Shows
Your Work Friends | Fresh Insights on the Now and Next of WorkNew Week, New Headlines: Your Rights at Work Just Changed, Women Shut Out of IPOs, Canva’s Millionaires & OpenAI’s MissSend us a textNew Week, New Headlines: your fast-track through the now + next of work.This week we’re covering four stories shaping how you work, earn, and lead:Your rights at work just changed. From overtime pay to union protections, the federal floor is gone—and what that means depends on where you live and who you work for.Women are missing from IPOs. 88% of companies going public this summer had one or no women on their boards, and 93% had one or none in the C-suite. What...
2025-08-2718 min
Future of HR“Reciprocal Work: Re-thinking the Boss-Employee Contract” with “Your Work Friends,” Francesca Ranieri, Founder & Head of Strategy, Frank & Mel Plett, Founder Cordelia Consulting. How can employees and bosses have honest conversations about what they want and need in their relationship?Why do employees have less than 30 days to build trust in the boss-employee relationship?My guests on this episode are with “Your Work Friends,” Francesca Ranieri, Founder & Head of Strategy, Frank & Mel Plett, Founder Cordelia Consulting. During our conversation Mel, Francesca, and I discuss:How their friendship grew into Your Work Friends—a consulting business and podcast.Why your boss relationship might matter more than your marriage.Why co...
2025-08-1942 minYour Work Friends | Fresh Insights on the Now and Next of WorkThe Future of HR: Developing the Next Generation of HR Leaders w/ JP ElliottSend us a textThe future of HR isn’t just about people, it’s about how business, technology, and strategy come together.In this episode of Your Work Friends, we sit down with JP Elliott, host of The Future of HR Podcast and creator of the Next Gen HR Accelerator, to talk about how HR is evolving inside the world’s biggest companies. JP has partnered with leaders at Amazon, American Express, Verizon, and more, and he brings a clear perspective on what it takes to build HR functions that win.
2025-08-1937 minYour Work Friends | Fresh Insights on the Now and Next of WorkLeading Through the Age of Outrage w/ Karthik RamannaSend us a textOxford professor Karthik Ramanna joins us to unpack how to lead with humility and temperance in the age of outrage—so you can build trust, lower the temperature, and keep your team thriving in polarized times.Outrage is everywhere—at work, online, even in our group chats. So how do you lead when everyone’s on edge? In this episode, we sit down with Oxford professor and Age of Outrage author Karthik Ramanna to talk about the leadership trait almost no one is talking about (but everyone needs): temperance.We get...
2025-08-1344 minYour Work Friends | Fresh Insights on the Now and Next of WorkNew Week, New Headlines: The Job Market Is Shrinking, Will the Modern Worker Act Kill Full-Time Work, and Is Religion at Work Getting a Green Light?Send us a textThis week, we’re breaking down three headlines that could reshape the American workplace:📉 The job market cool-down continues, with new JOLTS data showing longer unemployment durations and more people dropping out of the job hunt altogether.⚖️ The Modern Worker Employment Act could redefine what it means to be an “employee”—and put traditional full-time roles at risk.✝️ A new Trump-era memo gives federal workers the green light to evangelize at work. Is this the start of a new wave of religious expression in corporate spaces?From layoffs to labor laws to religion in the...
2025-07-3021 minYour Work Friends | Fresh Insights on the Now and Next of WorkNever Not Working: The Hidden Cost of Always Being On w/ Malissa ClarkSend us a textIs your brain still working even when you're not? You're not alone—and it's probably costing you more than you think.In this episode of Your Work Friends, we sit down with Dr. Malissa Clark—organizational psychologist and author of Never Not Working—to unpack how hustle culture, job insecurity, and digital overload are making it harder than ever to truly disconnect.We talk through the 4 types of workaholism, the science behind why your body never gets to rest, and what recovery can actually look like (especially if mindfulness makes...
2025-07-2448 minYour Work Friends | Fresh Insights on the Now and Next of WorkWhy Work Should Be a Product—Not a Job w/ Dart LindsleySend us a textWhat if we stopped designing jobs like checklists—and started designing them like products employees want to buy?In this episode of Your Work Friends, we talk with Dart Lindsley, CEO and co-founder of 11 Fold, the creator of Multi-Sided Management and he's the host of the Work for Humans podcast, Dart breaks down why it’s time to stop treating employees like “inputs” and start treating them like customers—with all the same thoughtfulness, strategy, and design we use in product development.We explore:Why the “job descript...
