Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 37:29 — 51.5MB)

Subscribe: RSS | More

Crisis and the future of work are now intertwined.

And, the effects of climate change and the pandemic altered the work that we do and hope to do.

During each day, practically everyone in the workforce addresses issues. Often, these are time and place-related included in the job spec. For instance: a marketing manager’s task is in overcoming customer loyalty erosion.

However, in the first seven months of 2021, the work we do became existential.

With fires on the West Coast, and the Covid-19 Delta variant spreading like wildfire, problems and crises reached our job specs and workplaces.

And, to that end, the workplace endures a new crisis: The Great Resignation.

During 2020 and 2021, women dropped out of the workforce, often because they could not secure childcare. And many others quit knowing that a return to the co-location meant also a return of toxicity and incivility.

Perhaps the biggest crisis of all originates with hiring manager who seek to restore workplace life to pre-pandemic conditions.

Accordingly, we must strive for truly intentional workplace practices. Hiring managers must be cognizant of the issues and problems their their hired talent endure on the job so that things don’t turn critical like an out-of-control forest fire.

Also in this episode:

The story of crisis and the future of work is also told through a personal financial frame.

And the way that we handle personal finances affects our opportunities to do the future work of our dreams. People who budget well and intentionally build wealth have more future work choices than those who don’t put in the time. Absent well-tended financial resources, some are left to do work that keeps them afloat, but offers no positive meaning.

Our guest, Angela Anderson, helps people build wealth so that they can live their dreams and do meaningful work.

Full interview begins at 8:25

We must no accept that crisis and the future of work are now intertwined.

About our guest:

Angela Anderson earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Business and Spanish from Adams State University. She lives and works in Colorado.

EPISODE DATE: July 30, 2021

Social media:

– Facebook

– LinkedIn

– Website

– Media

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 39:19 — 54.1MB)

Subscribe: RSS | More

Podcaster Dan Smolen sees future work in local food production.

We have a serious food problem. And, according to the International Monetary Fund, the price of food has jumped 47 percent in the past year.

Our once reliable agricultural model scaled a food pipeline driven on abundant water, millions of acres of rich farmland, a huge supply chain, and cheap labor. However, the pandemic and climate change destroyed that model.

Most of the food that we eat travels long distances to reach our tables. During the long journey, our food loses nutritional value. Instead, growing fresh local food ensures that we are better fed. And that provides us better health outcomes.

To feed the nation and the world, we must pivot to a new model that drives future work in local food production.

Podcast guest Maurice Small is a nationally recognized regenerative farmer and social entrepreneur. He helps people to find and do meaningful work in regenerative farming.

Maurice also helps urban farmers to become instruments of food justice. As a result, people in need gain access to fresh and sustainable protein and produce.

“Food justice means that we all eat, and we all eat well.”

Maurice is leading the charge for future work in local food production.

Full interview starts at 6:37

About our guest:

Maurice Small has cultivated a national following for sustainable agriculture and healthy lifestyles in underserved communities. He collaborates with stakeholders in government, business, academia, and community to help people eat and live well. His company, Small Enterprises, and his farm are located in Atlanta, Georgia.

EPISODE DATE: July 23, 2021

Social media:

– Website

– Instagram

– LinkedIn

– Tumblr

– Twitter

– YouTube 

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 37:51 — 52.0MB)

Subscribe: RSS | More

Future of work podcaster Dan Smolen says that the time has come for healing an emotionally distressed workforce.

Gallup’s latest workforce study is out, and it indicates that workers across the globe are suffering.

And Jim Clifton, the Chairman and CEO of Gallup, minces no words:

“What if the next global crisis is a mental health pandemic?

It is here now.”

Gallup concludes that the global workforce is enduring a second pandemic.

People who work suffer mental and emotional distress at alarming rates:

• Nearly half of North American workers (48 percent) worry. More than half of female workers (53 percent) express worry versus 43 percent of male workers, and;
• 57 percent of North American workers endure stress. Of these, 62 percent of female workers are affected (versus 52 percent of male workers).

What is more, 80 percent of workers worldwide disengaged from the work that they do.

In North America, the share of suffering workers is 66 percent. However, professional talent in the US and Canada expressed disengagement several years before the pandemic happened.

Meantime, SHRM published workplace insights that are equally jarring. All told, SHRM estimates that 64 percent of the workforce suffers from disengagement. And that share of suffering aligns with Gallup’s 66 percent finding.

Stress and worry cause great suffering. And we know that people who mastered work from anywhere reject a return to commuting long hours and distances to the co-location.

Healing an emotionally distressed workforce is in everyone’s best interests.

Work should not make people sick. And hiring managers must embrace new strategies and arrangements that help their team members thrive.

Rowena Hennigan at RoRemote adds important perspective to this topic, here: Ways to integrate mental health awareness into remote working

Also in this episode:

Fostering a civil workplace is key to the future of work. Civility gets people closer to good mental health.

As a self-described Chief Civility Officer, Sejal Thakkar applies her legal expertise and personal experience with discrimination to help civilize workplaces. Civility helps professionals of all backgrounds and cultures feel supported in their work. It also spares companies from lawsuits, low talent retention rates, and billions of dollars in lost revenue.

