The Dan Smolen Podcast: Recent Episodes
Dan Smolen
The Dan Smolen Podcast helps people navigate the future of work to do work that is profound, protects the planet, empowers people, and is fun to do–meaningful work.
On What’s Your Work Fit we posed this viewer question: Why Won’t My Team Willingly Return to the Office?
Our guest is Fran Saele. He is a workplace, and real estate solutions expert and a frequent thought-leader in the area of future of work. Fran’s professional passion includes the dynamic new ways of work and the transformation of the workplaces that support it. Fran answers this and other questions.
There are some roles that hiring managers believe have to be done face-to-face in the co-location. These may include executive assignments where, they believe, “being in the room” ensures that high level consultative skills are mastered.
And yet, those same managers struggle to recruit prime hiring prospects and workplace veterans to work in the co-location. In the wake of Covid, many of their people learned to be intentional and highly efficient at their roles while working from anywhere.
During this information packed episode, Fran also answers “what’s your work fit?’ His personal vision surely will resonate with many career professionals.About our guest:
Fran Saele is a veteran of the commercial real estate space who held senior executive positions with Accenture, CBRE, and Newmark. On social media, Fran publishes some of the-most compelling thought-leadership on future of work and workplace. He lives and works in Cincinnati, Ohio.
This episode originated as a live show on April 5, 2023. You can watch the show in its entirety on the What’s Your Work Fit YouTube Channel.EPISODE DATE: April 14, 2023
Fran’s social media:
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On What’s Your Work Fit we posed this question: How Can I Create a Neurodiverse-Friendly Workplace?
Our guest is Kay Sargent. She is Senior Principal and Director of Workplace at HOK and a globally recognized thought leader on intentional workplace design. Kay answers this and other questions:
Neurodiversity in the workplace impacts the needs and preferences of career professionals who present on the Autism spectrum. However, the neurodiverse workplace in the wake of Covid now includes millions more, such as people suffering lasting effects of “Long Covid.” Designing an intentional workplace for a diverse constituency such as this can help people to thrive and perform well on-the-job.
During this information packed episode, Kay also answers “what’s your work fit?’ Her personal vision surely will resonate with many career professionals.About our guest:
Kay Sargent is Senior Principal and Director of Workplace at HOK and a globally recognized thought leader on intentional workplace design. She lives and works in the Washington, D.C. area.
This episode originated as a live show on March 31, 2023. You can watch the show in its entirety on the What’s Your Work Fit YouTube Channel.EPISODE DATE: April 7, 2023
Justin’s social media:
- Website
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You may also click HERE to receive our podcast episodes by email.
On What’s Your Work Fit we posed this question: Why Doesn’t My Company’s Founder Respect Me?
This week, neuro-resiliency and leadership Coach Justin Noppe answers this and other important questions.
Neuroresilience helps career professionals to thrive in the workplace. To that end, it also enables them to make work a wonderful part of a day that includes lots of other wonderful experiences, and not the entire day.
During this information packed episode, Justin answers “what’s your work fit?’ His personal vision surely will resonate with many career professionals.About our guest:
Justin Noppe is a neuro-resiliency and leadership coach who helps to revitalize today’s workplace. He also takes to social media to address leadership’s pivotal impact on the future of work. Justin lives and works in Houston, Texas.
This episode originated as a live show on March 29, 2023. You can watch the show in its entirety on the What’s Your Work Fit YouTube Channel.EPISODE DATE: March 31, 2023
Justin’s social media:
- Website
Please Subscribe to What’s Your Work Fit on:
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You may also click HERE to receive our podcast episodes by email.
On What’s Your Work Fit we posed this question: How Can I Reimagine the Employee Experience?
This week, former Dean of the Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College and Professor of Strategic Communications Diane Gayeski and Agate Founder and CEO Corinne Murray answer this and other important questions.
It’s crystal clear: most workplace leaders get employee experience or “EX” wrong. It is not about staging fake summer camp spectaculars and birthday celebrations to pump up headcount. That doesn’t work.
However, when EX is done right, it helps talent do their jobs better and more meaningfully and values their off-the-clock time.
Our guests provide solid rationale for building intentional EX programs that foster leadership, scale team and individual success, and make work part of a day doing many other wonderful things…and not the day.
During this information packed episode, Diane and Corinne answer “what’s your work fit?’ Their personal visions surely will resonate with many career professionals.About our guests:
Diane Gayeski is Professor of Strategic Communications at the Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College. For several years, she served as the school’s dean and oversaw its scale as the preeminent communications and media program in the United States. Diane lives and works in Ithaca, New York.
Corinne Murray built a successful career in real estate and even worked for a time at WeWork. All of her work assignments provided a platform for her to advocate for better employee experiences. She is the founder and CEO of consultancy, Agate. Corinne lives and works in Brooklyn, New York.
This episode originated as a live show on March 15, 2023. You can watch the show in its entirety on the What’s Your Work Fit YouTube Channel.EPISODE DATE: March 24, 2023
Diane’s social media:
- Website
Corinne’s social media:
- Website
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You may also click HERE to receive our podcast episodes by email.Image credits: Queen Cuts Her Birthday Cake, BBC; portrait, Diane Gayeski; portrait, Corinne Murray; podcast button, J. Brandt Studio for The Dan Smolen Experience.
On What’s Your Work Fit we posed this question: is it time for a resume redo?
This week, acclaimed career coach and principal of Career Organic Briar Dougherty answers this and other important questions.
This is clear: a mistake that most professionals make with their resumes is in failing to include key words that drive Applicant Tracking Software. ATS is now utilized by most hiring managers to draw best candidate resumes to the top of the stack.
Is it time for a resume redo? YES, especially if you are stuck in your career and want to venture into different fields.Nowadays, resume writing is more science than art. But a few clever hacks done well can really make your resume stand out.
Following Briar’s Category Resume Template Example, start with a summary statement that provides your unique value proposition and your WHY. Continue with a bullet-pointed block of skills and attributes that mesh well with the job that you want.
During this information packed episode, Briar answers “what’s your work fit?’ Her vision will surely resonate with many career professionals, especially those who’ve taken an entrepreneurial journey.About our guest:
Briar Dougherty is the founder and CEO of Career Organic which helps scores of professionals with career coaching, strategy development and resume writing and editing. She lives and works in Atlanta, Georgia.
This episode originated as a live show on January 24, 2023. You can watch the show in its entirety on the What’s Your Work Fit YouTube Channel.EPISODE DATE: January 27, 2023
Briar’s social media:
- Website
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You may also click HERE to receive our podcast episodes by email.Image credits: Time for a Resume ReDo, Tirachard for iStock Photo; portrait, Briar Dougherty; podcast button, J. Brandt Studio for The Dan Smolen Experience.
On What’s Your Work Fit we posed this question: why is my boss so paranoid about productivity?
This week, workforce solutions expert Kathy Kacher of Career/Life Alliance Services answers this and other questions.
As companies sought some semblance of post-pandemic normality, Kathy shifted her focus to facilitating clients’ return to office (RTO) efforts.
Why is my boss so paranoid about productivity? It’s likely this disconnect: few c-suites believe that their ranks are productive while their workers actually think that they are.In between these two constituencies are head-count managers who have to lead and inspire their teams while fulfilling the shifting goals of their supervisors. It renders many of them paranoid.
We also discuss how some brands like The Walt Disney Company are built for co-location while others like GitLab are intentionally designed around a 100 percent distributed workforce. Whatever is a company’s workplace strategy, Kathy says that “the WHY” behind it must be clear and intentional.
During this information packed episode, Kathy answers “what’s your work fit?’ Her vision will surely resonate with many career professionals, especially those who’ve taken an entrepreneurial journey.About our guest:
Kathy Kacher is the founder of Career/Life Alliance Services and co-founder of hybrid and virtual work resource, The SMART Workplace. Kathy has been quoted in stories about future of work, return to office, the Great Resignation, hybrid workplaces, and productivity paranoia by The Washington Post, The New York Post, CBS News and other mainstream media outlets. She lives and works in the suburbs of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
This episode originated as a live show on January 18, 2023. You can watch the show in its entirety on the What’s Your Work Fit YouTube Channel.EPISODE DATE: January 20, 2023
Kathy’s social media:
- Website
Please Subscribe to What’s Your Work Fit on:
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You may also click HERE to receive our podcast episodes by email.Image credits: Paranoid boss and worker, Fizkes for iStock Photo; portrait, Kathy Kacher; podcast button, J. Brandt Studio for The Dan Smolen Experience.
On What’s Your Work Fit we posed this question: can remote tech aid my work fit?
This week, Global Teck Worldwide General Manager Dave Kelly answers this and other questions.
Operating remotely? Dave says that you should start by acquiring a phone number that’s dedicated for business use. And sign up for a service like Vonage; that keeps your work and personal channels separate.
During 2023, increasing speed will rank high in the priorities of workplace professionals. And their remote tech needs to rise to that challenge.
What’s more, make sure you benefit from best-in-class remote conferencing tools. Dave recommends products, like the Poly webcam/mic/speaker platform that make up for often poor [pre-installed] laptop conferencing tools.
During this information packed episode, Dave answers “what’s your work fit?’ His refreshing take on work and life will surely resonate with many career professionals.About our guest:
Dave Kelly is the general manager of Global Teck Worldwide, which helps ensure that work done from home or in the office environment has the right gear to get the job done right. Dave is also co-host of the popular What The Teck Show. He lives in the Boston suburbs of Southern New Hampshire.
This episode originated as a live show on January 10, 2023. You can watch the show in its entirety on the What’s Your Work Fit YouTube Channel.EPISODE DATE: January 13, 2023
Dave’s social media:
- What The Teck Show on YouTube
- Audio Podcast
- Website
Please Subscribe to What’s Your Work Fit on:
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You may also click HERE to receive our podcast episodes by email.Image credits: Remote office tech array, Global Teck Worldwide; portrait, Dave Kelly; podcast button, J. Brandt Studio for The Dan Smolen Experience.
On What’s Your Work Fit we posed this question: how can I overcome confidence envy?
This week, Remarkable Speaking‘s co-founders Shelley Goldstein and Mark Bossert answer this and other questions.
Early in her career, Shelley, a self-described extrovert, had in public facing situations felt confidence envy. And she froze. “All the doubt, all the fear and anxiety terrified me. And for years I stayed in the background.”
Even the-most successful of career professionals must overcome confidence envy. Shelley and Mark believe that public speaking practice and focus can help get professionals to success.
Mark’s introversion negatively impacted his confidence when speaking; he didn’t like that his work peer outshined him. Now, he asserts that the best way to overcome confidence envy is public speaking practice.
During this engaging episode, Shelley and Mark offer career professionals of all ages actionable strategies for overcoming confidence envy.About our guests:
Shelley Goldstein and Mark Bossert are internationally recognized and respected public speaking coaches. They are principals of Remarkable Speaking, a brand which helps clients to gain the confidence that they need to become effective communicators in the workplace and in life. Shelley lives and works in Los Angeles, California while Mark is based in British Columbia, Canada.
This episode originated as a live show on December 20, 2022. You can watch the show in its entirety on the What’s Your Work Fit YouTube Channel.EPISODE DATE: December 23, 2022
Shelley’s and Mark’s social media:
- LinkedIn (Shelley)
- LinkedIn (Mark)
- Remarkable Speaking (Website)
Please Subscribe to What’s Your Work Fit on:
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You may also click HERE to receive our podcast episodes by email.Image credits: Confidence envy suffering worker, fizkes for iStock Photo; portrait, Shelley Goldstein; portrait, Mark Bossert; podcast button, J. Brandt Studio for The Dan Smolen Experience.
On What’s Your Work Fit we posed this question: can I side-hustle my work fit?
This week, Hudson-Davis Communications and Hudson-Davis Creative Agency co-founders Amanda and Nick Huddy answer this and other questions.
Amanda was a well established and highly respected corporate executive. But she needed to work remotely. Nick talked her through her corporate exit. And Amanda’s boss assured her: “we will work with you as a client.”
Career professionals today wonder: can I side-hustle my work fit? Side-hustles are fun and can turn into meaningful careers. Amanda and Nick turned theirs into a successful enterprise.
Amanda: “We were having a lot of conversations with people. We’d been through a year of the pandemic. And people were starting to realize: ‘I need marketing in my business.'”
What’s key to their great success turning a side-hustle into a work fit? Perhaps it is investing in counseling to make sure that both their business and marriage thrives. Nick recognizes that it is not a good thing for couples to agree on everything in running their business.About our guests:
Amanda Huddy was a B2B corporate marketing executive before becoming co-founder of Hudson-Davis Communications and Hudson-Davis Creative Agency. Nick Huddy, is a serial entrepreneur with deep knowledge of, and a record of success in, marketing agency leadership. He is also the co-founder of Hudson-Davis Communications and Hudson-Davis Creative Agency. Amanda and Nick live and work in Los Angeles, California.
This episode originated as a live show on December 12, 2022. You can watch the show in its entirety on the What’s Your Work Fit YouTube Channel.EPISODE DATE: December 16, 2022
Amanda’s and Nick’s social media:
- LinkedIn (Amanda)
- LinkedIn (Nick)
- Instagram (Amanda)
- Instagram (Nick)
- TikTok (Amanda)
- Hudson Davis Creative Agency (Website)
Please Subscribe to What’s Your Work Fit on:
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You may also click HERE to receive our podcast episodes by email.Image credits: Side-hustle live show, Bobbie Daryn Vintage, LLC; portrait, Amanda and Nick Huddy; podcast button, J. Brandt Studio for The Dan Smolen Experience.
On What’s Your Work Fit we posed this question: how do I become a workplace leader?
This week, globally recognized leadership expert and host of The Packard Network, Bret Packard, answers this and other work and career questions.
Bret believes the key to becoming an effective workplace leader is to figure out the “antiquated 1970s shareholder first, profits before people” culture. And then, to successfully navigate it to have a highly engaged following.
Most career professionals today express the desire to become a workplace leader. But the best models for them to apply are often nuanced.
Considering two popular leadership models, coach and facilitator, Bret believes that career professionals benefit when they draw from the best aspects of each.
About our guest:
Bret Packard had a storied management career in the global financial services space. And throughout it he kept up to 89 journals which he filled with leadership insight. Now, on The Packard Network, he leverages his insight to help others become respected workplace leaders in their own right. Bret lives and works in Las Vegas, Nevada.
This episode originated as a live show on December 6, 2022. You can watch the show in its entirety on the What’s Your Work Fit YouTube Channel.EPISODE DATE: December 9, 2022
Bret Packard’s social media:
- The Packard Network
Please Subscribe to What’s Your Work Fit on:
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You may also click HERE to receive our podcast episodes by email.Image credits: Workplace leader, fizkes for iStock Photo; Vince Lombardi and The Green Bay Packers at Super Bowl I, Bettman Archive; portrait, Bret Packard; podcast button, J. Brandt Studio for The Dan Smolen Experience.