2025-07-1547 minYour Work Friends | Fresh Insights on the Now and Next of WorkNew Week, New Headlines: 20+ AI Jobs You Didn’t See Coming & Why Companies Are Ditching HRSend us a textThis week on Your Work Friends, we’re diving into two hot topics shaking up the future of work. 1️⃣ The surprising new jobs AI is creating and why your taste and creativity might be the most valuable skills you bring to the table.First, we explore 22 new jobs AI is expected to create — and why your taste (yes, your vibe, your style, your point of view) could become your biggest career asset in an AI-driven world. We’re talking about AI auditors, world designers, and why creativity is about to pay off b...
2025-06-2416 minYour Work Friends | Fresh Insights on the Now and Next of WorkMore Human: How the Power of AI Can Transform the Way You Lead with Jacqueline CarterSend us a textAI isn't replacing leaders.But it is revealing what kind of leader you really are.In this powerful conversation, we sit down with Jacqueline Carter—author, of "More Human" researcher, and senior partner at Potential Project—to unpack what it actually means to be a more human leader in the age of AI.We dive into:✅ The 3 skills every modern leader needs (and why only 16% are ready)✅ How AI can amplify—not replace—your awareness, wisdom, and compassion✅ The surprising ways tech is quietly eroding...
2025-06-1848 minYour Work Friends | Fresh Insights on the Now and Next of WorkThe Work of Your Life: The Culture Strategy that Transformed DocuSign w/Joan BurkeSend us a textThe truth about creating workplace culture that actually drives results (not just good vibes)We sat down with Joan Burke, legendary CHRO and board member and founder of the CPO Forum, who built the iconic "work of your life" culture at DocuSign, Marketo, and Responsys. This conversation reveals exactly how to create cultures where people do their best work - and why it's MORE critical now than ever.Joan doesn't just talk theory. She gives you the actual playbook for building workplace cultures that survive economic downturns...
2025-06-1141 minYour Work Friends | Fresh Insights on the Now and Next of WorkEmployment is Dead w/Deborah Perry Piscione and Josh DreanSend us a textThe uncomfortable truth about your job security that no one's talking about : Employment is dead. We sat down with Deborah Perry Piscione, Josh Drean, authors of "Employment is Dead:How Disruptive Technologies Are Revolutionizing the Way We Work," and founders of the Work 3 Institute. This conversation kinda blew our minds. They break down why traditional 9-to-5 employment is literally dying and how to thrive in what's coming next.This isn't doom and gloom. It's about seeing the massive opportunity in the biggest work transformation in 150 years.He...
2025-06-0445 minYour Work Friends | Fresh Insights on the Now and Next of WorkThe Power of Mattering: What Happens When People Feel Truly Seen w/ Zach MercurioSend us a textWell friends, we're getting deep today - and we mean DEEP.Ever feel like you're just going through the motions at work? Like you could disappear tomorrow and nobody would really notice? Yeah, we've all been there. This episode might just change how you show up everywhere.We sat down with Zach Mercurio, researcher and author of "The Power of Mattering," and honestly? This conversation hit us right in the feelings. Zach breaks down why 30% of people feel invisible at work (despite being in meetings ALL DAY...
2025-05-2851 minYour Work Friends | Fresh Insights on the Now and Next of WorkBreaking In: Strategic Moves for Women to Overcome Career Barriers at All Stages w/ McKinsey's Lareina YeeSend us a textIn this episode, we hang out with Lareina Yee, senior partner at McKinsey and absolute powerhouse who's helping crack the code on women's career advancement. As co-founder of the Women in the Workplace Study and co-author of "The Broken Rung," Lareina breaks down the shocking truth about the earliest career barrier holding women back (hint: it starts way earlier than most of us realize).We get REAL about why that first promotion is such a make-or-break moment (would you believe for every 100 men promoted, only 81 women get the same opportunity?), why...
2025-05-1346 minYour Work Friends | Fresh Insights on the Now and Next of WorkNew Week, New Headlines: 110-Hour Work Week Growing & 99.9% at Risk. Tariffs Killing Small Business JobsSend us a textWe're breaking down two massive workplace crises the US can't ignore. We dive deep into the Wall Street Journal's shocking exposé on 110-hour workweeks pushing bankers to hospitalization and burnout, while examining the devastating impact of tariffs that threaten the very existence of America's small business backbone.Listen for:The brutal reality of 110-hour workweeks and how they're becoming normalized across industriesWhy small businesses that make up 99.9% of American companies are facing extinction from 145% tariffsHow tariffs are already creating job losses that will ripple through the en...