Full interview with Sejal starts at 8:06

About our guest:

Sejal Thakkar earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Juris Doctorate from Northern Illinois University. She is a TEDx speaker focused on bias. Sejal lives and works in the Bay Area of California.

EPISODE DATE: July 16, 2021

Social media:

– LinkedIn

– TrainXtra Website

– TEDx: The Pain, Power, and Paradox of Bias

– Gallup: The State of the Global Workplace in 2021

– SHRM Workplace Insight (via David Horning on Medium)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:31 — 37.8MB)

Subscribe: RSS | More

Future of work podcaster Dan Smolen asks: do our best days lie ahead?

Lately, some workplace observers have taken me to task for the tagline of this podcast: our best days lie ahead.

With pandemic restrictions eased, we are in the midst of the biggest workforce and workplace disruption in over 100 years. Now, a career professional must come to an understanding of “new normal,” whether they office at home, remotely from another venue, at a traditional co-location, or at a hybrid combination of places.

Hiring managers from Fortune 100 CEOs to small business operators must strive for normality, to get their enterprises humming again.

However, career professionals who advocate for work as part of the day (and not the day); who drive agility and flexibility, and; who lead future of work goals will help all of us achieve better, more productive, and happier lives during work and non-work hours.

Revolutions are never pretty. But when we happy warriors render future of work goals present, then our best days lie ahead.

This, I am certain.

Also in this episode:

As the CEO of Realized Worth, Angela Parker leads an organization that inspires professionals at AT&T, Deloitte, Microsoft, Walmart and other companies with meaningful volunteer program engagements. She believes:

“Volunteering can be a safe and non-threatening space where we encounter our own humanity.”

Eighteen months separated from colleagues, people who work are seeking involvement in meaningful leadership opportunities. Oftentimes, volunteerism gets them there.

In this episode, Angela describes:

• Realized Worth’s unique value proposition and mission. Starts at 6:36
• How the pandemic changed volunteerism. Starts at 8:28
• The role of skill in driving volunteer programs. Starts at 11:28
• Ways that volunteerism helps to retain workforce members. Starts at 15:17
• Stakeholder value and how it drives corporate social responsibility. Starts at 21:21

The full podcast interview with Angela starts at 6:36

With Angela Parker and Realized Worth delivering meaningful volunteerism opportunities, our best days lie ahead.

About our guest:

Angela Parker is a nationally recognized thought-leader in corporate volunteerism. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Media Studies from Taylor University and an MBA in Entrepreneurial Studies from IE University. Angela lives and works in Baltimore, Maryland.

EPISODE DATE: July 9, 2021

Social media:

– Website

– Facebook

– LinkedIn

– Twitter

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 32:33 — 44.8MB)

Subscribe: RSS | More

In this episode, Dan discusses becoming the future of work sherpa:

Months ago, I challenged myself to come up with a succinct value statement to explain the scope of my work. I also sought to differentiate myself from other experts in future of work.

And that is how I arrived at the notion that I am the future of work sherpa whose mission it is to help people connect with work that is profound, protects the planet, empowers people and communities, and is fun to do—meaningful work.

Although I have never mountain-climbed, I am a lifelong hiker who loves the adventure of an arduous trek. And, I have always admired the unsung heroes of the Himalayas who help others ascend the world’s highest peaks.

The challenge that people seeking future work have is that their work-journey involves more than job seeking. They must DREAM, EXPLORE, STRATEGIZE and ACT to reach their work and career goals.

Oftentimes, that is too big a lift for career seekers to do on their own. They need the future of work sherpa. And that is where I come in.

Also in this episode, we meet Larysa Kautz. She is the CEO of Melwood, a nonprofit that helps people with disabilities find and do meaningful work. Larysa is not a sherpa, and certainly not a mountain-climber. But she helps her clients summon super-human skill to do the work of their dreams.

Interview begins at 6:16

Larysa Kautz earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from Connecticut College and a Juris Doctorate from Yale Law School. Larysa lives and works in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

EPISODE DATE: July 2, 2021

Social media:

– Facebook

– Instagram

– Twitter

– Website

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:21 — 40.4MB)

Subscribe: RSS | More

Few professionals demonstrate the case for workplace empathy better than 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.

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.

During the pandemic, nearly 21 million people embraced gardening. And Hannah used her marketing and strategy skills to make consumers’ new brand experiences beneficial.

In this episode, Hannah describes:

• Scotts Miracle-Gro and her work driving brand strategy. Starts at 2:53
• What an empathetic brand strategist does. Starts at 4:18
• Her experience of taking on a new job while expecting a child. Starts at 9:53
• How management created for her a phenomenal maternity leave workaround. Starts at 12:04
• The gendered workplace experience and its impact on female professionals.  Starts at 16:00

Hannah also answers the question: should “mom” be on a résumé? Starts at 24:30

Full interview starts at 2:45

Hannah Jew makes the case for 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: June 25, 2021

Social media and Published Work:

– Instagram

– LinkedIn

– Twitter

– Website (HannahJew.com)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 42:58 — 59.1MB)

Subscribe: RSS | More

For many in the active workforce, project leadership drives future work.