On What’s Your Work Fit we ask a jarring question posed by several of our viewers: is my boss spying on me?
This week, workplace diversity, equity and inclusion expert Dr. Betty Johnson, answers this and other work and career questions.
“The home was formerly a sanctuary, the place where you could take a breath, drop the mask (the mask of performance), ” laments Dr. Johnson.
With so many workplaces adopting a hybrid work policy, more workers are feeling intruded upon. What is more, many now feel pressure to perform after hours at home.In this episode, Dr. Johnson answers:
- Is my boss spying on me. Starts at 2:11
- What channels are companies using to surveil their talent? Starts at 3:01
- What is allowable versus disallowable intrusion? Starts at 4:37
- Are bosses using “find my device apps” to watch me? Starts at 8:49
- Is there transparency around the expectations of remote workplace presence? Starts at 13:41
Dr. Johnson adds: “Is this a culture of transparency? Or is this a culture where we don’t trust each other, where we do everything that we can to maximize our own self-interest?”She believes that as transparency wanes, we in the workplace lose trust in each other.
About our guest:
Dr. Betty Johnson is the founder of Bridging the Difference. She is a keen observer of people in the workplace and DEI. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a Ph.D. in Leadership from Antioch University. Dr. Johnson lives and works in Charlotte, North Carolina.
This episode originated as a live show on November 29, 2022. You can watch the show in its entirety on the What’s Your Work Fit YouTube Channel.EPISODE DATE: December 2, 2022
Dr. Johnson’s social media:
- Website
- Bridging the Difference Live Well Planner (described in this episode)
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You may also click HERE to receive our podcast episodes by email.Image credits: Spying Boss at Worker’s Home, stock for iStock Photo; iPhone Find My Device App screenshot, The Dan Smolen Experience; portrait, Dr. Betty Johnson; podcast button, J. Brandt Studio for The Dan Smolen Experience.
On What’s Your Work Fit we ask a viewer's question: why is my workplace so freakin' serious?
This week, "neurohumorist" Karyn Buxman and stand-up comedian David Horning answer this and other questions. Why is my workplace so freakin' serious? According to Karyn, [people] are afraid of "stepping on something." They don't like taking chances. Main segment starts at 1:06
In this episode, we ask Karyn and David:
Why is the workplace so freakin' serious? Starts at 1:57 What is forced fun and why is it destructive to people and workplace? Starts at 15:06 What is one easy starting point for leaders to infuse humor in the workplace? Starts at 28:59 What's your work fit? Starts at 32:40
David believes that "humor is like a math problem; there has to be a solution to it," Further, he says humor is "creative problem solving driven by curiosity." Main segment starts at 1:06
About our guests: "Neurohumorist" Karyn Buxman is the leading expert on brain-based strategic humor. Karyn helps people achieve true success, lasting significance, and genuine happiness through humor. She lives and works in San Diego, California. David Horning is by night a stand-up comedian and the co-founder of Secret Society Comedy. But during daylight hours, David helps companies to recruit, engage, and retain top talent by reframing their cultures through the effective use of humor. He lives and works in the very funny community of Cleveland, Ohio.
This episode originated as a live show on October 25, 2022. You can watch the show in its entirety on the What’s Your Work Fit YouTube Channel. EPISODE DATE: October 28, 2022
Karyn's social media:
LinkedIn Website
David's social media:
LinkedIn Website
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…or wherever you get your podcasts. You may also click HERE to receive our podcast episodes by email. Image credits: Corporate Suit Wearing a Clown Nose, air_images for iStock Photo; Apollo 11 astronauts and President Richard Nixon, July 24, 1969, Bettman Archives; portrait, Karyn Buxman; portrait, David Horning; podcast button, J. Brandt Studio for The Dan Smolen Experience.
On What’s Your Work Fit we ask a viewer's question: why doesn't my boss get Gen Z?
This week, work futurist and LinkedIn top voice for Gen Z Danielle Farage and the founder and CEO of BRANDthrō Billee Howard answer this and other questions. Why doesn't [my boss] get Gen Z? According to Danielle, it because Gen Zers don't live to work. "We're working to live." Main segment starts at 3:16
In this episode, we ask Danielle and Billee:
Why doesn't my boss get Gen Z? Starts at 3:16 What's wrong with Goldman Sachs' Gen Z-targeted recruitment ads? (Click here to view the ad discussed.) Starts at 13:45 Are bosses prioritizing productivity and profits above their people? Starts at 25:01 What's your work fit? Starts at 28:56
Why Doesn't My Boss Get Gen Z? Billee adds that "these are fractured times, and we're seeing a reversal of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs." Main segment starts at 3:16
About our guests:
Danielle Farage is a member of the Gen Z cohort, a LinkedIn top voice for Gen Z discussion, and a respected work futurist. She tackles timely workplace issues such as neurodiversity and civility. Danielle serves as the Director of Growth and Marketing for Café (YC S21). She lives and works in New York City.
Billee Howard is a globally recognized marketing insights leader and the founder and CEO of market research firm BRANDthrō. Her research leverages emotional insight to help marketers connect well with their consumers and hired talent. She is a member of the Fast Company Executive Board, and, she is a Senior Contributor to Forbes. Billee lives and works in New York City. This episode originated as a live show on October 18, 2022. You can watch the show in its entirety on the What’s Your Work Fit YouTube Channel. EPISODE DATE: October 21, 2022
Danielle's social media:
LinkedIn Website
Billee's social media:
LinkedIn Book Page Fast Company Forbes Website
Please Subscribe to What’s Your Work Fit on:
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…or wherever you get your podcasts. You may also click HERE to receive our podcast episodes by email. Image credits: Gen Z, SeventyFour for iStock Photo; portrait, Danielle Farage; portrait, Billee Howard; podcast button, J. Brandt Studio for The Dan Smolen Experience.
On What's Your Work Fit we ask: are work fit and health connected?
This week, board-certified internist and mind/body expert Charles Glassman, MD and future of work thought leader and SWAYworkplace founder Denise Brouder, answer that and other questions. Good health and wellness are critically important to achieving work fit. Conversely, not having good health can cause ill effects throughout the day and not just during work hours. In this episode:
Learn about What's Your Work Fit? and its mission. Starts at 1:05 Discover how your work fit and health are connected. Starts at 6:43
About our guests:
Charles Glassman MD is a board certified internist, an expert in wellness, and a social media figure known worldwide as CoachMD. Dr. Glassman is the Associate Medical Director of The Standard. He lives and works in Rockland County, New York.
Denise Brouder is a globally recognized future of work thought leader and the founder of SWAYworkplace, which helps people and companies embrace hybrid work and other future work modalities. She lives and works in Northern New Jersey. This episode originated as a live show on October 11, 2022. You can watch the show in its entirety on the What's Your Work Fit YouTube Channel. EPISODE DATE: October 14, 2022
Social media: Please Subscribe to What's Your Work Fit on:
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…or wherever you get your podcasts. You may also click HERE to receive our podcast episodes by email. Image credits: Work Bliss, Liderina for iStock Photo; portrait, Charles Glassman MD; portrait, Denise Brouder; podcast button, J. Brandt Studio for The Dan Smolen Experience.
Future of Work thought-leader Dan Smolen's What's Your Work Fit? premieres in October 2022. Finally, what it means to work is informed by your own personal needs and desires and not someone else’s directives.
How we work, who we work for, when we work, why we work, and the workplace where it all happens has turned upside down and inside out. And, I say that now is the time to own the work that you do and hope to do. What's Your Work Fit? is the first-of-its-kind interactive engagement platform bringing today’s business and workplace thought leaders, hiring managers, and career seekers together. The show premieres live on Tuesday, October 11, 2022 at 10AM Eastern Time US. We will challenge the traditional notions of work and workplace, to FIT who you are and what you want your lasting work and career contributions to be. Each week, we will invite you to join our LIVE SHOW—on LinkedIn, Facebook Live, and YouTube—to learn from and engage with amazing people who are leading the work zeitgeist. The questions that What's Your Work Fit? asks them to answer are likely the ones that keep you up at night. Get ready for an amazing experience!
EPISODE DATE: September 16, 2022 Please Subscribe to What's Your Work Fit on:
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…or wherever you get your podcasts. You may also click HERE to receive our podcast episodes by email. Image credits: Video mashup, Marsha D. Weiss; podcast button, J. Brandt Studio for The Dan Smolen Experience.
Dan Smolen is hitting the pause button on The Dan Smolen Podcast. When the podcast returns in Fall 2022, it will provide a more impactful interactive experience for career professionals. From the episode: "Given the success that the podcast has enjoyed during the past four years, I recognize that there is so much more for me to do, to further these discussions and make learning from them truly actionable.
I will strive to give career professionals—talent and hiring managers—the insight that they need to make sound decisions about their career development and workplace." Further:
"The remote workplace technology that we now use to connect to one another—and to the world—has been in place for ten years or longer. But it took the Covid pandemic to allow us to unleash its full potential. And as we adapted to it, and applied its numerous benefits, millions of us began to question what it means to work: for sure, what our work entails, but also when, where, and how we do the work that we do." The Dan Smolen Podcast debuted in 2018. During that time, Dan has dropped 159 episodes focused on future of work and workplace topics. Hitting the pause button is necessary to return this fall with a new podcast experience that talent and hiring managers alike can use to navigate the future of work and workplace.
While the podcast takes a hiatus, please check out our other episodes and blog posts.
EPISODE DATE: June 10, 2022 Please Subscribe to The Dan Smolen Podcast on:
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…or wherever you get your podcasts. You may also click HERE to receive our podcast episodes by email. Image credits: Audio file wave form, Marsha D. Weiss; podcast button, J. Brandt Studio for The Dan Smolen Experience.
Dan Smolen recalls how starting a first job of many benefitted his professional career and informed a profound journey in the future of work:
As the last of the graduation ceremonies conclude, America’s latest crop of entry-level workers is stressed out about connecting with work and career. I remember the experience well. And what I recall most was how I wanted my first assignment out of college to align me perfectly with my career goals of reaching the senior advertising agency management ranks. It was a fool’s errand.
The Spring of 1983, my graduation season, ushered in one of the-worst job markets since the 1930s. Unemployment was terribly high. Like me, my peers struggled to connect to entry-level work. With each passing week of no returned phone calls, I fell into a depression. Main podcast segment starts at 3:09 In this episode, Dan discusses:
The chance meeting, at a Washington Post advertisers event, that got him to starting a first job of many. How that first job taught him how to succeed in a corporate setting. Turning a messy, analog magazine circulation file into a money making resource. Leveraging first job skill, experience, and accomplishments to find a great ad agency position in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.
Starting a first job of many provides young careerists the time and space they need to learn how to work, and make work part of a day doing other things. Main podcast segment starts at 3:09
EPISODE DATE: June 3, 2022 Please Subscribe to The Dan Smolen Podcast on:
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Future of Work Sherpa Dan Smolen asks: should careers require a college degree? As the graduating class of 2022 enters the workplace, many of its members will carry forward substantial student loan debt. And the son of one friend of mine amassed $250,000 in debt to earn his Bachelor's degree.
That is a nightmare scenario. So how did we get to a nightmarish place where the college degree no longer ensures the American Dream? Truth be told, we got here, because of the Vietnam War.
Main podcast segment starts at 2:54
In this episode, Dan:
Recalls how American men got draft deferments when they earned bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. Describes how a bachelor's degree became a "must have" for everyone doing career professional work. Laments how, in 2022, a college degree has been rendered a economic albatross.
Main podcast segment starts at 2:54 In the future of work, should careers require a college degree? Time will tell if the answer to that question remains "yes." EPISODE DATE: May 27, 2022 Please Subscribe to The Dan Smolen Podcast on:
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Future of Work Sherpa Dan Smolen discusses inciting a workplace revolution with guest Vinny Tafuro.
Vinny is the Founder of the Institute for Economic Evolution. He is also the author of two books, including Unlocking the Labor Cage. For those who study the future of work, this much is clear: we are in the midst of a workplace revolution. And career professionals are inciting it. After the past 40 years, during which shareholder value reigned supreme, stakeholder value is at last resonating in boardrooms. And people who work are taking their seats at the stakeholder table.
Main podcast segment starts at 3:02
In a wide ranging discussion, Vinny:
Describes the value proposition for the Institute for Economic Evolution. Starts at 4:30 Explains the origins of the over 150 year-old 8-hour workday. Starts at 7:22 Offers insight into how metric-driven managers can become thoughtful and intentional workplace leaders. Starts at 12:06 Discusses the importance of benefit corporations (B-Corps) in inciting a workplace revolution. Starts at 24:46 Lays out his future of work vision. Starts at 32:05
What is more, Vinny offers this key driver for inciting a workplace revolution: "We're proving what really good leaders have always known: if you treat people well, you build up your organization holistically and create a culture that doesn't become toxic." Main podcast segment starts at 3:02
About our guest:
Vinny Tafuro is a visionary thinker, writer, entrepreneur, communications theorist, and economist. Vinny earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the University of Tampa and is pursuing a Masters of Science in Foresight from the University of Houston. He lives and works in Tampa, Florida.
EPISODE DATE: May 20, 2022
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Future of Work Sherpa Dan Smolen explores mastering time for future work with guest Kris Ward.
Kris is the host of the Win the Hour, Win the Day Podcast. She counsels entrepreneurs on how to manage their time resources so that they become successful in work, but also in life.
Main podcast segment starts at 3:02 Time mastery is critical for success in the future of work. And to that end, Kris and Dan cover a lot of ground around time mastery including:
The unique value proposition for Win the Hour, Win the Day. Starts at 4:13 How the notion of working a lot of hours is believed to be good. Starts at 6:43 A deep dive into her "Super Tool Kit" and what makes it effective. Starts at 11:07 Why entrepreneurs and career professionals get jammed up with "time sucks." Starts at 12:01 Infrastruture in the future of work frame. Starts at 14:00 The ways quality of work and life improves with time mastery. Starts at 16:50 The powerful outcome of giving up tasks. Starts at 18:32 In a future of work frame, getting away from the notion that the amount of time expensed in work is everything. Starts at 24:15
Mastering time for future work allows entrepreneurs and career professionals to thrive in work and life. Main podcast segment starts at 3:02
About our guest:
Kris Ward is a leading authority on scaling business and maximizing the resource of time. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Ryerson University. Kris lives and works in the province of Ontario, Canada.
EPISODE DATE: May 13, 2022
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Future of Work Sherpa Dan Smolen meets up with Randye Spina, to discuss fostering benefit for future work. Randye is the founder of Marketing on a Mission, LLC. And she is a self-described "business as a force for good champion." Her consultancy enables B-Corps and other entities to drive positive, purpose-driven brand attributes. Now, more than ever, career professionals want to work for companies that stand for noble purpose. Interestingly, as Randye points out, the first driver for benefit corporations is to empower their hired talent.
