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Dan Smolen discovers from Gitlab’s Darren Murph how remote work can work.

As GitLab’s Director of Remote Work, Darren is “the voice in the room” that evangelizes the trailblazing company’s distributed workforce operating model.

What is more, Darren authored The GitLab Remote Work Playbook, which thousands of people around the globe have downloaded.

As 2021 concludes, positive forces of workplace change mean that people can live and work wherever they please.

And as such, Gitlab supports happier professionals who enjoy doing work that is part of the day and not the day.

A 100 percent distributed workforce is central to GitLab’s success.

In this episode, Darren describes:

• His role at Gitlab. Starts at 4:52
• Why GitLab is a 100 percent distributed workforce. Starts at 6:53
• How he and the company found each other and his role materialized. Starts at 8:32
• Opportunities and challenges inherent in framing a value proposition for recruited talent. Starts at 9:54
• The revolutionary aspects of living and working anywhere. Starts at 16:28
• Reengineering relocation to places where people want to live and work. Starts at 29:10
• The localistic benefits to livable communities unleashed by Gitlab’s operating model. Starts at 32:59

Amazing outcomes happen when you allow talent to determine where they live and work. Of that, Darren adds:

“For hundreds of years, we have fit life around the rigid confines of work. But, when you achieve remote work at scale, you can live your life and then fit work into it.”

During 2021, Gitlab became a publicly traded company, tracked under the ticker symbol GTLB.

About our guest:

Quite possibly, Darren Murph is the world’s first Director of Remote Work. He received a Bachelor of Science in Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management from NC State and an MBA from Campbell University. He lives and works in North Carolina.

EPISODE DATE: December 17, 2021

Social media:

– Darren Murph on LinkedIn

– Darren Murph on Twitter

– Living the Remote Dream (Amazon.com book page)

– GitLab Website

– The GitLab Remote Playbook

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Dan Smolen interviews  Overflow PBC co-founder and CEO Laura Marella on finding success in independent work.

Laura co-founded Overflow PBC to help solo-entrepreneur marketing and strategy professionals succeed.

In 2021, the rise of independent benefitted people who compete for business with large firms and agencies.

As a business accelerator and professional community, Overflow PBC provides independent professionals with specialized tools and resources that they need to compete effectively with big enterprises. What is more, Overflow connects “indies” to a large and growing ecosystem of likeminded people.

Laura describes the brand’s unique value proposition, in people finding success in independent work:

“Instead of being a marketplace of consultants, [we wanted] to create a marketplace for consultants.”

In this episode, Laura:

• Introduces Overflow PBC. Starts at 4:20
• Explains how Overflow PBC members may overcome their skill gaps or cavities. Starts at 13:43
• Describes how a growing sector of independent workers will benefit from the Gig Economy. Starts at 16:16
• Supports her belief in Stakeholder Capitalism. Starts at 20:38
• Recalls how experience as a “corporate escapee” informs her current work as an independent strategist. Starts at 25:20

Overflow PBC is a certified public benefit corporation (b corp) chartered in the State of Delaware. Its founding members are located across the globe. 

People finding success in independent work is a breakthrough story of 2021. And it will impact the future of work for years to come.

About our guest:

Laura Marella received a Bachelor of Science in Communications Management from Ithaca College’s Park School of Communications. During her years in the agency space, Laura gained a national reputation for excellence in multi-cultural marketing. She lives and works in Southern California.

EPISODE DATE: December 10, 2021

Social media:

– Overflow PBC Website

– LinkedIn Page

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 34:43 — 47.7MB)

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Dan Smolen asks Plutoshift’s Prateek Joshi: will artificial intelligence improve future work?

Prateek is the founder and CEO of Plutoshift, a company that uses artificial intelligence or A.I. to make the world a better place.

This we know: artificial intelligence frightens people who fear that robots will take their jobs and paychecks.

And, truth be told, A.I. will soon replace millions of low-skill jobs; it manages many tasks faster and better than people.

But A.I. has no heart; only people can do jobs that require human touch and interaction.

In this episode, Prateek:

• Describes Plutoshift and his role in the company. Starts at 4:03
• Defines artificial intelligence and contrasts it with Machine Learning. Starts at 4:51
• Addresses workforce concerns that A.I. takes jobs away from people. Starts at 9:52
• Illustrates how Plutoshift helps clients involved with providing clean and potable water. Starts at 14:03
• Identifies the training and advanced skill that he seeks in hired talent. Starts at 21:25
• Tells us how, beyond his work, he adds fun and enjoyable activity to each day. Starts at 28:59

In regards to the question, will artificial intelligence will improve future work, Prateek says:

“One of the biggest things that [we look for] is the ability to learn. [Are you] the type of person who has learned how to learn?”

