If you have a career, chances are you’ve experienced failure. You’ve made mistakes, you’ve questioned your ability to do your job, you’ve wondered if maybe you shouldn’t just give it up all up and try something new. Today's guest knows those feelings all too well. We sit down with Stephanie Brown, a renowned coach, founder and former executive with companies like Nike and Apple. She discusses her own professional setbacks, and how the experience of being fired - twice - paved the way for the...

For years, companies around the world have been embracing “people-first” philosophies: the simple idea that happier employees drive better results. Lately, however, that idea is becoming more complicated. How can companies continue to put their people first, even while embracing artificial intelligence? How will AI impact workplace philosophies - and workplace culture - in the uncertain years ahead?  We sit down with Rich Fernandez, a pyschologist, emotional intelligence expert, former...

While we all deal with conflict in our personal lives, we often go to great lengths to avoid it at work. But what if, in our efforts to avoid conflict in the workplace, we’re actually making things worse. Today we sit down with Stefan Stojković, a renowned coach, speaker, and agile leadership expert, to discuss the concept of functional conflict. Stefan also shares some practical strategies for leaders who want to use disagreement and debate to build stronger, happier, and more resilient...

No one ever sets out to be a bad boss. And yet, the business world is full of them. The path to effective leadership is slippery, and the road to becoming a bad boss is often paved with good intentions. Today we sit down with renowned leadership coach Rob Kalwarowsky to discuss what it really means to be a bad boss, and how toxic leadership can radically impact employees' lives, both in and out of the office.  We also cover some strategies for dealing with a-hole bosses, and how to avoid...

No matter where we are in our careers, or which industry we call our own, we’re all united by one simple goal: to find joy in the work we do. But there is no one definition for happiness at work. We all see it just a little bit differently.  Today, we look at what happiness at work really means. We're joined by world renowned speaker, trainer, and Happitude at Work founder Aurelie Litynski to discuss how we can define happiness for ourselves, and some tangible strategies for improving...

What do we really mean, when we talk about diversity, equity, and inclusion? Are they just corporate buzzwords? Are they opportunities for investment? Are they philosophies for recruitment or human resources? Or are they strategies for building happier, more welcoming, and more productive workplaces? Today we sit down with Kyle Samuels, a sought-after consultant, founder, and CEO who believes that DEI can be all of those things. But, above all, he believes that they’re just good business. ...

 In a world where the pace of work feels as rapid as a cosmic voyage, thought leaders are pioneering solutions that defy convention. Today we unravel an unconventional gem: The unFIX model. Unlike traditional agile frameworks and self management approaches, unFIX introduces a paradigm focused on perpetual innovation and enhancing the human experience. We sit down with Jurgen Appelo, a trailblazer in the world of organizational transformation and the visionary behind unFIX, who also happened...

For many businesses, culture is a “tomorrow” concern. When we grow, when we scale, when we reach a certain number of employees... then we’ll focus on our workplace. But what if your culture is the very thing holding you back from growth? Today we speak with Zach Montroy, Founder and CEO at The Intention Collective, and a leadership coach with over 20 years of experience at the executive level. We discuss how businesses can build positive, productive, and brave workplaces, growing into the...

The world has always moved pretty fast. Recently, however, it seems to be picking up speed. Every time we adjust to a new way of working – or a new way of leading a team – a new, radical transformation appears on the horizon. Right now, it’s AI and the rise of the robots. Tomorrow? Who knows.  Today we sit down with Doug Camplejohn, a renowned tech executive and startup advisor with more than two decades of experience working with companies like Microsoft, LinkedIn, and Salesforce. We...

Whether at home or in the office, happiness is a personal thing. But are there any constants when it comes to happiness? What kinds of practices and activities seem to make everyone happy, regardless of where and how they work? Today we sit down with Jessica Weiss, a speaker and consultant who has spent the last 15 years researching happiness, and working with companies including Coca-Cola, Johnson & Johnson, and American Express. We discuss what she’s learned about happiness at work,...

What happens when people-first policies run up against the demands of a profit-centered world? Is it unrealistic to believe that companies can value culture as highly as they value sales? Or is it fantasy? Today we sit down with Catrin Lewis, a renowned author and workforce expert who has embraced that very idea. We discuss her work, her views on workplace culture, and her acclaimed books about unicorns, vultures, and the very real power of employee engagement. Learn more about Catrin...

In the wake of the pandemic, many wondered if the radical workplace changes we saw would last, or if they would fade away as the world returned to normal. Now, three years on, we know for certain – many of these changes are here to stay. Employees and organizations have new priorities, new values, and a stronger sense of what they’re looking for in a workplace. Workers want more freedom, more organizational trust, and fair benefits and compensation. Today we chat with WriterArmy founder...