Main podcast segment starts at 2:57
In a wide ranging interview, Randye:
Defines the value proposition for Marketing on a Mission. Starts at 4:12 Describes the allure of becoming a benefit corporation or B-Corp. Starts at 8:00 Explains why companies and organizations should consider becoming a B-Corp. Starts at 11:42 Offers insight as to why career professionals are positively predisposed to B-Corps. Starts at 15:30 Considers how B-Corps create leverage with departing talent. Starts at 25:40
Almost always, when fostering benefit for future work, companies can attract and retain the best people. Main podcast segment starts at 2:57
About our guest:
Randye Spina received a Bachelor of Business Arts from Pace University and an MBA from the University of Dallas. She lives and works in Southern Connecticut.
EPISODE DATE: May 6, 2022
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…or wherever you get your podcasts. You may also click HERE to receive our podcast episodes by email. Image credits: Benefit emboldened worker, Jelena Danilovic for iStock Photo; Randye Spina Portrait, Marketing on a Mission, LLC; podcast button, J. Brandt Studio for The Dan Smolen Experience.
Future of Work Sherpa Dan Smolen asks the question: are bosses crushing worker dignity? Answering this question, and many others, is Dr. Betty Johnson. She is the founder of Bridging the Difference LLC; it helps company leaders embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) to ensure worker dignity. As the Covid pandemic ebbs, and more of their talent work remotely, managers are using Zoom sessions in ways that they may believe are effective, but actually rid their people of dignity. Requiring people to be "on camera" throughout long, heavily attended Zoom sessions, whether or not they participate in discussion, can have a toxic effect.
And people of color and women--especially older women--are often the-most negatively affected by such "on camera" requirements.
Dr. Johnson wants to change that.
Main podcast segment begins at 2:58
In a wide ranging discussion, Dr. Johnson:
Provides the unique value proposition for her company, Bridging the Difference LLC. Starts at 4:53 Describes the misuses of Zoom sessions by managers to gather their people. Starts at 6:07 Illustrates surface acting and its psychological impact on talent. Starts at 9:51 Explains the positive affects of "being listened to." Starts at 16:13 Digs into how bosses crush worker dignity and unintentionally create "drama triangles." Starts at 20:35 Offers strategies for making Zoom sessions better. Starts at 27:08 Defines Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and provides ways to positively frame it for management to embrace. Starts at 40:35
Are bosses crushing worker dignity? Some are. But with intentional leadership from their management, people can find positive meaning in the work that they do. Main podcast segment begins at 2:58
About our guest:
Dr. Betty Johnson is a keen observer of people in the workplace. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a Ph.D. in Leadership from Antioch University. Dr. Johnson lives and works in Charlotte, North Carolina.
EPISODE DATE: April 29, 2022
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Future of Work Sherpa Dan Smolen establishes a Dominatrix's Guide to Future Work with executive coach Dana Pharant. Dana is a former dominatrix who now uses her skill to help entrepreneurs and career professionals. They learn to overcome past traumas to live and work joyfully. What is more, Dana's clients apply skill to escape from ingrained behaviors that bottle up their emotions. And when they do that, they can achieve "10X" success.
Main interview segment begins at 3:01
In a provocative and wide-ranging discussion, Dana:
Lays out the unique value proposition she provides her clients. Starts at 4:17 Defines what a dominatrix does. Starts at 7:01 Explains how "surrendering" can help many, including controlling-type people. Starts at 11:43 Describes "sexual energy" and how it empowers career professionals. Starts at 14:56 Supports the notion that managers need to embrace vulnerability. Starts at 20:11 Provides a "10X" client success story. Starts at 26:11 Guides listeners to greater future of work success. Starts at 33:03
As part of a Dominatrix's Guide to Future Work, Dana believes we all must learn to embrace vulnerability in the workplace: "The first thing is being vulnerable. And saying right out: this is awkward. I've lost my skills in how to relate to people. Just say it! Say what it is!"
Main interview segment begins at 3:01
About our guest: Dana Pharant grew up in a cult and survived years of every kind of abuse imaginable. After years as a dominatrix, she applied her skill into a useful and healing resource for entrepreneurs and career professionals seeking success. Dana lives and works in Barrie, Ontario (Canada).
EPISODE DATE: April 22, 2022
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Future of Work Sherpa Dan Smolen explores how to make work from anywhere work with guest John Lee. He is the co-founder of Work From Anywhere, a resource that helps people across-the-globe to overcome international barriers-to-entry. When that happens, career professionals may live and work in the place of their dreams. John and his family are experienced digital nomads. And recently, they seized the opportunity to relocate from Ireland to Portugal. Their new community offers lower taxes, great schools, and wonderful quality-of-life.
Main podcast segment starts at 3:05
In a wide ranging discussion, John:
Describes the value proposition for his brand, Work From Anywhere. Starts at 4:22 Explains what happens when people get to live and work where they please. Starts at 5:27 Summarizes key learning in his research with companies and career professionals. Starts at 10:13 Identifies some of the easing barriers-to-entry. Starts at 12:37 Discusses surprising diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) insight from Work From Anywhere's White Paper. Starts at 18:25 Addresses the negative impact of location bias. Starts at 20:24 Provides examples of cool destinations for living and working. Starts at 22:08
Our best days lie ahead when we make work from anywhere work. Main podcast segment starts at 3:05
About our guest:
John Lee received bachelors and masters degrees in accounting from University College of Dublin. He lives and works in Cascais, Portugal.
EPISODE DATE: April 15, 2022
Social media:
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…or wherever you get your podcasts. You may also click HERE to receive our podcast episodes by email. Image credits: Digital nomad in Capri, Marina113 for iStock Photo; Dad and kids, John Lee; Portrait, John Lee; podcast button, J. Brandt Studio for The Dan Smolen Experience.
Future of Work Sherpa Dan Smolen digs into the WHY of building workplace leadership culture with guest Bret Packard. Over a 30-year corporate career, Bret "crushed it" at managing large global teams tasked with scaling profits and market dominance. And, he was rewarded well for his hard work. But Bret discovered early on that he wasn't the leader of people that he wanted or needed to be.
Inspired by the corporate manager to whom he reported, Bret embarked on a journey to connect well with the people on his teams. And when he emerged as an effective leader, his people enjoyed better engagement and more success in their work and careers.
Bret also benefitted from a career-long commitment to journaling. Often, he refers to the 30 years of insight that fills the pages of the 89 journals that he kept. Bret draws on the wisdom in those journals to empower The Packard Network's followers to become effective leaders.
Main podcast segment begins at 3:05
In a wide ranging discussion, Bret:
Describes The Packard Network and its value to people in the workplace. Starts at 4:45 Provides a summary of his 30-year corporate career and his journey to becoming a good and effective leader. Starts at 7:16 Explains why building a workplace leadership culture is important now and to the future of work. Starts at 13:03 Provides insight on why leaders must adopt new skill to empower Generation Z workforce members. Starts at 18:41 Answers the question: are we hiring the right people to be leaders that the workplace needs? Starts at 28:11
Bret reflects on his own leadership journey, saying: "I was a master at managing. So, things like strategy, plans, processes--that was me. But the part that I didn't have down pat was connecting with people through vision, culture, ecosystem, and the way [that you communicate] with people." Building workplace leadership culture helps people to own their professional success. It truly is mission critical in the future of work. Main podcast segment begins at 3:05
About our guest:
Bret Packard earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Southeastern Oklahoma State University. He is based in Las Vegas, Nevada.
EPISODE DATE: April 8, 2022
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Future of Work Sherpa Dan Smolen interviews Lucas Krump on supporting men in future work. Lucas is the CEO and Co-Founder of EVRYMAN, a platform of resources, groups, retreats, and more. It empowers men to lead fuller and more connected lives. Men struggle with their relationship to work as much as they do in expressing their emotions. What's more, men quite often craft identities--their personal narratives--around work and career.
Now, emerging from a two-year pandemic, many men grapple with workplace disruption and figuring our their purpose.
Main podcast segment begins at 2:49
In a wide ranging discussion, Lucas:
Describes EVRYMAN and its value proposition. Starts at 4:15 Relates to why it is important for men to slow down--to relax, open up, and connect. Starts at 5:55 Provides his backstory as a young man and successful executive that led him to EVRYMAN. Starts at 6:58 Speaks to the emotional and behavioral disconnections that men suffer. Starts at 16:00 Discusses The American Dream and what motivates men, disconnected from work, to engage with EVRYMAN. Starts at 21:54 Offers insight as to how the pandemic impacted the future of work for men. Starts at 25:37
Supporting men in future work is important. And yet, Lucas is most often asked this basic question: what does it mean to be a man? His response: "EVRYMAN does not define what it means to be a man, That's a sacred space. Instead, what men are asking is: how do I be all of myself inside the [post-pandemic] workplace?" While this topic seemingly relates to men exclusively, it is in the interest of all of our listeners to be a part of this discussion. We all have male friends and family members. And they may benefit in life and in the future of work with new frames for expressing emotion and engagement such as those offered by EVRYMAN.
Main podcast segment begins at 2:49
About our guest:
Lucas Krump received a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Kansas. He also earned an MBA from UCLA's Anderson School of Management. Lucas lives and works in Hudson, New York.
EPISODE DATE: April 1, 2022
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…or wherever you get your podcasts. You may also click HERE to receive our podcast episodes by email. Image credits: Two supportive men, People Images for iStock Photo; Lucas Krump portrait, EVRYMAN; podcast button, J. Brandt Studio for The Dan Smolen Experience.
Future of Work Sherpa Dan Smolen interviews Debra Olshan Cooper to discover how personal storytelling builds brilliant careers. Debra is the founder and principal of Your Career Design Lab. She empowers people new to the workplace and not, to find and do the work of their dreams. What is more, by leveraging mindfulness and neurolinguistic programming (NLP) techniques, Debra poses questions which get to the heart of her clients' career journeys: "What were you doing when you were truly happy, when you felt joy, when you felt passion? Let's go back to that space!" Main podcast segment starts at 3:01
In a wide ranging discussion, Debra:
Summarizes the value proposition of Your Design Career Lab. Starts at 4:05 Illustrates how she engages with careerists who seek her guidance. Starts at 9:04 Responds to the widespread problem of career exploration as an afterthought. Starts at 14:17 Describes how she employs mindfulness to get her clients grounded and centered. Starts at 20:27 Discusses how effective storytelling answers the question: who are you? Starts at 35:16
Personal storytelling builds brilliant careers and helps people to live joyful, purposeful lives. Main podcast segment starts at 3:01
About our guest:
Before founding Your Career Design Lab, Debra Olshan Cooper enjoyed a successful career in public relations, marketing communications, and business development. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Journalism at New York University. Debra lives and works near Miami, Florida.
EPISODE DATE: March 25, 2022
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…or wherever you get your podcasts. You may also click HERE to receive our podcast episodes by email. Image credits: Personal storytelling, Rostock_Photo for iStock Photo; Debra Olshan Cooper portrait, Your Career Design Lab; podcast button, J. Brandt Studio for The Dan Smolen Experience.
Future of Work Sherpa Dan Smolen interviews author Hana Ben-Shabat. She illustrates how the future of work is Generation Z.
Hana is the author of Gen Z 360: Preparing for the Inevitable Change in Culture, Work, and Commerce. And, to tell the generation's story, she gleaned considerable insight from a large sampling of the cohort. This much is evident: Gen Z is changing every aspect of life and work. And, the oldest among them, people in their early 20s, are positively shaping the future of work and the workplace. Main podcast segment begins at 2:58
In a wide ranging discussion, Hana:
Describes her firm, Gen Z Planet, and its unique value to clients and prospects. Starts at 4:28 Offers key insight she learned in writing her book about Generation Z. Starts at 5:28 Contrasts Generation Z from the Millennials and other demographic cohorts through the lens of events. Starts at 9:11 Provides examples of how forward thinking companies are engaging Gen Z workers. Starts at 17:24 Explains Gen Z's "high tech, high touch" engagement preferences and how managers can lead them to achieve successful work outcomes. Starts at 21:03 Illustrates how Gen Z will change the workplace. Starts at 37:34
Gen Z workers thrive in what Hana describes as "high tech, high touch" environments. And, on the job, their motivations may seem contradictory: they seek financial success, recognition, and autonomy. However, they also seek intentional leadership from their bosses. According to Hana: "The leaders of the future are going to be successful when they show empathy and compassion." The future of work is Generation Z. Yes, they will turn the workplace upside down. But everyone who works will benefit from better career experiences and outcomes. Main podcast segment begins at 2:58
About our guest:
Hana Ben-Shabat is the founder Gen Z Planet. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Tel Aviv University and an MBA from the Rotterdam School of Management at Erasmus University. She lives and works in New York City.
EPISODE DATE: March 18, 2022
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…or wherever you get your podcasts. You may also click HERE to receive our podcast episodes by email. Image credits: Generation Z workers, blackandbrightph for iStock Photo; Hana Ben-Shabat portrait, Gen Z Planet; podcast button, J. Brandt Studio for The Dan Smolen Experience.
Future of Work Sherpa Dan Smolen explores future work recruitment with Russell White. Russell is a veteran executive recruiter who is based in London. For years, he supported candidate development for top brands in digital marketing, insights, and social media. But, in the wake of the pandemic, Russell remade and rebranded his firm as Future Work. Now, along with core executive search services offered, Future Work partners with Pimento to help enterprising talent join a community of professionals. As Future Work members, people acquire skill and knowledge that they need to find and do meaningful, purposeful work.
Main podcast segment begins at 2:55
In a wide ranging discussion, Russell:
Describes the transformation of his recruitment firm to Future Work. Starts at 4:21 Explains the meaning of Future Work. Starts at 10:05 Conveys his brand's WHY, and the sense of community enjoyed by members. Starts at 16:33 Advocates for the role of professional leadership. Starts at 21:49 Speaks to his role as an avatar for candidates and community members that he wants to attract to Future Work. Starts at 35:16
In stating the value of future work recruitment, Russell says: "Our whole proposition of Future Work, what we want to do, is to create a recruitment company with purpose." Main podcast segment begins at 2:55
Russell White and Dan Smolen in London, December 2018.
About our guest:
Russell White has been an executive recruiter for most of his professional career. Yet, he is also widely known around the globe as “Retro Russ,” presenting 1970s Disco music on Delite Radio. Russell earned a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Business Studies from Middlesex University. He lives and works in London, England.
