In this heartwarming and enlightening conversation, Professor Ella Henry shares her insights on meaningful work and well-being from a Māori worldview. Ella Henry is a prominent figure in Māori Indigenous development with a background in sociology, business, and Māori media. Over the past two decades, she has been actively involved in research, teaching, and advocacy. Ella's extensive involvement includes serving as a Treaty Negotiator for Ngātikahu ki Whangaroa and as Director of Māori...

In this episode, Andrew Soren speaks with Mat Duerden, a professor of experience design and management at Brigham Young University in Utah. Mat reveals how to harness the power of experience design to infuse work with greater meaning. You’ll learn how intentional design can turn everyday tasks into impactful experiences that resonate deeply with you and those around you. Discover the art of co-creating experiences and understand how your unique background influences the way you perceive and...

On this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, host Andrew is joined by Gerard Seijts and Kimberley Young Milani from the Institute for Leadership at Western University. The trio discuss the vital yet often overlooked role of character in leadership. Gerard and Kimberley have spent over a decade researching the dimensions of strong leadership character through rigorous studies involving thousands of leaders. They developed an evidence-based framework identifying 11 key aspects of character, such...

This episode of Meaningful Work Matters is a rich conversation with researcher Marjo Lips-Wiersma on navigating meaningful work. Marjo Lips-Wiersma, Professor of Ethics and Sustainability Leadership at Auckland University of Technology, has researched meaningful work, sustainability, hope and well-being for decades, and her work is utilized by organizations worldwide. She is also the co-director of Map of Meaning. In this episode, Marjo and Andrew discuss the complexity of defining...

In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, Andrew interviewed Jeff Thompson, Director of the Sorensen Center for Moral and Ethical Leadership and long-time professor at Brigham Young University. Jeff Thompson shares his insights from over two decades of teaching and researching meaningful work, particularly in healthcare. He defines a calling as the convergence of natural talents, passions, and purpose, illustrating its historical roots and contemporary relevance. Drawing on recent...

In this episode, we sat down with Dr. Isaac Prilleltensky, Mautner Endowed Chair in Community Well-Being and Professor of Educational and Psychological Studies at the University of Miami. Dr. Prilleltensky is also an internationally renowned keynote speaker, author, researcher, and well-being advocate.  Andrew and Dr. Prilleltensky discuss the importance of meaningful work and mattering. Dr. Prilleltensky draws from his scholarly research on topics like justice, mattering, and well-being, as...

In this episode, we sat down with Dr. Evgenia Lysova, Associate Professor of Organizational Behavior at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Dr. Lysova is on a mission to help people find more significance in their work and daily lives. But she doesn’t shy away from the topic's complexity. In this episode, she delves into the interplay between individual values, job design, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and societal expectations that shape our pursuit of meaningful work. Amidst the...

In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, Andrew sits down with Michael Pratt from Boston College’s Carroll School of Management. With over two decades of research on meaningful work, Michael offers profound insights on the nuances of what makes work personally significant and worthwhile. Michael shares six work orientations that people tend to bring to their professional lives. We might be motivated by utilitarian motives, status, passion, service, kinship or mastery. Michael draws from...

In this episode, Andrew speaks with Joe Grzywacz about the work-life interface and its profound impact on health and well-being. Joe is currently the Associate Dean of Research and Faculty Development at San Jose State University in the College of Health and Sciences. Throughout the conversation, Joe shares insights from the Mid-Life in the United States study (MIDUS) - a national longitudinal study of health and well-being in the US - aimed at understanding successful aging. MIDUS is unique...

In this episode, Andrew speaks with Sara Steffens about the humanity of work, employee activism, and the ethical duty of worker well-being.  Sara is the Director of the Worker Power Coalition and is a strong advocate for worker empowerment. She uses her experience growing up in a working-class family to drive her passion for social justice and grassroots organizing. With a particular focus on the rights of marginalized workers, Sara is a champion of intersectional activism and works hard to...