As dramatic shifts in work behavior unfolded during the pandemic, one key insight popped out as truly meaningful.

Project leadership drives future work.

To help us explore the growing importance of project leadership, we turn to Rich Maltzman for guidance. He is a master lecturer of project management at Boston University’s Metropolitan College.

Rich is also one of the world’s leading authorities on project management, and, the co-author of two “green” project management books that help people and companies embrace the triple-bottom-line and positive social impacts.

In this episode, we explore the work of a project manager. We also discuss how project management skills empower people to be more intentional, regardless of the job title that they possess.

As we emerge from pandemic lockdown, project leadership will drive future work and enable people to own their express contributions to their team’s and organization’s success.

Interview starts at 2:23

About our guest:

Rich Maltzman is a master lecturer of administrative sciences at Boston University’s Metropolitan College. He received a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and a Masters of Science from Purdue University. Rich lives and works outside of Boston, Massachusetts.

EPISODE DATE: June 18, 2021

Social media and Published Work:

– LinkedIn

– ProjectManagement.com – People, Planet, Profits and Projects Blog

– Green Project Management by Richard Maltzman and David Shirley

– Project Workflow Management: A Business Process Approach by Dan Epstein and Rich Maltzman

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:27 — 39.1MB)

Subscribe: RSS | More

Cristina DiGiacomo applies practical philosophy for future work benefit.

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 to lead happier, more purposed lives doing meaningful work.

Skeptics may not recognize the immediate value of practical philosophy for future work. 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 2:22
• How she gets “high flyers” to settle their minds to embrace practical philosophy. Starts at 6:03
• Overcoming skepticism. Starts at 10:33
• Her reaction to Adam Grant’s article on languishing, and ways that practical philosophy helps to overcome languishing. Starts at 13:21
• Participating in the collective goal of humanity. Starts at 19:39

Full interview starts at 2:11

Cristina demystifies the role of practical philosophy for future work. 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: June 11, 2021

Social media:

– LinkedIn

– Website

– WiseUp! Book Author’s Page

– WiseUp! Podcast

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 30:19 — 41.7MB)

Subscribe: RSS | More

Career professionals are swaying to the future of work, to thrive in their roles and workplaces.

During 2020, the intense stressors of remote work sent many professionals to a panic state. But 17 months since the pandemic started, those professionals may now languish. They handle their responsibilities well and don’t feel despair, but they don’t necessarily thrive.

According to workplace futurist Denise Brouder, swaying to the future of work helps people remain effective on the job…and joyful.

Denise is also the co-founder of SWAY. Throughout the pandemic, she and her team gathered insight to understand how professionals adjusted to their highly disrupted workplaces.

In this episode, Denise discusses:

• SWAY and its unique benefit to people who work. Starts at 3:33
• The reintroduction to the workplace and the benefits of working from anywhere. Starts at 6:04
• The feeling of languishing that many who work endure. Starts at 8:33
• Traditional “command and control” management styles that don’t align with future of work. Starts at 14:56
• Gendered aspects of return to work. Starts at 16:52
• The need for hiring managers to “check in” with their people. Starts at 23:31

Full interview starts at 3:23

Swaying to the future of work is personal. And Denise Brouder and the team at SWAY are helping to make work a joyful part of the day–and not the entire day.

About our guest:

Denise Brouder earned a Bachelors of Business Administration from the University of Limerick and an MBA in International Finance from Fordham University. She lives and works in the New York City suburbs of New Jersey.

EPISODE DATE: June 4, 2021

Social media:

– Facebook

– LinkedIn

– Twitter

– Website

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 17:18 — 23.8MB)

Subscribe: RSS | More

When we act on future work opportunities, we help make our career dreams come true.

Paired with dreams, exploration, and strategy, action helps us to achieve career success. These four components weave together like DNA, in countless combinations, to create a pathway for people to seek and do meaningful work.

In this episode, Dan Smolen recalls how his early career ambition benefitted from a big relocation:

“My first big career break also fulfilled the desire that my wife and I had to move to an interesting but far away part of the country. We were East Coasters. And my first agency job relocated us to Minneapolis.”

Seizing career advancement opportunities has served Dan well across all four of his career acts.

In this episode, Dan also recalls how a 20-year role in executive search exposed him to people who jumped at sudden career opportunities out of basic need. In other words, they needed immediate cash-flow to survive. Still, when money and volatility are not career-change drivers, some people act impulsively…because, that’s what they do.

Also in this episode, we meet Marti Konstant of Konstant Change. Marti is a workplace futurist who helps people employ agility to succeed in the future of work. In this interview segment, she and Dan discuss working from anywhere. Discussion starts here: 9:46About our guest:

Marti Konstant is an author, consultant, and globally recognized workplace futurist. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from the University of Illinois and an MBA in Marketing from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business. Marti lives and works in Chicago.

EPISODE DATE: May 28, 2021

Social media:

– LinkedIn

– Twitter 

– Website

– Activate Your Agile Career (Book Page)