EPISODE DATE: March 11, 2022
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Future of Work Sherpa Dan Smolen explores the emergence of a human and adaptive workplace with Rodney Evans. Rodney is the host and executive producer of the Brave New Work Podcast. What is more, she leads The Ready which helps companies become more human and adaptive. Out of the pandemic, we begin to recognize a future of work that is less about co-locations and siloes and more about recognizing and leading talent. And of the shift, Rodney says: "At [their] core level, human beings want to contribute, they want meaning in their work, and they [are able] to change." Main interview segment starts at 2:59
In a wide ranging discussion, Rodney:
Summarizes the value propositions of the Brave New Work Podcast and her consultancy, The Ready. Starts at 4:04 Explains the "it's the aquarium, not the fish" conundrum facing head count managers who struggle to hire and reward professionals. Starts at 6:39 Describes executive leadership changes needed in the future of work. Starts at 8:57 Provides a real time example of how leadership can empower professional talent. Starts at 11:15 Envisions a novel role for human resources to positively impact the future of work. Starts at 25:40
A human and adaptive workplace helps to ensure that professional talent thrive in the future of work. Main interview segment starts at 2:59
About our guest:
Rodney Evans received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Syracuse University. Earlier in her career, Rodney served companies in senior executive roles, positively impacting their human resources and organizational development. She lives and works in Durham, North Carolina.
EPISODE DATE: March 4, 2022
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…or wherever you get your podcasts. You may also click HERE to receive our podcast episodes by email. Image credits: Professional talent in crosswalk, IR Stone for iStock Photo; aquarium, RomoloTavani; Rodney Evans portrait, The Ready; podcast button, J. Brandt Studio for The Dan Smolen Experience.
Future of Work Sherpa Dan Smolen asks internationally recognized Corporate Diva Dipika Trehan: will women lead future work? A self-described "philanthrepreneur," Dipika promotes the health, wellness, and professional success of women across the globe. Her brands, the H.O.W. Forum and Corporate Diva, work across many verticals of holistic employee well-being and female empowerment. As Dipika explains: "Women are looking for two things which they don't deservingly receive: one is dignity of labor and the other is respect." Main interview segment starts at 2:56
In a wide-ranging discussion, Dipika:
Describes her personal and professional background, the H.O.W. [Health of Women] Forum, and Corporate Diva. Starts at 4:26 Digs into research about the challenges facing professional women. Starts at 9:30 Supports the promise of women in the workforce. Starts at 14:43 Explains why the workplace needs more women leaders. Starts at 15:39 Offers reasons why "Male Samaritans" should support professional women. Starts at 23:05
Will women lead future work? We contend that it is a likely outcome. Main interview segment starts at 2:56
About our guest:
Dipika Trehan earned a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics from Lady Irwin College New Delhi and an MBA from the Institute of Management Technology Ghaziabad. She is an ET Now Top Global Diversity and Inclusion Leader (2020) and alumna of the Innovation in Women's Health Program, Mashav (Israel). Dipika lives and works in Bangalore, India.
EPISODE DATE: February 25, 2022
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…or wherever you get your podcasts. You may also click HERE to receive our podcast episodes by email. Image credits: Woman workforce professional, Kirill Smyslov for iStock Photo; Dipika Trehan portrait, Corporate Diva; podcast button, J. Brandt Studio for The Dan Smolen Experience.
Future of Work Sherpa Dan Smolen discusses mastering the digital workplace with podcaster Neil Miller. He helps careerists to make sense of digital workplace innovations, to be truly intentional in the future of work. Neil calls himself a "thought stealer." Actually, he is a best-practices synthesizer. Neil helps people and companies to succeed in the digital workplace.
What is more, his journey through life and career is unusual. With a college degree in religious studies, Neil moved to India. There, he supported top clients with content development. His dazzling experiences living and working there shaped his thought-leadership.
Main interview segment starts at 2:58
In a wide ranging discussion, Neil:
Describes his work and the value proposition of The Digital Workplace. Starts at 4:15 Takes us through his adventurous move to India, to live and work. Starts at 5:06 Summarizes the 5 Levels of a Digital Workplace. Starts at 10:20 Supports how untraditional life and work experiences foster future work leadership. Starts at 20:21 Discusses how perpetual learning impacts workforce professionals. Starts at 22:35 Relates the core skills he hopes to see scale in the workplace. Starts at 26:44
Main interview segment starts at 2:58 Mastering the digital workplace. It is critical for success in the future of work. About our guest:
Neil Miller earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Lincoln Christian University. He lives and works in Indianapolis, Indiana.
EPISODE DATE: February 18, 2022
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…or wherever you get your podcasts. You may also click HERE to receive our podcast episodes by email. Image credits: Digital workplace and talent, scyther5 for iStock Photo; Neil Miller portrait, The Digital Workplace; podcast button, J. Brandt Studio for The Dan Smolen Experience.
Future of Work Sherpa Dan Smolen discusses workplace trends for 2022 with Kettle's Dan Rosenzweig. Most notably, Dan explains two trends this year with the biggest workplace impact: the clubhouse as the office and pop-up venues for work. On one hand, clubhouses enable professional talent to gather safely and with engagement. On the other, pop-up venues allow companies to reassemble team members in laboratory-like settings. Pop-ups help people re-learn people skills and test out new leadership models.
Main interview segment starts at 3:11
In a wide ranging interview, Dan:
Describes the clubhouse as the office model. Starts at 4:48 Summarizes insight gathered from Kettle's research. Starts at 12:24 Discusses the Great Resignation and how pop-up space can be used to empower people at work. Starts at 15:30 Explains how Human Resources or HR can be used to foster team leadership in intentional workplaces. Starts at 27:09
Main interview segment starts at 3:11 The workplace trends for 2022 signal a bright future of work. About our guest:
Dan Rosenzweig earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and History from Vanderbilt University. Prior to co-founding Kettle, he worked for other co-working providers. Dan lives and works in the suburbs of New York City.
EPISODE DATE: February 11, 2022
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…or wherever you get your podcasts. You may also click HERE to receive our podcast episodes by email. Image credits: People in a pop-up office, Vasyl Dolmatov for iStock Photo; Dan Rosenzweig portrait, Kettle; podcast button, J. Brandt Studio for The Dan Smolen Experience.
Future of Work Sherpa Dan Smolen and podcast guest Achim Nowak delve into the Fourth Act Career. In his first career act, Achim was a successful New York City-based theatrical director who, as a workaholic, sought perfection. But a vision of a white house on a tropical island soon captivated his dreams. Achim's dreamy vision turned into reality. He found that white house on the tropical island of Tobago and moved in. As a result, he left the stage and his life in New York City. While on Tobago, Achim became an accomplished windsurfer.
But later on, needing a steady income, Achim moved back to New York to become a mediator. And that professional experience pivoted him to next act work that included helping CEOs and other C-suite executives, to: "Show up with relaxed authority and amplify [their] personal influence for great success." Now, into his fourth act career, Achim has added to his résumé joyful work experiences. He is host and executive producer of the My Fourth Act Podcast; Achim interviews a wide array of professionals who, in their fourth career acts, do the work of their dreams. And, during 2021, he interviewed me on his podcast about my fourth act.
Main segment begins at 3:14
In an engaging and wide-ranging podcast discussion, Achim:
Describes the My Fourth Act Podcast and the work he does for senior executives. Starts at 5:14 Relives his first, second and third career acts. Starts at 7:34 Explains how his career in theater as a director impacts his current work with corporate executives. Starts at 14:39 Discusses the experiential commonalities that bubble up amongst his fourth act guests. Starts at 16:23 Illustrates a day in the life of his fourth act. Starts at 21:49 Takes us through what he believes Generation Z and the cohorts that follow may find profound and meaningful about the future of work. Starts at 29:02
Main segment begins at 3:14 This we know: the fourth act career is quite often personally satisfying and professionally fulfilling. About our guest:
Achim Nowak earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Theater Arts from the George Washington University, and, a Masters of Arts in Organizational Psychology and International Relations from New York University. He lives and works in Hollywood, Florida.
EPISODE DATE: February 4, 2022
Social media:
– Podcast
– Episode 23: The Beauty of a Side Hustle (with guest Dan Smolen)
– Website
– Published Work Please Subscribe to The Dan Smolen Podcast on:
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Future of Work Sherpa Dan Smolen discusses employee experience and future work with Professor Diane Gayeski. Professor Gayeski teaches Strategic Communications at Ithaca College's Park School of Communications. What is more, she is a noted thought-leader in employee experience or EX. In the future of work, EX is a linchpin for people to find and do meaningful work.
Main segment begins at 2:59
In a wide ranging podcast interview, Professor Gayeski:
Defines employee experience or EX. Starts at 4:07 Discusses management by objectives (MBO) and the pivot to more talent-driven success outcomes. Starts at 6:49 Contrasts tangible and intangible assets and their importance in the workplace. Starts at 18:47 Digs into how members of the Gen Z cohort will approach work. Starts at 22:20 Describes citizenship behaviors and their benefit to workforce professionals. Starts at 27:10
The connection between employee experience and future work is critical. To that end, Professor Gayeski believes that: "employee experience has to be very carefully designed so that we don't get to yet another version of management by objectives cranking out performance." Main segment begins at 2:59
About our guest:
Professor Diane Gayeski is Dean Emerita of Ithaca College's Park School of Communications; currently, she teaches Strategic Communications at the school. Diane earned a Bachelor of Science in Communications from Ithaca College and a Ph.D. in Education and Communications from the University of Maryland. She lives and works in Ithaca, New York.
EPISODE DATE: January 28, 2022
Social media:
– Putting employee experience on the balance sheet (October 11, 2021)
– Website Please Subscribe to The Dan Smolen Podcast on:
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Future of Work Sherpa Dan Smolen discusses a startup parent's workplace culture fix with entrepreneur and podcaster Sarah K. Peck. Sarah is the CEO and founder of Start Up Parent and host of the popular Start Up Parent Podcast. As a former start up executive, and the mom of two young children, Sarah is leading the charge to improve start-up business environments. To that end, she wants start-up enterprises to become as innovative in workplace culture as they are in technological advancement. Sarah truly is impacting the future of work for noble purpose.
Main segment begins at 3:07
In a wide ranging interview, Sarah:
Introduces Start Up Parent and its value to workforce professionals. Starts at 4:17 Recalls her career journey as a start-up executive and chief corporate storyteller. Starts at 5:54 Discusses how "frenetic" start-ups impede cultural innovation at work. Starts at 8:58 Offers insight on how to change the narrative to make start-ups a better place for parents to work. Starts at 17:48 Provides a personal account of being a business professional and mom. Starts at 34:17 Describes the kinds of questions working parents should ask to further their future work goals. Starts at 43:12
Sarah's startup parent's workplace culture fix helps this space become more hospitable. Main segment begins at 3:07
About our guest:
Sarah K. Peck earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Biology from Denison University and a Masters of Arts in Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning from the University of Pennsylvania. She lives and works outside of New York City.
EPISODE DATE: January 21, 2022
Social media:
– Website
– Start Up Parent Podcast
– TikTok
– Twitter Please Subscribe to The Dan Smolen Podcast on:
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Future of Work Sherpa Dan Smolen discusses Myers Briggs and the Great Resignation with expert Edythe Richards. As 2022 begins, an estimated 20 million American workers opted for the Great Resignation. With such an unprecedented exit of active workforce members, we wondered about the correlation between Myers Briggs Type Indicators and the Great Resignation. To help guide us through this critical discussion, we bring back Edythe Richards. Edythe is a world-renowned Myers Briggs expert who helps people discover their Myers Briggs Type. With such insight, people benefit greatly in their lives and careers.
Main segment begins at 2:59
In this episode, Edythe:
Provides a quick review of the Myers Briggs Type Indicator. Starts at 4:27 Explains how Myers Briggs insights factor into the Great Resignation. Starts at 6:29 Offers five factors that motivate people in the Great Resignation. Starts at 12:53 Discusses the loss of people skill and the need for workplace remediation to create new team leadership outcomes. Starts at 30:50 Describes how the pandemic changed perceptions of MBTI. Starts at 38:29
Understanding Myers Briggs and the Great Resignation can help people to uncover key career sticking points. And, among the factors affecting people in the workplace is boredom. Similarly, Edythe says that: "Boredom is one of the clearest signs that [you are] in a career or a workplace that doesn't suit your personality." Main segment begins at 2:59
About our guest:
Edythe Richards received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Delaware and a Masters of Arts degree in Counseling from Seton Hall University. Her nationally recognized career counseling consultancy, A Top Career, is headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia.
EPISODE DATE: January 14, 2022
Social media:
– Website
– EQ at Work Podcast
– Myers Briggs Question Corner Podcast
– LinkedIn Page
– Edythe's featured past podcast appearances:
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Emotional Intelligence and Hybrid Work (November 6, 2020)
-
Knowing Your Myers Briggs Type (September 7, 2018) Please Subscribe to The Dan Smolen Podcast on:
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Future of Work Sherpa Dan Smolen says people should use SWOT to focus on career success. That's right. The time-honored business management tool, the SWOT analysis, can help careerists to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Getting to blissful work and experiences takes great planning and imagination. And this time-honored business tool can focus our minds on finding and doing meaningful work.
SWOT helps entrepreneurs focus for career success. That is, because, it prepares brands, businesses and themselves for abundant scale. And there is no doubt that SWOT can also help us supercharge our careers.
Main episode segment starts at 2:43 What are your career strengths? Perhaps it is strong project management skill? Or maybe it is a strings of sales successes? Whatever they are, list them. What are your career weaknesses? Perhaps you lack access to the kind of training you fell will make your career successful. Identify and list them. What are your career opportunities? Maybe you seek work in EVs or renewable energy? Dream about them, then list them. What are your career threats? Suppose that you are used to working remotely, and you enjoy the experience, but your company leadership wants you back in the co-location? Whatever renders you career threatened, list them on the form.
I'm certain you will find benefit in using SWOT to focus career success. With it, you will establish the foundation for your career empowerment story. With a starting point, you will begin the first big step in making the work that you do, or hope to do, truly meaningful. Download the SWOT Career Empowerment Exercise. Main episode segment starts at 2:43
EPISODE DATE: January 7, 2022 Please Subscribe to The Dan Smolen Podcast on:
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Future of Work Sherpa Dan Smolen believes that good health and future work will be informed by pandemic responses.
As 2021 draws to a close, the Omicron variant of the Covid-19 virus has spread like wildfire. And clear to many people now is this: because about a one-third of the nation remains unvaccinated, we will, for the foreseeable future, encounter more Covid variant outbreaks. Good health and future work are inextricably linked. And that is, because, future variants will impact how and where we work. We all want good health. And it is among our new year’s wishes to loved ones and friends. But, as a nation we lack the resolve of previous generations to respond to pandemics. Once, we mass vaccinated against Polio Militis and other diseases, thus eradicating them. However, with over 100 million Americans unwilling to vaccinate, we are ensured a future in which Covid becomes endemic.