2025-05-1018 minYour Work Friends | Fresh Insights on the Now and Next of WorkManagerial Sabotage: Why 82% of Leaders Are Set Up to Fail w/David RiceSend us a textIn this episode, we hang out with David Rice, Executive Editor at People Managing People, and we're getting real about what it feels like to be a manager. Now. We got REAL about why managers are in total crisis mode these days. David doesn't hold back on why management has become basically "an experience akin to being sabotaged" (his exact words. And, we agree). We tackle the mind-blowing stat that 82% of managers get zero formal training, why Gen Z is saying "thanks but no thanks" to management roles, and why human c...
2025-05-0638 minYour Work Friends | Fresh Insights on the Now and Next of WorkOpen Talent: Why Your Career Should Be a Portfolio, Not a Ladder with John WinsorSend us a textIn this episode, we sit down with John Winsor, Executive Fellow at Harvard Business School’s Digital, Design, and Data (D³) Institute, Open Assembly Founder and Author of many books including Open Talent: Leveraging a Global Workforce to Solve Your Biggest Challenges,We dug into how the open talent revolution is transforming how we work. John unpacks why both companies and workers are shifting to portfolio careers, and reveals why "we own employees" is a dying concept being replaced by "I'm gonna make it so sexy and attractive that I'm gonna att...
2025-04-2941 minYour Work Friends | Fresh Insights on the Now and Next of WorkThe Ego Equation: How CEO Dan Springer Balances Leadership SuccessSend us a textWhat makes great leaders different—and how do you measure it? In this episode, we sit down with former DocuSign CEO Dan Springer to unpack the Ego Equation: (Skills ÷ Ego) ^ Work = Success. Dan shares leadership lessons from decades in tech, including how ego almost derailed his career and what changed after a layoff turned into a leadership awakening.Listen for:The Ego Equation and how to assess your leadership effectivenessHow Dan’s leadership style evolved from ego-first to impact-drivenWhy using “we” instead of “I” boosts credibility a...
2025-04-1556 minYour Work Friends | Fresh Insights on the Now and Next of WorkNew Week, New Headlines: $766B Incivility Crisis, Women CEOs Outperform During Turmoil, as 1 in 4 Job Applicants Could Soon Be FakeSend us a textWell, the work news just doesn't stop friends. Here's what's brewing. Incivility is costing companies billions, tariffs are threatening half a million jobs, and that perfect candidate you just interviewed? They might be an AI deep fake!In this episode, workplace experts (us, Francesca & Mel - hello!) break down:⏰ 2:15 Workplace Incivility: The $766 BILLION problem spiraling out of control as RTO mandates and layoffs create the perfect storm of toxicity⏰ 8:20 Tariff Tsunami: How new policies could push unemployment to 4.7% and why your job search might now take...
2025-04-0927 minYour Work Friends | Fresh Insights on the Now and Next of WorkThe Courage Gap: How Women Can Stop Proving and Start Owning Their Value w/ Dr. Margie WarrellSend us a textIn this episode we're talking with Dr. Margie Warrell who shares game-changing strategies for women navigating corporate America's evolving landscape. As DEI initiatives face unprecedented scrutiny, Warrell reveals how women can cultivate unshakable confidence without constantly proving their worth.Discover actionable insights on:Building "courage muscles" through daily micro-challengesLeveraging feminine leadership strengths in high-stakes environmentsIdentifying and challenging limiting beliefs that keep you playing smallCreating psychological safety in your team, even when organizational culture resistsStanding firm in male-dominated spaces without compromising authenticityWith 25+ years of executive coaching experience and six...
2025-04-0141 minYour Work Friends | Fresh Insights on the Now and Next of WorkNew Week, New Headlines: AI Agents Rising, Employee Engagement Plummeting, and Harvard's 200K PromiseSend us a textWell, AI isn't just making waves—it's creating tsunamis! AI agents are here, and they're nothing like the ChatGPT you've been using. Meanwhile, employee engagement has hit rock bottom, and Harvard is making a $200K promise that could change higher education forever.In this episode, workplace experts (us, Mel & Francesca) break down:⏰ 3:15 AI agents: Clippy on meth? How these digital assistants could save you an entire workday (and maybe get us to a 4-day workweek!)⏰ 9:42 Engagement crisis: Only 30% of employees feel connected to their company's mission (yikes!) and it...