In this episode, Andrew speaks with Steve Leventhal about the role of meaningful work within a global, social-impact organization and how leaders should emulate their mission and values internally through training and modeling behavior. Steve Leventhal is the Founder and CEO of WorldBeing, which addresses the challenges and intersections between inner health and global well-being. WorldBeing programming focuses on vulnerable and marginalized adolescent women and youth in low and...

In this episode, Andrew speaks with Scott Barry Kaufman about transcendence, humanism, and what Abraham Maslow would have thought about meaningful work today. Scott has done groundbreaking research on intelligence, creativity, and human potential. He is the founder and director of the Center for Human Potential and the founder of Self-Actualization Coaching. Scott is interested in using his research, podcast, teaching, and coaching to help all minds live a creative, fulfilling, and...

In this episode, Andrew speaks with Tamara Myles and Wes Adams. Both Tamara and Wes are accomplished consultants, trainers and speakers who have extensively researched the relationship between meaningful work and leadership, and in this episode, they share their findings and experiences. During this conversation, Tamara and Wes discuss impact potential, recruiting for values, and fostering personal connections. They point out that adopting these behaviors can make workplaces more harmonious...

Today, we have the pleasure of hosting Dr. Katie Bailey, Professor of Work and Employment in the Department of Human Resource Management and Employment Relations at King’s College of London's Business School.  Dr. Bailey has been a driving force behind various projects, including editing the Oxford Handbook of Meaningful Work and establishing the Meaning and Purpose Network (MAP Net) at King's College. She has collaborated with leading thinkers throughout her career, bridging the gap between...

Welcome to the Meaningful Work Matters podcast! This episode features Kim Cameron, a renowned expert in the field of positive organizational scholarship and a faculty member at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business. Kim's work focuses on virtuous organizations and their impact on performance and well-being. Andrew and Kim discuss the essence of virtuous organizations and the incredible transformation they can bring about. Kim shares insights from his extensive research,...

Welcome to the Meaningful Work Matters podcast! This episode features David Blustein, distinguished professor and Golden Eagle Faculty Fellow at Boston College, where he is part of the Lynch School of Education and Human Development. With a decades-long dedication to the field of psychology, Blustein's work focuses on the psychology of working, advocating for dignity and decency in the workplace, and promoting meaningful work for all individuals, particularly those on the margins of the...

Welcome to the Meaningful Work Matters podcast! This episode features Michael Steger, a prominent expert in the field of meaning and purpose in life who has spent over two decades researching, defining, and redefining the dimensions of meaning in life and its application to meaningful work. His work has reshaped our understanding of how individuals find purpose, experience meaning, and navigate the complex interplay between personal and professional fulfillment.  Over the years, Michael's...

Welcome to the Meaningful Work Matters podcast! This episode features Zeynep Ton, a professor of the practice in the operations management group at MIT Sloan School of Management and President of Good Jobs Institute. Andrew and Zeynep discuss the financial, competitive, and moral case for implementing 'a good job strategy' in organizations. By prioritizing employees and designing their work for high productivity and contribution, organizations can create a virtuous cycle of low turnover and...

Welcome to the Meaningful Work Matters podcast! This episode features Donna Gaffney, psychotherapist, advanced practice psychiatric mental health nurse, educator, and author. Donna's incredible new book, Courageous Wellbeing for Nurses: Strategies for Renewal, was born from her extensive career working with healthcare professionals in the aftermath of trauma, especially nurses as they have tried to make their way through and beyond the pandemic. Using stories from the field, Donna showcases...

Welcome to the Meaningful Work Matters podcast, hosted by Andrew Soren. In this inaugural episode, Andrew sets the stage for a deep dive into the world of meaningful work. He explores the complexities of meaningful work and its profound impact on individuals and the organizations they're a part of. Throughout this series, listeners can look forward to engaging conversations with cutting-edge experts from various fields, who share evidence-based practices and real-life examples of navigating...