Our guest earlier this year, infectious disease expert Dr. Rob Citronberg, predicted that annual Covid booster shots are most definitely in our future. And that is, because: "This [Covid-19] is not going away. In fact, there is no doubt that it is going to become endemic." To that end, there are implications for our good health and future work. Main episode segment starts at 3:06
Workforce professionals who once may have reliably returned to co-locations will now opt for hybrid workplace venues. How people engage during the workday will change as well. And hiring managers now must learn how to adapt and embrace a new way of engaging with, and leading, people. During 2021, it took a pandemic turned endemic to turn the future of work present. And in 2022, breathtaking work and workplace changes will happen with all deliberate speed. Whether you rolled up your sleeves to get Covid jabs or if you resisted, know that your choice fully informed the future of work. And, as a result, we are never going back to a pre-pandemic normal.
Main episode segment starts at 3:06
EPISODE DATE: December 31, 2021 Please Subscribe to The Dan Smolen Podcast on:
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Future of Work Sherpa Dan Smolen reflects on the Holiday Season and one tired, burned out workforce. Merry Christmas to all who celebrate! Have you arrived at the holiday rested or refreshed? Or are you a burned out mess? According to a recent post on FortuneDaily: "The physical and emotional exhaustion that turns into workplace burnout doesn’t happen overnight. It’s the result of hundreds of microstressors on the job that ultimately lead to employees hitting the wall, mentally checking out, or even quitting their jobs entirely." As the Great Resignation extends, millions of people each month do leave their jobs, often with no new ones to replace them. Thus, one tired, burned out workforce reels. On the podcast this week, we reflect on a recent tweet authored by organizational psychologist and best-selling author Adam Grant: "The holidays shouldn't be a time to recharge. They should be a time to celebrate. If work is exhausting people to the point that they're using their time off to recover, then you might have a burnout culture." My commentary on our one tired, burned out workforce starts at 3:00
EPISODE DATE: December 24, 2021 Please Subscribe to The Dan Smolen Podcast on:
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Future of Work Sherpa 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. Full podcast interview starts at 2:59
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.” Full podcast interview starts at 2:59
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 Please Subscribe to The Dan Smolen Podcast on:
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Future of Work Sherpa 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.” Full interview starts at 2:50
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. Full interview starts at 2:50
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 Please Subscribe to The Dan Smolen Podcast on:
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…or wherever you get your podcasts. You may also click HERE to receive our podcast episodes by email. Image credits: Independent worker, RossHelen for iStock Photo; Laura Marella, The Dan Smolen Experience; Podcast button, J. Brandt Studio for The Dan Smolen Experience.
Future of Work Sherpa 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. Interview starts at 2:50
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:
– Plutoshift Website
– Prateek Joshi Website
– Amazon Author Page Please Subscribe to The Dan Smolen Podcast on:
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…or wherever you get your podcasts. You may also click HERE to receive our podcast episodes by email. Image credits: Artificial Intelligence, Ilya Lukichenko for iStock Photo; Portrait, Prateek Joshi portrait; Plutoshift, J. Brandt Studio for The Dan Smolen Experience.
Future of Work Sherpa Dan Smolen discovers Raj Subrameyer's immigrant's future work story.
Raj arrived in the United States for graduate study. He was an introverted Southern Indian student who pursued the lofty career goals that others expected him to follow. Astonishingly, he applied for over 1,200 jobs and got but a handful of interviews. That’s when he decided to focus on his own happiness; he began a process of discovery which got him unstuck to start his own business.
Now, through his brand ChaiLatte Consulting, Raj helps tech careerists get unstuck for the future of work.
Full interview starts at 2:55
In a wide-ranging discussion, Raj:
Provides the unique value proposition of ChaiLatte Consulting, his own name-change, and the importance of having an “immigrant mindset.” Starts at 4:40 Recalls how he tapped his “inner extrovert” to help careerists. Starts at 8:32 Pushes against the [Southern Indian] cultural tenet of not questioning things. Starts at 13:25 Delves into the WHY of personal (career) branding. Starts at 26:27 Describes how immigrants to the US can overcome their disadvantages. Starts at 31:22 Offers his take on future of work opportunities. Starts at 39:01
Raj also describes his motivation to help others achieve career success: “I wanted to help underdogs like me, who had the skill-sets, but were looking for guidance.” With great cheer, Raj Subrameyer lives a rewarding immigrant's future work story. Full interview starts at 2:55
About our guest:
Raj Subrameyer earned a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology from Anna University and a Masters of Science in Software Engineering from the Rochester Institute of Technology. Raj is the author of the book, Skyrocket Your Career. He lives and works in Chicago, Illinois.
EPISODE DATE: November 26, 2021
Social media:
– TEDx Talk (NEW!)
– YouTube Please Subscribe to The Dan Smolen Podcast on:
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Future of Work Sherpa 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.” Full interview starts at 2:52
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:
– Website
– WiseUp! Book Author’s Page
– WiseUp! Podcast Please Subscribe to The Dan Smolen Podcast on:
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Future of Work Sherpa Dan Smolen interviews author Daniel Pink to discuss what drives us to work.
Daniel 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.
Interview starts at 3:01
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. Interview starts at 3:01
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 Please Subscribe to The Dan Smolen Podcast on:
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Future of Work Sherpa 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. Interview starts at 2:56
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:
– Website (HannahJew.com) Please Subscribe to The Dan Smolen Podcast on:
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Future of Work Sherpa 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!" Full interview starts at 2:55
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.
Full interview starts at 2:55
EPISODE DATE: October 29, 2021
Social media:
– Website
– Twitter Please Subscribe to The Dan Smolen Podcast on:
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…or wherever you get your podcasts. You may also click HERE to receive our podcast episodes by email. Image credits: Entrepreneur staging video, Tirachard for iStock Photo; Zoom session with Nina Froriep and Dan Smolen, The Dan Smolen Experience; Portrait, Nina Froriep; Podcast button, J. Brandt Studio for The Dan Smolen Experience.
Future of Work Sherpa 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.
Full interview starts at 3:06
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.
Full interview starts at 3:06
EPISODE DATE: October 22, 2021
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Future of Work Sherpa 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. Full interview starts at 3:05
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
Creative Growth Mindset. Starts at 8:30 The Empathetic Way. Starts at 9:25 Cultural Observation. Starts at 9:54 Cultural Curiosity. Starts at 10:46 Perspective Shifting. Starts at 12:07 Authentic Adaptation. Starts at 13:12 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. Full interview starts at 3:05
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.
EPISODE DATE: October 15, 2021
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Future of Work Sherpa Dan Smolen interviews Dr. Dan Hill, who believes that "blah, blah, blah" hurts the workplace and career professionals. And in Blah, Blah, Blah: A Snarky Guide to Office Lingo, Dr. Hill and co-author Dr. Howard Moskowitz crowd-sourced over 600 examples of workplace jargon that are typically dismissive, patriarchal, and toxic. One cannot discuss The Great Resignation now happening in thousands of companies without first considering the impact of workplace jargon. So many people, threatened or ostracized by office lingo, are leaving their companies in droves for other firms, or to become independent contractors. Here is Dr. Hill's favorite example from the book:
The vast array of jargon in the book helps people recognize that blah, blah, blah hurts the workplace. Full interview starts at 3:01
In a fun and informative episode, Dr. Hill:
Describes Blah, Blah, Blah: a Snarky Guide to Office Lingo and the reasons for writing and editing it. Starts at 4:50 Offers his favorite jargon example. Starts at 6:34 Considers reasons why people in the workplace perpetuate the use of oppressive jargon. Starts at 7:21 Defines the categories created to array the crowd-sourced office lingo examples. Starts at 9:32 Suggests what can be achieved by breaking the cycle of "blah, blah, blah" jargon at work. Starts at 12:00
Full interview starts at 3:01
About our guest:
Dan Hill, Ph.D. is an author, podcaster, world recognized facial coding expert, and founder and president of the consultancy Sensory Logic, Inc. He received a Masters in Creative Writing from Brown University and a Ph.D. in English from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. Further, Dr. Hill earned Facial Action Coding Systems Certification from the Paul Ekman Group. He lives and works in St. Paul, Minnesota and Palm Desert, California.
EPISODE DATE: October 8, 2021
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Future of Work Sherpa Dan Smolen unpacks the Power of Hybrid Professional Identities with Sarabeth Berk, Ph.D. Dr. Berk is a self-described Chief Creative Disruptor. She believes that hybrid professional identities help people in the workplace to project their unique value to hiring managers. When asked: "what do you do for a living?," most people respond with their current job title. Or they launch into a non-succinct elevator pitch.
However, Dr. Berk believes that that denies people opportunities to express their unique skill, experience, and relevance in a rapidly changing workplace. What is more, it robs hiring managers access to the super-human skills of top talent, to build revenue scale and market advantage.
Full interview starts at 2:55
In this episode, Dr. Berk:
Summarizes her background and the value proposition of hybrid professional identities. Starts at 4:40 Describes how people can get started in crafting a hybrid professional identity. Starts at 8:59 Discusses one's owning their identity and the career journey. Starts at 16:48 Considers the role of side-hustles in crafting hybrid professional identities. Starts at 23:33 Aligns with the future of work aspects of hybrid professional identities. Starts at 27:30
Emphasizing the power of hybrid professional identities, Dr. Berk draws back to the challenges that people in the workplace experience: "How do you answer the 'what do you do?' question? How are you more than your job title? Eventually, the research question became: 'who are you and the intersection of your multiple professional identities?'" Full interview starts at 2:55
About our guest:
Sarabeth Berk earned a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Studies from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago; a Masters of Arts in Art and Design Education from the Rhode Island School of Design, and; a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Denver. She lives and works in Denver, Colorado.
EPISODE DATE: October 1, 2021
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A stand-up comedian and workplace culture expert answers the burning question: Is the future of work funny? David Horning is the principal of Water Cooler Comedy. He works closely with organizations to inject humor into the workplace, to help them build strong, positive, and enduring cultures. As a young child, David discovered that he could make family, friends, and teachers laugh. Later on, he found inspiration listening to Monty Python, George Carlin, Jim Gaffigan and others to do his own stand-up comedy sets. In describing his process for improving workplace culture, David offers this insight: "Humor makes problems [in the workplace] seem smaller. If we can laugh about it then we can do something about it." Full interview starts at 3:14
In an episode that covers a lot of ground, David:
Describes Water Cooler Comedy and his mission to improve workplace cultures. Starts at 4:14 Digs into his funny origin story and comedic influences. Starts at 5:50 Explains how comedy and humor can improve the workplace experience of professional talent. Starts at 7:58 Provides insight into how expressing humor can improve the talent recruitment process. Starts at 15:15 Offers his thoughts on how humor in the workplace can be expressed in ways that don't hurt people. Starts at 24:49 Discusses the comedians who influence his stand-up comedy. Starts at 33:38 Answers the burning question: is the future of work funny? Starts at 36:14
Is the future of work funny? We'll offer this: David Horning believes that comedy and humor can bring people together in the workplace. That way, they thrive and the organization succeeds. Full interview starts at 3:14
About our guest:
David Horning earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science from the University of Akron. He lives and works in Cleveland, Ohio.
EPISODE DATE: September 24, 2021
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Future of Work Sherpa Dan Smolen interviews Andrea Koppel, who is helping people pivot from college to career. Andrea is a former CNN correspondent, PR and nonprofit sector corporate executive. She draws on those amazing professional experiences to empower 1 million students to turn their degrees into careers they will love. Each week, she hosts and executive produces the Time4Coffee Podcast which features the stories and unique experiences of top career professionals. Her guests have all pivoted from college to great and rewarding career experiences.
Additionally, Andrea leads the College2Career Academy which offers clients one-on-one consultative support to pursue their own beautiful career journeys.
Here, she discusses her process to help people pivot from college to career: "One of the biggest challenges that I help my [young students] with, those that are confused and anxious and stuck, is that I help them to get unstuck." Full interview starts at 3:03
In this podcast episode, Andrea:
Describes the unique value propositions of the Time4Coffee Podcast and the College2Career Academy. Starts at 4:54 Relives her own amazing career journey. Starts at 9:08 Relates to the power of personal experience in shaping the college to career journey. Starts at 15:30 Discusses the return-on-investment (ROI) mindset of many college degree candidates, and ways to get them beyond it, to a state of joyfulness. Starts at 28:33 Counters the unhealthful "live for work" success narrative pursued by many American professionals. Starts at 37:05
In helping people pivot from college to career, Andrea Koppel frees them to seek and do meaningful work that may span several career acts. Full interview starts at 3:03
About our guest:
Andrea Koppel earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science, Asian Studies, and Chinese from Middlebury College. Andrea was for 20 years an award-winning journalist; she served as a foreign-based, State Department, and Capitol Hill correspondent for CNN. After her journalism career concluded, she worked two years in PR and later seven years as an executive in the nonprofit sector. Andrea lives and works in the Washington, D.C. area.
EPISODE DATE: September 17, 2021
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Future of Work Sherpa Dan Smolen meets a tech career strategist who helps people get unstuck for the future of work. Raj Subrameyer arrived in the US for graduate study. He was an introverted South Indian student who pursued the lofty career goals that others expected him to follow. Raj says he applied for over 1,200 jobs and got but a handful of interviews. That's when he decided to focus on his own happiness; he began a process of discovery which got him unstuck to start his own business.
Now, through his brand ChaiLatte Consulting, Raj helps tech careerists get unstuck for the future of work.
Full interview starts at 3:05
In a wide-ranging discussion, Raj:
Provides the unique value proposition of ChaiLatte Consulting, his own name-change, and the importance of having an "immigrant mindset." Starts at 4:28 Recalls how he tapped his "inner extrovert" to help careerists. Starts at 8:20 Pushes against the [Southern Indian] cultural tenet of not questioning things. Starts at 13:13 Delves into the WHY of personal (career) branding. Starts at 26:15 Describes how immigrants to the US can overcome their disadvantages. Starts at 31:11 Offers his take on future of work opportunities. Starts at 38:49
Raj also describes his motivation to help others achieve career success:
"I wanted to help underdogs like me, who had the skill-sets, but were looking for guidance."
With great cheer, Raj Subrameyer helps careerists get unstuck for the future of work. Full interview starts at 3:05
About our guest:
Raj Subrameyer earned a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology from Anna University and a Masters of Science in Software Engineering from the Rochester Institute of Technology. Raj is the author of the book, Skyrocket Your Career. He lives and works in Chicago, Illinois.
EPISODE DATE: September 10, 2021
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Future of Work Sherpa Dan Smolen meets with Rob Citronberg MD to discuss the pandemic and the workplace. Dr. Citronberg is Advocate Aurora Health Care's Executive Director of Infectious Disease and Prevention. What is more, he leads his healthcare system's Covid-19 response and addresses the needs of hospitalized Covid patients. Beyond his hospital responsibilities, Dr. Citronberg also counsels members of the business community on their return to the workplace.
