo: Sumi's video orchestration API 40:05 Consistent faces, 60-second videos, and who's buying Subscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: https://ticker.thisweekinstartups.com Check out the TWIST500: https://www.twist500.com Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp   Follow Lon: X: https://x.com/lons   Follow Alex: X: https://x.com/alex LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexwilhelm   Follow Jason: X: https://twitter.com/Jason LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis   Check out all our partner offers: https://partners.launch.co/   Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland   Check out Jason's suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis   Follow TWiST: Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartups TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thisweekinstartups Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com