2025-03-1921 minYour Work Friends | Fresh Insights on the Now and Next of WorkNew Week, New Headlines: The Great CEO Exodus: Why Young Workers Feel Unprepared & What's Next for the Job MarketSend us a textWell, daylight savings time isn't the only thing that doesn't have us sleeping. Kidding!Record-breaking CEO departures are sending shockwaves through the business world. Meanwhile, half of young professionals feel unprepared for their careers. What's really happening in today's workplace?In this episode, workplace experts (us, Mel & Francesca) l break down:⏰ 3:12 Why 56% of young workers feel unprepared for their careers ⏰ 7:35 The skills gap nobody's talking about ⏰ 12:20 Will the job market get worse? 5 key indicators to watch ⏰ 18:40 Would you work in VR? Surprising...
2025-03-1331 minYour Work Friends | Fresh Insights on the Now and Next of WorkBelonging & Unhiding at Work w/ Dr. Beth Kaplan and Ruth RathblottSend us a textMost of Us Are Hiding Something at Work—And It's ExhaustingIn today's workplace, most of us are hiding something—whether it's aspects of our identity, personal struggles, or even our true ambitions. But at what cost? In this live episode, we dive deep into belonging, unhiding, and workplace authenticity with Ruth Rathblott, TEDx speaker and bestselling author, and Dr. Beth Kaplan, researcher and author of Braving the Workplace.We explore:- Why people hide at work and the emotional and professional toll it takes- The diff...
2025-03-061h 04Your Work Friends | Fresh Insights on the Now and Next of WorkWhy Are We Here? Rethinking Work and Workplace Culture with Jennifer MossSend us a textBurnout is at an all-time high. Engagement is at an all-time low. And work? Well, it’s not working for a lot of us.In this episode, we sit down with Jennifer Moss, workplace culture expert and author of Why Are We Here?, to talk about why so many of us feel unfulfilled at work—and what leaders actually need to do to fix it. We bust the biggest myths about workplace wellbeing, talk about why hope (yes, hope) is a leadership strategy, and dig into why Gen Z is s...
2025-02-251h 00Your Work Friends | Fresh Insights on the Now and Next of WorkNew Week, New Headlines: Move Over, Bros: How Women Actually Control the Global Economy & The Missed DEI OppSend us a textThink the economy is run by tech bros and Wall Street suits? Think again. Women now control 85% of consumer spending and 60% of America's personal wealth, making them the most powerful economic force in the market. In this eye-opening episode, we dive into Bank of America's latest report on the "She Economy" and explore how women are outpacing men in income growth, business ownership, and market influence. Plus, we tackle the urgent battle over DEI initiatives in corporate America and reveal how women's collective purchasing power could be the key to preserving workplace equity.
2025-02-1127 minYour Work Friends | Fresh Insights on the Now and Next of WorkLIVE Soundoff: AI at Work in 2025: Beyond the Hype with Microsoft's Carol Scott and People Power AI's Teresa FesinstineSend us a textWhat's actually happening with AI in the workplace, and how can you stay ahead of the curve? In this can't-miss episode, we're joined by two powerhouse experts: Carol Scott, Senior Director at Microsoft and founder of The Action Imperative, and Teresa Fesinstine, founder of People Power AI and former Fortune 500 HR executive. They cut through the noise to reveal what's really changing in 2025, which jobs are being transformed (not just replaced), and how to position yourself for success in an AI-enhanced workplace.From practical tips on getting started with AI tools...
2025-02-061h 05Your Work Friends | Fresh Insights on the Now and Next of WorkHiring Your Next Job: Rethinking Career Moves with Michael B. Horn & Bob MoestaSend us a textIn this eye-opening episode, we sit down with Michael Horn (Co-founder of the Clayton Christensen Institute, Harvard Graduate School of Education) and Bob Moesta (Founder of Rewired Group, Kellogg School of Management) to discuss their groundbreaking book "Job Moves" and revolutionize how you think about career transitions.Discover why the traditional job search process is broken and learn how to take control of your career path by "hiring" your next job. Our guests break down the four primary career quests that drive job changes, debunk the myth of "getting lucky" in...
2025-01-2851 min