Main interview segment starts at 2:58
In this podcast episode, Dr. Citronberg:
Explains the scope of his work. Starts at 4:20 Describes how the Delta Variant differs from the novel (original) Covid-19 virus. Starts at 6:04 Offers key insight derived from Israeli Covid research and the likelihood of a Covid booster shot. Starts at 10:01 Explains the push for vaccine mandates. Starts at 14:03 Addresses changes in workplace density to keep people safe. Starts at 18:02 Answers the question: "will vaccinated workers need to be boosted annually?" Starts at 24:06
Main interview segment starts at 2:58 Of business leaders' insistence on vaccine mandates for their hired talent, Dr. Citronberg says:
"[They want] to create a safe environment where--if you're coming into the office--you want to feel safe, that you are around people that are not going to make you sick." Going forward, how we relate to the pandemic and the workplace will impact the future of work. About our guest:
Rob Citronberg MD earned a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of Pennsylvania and a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. Dr. Citronberg appears regularly on Chicago Channel 7's morning newscast to discuss Covid-19. He lives and works in Chicago, Illinois.
EPISODE DATE: September 3, 2021
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Future of Work Sherpa Dan Smolen believes that Career and Technical Education or CTE is key for future work. As students across the U.S. return to the classroom, more school systems are delivering STEAM instruction and career and technical education or CTE. STEAM and CTE are key for future work. Provided together, they help students to gain access to well-paying jobs that don’t require a 4-year college degree. This is indeed a positive development. But getting public school educators to engage students with the future of work has never been easy. Even pre-pandemic, CTE and in-school career exploration plunged far down the list of academic priorities. In the 2000s, public school systems responded to No Child Left Behind directives by teaching to competency tests. As a result, the critical thinking and creativity needed for future work suffered, killing career dreams. What is more, high schools in wealthiest communities emphasized advanced placement courses and four-year college tracks over CTE. It’s an economic driver: public schools that graduate the most advance-placed students become the most-desired places to live.
However, our schools had done a terrible disservice by not teeing up and supporting amazing future work options for worthy students. To enable millions more young people to prepare for career options that don’t require a 4-year college degree, we must respond boldly, to:
Foster career dreaming beyond elementary school. Drive strong STEAM instruction that begins in Kindergarten. Establish “early mentorships” with companies in advanced fields. Build a big educational stakeholder table. It should include school administrators, community colleges, union training academies, workforce experts, elected officials, and members of advanced industries.
CTE is key for future work. It gets people accredited and into great new jobs, faster, than a four-year college degree. Main podcast segment begins at 3:13
EPISODE DATE: August 27, 2021
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Podcaster and Future of Work Sherpa Dan Smolen believes that times like these are perfect to turn crisis into career opportunity.
It takes a steeled spine to log onto the New York Times' website and read so much grim news.
However, it is in times of deep crisis that people can connect with the dream of doing meaningful work. Right now, we can turn crisis into career opportunity. Throughout Dan's life, he has known people who set course on meaningful careers born out of crisis: Rob Glassman and Dan attended overnight summer camp, together. And it was when their friend and fellow camper, David, contracted childhood leukemia that 14-year-old Rob decided he wanted to be a healer.
Adelle Settle founded Settle the Debt, a nonprofit that pays off student lunch debt so that kids can eat nutritious meals at school. A formidable activist, Adelle has also helped sponsor legislation that ensures that no Virginia school students go hungry. That legislation became Virginia law earlier this year. Dan turned environmental crisis into career opportunity, as well. As a high school senior in Montgomery County, Maryland, Dan reached out to his Member of Congress, Newton I. Steers, Jr., to stop a mining company from dumping asbestos-laden rock into the Potomac River. He recognized why that was important: Montgomery County, Maryland sourced all of its potable water from the river. Many years later, Dan rebranded his executive recruitment firm The Green Suits, to specialize in talent placement for resource sustainability, clean tech, and corporate social responsibility clients. We have within us the power to turn crisis into career opportunity. Main podcast segment begins at 3:07
EPISODE DATE: August 20, 2021
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Future of Work Sherpa Dan Smolen discusses how the Code Red for Humanity's future work will deal with existential crisis. The UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concludes that humans have changed Earth in ways both dire and irreversible. The IPCC calls this a "code red for humanity." Without intervention, during the next 20 years, human activity will cause Earth to get 1.5 degrees Celsius hotter. In the United States, that means a 2.7 degree Fahrenheit increase in the average temperature. We know that if we do nothing to mitigate climate change, heavily populated parts of the Eastern Seaboard will drown. Already this June, extreme heat on the West Coast of the United States cooked mussels in their shells. The threat to planet and people is indeed dire. But, the Code Red for Humanity's future work can help to ensure that Earth is habitable for future generations. Dan applies his career journey components to the work we do and hope to do, to tackle the dire threat head on:
Dream to visualize work that will make you happy and well purposed. That may take you to great project management opportunities in sustainability, or, capitalize on the specialized skill you already have (such as accounting or finance or market research and analytics) in an assignment at a clean energy or sustainability focused company. Explore opportunities by Googling. Use wide search parameters to locate companies, such as B Corporations, that are clearly chartered to protect the planet and people. Then narrow the parameters to identify companies that are in close proximity to your geographic location. Strategize to increase your successful work search outcomes. And do that by intentionally building your LinkedIn network. Act intentionally to jump at great opportunities that arise quickly. Quick action also benefits people who operate as cleantech entrepreneurs or do side hustles that may turn into full-time opportunities within purpose driven companies.
Through career intentionality, the Code Red for Humanity's future work can be profound, protect the planet, and empower people. In other words, it can lead us all to meaningful work. Main podcast segment begins at 3:04
EPISODE DATE: August 13, 2021
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Podcaster Dan Smolen is in awe of Gymnast Simone Biles' future of work masterclass. By far, the biggest story to emerge from the Tokyo Olympic Games has been mindfulness of elite athletes. And American Gymnast Simone Biles is the face of mindfulness at these games. Biles exited team competition when her mind and body fell out of sync. Apparently, there is a name for such disconnection: the twisties. What is more, Biles confirmed her Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) diagnosis. And neither the Japanese government nor the International Olympic Committee allowed her to take the prescribed medication which would have helped her to focus. Yet, with so much pressure to outperform the hype, in the Olympics but also as a personal brand, Biles took great risks by exiting group competition. And yet that exit helped her teammates to secure the silver medal. In favoring her team at the expense of herself, Simone Biles taught a future of work masterclass. Here's why:
Biles recognized that the team's success and her personal wellness mattered most. The past of work was done by people who disrespected their humanity by working ridiculously long, stressful hours as if work was the entire day. Biles teaches us that the team and personal health matter most. She adhered tightly to the mission. Instead of hogging the spotlight like a lot of old school managers do, Biles measured success in team-focused terms. Biles showed us the power of the new personal brand. No longer is value exclusively about winning. On the contrary; in the future of work, our personal brands are about doing profound work that makes the world a better place. Alongside Naomi Osaka and Michael Phelps, Simone Biles became a global proponent for good mental health and wellness.
Work should not make us sick. And that is why Simone Biles' future of work masterclass is so important to teach. Main segment starts at 3:10
EPISODE DATE: August 6, 2021
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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
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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
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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:
– 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) Please Subscribe to The Dan Smolen Podcast on:
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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:
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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:
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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:
– Website (HannahJew.com) Please Subscribe to The Dan Smolen Podcast on:
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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:
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LinkedIn
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ProjectManagement.com - People, Planet, Profits and Projects Blog
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Green Project Management by Richard Maltzman and David Shirley
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Project Workflow Management: A Business Process Approach by Dan Epstein and Rich Maltzman Please Subscribe to The Dan Smolen Podcast on:
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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:
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LinkedIn
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Website
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WiseUp! Book Author's Page
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WiseUp! Podcast Please Subscribe to The Dan Smolen Podcast on:
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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:
– Website
– Denise Brouder on Dan Smolen Podcast Channel on YouTube (7/24/2020) Please Subscribe to The Dan Smolen Podcast on:
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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: 9:46
About 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:
– Website
– Activate Your Agile Career (Book Page)
– FULL PODCAST EPISODE from March 26, 2021 Please Subscribe to The Dan Smolen Podcast on:
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…or wherever you get your podcasts. You may also click HERE to receive our podcast episodes by email. Image credits: Couple walking on city street, rez-art for iStock Photo; Marti Konstant screenshot, The Dan Smolen Experience; Podcast button, J. Brandt Studio for The Dan Smolen Experience.
Strategize for your future work success to find and do the work of your dreams. Paired with dreams, exploration, and action, strategy 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 an experience from his junior year of college. Back then, he engaged with Associate Professor of Advertising Howard Cogan. Howard was also a successful advertising executive who wrote, voiced, and produced radio commercials. As Dan's mentor, Howard encouraged Dan to pursue opportunities in a channel of advertising agency work called direct marketing. Dan recalls Howard's sage advice to strategize for future work success: "You're going too need to get strategic about your career. [It looks like] you may not find your opportunity on the agency side quickly. But, perhaps you can find an entry-level assignment that's close enough and allows you to develop direct marketing skills and talents that you will need in agency life." Two years into that first role, Dan had proven himself to be an on-the-job success. And the skill and experience he gained helped him land a dream agency assignment in Minneapolis/St. Paul. He was just 24 years old.
Also in this episode:
Dan speaks with Rich Gee of Rich Gee High Performance Coaching. As a nationally recognized career coach, Rich helps his clients get strategic in their career development so they may achieve phenomenal success. Interview starts at 11:47 When you strategize for future work success, your career dreams can come true. About our guest:
Rich Gee was a successful executive in the market research space before finding his bliss as a nationally recognized career coach and principal of Rich Gee High Performance Coaching. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Ripon College and certification from Coach University. Rich lives and works in Stamford, Connecticut.
EPISODE DATE: May 21, 2021
Social media:
– Website
– Rich Gee Podcast
– FULL PODCAST EPISODE from January 15, 2021 Please Subscribe to The Dan Smolen Podcast on:
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…or wherever you get your podcasts. You may also click HERE to receive our podcast episodes by email. Image credits: Clock gears, cosmin4000 for iStockPhoto; Howard Cogan portrait, Ithaca College; Rich Gee screenshot, The Dan Smolen Experience; Podcast button, J. Brandt Studio for The Dan Smolen Experience.
Explore future work opportunities to live your dreams of doing meaningful work. Paired with dreams, strategy, and action, exploration 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 recalls the impact of Seventh Grade Career Day on his lifetime of work. And his guest, Professor Anne Holton of George Mason University, provides thought-leadership on how early career education can become truly meaningful. Interview starts at 12:23 Dan describes the positive impact of his first career mentor: "[My career exploration] got its first traction because of [TV broadcast executive and former kid's show star] Hal Shaw. Mr. Shaw was the first mentor of many to encourage me to develop my writing skills and, in high school get involved in journalism." When he explored future work opportunities, Dan got closer to his dreams of doing meaningful work. About our guest:
Anne Holton grew up in a family committed to public service. Her father, Linwood Holton, is a former governor of Virginia. During her successful career, Anne served as:
Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Judge for the City of Richmond, Virginia (1996-98); Virginia’s First Lady when her husband, Tim Kaine, was governor (2006-2009); Virginia’s Secretary of Education (2014-2016), and: Interim President of George Mason University (2019-2020).
Currently, she is Professor of Public Policy and Education for GMU’s Schar School of Policy and Government.
Anne earned a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs and a Juris Doctorate from the Harvard University School of Law. She and her husband, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, reside in Richmond, Virginia.
EPISODE DATE: May 14, 2021
Social media:
– GMU Schar School Website
– Professor Anne Holton's Twitter Page
– Professor Anne Holton's Full Podcast Episode Appearance (September 25, 2020) Please Subscribe to The Dan Smolen Podcast on:
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We discuss how dreams inspire our future work.
Dreams are part of the components that help us to seek and do meaningful work and careers. Paired with exploration, strategy, and action, dreams help us 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 relives his early career dreams. And his guest, Dr. Charles Glassman, recalls how well-meaning people in his teenage years tried talking him out of a medical career. Through sheer determination, he overcame average high school performance to become a well respected physician and social media's "Coach MD." Starts at 9:35
Since recording the podcast interview in 2019, Dr. Glassman has retired from medical practice to become CEO of wellness start-up Victor. It is developing interactive tools to channel the mind and enable people to tap into their innate abilities. Dan compares the weaving of the four career journey components to strands of DNA: "When I established The Dan Smolen Experience at the beginning of 2018, I had in mind a career journey model that looked like strands of DNA, made up of countless combinations of four components. And while our DNA were pre-determined at conception, the strands of our career empowerment DNA are determined by us throughout our working lives.
We get to choose what they are." Whether a careerist is new to work, or embarking on a new career act, their dreams inspire future work. About our guest:
Charles Glassman earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Hobart and William Smith Colleges and his M.D. from New York Medical College. Dr. Glassman's health and wellness start-up, Victor, is based in Pomona, New York.
EPISODE DATE: May 7, 2021
Social media:
Brain Drain: The Breakthrough that will Change Your Life (Amazon.com)
Fake News Stories by Your Brain (FREE E-Book)
Coach MD Website
Coach MD YouTube Channel
Coach MD Facebook Page
Coach MD Twitter Page Please Subscribe to The Dan Smolen Podcast on:
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…or wherever you get your podcasts. You may also click HERE to receive our podcast episodes by email. Image credits: Child dreaming of career, Choreograph for iStock Photo; Dr. Glassman and patient, Charles Glassman MD; Podcast button, J. Brandt Studio for The Dan Smolen Experience.
Fostering a civil workplace is key to the future of work. As organizations reintroduce their people to the workplace, they must also reckon with social responsibility. It is one thing for management to express a desire for positive social change. It is quite another to "walk the talk" to create a civil work environment. Sejal Thakkar understands the sting of incivility like few others. During her teenage years in the Chicago suburbs, she suffered from near daily racial prejudice and bullying. Now, as a self-described Chief Civility Officer; Sejal uses her personal experience to provide effective workplace training that fosters civility.