The world’s largest trial of the four-day work week was recently conducted in the UK. And the results were hard to ignore. Many participants said that “no amount of money” could get them to go back to the way things were.  Today we sit down with Juan Gutiérrez Plaza, an executive with the London-based company Scoro, which has fully and successfully adopted a four-day workweek. We talk about its implementation, its impacts on employee happiness and productivity, and Plaza's recommendations...

Careers never follow a straight path. There are ups, there are downs, and there are wild circles and zig-zags.  But what happens when the path just... stops?  What happens when we get stuck in a position or a state of mind for so long that it begins to feel permanent? How can we shake off that feeling of paralysis, and get moving again? Today we sit down with Markus Neukom, a leadership coach, business strategist, and CEO who specializes in helping leaders get unstuck, enabling them to...

In business, we have metrics for everything. ROI, CPM… KPI’s for every aspect of our products, our marketing, and our sales. But when it comes to workplace culture, many organizations seem to leave analytics behind.  Today we sit down with Anthony Vaughan, a prolific talent strategist, people leader, podcaster, and the founder of The E1B2 Collective, a company working to change how organizations view the employee experience. We discuss how businesses can build a people-first working...

It takes a lot of effort to build a positive - and empowering - workplace culture, especially in today’s world of digital offices and remote work. But what happens when things start to go wrong? How can leaders tell when their culture is faltering, and what steps can they take to get back on track? Today we sit down with prolific tech leader and workplace culture expert Anna Marie Clifton. She discusses her work with companies like Asana, Coinbase, Yammer, and Vowel, and her unique approach...

People often think of emotional intelligence as a personality trait. You’re either born with it, or you’re not. But emotional intelligence is a set of skills. It can honed and developed over time, allowing us to better understand ourselves, maintain positive relationships, and cope with major challenges in effective ways.  Today we sit down with Robin Hills, director of Ei4Change, a global organization that has provided emotional intelligence training and coaching to more than 250,000...

Happiness can mean different things to different people. For some, it’s achieving a lifelong goal. For others, it’s landing a dream job, or making an impact on the world or building a better life for family and friends. And for some, it’s simply a long string of good days.  Today we sit down with Ian Sanders, a renowned storytelling trainer, professional optimism instructor, and author of the acclaimed book 365 Ways To Have a Good Day. We’ll discuss his storied career, his many detours, and...

Why is it that, no matter how far we climb in our careers, so many of us struggle to find happiness? Why are stress, anxiety, and burnout so prevalent in our working lives? It turns out… we may have our brains to blame.  Today we sit down with Ashish Kothari, founder and CEO of Happiness Squad and author of the bestselling new book “Hardwired for Happiness." We discuss the biology of fear, the science of happiness, and how Ashish's inspiring personal journey led him to seek out answers for...

Here on the podcast we obviously believe in the concept of Happiness at Work – the power we all have to create more enjoyable work experiences for ourselves, and our colleagues. But we also recognize that work isn’t everything. At the end of the day, we all want to clock out, take a deep breath, and enjoy our lives. The world, however, doesn’t make that easy.   Today we speak with Katie Jefcoat, a happiness curator and kindness crusader who has made it her mission to help people find true...

Many organizations and business leaders see the internet as a tool, a way to expand their reach and connect with new customers, clients, and partners across the globe. Luis Adrian Salazar sees it a little bit differently. He and his fully remote company, SafetyWing, are working to build a “country” on the internet, removing the barrier of geographical borders to create equal opportunities, freedom, and a social safety net for people all over the world. Learn more about SafetyWing here:...

What’s the difference between a boss, and a leader? One has a title. And one has… something else. Today, we sit down with Jeff Gibbard, a renowned author, strategist, and founder of The Superhero Institute, to discuss what that “something else” is, and the skills and strategies leaders can use to set – and achieve – higher goals for both themselves and their organizations. Learn more about Jeff here: https://jeffgibbard.com/ There are a lot of management models and theories out there, and...

While the storm of the pandemic may be receding, some analysts and officials are concerned that a new dark cloud may be forming on the horizon – a possible global recession. For businesses and employees who are still baling water after the last few years, this is not welcome news. But while we may not be able change the economic weather, there are tools and strategies we can use to prepare, respond – and possibly even navigate around – the worst of the storm. Today we speak with Ginny...

The workplace evolution of the past few years has opened up new opportunities for employees across the globe. But it’s also created a sense of unease. As some companies transition to remote or hybrid work and embrace employee-first philosophies, others are laying off staff and increasing their demands on those employees who remain. Employees may feel insecure in their roles, afraid that any misstep or miscommunication could put their job at risk as well. Today we speak with workplace expert...

Any sports fan knows that it’s easy to coach a team when you’re on a winning streak. The real challenge begins when things start to go wrong. Business is the same way. Even the most harmonious work environments can struggle – or fall apart – in the face of unforeseen crises. The most successful leaders are those who work proactively to create a positive workplace culture, and embrace forward-thinking problem-solving strategies and employee wellbeing, in both good times and bad. Today we sit...