Interview starts at 2:50

About our guest:

Prateek Joshi earned a Bachelor of Technology in Electronics and Communication Engineering from the National Institute of Technology Karnataka and a Masters of Science in Computer Vision from USC. He is the author of numerous books on Artificial Intelligence. Prateek lives and works in Palo Alto, California.

EPISODE DATE: December 3, 2021

Social media:

– LinkedIn

– Twitter

– Plutoshift Website

– Prateek Joshi Website

– Amazon Author Page

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 45:18 — 62.3MB)

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Dan Smolen discovers Raj Subrameyer’s immigrant’s future work story.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:54 — 39.7MB)

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Dan Smolen interviews Cristina DiGiacomo who wants people to get philosophical for work success.

An author, podcaster, and practical philosopher, Cristina draws on ancient insight to help people solve contemporary problems. And as the founder of MorAlchemy, she guides people with practical philosophy to lead happier, more purposed lives doing meaningful work.

Skeptics may not recognize the value to get philosophical for work success. But, for every stressor, difficult workplace relationship, and vexing business problem Cristina says:

“There’s a philosophy for that.”

In this episode, Cristina describes:

• Her work through MorAlchemy and the idea of practical philosophy. Starts at 4:14
• How she gets “high flyers” to settle their minds to embrace practical philosophy. Starts at 7:54
• Overcoming skepticism. Starts at 12:24
• Her reaction to Adam Grant’s article on languishing, and ways that practical philosophy helps to overcome languishing. Starts at 15:12
• Participating in the collective goal of humanity. Starts at 21:31

Full interview starts at 2:52

Cristina believes people should get philosophical for work success. She says:

“Things like the handshake were born out of philosophical ideas. The norms that we take for granted in our society, of how we should interact with each other, all come from philosophy.”

About our guest:

Cristina DiGiacomo earned a Bachelors of Science in Communications from the State University of New York at Albany and a Masters of Science in Organizational Change Management from New School University. She lives and works in New York City.

EPISODE DATE: November 19, 2021

Social media:

– LinkedIn

– Website

– WiseUp! Book Author’s Page

– WiseUp! Podcast

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:05 — 45.5MB)

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Dan Smolen interviews author Daniel Pink to discuss what drives us to work. Dan is The New York Times’ best-selling author of several books, including DRIVE: The Surprising Truth of What Motivates Us.

In good economies and bad, what drives us to work remains unchanged.

During the pandemic, millions in the American workforce adjusted to remote work. And a large share of them became part of The Great Resignation. Yet often, motivations drive us to work towards positive purpose and meaning.

In this episode, we discuss how:

• Autonomy, mastery, and purpose motivations take root in our lives. Starts at 4:34
• Corporate managers often believe that money is the only work-performance motivator. (It isn’t.) Starts at 7:37
• The pandemic affects our thoughts. Starts at 13:16
• Answering “what is my sentence?” can aid your purpose and meaningful work career goals. Starts at 24:32
• Regret can help improve our lives and work. Starts at 28:30

What drives us to work is key to our success in the future of work.

About our guest:

Daniel Pink earned a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics from Northwestern University and a Juris Doctorate from Yale Law School where he edited the Yale Law and Policy Review. Currently, he is writing a seventh book on the subject of regret. Daniel lives and works in Washington, D.C.

EPISODE DATE: November 12, 2021

Social media:

– Daniel Pink Website

– World Regret Survey

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 22:51 — 31.4MB)

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Dan Smolen uncovers a culture of workplace empathy with podcast guest Hannah Jew.

Hannah Jew (last name pronounced “Joe”) is an empathy building brand strategist for Scotts Miracle-Gro, the nation’s leading lawn and garden care company.

A culture of workplace empathy is central to how Hannah does her job; it helps drive value for consumers who rely on her company’s products to grow flowering plants and food from seed.

Hannah accepted employment at Scotts Miracle-Gro while pregnant with her second child. And her hiring manager there made Hannah’s onboarding a rewarding experience.

In this episode, Hannah describes:

• Accepting a new job while expecting a child. Starts at 4:24
• How management created for her a phenomenal maternity leave workaround. Starts at 6:35
• The gendered workplace experience and its impact on female professionals.  Starts at 10:31

Hannah also answers the question: should “mom” be on a résumé? Starts at 19:01

Interview starts at 2:56

Hannah Jew experiences a culture of workplace empathy, a central value in the future of work.

About our guest:

Hannah Jew received Bachelor of Science and Masters of Science degrees in Advertising from the University of Texas at Austin. She lives and works in Columbus, Ohio.