In this episode, Sejal:
Describes her role as Chief Civility Officer for TrainXtra. Starts at 2:57 Relives growing up as a bullied "other" in the Chicago suburbs. Starts at 4:26 Relates the experience of representing clients accused of workplace incivility, bias, and discrimination. Starts at 7:52 Defines the term microagression. Starts at 21:58 Pairs the civility narrative with the return to the workplace. Starts at 29:39 Explains how fostering a civil workplace provides positive ROI benefits. Starts at 32:12
In the wake of Covid, remote work, and civil unrest, Sejal believes that we have hit an inflection point for fostering a civil workplace: "[There have been] so many things happening in such a short period of time that people are not putting up with B.S. at work, anymore." 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: April 30, 2021
Social media:
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LinkedIn
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TrainXtra Website
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TEDx: The Pain, Power, and Paradox of Bias Please Subscribe to The Dan Smolen Podcast on:
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…or wherever you get your podcasts. You may also click HERE to receive our podcast episodes by email. Image credits: People in a civil workplace, mbusinessimages for iStock Photo; Portrait, Sejal Thakkar; Podcast button, J. Brandt Studio for The Dan Smolen Experience.
Few issues pair as precariously as A.I. and the future of work. Artificial intelligence or A.I. frightens people who fear that robots will take away their jobs and paychecks. Truth be told, A.I. will soon replace millions of low-skill jobs, for it can manage many tasks faster and better than people. But A.I. has no heart; only people can do jobs that require human touch and interaction. To help us understand A.I. and the future of work, we turn to Prateek Joshi. The author of numerous books on Artificial Intelligence, Prateek is the Founder and CEO of Plutoshift, a company that uses A.I. to make the world a better place.
In this episode, Prateek:
Describes Plutoshift and his role in the company. Starts at 3:03 Defines A.I. and contrasts it with Machine Learning. Starts at 3:51 Addresses workforce concerns that A.I. takes jobs away from people. Starts at 8:52 Illustrates how Plutoshift helps clients involved with providing clean and potable water. Starts at 13:03 Identifies the training and advanced skill that he seeks in hired talent. Starts at 20:25 Tells us how, beyond his work, he adds fun and enjoyable activity to each day. Starts at 27:59
In regards to A.I. and the future of 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?" 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: April 23, 2021
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LinkedIn
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Twitter
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Plutoshift Website
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Prateek Joshi Website
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Amazon Author Page Please Subscribe to The Dan Smolen Podcast on:
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We pose five questions on post pandemic work experiences to our guest, Edythe Richards.
Edythe is an Emotional Intelligence expert. She is also the new host of the EQ at Work podcast which explores how EQ may be used to positively shape the future of work. As we emerge from the pandemic, some of us will travel back to co-located offices. The prospect of returning is both exciting and terrifying. People used to working remotely for more than a year may be ill-prepared for their return to the office. With that in mind, we ask Edythe for answers to these five future of work questions:
What does one do if someone thrusts their hand out for a handshake? Starts at 4:55 How do we negotiate others' needs for personal space? Starts at 8:46 How do we empower those who want to work anywhere but at a traditional office setting? Starts at 13:29 How do we reduce Zoom time and encourage more asynchronous communication? Starts at 20:12 How do we contend with post-pandemic "irrational exuberance?" Starts at 25:03
What is more, Edythe expresses the need for intentionality in our ongoing work communications: "[For me], it's about the difference between urgent and important. So, I think that smart organizations are going to differentiate between what's urgent and what's important." About our guest:
Edythe Richards received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Delaware and a Masters of Arts degree in Counseling from Seton Hall University. Her nationally recognized career counseling consultancy, A Top Career, is headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia.
EPISODE DATE: April 16, 2021
Social media:
– Website
– EQ at Work Podcast
– Myers Briggs Question Corner Podcast
– LinkedIn Page Please Subscribe to The Dan Smolen Podcast on:
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Entrepreneurs need financial security to scale business, but also have choices to do meaningful work. And more broadly speaking, financial security plays a big role in the future of work. Some entrepreneurs strive to scale take their start-ups public. But, more often than not, they are just people looking for autonomy to create products and services that solve vexing problems. And their pursuits typically take the form of side hustles. Angela Anderson is a veteran wealth advisor who counsels entrepreneurs and other careerists to make sound money decisions. With a process of thorough engagement that includes money therapy and other tools, Angela frees people to build wealth. That allows them choices to enjoy a good retirement or for a second act career that may favor social purpose.
In this episode, Angela:
Introduces her company and the value that it provides her clients. Starts at 3:08 Explains the sports metaphor that conveys her unique value proposition. Starts at 4:18 Offers examples of what clients seek for financial security. Starts at 7:22 Describes the experience of working with people who may be career successful, but not financially sophisticated. Starts at 15:41 Recalls the money lessons she learned from her time in the Peace Corps. Starts at 21:58 Discusses how wealth building considerations factor for doing work with a purpose. Starts at 25:56
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: April 9, 2021
Social media:
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Facebook
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LinkedIn
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Website
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Media Please Subscribe to The Dan Smolen Podcast on:
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We revisit some amazing interviews with workplace futurists who helped the future of work to become present. Astronishingly, 2020 ushered in massive changes in how and where we work. Helping to us navigate the changes are these featured guests from The Dan Smolen Podcast: Anne Driscoll and Chris Schultz: Launch Pad is their co-working community of first believers. Anne and Chris, the married co-founders of Launch Pad., celebrate co-working by fostering a community of first believers. Starts at 2:04 Nellie Hayat: she leads workplace transformation at VergeSense. Nellie, the Head of Workplace Transformation at VergeSense, helps companies and people get the most out of their workplaces, wherever they happen to be. Starts at 8:39 Dan Rosenzweig: he co-founded KettleSpace to offer co-working spaces with a sense of place. Dan explains how KettleSpace benefits workforce professionals who need an inspiring place to meet others or do heads-down work. KettleSpace also helps the owners and operators of venues—like restaurants and hotels—fill their underutilized spaces with happy workforce professionals. Starts at 15:05 Marti Konstant: she drives the future of work agility mindset. Marti conveys the importance of agility in the workplace. Especially as we exit the pandemic, agility will be mission-critical in the future of work. Start at 20:40 Darren Murph: he is the world's first Head of Remote Work. Darren, the Head of Remote Work at GitLab, recounts the joy of people who get to live and work for this 100 percent distributed workforce company wherever they choose. Starts at 26:29 In 2021, each of our guests helped the future of work to become present.
EPISODE DATE: April 2, 2021
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Anne Driscoll/Chris Schultz Full Episode (March 12, 2021)
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Launch Pad Website
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Nelle Hayat Full Episode (February 26, 2021)
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VergeSense Website
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Dan Rosenzweig Full Episode (February 19, 2021)
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KettleSpace Website
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Marti Konstant Full Episode (March 26, 2021)
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Konstant Change Website
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Darren Murph Full Episode (January 8, 2021)
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GitLab Website Please Subscribe to The Dan Smolen Podcast on:
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When we achieve a career agility mindset, we benefit with boundless opportunities in the future of work. A year out from the start of the 2020 pandemic lockdowns, one key driver has emerged for people in the workforce: a career agility mindset. Agility is the-most important attribute of successful career professionals. People now must respond to new tasks, skill requirements, company directives, and market factors. And given that more of us work from anywhere, agility becomes a key success indicator for remote and hybrid workplaces. Marti Konstant of Konstant Change is a globally recognized workplace futurist. As one of the top experts in career agility, Marti helps people to succeed in fluid work environments.
In this episode, Marti:
Describes Konstant Change and its unique value proposition for clients. Starts at 2:40 Defines the agility mindset and provides reasons as to why it is important for career development. Starts at 3:37 Offers perspective on why people who work are often resistant to change. Starts at 4:57 Discusses why C-suites should embrace change in how work is performed. Starts at 10:14 Provides insight on the agile workforce and the importance of project management skill. Starts at 12:51 Considers changes in workforce composition, benefit portability, and worker safety nets. Starts at 26:29 Provides perspective on people pivoting to smaller localities to work. Starts at 29:18
About 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: March 26, 2021
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Emerging from the pandemic. virtual assistants help professionals to succeed. They take over many critical tasks that are associated with scaling a business. As millions of business founders and entrepreneurs settle into remote work, many of them turn to virtual assistants for help. As principal of VirtualKGB.com, Kate Gable Bright delivers the capabilities of big marketing services companies. Often times, Kate launches marketing campaigns, increases sales, and builds formidable social media presences for her clients' brands.
Kate’s background is impressive. For years, she led a successful experiential marketing agency. Then, during the pandemic, Kate decided the time was right for her to apply her considerable talents via a virtual assistance company, providing project management expertise to a wide range of clients.
In this episode, Kate:
Introduces VirtualKGB.com and the unique value it provides entrepreneurs, CEOs, and company founders. Starts at 2:18 Describes some of the stressors that keep her clients up at night. Starts at 3:58 Explains how she overcomes the "do it all" mentality. Starts at 8:28 Illustrates the positive experiences of clients who launch side-hustles like online businesses. Starts at 11:28 Offers what she likes about being an entrepreneur. Starts at 17:03
Clearly, virtual assistants will help professionals to succeed and inform many best practices in the future of work. About our guest:
Kate Gable Bright earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College. Prior to launching VirtualKGB.com, she ran a successful experiential marketing agency. Kate lives and works in Southern California.
EPISODE DATE: March 19, 2021
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Launch Pad is a coworking community of first believers founded by Anne Driscoll and Chris Schultz.
Anne and Chris know firsthand the struggles of starting a business. As serial start-up entrepreneurs, they often heard “no” or “that will never work." Thus, in establishing Launch Pad's first believer premise, Anne and Chris set up their coworking brand and members for success. First believers help each other overcome the stresses and strains of scaling start-up businesses. Often, they provide one another critical sales, marketing, technological, and operational support. What is more, they help once struggling local communities become great places to live and work.
With locations in five U.S. cities and growing, Launch Pad provides workspace, essential resources, and a supportive community structure that empowers entrepreneurs.
In this episode, Anne and Chris:
Introduce Launch Pad and its mission. Starts at 3:06 Describe the brand's unique value proposition. Starts at 3:44 Define the term "first believers" and demonstrate why it is important. Starts at 5:13 Illustrate Launch Pad's member experience. Starts at 8:22 Support the notion of a smaller scale path to success. Starts at 11:28 Explore the benefits of the guild economy, maker movement, and localism. Starts at 18:48 Provide their take on the future of work trends that are pointing people to gigs and side hustles. Starts at 24:30
According to Chris, Launch Pad ascribes to noble purpose: "[Our goal] is to help entrepreneurs succeed, because we want to focus on the economic impacts of the communities that we service." In support of a coworking community of first believers, Anne adds: "We spend a lot of time with city governments across the country, talking about the importance of entrepreneurship, the importance of creating a hub." About our guests:
Anne Driscoll and Chris Schultz are co-founders of Launch Pad. In prior roles, Anne was an executive at Google and several tech start-ups. She earned a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from Queens University. Chris founded numerous start-ups and provided angel investment capital to others. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Virginia and an MBA from USC's Marshall School of Business. Anne and Chris are married; they and their young daughter live in the Bay Area of California.
EPISODE DATE: March 12, 2021
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As hiring managers navigate the future of work, they must also help to create opportunities for a neurodiverse workforce.
Larysa Kautz is the President and CEO of Melwood, a nonprofit organization that helps people with disabilities find and do meaningful work. In the broad future of work discussion, neurodiversity gets scant attention. And yet the number of neurodiverse people in the workforce is considerable. The neurodiverse workforce often includes people with physical or intellectual disability. Furthermore, its ranks include people on the autism spectrum, and, those diagnosed with ADHD.
However, one year since the pandemic started, the neurodiverse workforce expanded to include so-called Covid long-haulers. These are people who now suffer long-term and permanent disability. What is more, they may present with difficult conditions, such as brain fog and balance issues, that require special workplace accommodations.
In this episode, Larysa:
Describes Melwood and its mission. Starts at 2:57 Defines neurdiversity. Starts at 3:38 Illustrates the challenges neurodiverse candidates encounter when applying for work. Starts at 4:52 Explains the benefits neurodiverse workers gain when working from home is an option. Starts at 10:07 Looks back at the 30-year history of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Starts at 13:27 Discusses the positive future of work benefits of hiring and supporting neurodiverse workers. Starts at 23:48
Hiring managers must create opportunities for a neurodiverse workforce. And yet, Larysa points out a glaring injustice that has long plagued the disabled: "It's still legal in this country to pay people with disabilities less than the minimum wage." About our guest:
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: March 5, 2021
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Future of work thought-leader Nellie Hayat describes a brilliant future at transformed workplaces. Nellie is the Head of Workplace Transformation for VergeSense. Her mission is to empower companies to reimagine their workplaces so that their talent thrive in them, wherever they may be located. Since the start of Covid lockdowns one year ago, the American workplace has permanently changed. No longer do the majority of workforce professionals commute to co-located offices. Now, many prefer to work from home, or remotely.
In this wide ranging discussion, Nellie:
Discusses the scope of her work as VergeSense's Head of Workplace Transformation. Starts at 2:06 Describes the reimagined workplace. Starts at 5:17 Explains what big hiring firms can learn and adopt from workplace transformation achieved by Microsoft and other Silicon Valley companies. Starts at 7:10 Informs the intentional changes happening to headquarters design. Starts at 9:28 Imagines the ways commercial real estate will pivot as a result of pandemic-caused workforce shifts. Starts at 13:37
Of the brilliant future at transformed workplaces, Nellie says: "[We were] all living on a dream that the [co-located] workplace is the only place where you can deliver your best work. And Covid proved us wrong. Actually, people, if they are supported by their leadership, can work anywhere." About our guest:
Nellie Hayat earned an MBA in Industrial Engineering and Management from Technion-Israel Institute of Technology. She lives and works in the Bay Area of California.
EPISODE DATE: February 26, 2021
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Dan Rosenzweig appears on the podcast, to describe how novel venues reimagine the workplace. There are many players in co-working. But among them, KettleSpace turned a glaring problem, underutilized spaces such as hotel lobbies and restaurants, into dazzling places to work. As co-founder of KettleSpace, Dan wants to give people who work: "[the opportunity] to choose their WHERE, so that they can achieve and focus on their WHYs." Currently in the United States, over one billion square feet of commercial space lies vacant, because the pandemic has pivoted millions of workforce professionals from co-located offices to remote workplaces. Some of them now prefer to work from home, but others find that they need to achieve a sense of place and community. And that's where KettleSpace comes to their aid.
In a wide ranging discussion, Dan:
Describes the origin story and business model for Kettle Space. Starts at 2:31 Illustrates how the KettleSpace experience enhances the workday. Starts at 5:34 Explains the draw for a sense of place and community. Starts at 7:04 Speaks to the pandemic's impact on restaurants and other service businesses, and, tackles the question: "are big cities dead?" Starts at 12:23 Reimagines applications for the billions in square feet of vacant commercial space. Starts at 17:49 Tees up KettleSpace metros beyond New York City. Starts at 28:09
Tackling the sad effect of so much vacant retail space, Dan says: "[As people], we can read a vibe. And the vibe of vacant retail space is [we're not] open for business." Clearly, in the future of work, novel venues reimagine the workplace to support people and needy businesses. About our guest:
Dan Rosenzweig earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and History from Vanderbilt University. Prior to co-founding KettleSpace, he worked for other co-working providers. Dan lives and works in New York City.