EPISODE DATE: November 5, 2021

Social media and Published Work:

– Instagram

– LinkedIn

– Twitter

– Website (HannahJew.com)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 40:28 — 55.6MB)

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Dan Smolen meets with Nina Froriep to discuss how video storytelling drives career success.

Nina is a veteran video marketer and principal of Clock Wise Productions. She helps people across the globe to promote themselves and their brands effectively on social media.

We have all experienced massive disruption caused by the pandemic. And 18 months of remote work placed us in Zoom Rooms where video became our chief engagement tool.

Likely is the case that we all don’t use video well. And that is why Nina supports video storytelling that drives career success.

“Your biggest compliment is when you get on a Zoom call with somebody for the first time and they say: oh my god, you look just like you did in your video!“

In a wide ranging discussion, Nina:

• Describes Clock Wise Productions and its unique value to career professionals. Starts at 4:27
• Explains how the pandemic changed her business. Starts at 5:24
• Illustrates how people are raising their game with video. Starts at 6:44
• Offers how video marketing supports independent marketers and other professionals. Starts at 15:58
• Digs into the WHY of video storytelling. Starts at 20:16
• Comments on the challenges of doing video while sharing workspaces with others. Starts at 28:42
• Supports the importance of wearing your brand’s colors on camera. Starts at 33:52

About our guest:

Nina Froriep is the founder of Clock Wise Productions. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in German Literature and Linguistics from the University of Zurich and a Bachelor of Arts in Film and Journalism from The New School. She lives and works in New York City and Switzerland.

EPISODE DATE: October 29, 2021

Social media:

– Website

– LinkedIn

– Twitter

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 35:51 — 49.3MB)

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Dan Smolen meets with marketing expert Amanda Blair Davis who experienced The Great Resignation turned Great Empowerment.

Amanda built a successful career as a corporate marketing executive. During the pandemic, she thrived working remotely. But, in 2021, when her company called people back to the office, she resigned.

Undaunted, she built a life and new career as an entrepreneur. Amanda founded Hudson Davis Communications, a marketing agency to serve the needs of many clients, including her former employer:

“What happened was that I opened up a whole new set of work for myself.”

Now, work is part of a day in which Amanda does other great things. Work is no longer the day.

Millions of Americans exited the workforce in 2021. And, in August 2021 alone, 4.3 million people became part of The Great Resignation.

Amanda believes that people who, like her, resigned their jobs can transition to happy and satisfying independent work and life experiences.

In a wide ranging interview, Amanda:

• Summarizes her corporate marketing career. Starts at 4:51
• Describes how the shift to remote work during the pandemic shifted her career. Starts at 12:23
• Discusses the events of The Great Resignation turned Great Empowerment. Starts at 16:46
• Relives starting her agency and drawing other independent marketing professionals to work with her. Starts at 21:26
• Advises listeners on how they can pivot their careers. Starts at 28:35

About our guest:

Amanda Blair Davis earned a Bachelor of Science in Corporate Communications from University of Phoenix’s Southern California Campus and a Masters of Science in Communications Management from the University of Southern California. She lives and works in Los Angeles, California.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 41:27 — 57.0MB)

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Dan Smolen interviews Genein Letford to discuss the case for intercultural creativity at work.

Genein Letford is a public speaker, podcaster, and thought-leader in intercultural creativity. She works with hiring managers to help them create thriving workplaces.

When people at work collaborate, they often pair up with others who are most like them. The old expression “birds of a feather flock together” aptly describes the preferences that we have in others.

However, the workplace benefits most when we seek out people that are least like us. To that end, Genein states the case for intercultural creativity.

In this episode, Genein:

• Describes intercultural creativity and its importance in the workplace. Starts at 4:57
• Defines the 7 Gems. Starts at 8:01
  1. Creative Growth Mindset. Starts at 8:30
  2. The Empathetic Way. Starts at 9:25
  3. Cultural Observation. Starts at 9:54
  4. Cultural Curiosity. Starts at 10:46
  5. Perspective Shifting. Starts at 12:07
  6. Authentic Adaptation. Starts at 13:12
  7. Being a Bridge/Creating Across Cultures. Starts at 14:17
• Recalls how education and teaching young children shaped her thought-leadership. Starts at 15:32
• Answers the WHY of intercultural creativity. Starts at 18:33
• States the business case she lays out for senior executives. Starts at 32:58

Genein Letford makes the case for intercultural creativity to help people in the workplace thrive.

About our guest:

Genein Letford is a public speaker, podcaster, and Chief Creative Officer at CAFFE Strategies. The company drives thought-leadership in intercultural creativity. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at UCLA and a Masters of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction from California State University at Northridge. She lives and works in Phoenix, Arizona.