EPISODE DATE: February 19, 2021
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As we leave 2020 behind, we ask: can grief influence career choices? Meet New York Times best-selling author Hope Edelman. Through a series of books starting with Motherless Daughters, Hope helps people turn grief into a healing and meaningful experience. Now, her latest book, The AfterGrief, gets grieving people to a place a positivity and purpose: "There really are only two stages of grief that people care about: there's the stage where you feel really bad and then there's the stage where you feel better ... [That's what] the aftergrief is." In a wide ranging podcast episode, Hope:
Describes being a 17-year-old who lost her mom to cancer and the grief journey that led her to write Motherless Daughters. Starts at 2:23 Defines The AfterGrief. Starts at 7:09 Explains how the Covid pandemic changed bereavement. Starts at 14:32 Takes us through the "gendered" way we discuss grief at work. Starts at 20:08 Provides insight on how grief can influence career choices that lead to meaningful work. Starts at 27:41
On the recognition of grief at work, Hope says: "It's really important for hiring managers to be grief-literate, to know what to expect and to support their employees who are going through a period of grief." Above all else, grieving is tough. But it can influence career choices that lead people to meaningful work opportunities. About our guest:
Hope Edelman is the world renowned thought-leader on grief and bereavement: the author of several books; a noted speaker, and; a certified life coach. She earned a Bachelor of Science from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University and a Masters of Arts in Nonfiction Writing from the University of Iowa. Hope lives and works in Southern California.
EPISODE DATE: February 12, 2021
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HopeEdeman.com Website
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Motherless Daughters
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The AfterGrief
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Coaching Please Subscribe to The Dan Smolen Podcast on:
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Designing work from home space is mission critical in the age of the pandemic and the future or work. Leah Margolis Nathan is responding to her clients' needs for intentional space to work and conduct Zoom meetings. Based in Saratoga, New York, Leah helps her clients to brilliantly reimagine their square footage to live and work. What is more, she carves out beautiful and functional areas for kids in the household to participate in virtual classroom instruction.
In this wide ranging episode, Leah digs into designing work from home space. She:
Introduces Leah Margolis Design and the range of services that it provides clients. Starts at 2:18 Discusses the challenges of creating space for both living and working. Starts at 3:00 Relates the concerns of her clients who use Zoom to conduct meetings from home. Starts at 10:04 Describes decór and other parameters for staging a Zoom backdrop. Starts at 11:36 Considers how work from home will influence new residential design. Starts at 13:44 Provides guidance on color choices. Starts at 18:04 Ponders the future of traditional home spaces like dining rooms. Starts at 22:02
Leah describes how her clients first responded in early 2020 to Covid stay at home orders: "People [at home] were going to grab folding tables to create their own desk or office arrangement." We believe that millions of workforce professionals who've pivoted to work from anywhere will be designing work from home space. About our guest:
Leah Margolis Nathan received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Skidmore College. In 2009, after working with several leading design firms, Leah founded Leah Margolis Design LLC. She lives and works in Saratoga, New York.
EPISODE DATE: February 5, 2021
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In 2021, the rise of independent work will benefit people who compete for business with large firms and agencies. Laura Marella co-founded Overflow to help solo-entrepreneur marketing and strategy professionals succeed. As a business accelerator and professional community, Overflow 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. Truly, Overflow is ready to empower this growing part of the American workforce to succeed in a future of work doing meaningful work. "Instead of being a marketplace of consultants, [we wanted] to create a marketplace for consultants." In this episode, Laura:
Introduces Overflow. Starts at 2:25 Explains how Overflow members may overcome their skill gaps or cavities. Starts at 11:48 Describes how a growing sector of independent workers will benefit from the Gig Economy. Starts at 14:21 Supports her belief in Stakeholder Capitalism. Starts at 18:43 Recalls how experience as a "corporate escapee" informs her current work as an independent strategist. Starts at 23:25
Laura also explains the reason why Overflow founded as a public benefit corporation: "[We formed] Overflow as a public benefit corporation [b corp]. We joined a growing global network of companies that places social and environmental issues at the core of what we do. What's more, we adhere to very strict standards of accountability and transparency as we do that." 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: January 29, 2021
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Volunteer programs benefit careers and extend corporate social responsibility.
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. "Volunteering can be a safe and non-threatening space where we encounter our own humanity." Nearly one year separated from workplace 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 2:22 How the pandemic changed volunteerism. Starts at 4:14 The role of skill in driving volunteer programs. Starts at 7:14 Ways that volunteerism helps to retain workforce members. Starts at 11:03 Stakeholder value and how it drives corporate social responsibility. Starts at 17:07
When envisioned and executed well, volunteer programs benefit careers and make work and lives meaningful. "We have to do volunteering better. We have to assume that companies that have corporate volunteering programs [must be] driving social movements with these programs. Anything less is not good enough." 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: January 22, 2021
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Following a year of workforce disruption, career coaching empowers professionals to succeed in life and work. Rich Gee is arguably one of the-most successful career coaches in the United States. As principal the of Rich Gee High Performance Coaching, he empowers professionals to improve their on-the-job results and career outcomes. Incidentally, when he encounters clients for the first time, Rich asks a bold question: "[There are] people who make things happen. And there are people who watch things happen. And there are people who wonder what happened. Who are you going to be in 2021?" In this episode, Rich:
Tees up his company and the value provided to clients. Starts at 2:18 Describes the high-performers he coaches. Starts at 3:47 Speaks to the mental and emotional constrains of the pandemic on people who work. Starts at 8:31 Discusses the pivot to remote or hybrid workplaces and how he gets "old school" hiring managers to support them. Starts at 14:24 Embraces the four-day work week. Starts at 23:22 Touts the benefits of gig work and sole-proprietorship. Starts at 28:56
Why does career coaching empower workforce professionals? According to Rich, it is because "they are one bad decision away from losing [their] job." Emerging from the pandemic, people who work need sound strategy to succeed. In 2021, more of them will recognize that career coaching empowers professionals. About our guest:
Rich Gee was a successful executive in the market research space before finding his bliss as a nationally recognized career coach and principal of Rich Gee High Performance Coaching. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Ripon College and certification from Coach University. Rich lives and works in Stamford, Connecticut.
EPISODE DATE: January 15, 2021
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Darren Murph works to unleash the remote workforce. As GitLab's Director of Remote Work, Darren is "the voice in the room" that evangelizes the trailblazing company's remote work operating model. What is more, he authored The GitLab Remote Work Playbook, which over 80,000 people around the globe have downloaded. As 2021 unfolds, positive forces of change will unleash the remote workforce. Those forces will enable millions of people to live and work wherever they please. And in doing so, they will support happier professionals who enjoy doing work that is part of the day and not the day. To unleash the remote workforce is central to GitLab's mission. In this episode, Darren describes:
GitLab and his role as Director of Remote Work. Starts at 2:26 Why GitLab is a 100 percent distributed (remote) workforce. Starts at 4:27 How he and the company found each other and his role materialized. Starts at 6:07 Opportunities and challenges inherent in framing a remote work value proposition for recruited talent. Starts at 7:28 The revolutionary aspects of living and working anywhere. Starts at 14:02 Reengineering relocation to places where people want to live and work. Starts at 26:44 The localistic benefits of livable communities unleashed when remote work is encouraged. Starts at 30:34
Amazing outcomes happen when you unleash the remote workforce. Darren says: "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." 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 remotely in North Carolina.
EPISODE DATE: January 8, 2021
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The new year and the pandemic inform how we use space to live and work.
It turns out that one good thing happened in 2020. Because we sheltered in place for weeks and months, we discovered that we could work successfully from home or in a hybrid combination of traditional and untraditional work spaces. In 2021, how we use space to live and work will be entirely up to us. During the early pandemic months, millions of people left big cities for anywhere else. They bought homes in suburbs, exurbs, and rural communities. What is more, they are reimagining their new places as professionally designed TV studios for Zoom sessions.
By living and working remotely, people slashed their monthly out-of-pocket commuting costs. The hours of time recovered by not commuting provided people opportunities to engage with family members, rest, or increase their productivity. Yes, in 2020, people became more productive on the job. In the past 12 months, animal shelters emptied as people adopted dogs and cats. Surely, the happiest heartbeats in the home belong to our new furry family members.
Surely, we are in, or are about to enter, the worst part of the Covid pandemic. During the next weeks and months, we will lose more people, everyday, than died on 9/11. And Covid will, for the foreseeable future, be our leading cause of death.
But when we get through Covid, we will be a stronger, more agile, and happier workforce. And that is because we will have more say in the work that we do and our space to live and work.
EPISODE DATE: January 1, 2021 Please Subscribe to The Dan Smolen Podcast on:
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Comedy empowers veterans careers: see how ASAP's novel stand-up comedy training program helps the people who served enjoy meaningful lives and work.
The Armed Services Arts Partnership or ASAP is a nonprofit organization that uses stand-up comedy training to empower people to connect with beautiful dreams and meaningful work. ASAP cultivates community and growth among veterans, service members, military families, and caregivers through the arts. But their real impact is in liberating people from fear, pain, and loss, to get them to a place of joy and empowerment. People who have benefitted from ASAP training and programming use their newfound creativity to confidently express themselves and their purpose, and find greater success and happiness in life and work. ASAP programming is available in the Washington DC metropolitan area as well as in Hampton Roads, Virginia. To understand how comedy empowers veterans' careers, we met with ASAP's executive director Brian Jenkins. We also sat down with Monica Daly who performed her five-minute stand-up comedy set before a live audience at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, Virginia.
During this episode, recorded in the Fall of 2019, you will discover:
What the Armed Services Arts Partnership is about. Starts at 2:28 Comedian Monica Daly's take on ASAP and the benefits that it provides her. Starts at 7:07 A sampling of Monica's stand-up set. Starts at 13:54 What participants may expect during their stand-up comedy training program. Starts at 15:02
As comedy empowers veterans careers, we hope it can extend to the millions of front-line workers who are fighting the Coronavirus pandemic. About our guests:
Brian Jenkins received a Bachelor of Arts degree in religious studies from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. His life path, which aligned with community building and social responsibility, prepared him well to be the Executive Director of the Armed Services Arts Partnership. Brian lives in Northern Virginia.
Monica Daly grew up in the Washington, DC suburbs of Northern Virginia and is a US Army veteran. A member of the federal government workforce, she is settling into a new assignment based in Indianapolis, Indiana. Before agreeing to relocate to Indianapolis, Monica made sure that there were plenty of comedy clubs for her to play.
EPISODE DATE: December 25, 2020
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In the Spring of 2017, we interviewed noted labor historian and academic David Jacobs, and we asked him: what does it mean to work? Nearly four years have passed since we interviewed Professor Jacobs, and yet very little in the workforce has changed. People who work still have to place their financial concerns above all other considerations. And yet, in this interview, Professor Jacobs describes the ways that our work can become meaningful and fulfilling.
In this episode, we discuss:
What does it mean to work? Starts at 3:18 The concept of "labor capitalism." Starts at 5:12 The current lack of a social safety net for workers. Starts at 10:31 Where he believes that the workforce is headed. Starts at 27:37 The emergence of the worker-activist. Starts at 28:44
What was true in 2017 remains true entering 2021: finding and doing meaningful work may not happen with employment in one job. Many of us are doing gigs and side-hustles to make ends meet, but also do work with greater purpose. Nearly four years later, we are still asking: what does it mean to work? About our guest:
David Jacobs is an Associate Professor of Labor and Sustainability at the Graves School of Business at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland. What is more, he is the author of The Disunited States of America: Employment Relations Systems in Conflict. Professor Jacobs lives in Montgomery County, Maryland.
EPISODE DATE: December 18, 2020
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When you discover your personality type, you can benefit in the future of work doing meaningful work. Globally recognized Myers-Briggs expert Edythe Richards returns to The Dan Smolen Podcast. By administering Myers-Briggs assessments, she helps people enjoy better life and work experiences. In this episode, Edythe takes us through the utility and benefits of a Myers-Briggs assessment by reviewing Dan Smolen's personality type results. To that end, knowing your Myers-Briggs type can help you engage better with others, and, find and do meaningful work.
In key interview segments, Edythe:
Summarizes the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and its components. Starts at 4:27 Reviews in detail the results of Dan's Myers-Briggs assessment. Starts at 5:21 Differentiates between Extroverted and Introverted personality types. Starts at 8:51 Contrasts Sensing and Intuitive personality types. Starts at 10:59 Compares Thinking and Feeling personality types. Starts at 14:56 Describes Judging and Perceiving personality types. Starts at 17:09
Clearly, when you discover your personality type success often follows. "[Myers-Briggs] helps us feel more empowered to make better decisions for our lives and careers.” About our guest:
Edythe Richards received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Delaware and a Masters of Arts degree in Counseling from Seton Hall University. Edythe is a globally recognized expert on Myers-Briggs and Emotional Intelligence. Her career counseling consultancy called A Top Career is headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia.
EPISODE DATE: December 11, 2020
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As the pandemic rages on and unemployment spikes, one online platform engages former employees.
Forward thinking brands that must furlough large numbers of people use online alumni community platforms. They help former headcount develop new skill, find jobs at other companies, or return to the company in new full-time employment roles or contracting assignments. To that end, alumni communities engage former employees, because of tech innovators like James Sinclair. He is the co-founder of EnterpriseAlumni. In this episode, James describes:
The value proposition of alumni community platforms. Starts at 2:21 Benefits associated with engaging former company workers. Starts at 3:21 How the protests happening across the US in 2020 are driving corporate social impact. Starts at 11:01 Two interview questions managers are now asking hired talent. Starts at 17:27 The benefits of an agile workforce. Starts at 26:40 How to achieve meaningful work. Starts at 36:23
What is more, by leveraging the EnterpriseAlumni online platform to engage former employees, James demonstrates the positive future of work impact of alumni engagement: "One of the things that [companies] haven't done that we start to see is tell you 'Hey, take a moment and take stock of your life. Where are you? Where do you want to be? And, how do we help you get there?'" About our guest:
James Sinclair is the Chief Executive & Co-Founder of EnterpriseAlumni, an online platform that engages former company employees. James' background is in large enterprise innovation; previously, he worked for IBM, SAP & EDS. He lives and works in Southern California.
EPISODE DATE: December 4, 2020
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In this episode, two headhunters discuss recruiting.
During 1998, Victoria James and Dan Smolen both entered the executive recruiting field. After 20 years, Dan moved on to future of work thought-leadership and podcasting, However, Victoria still enjoys a great run in placing executive-level candidates. Victoria is the founder and president of Victoria James Executive Search. Her company is a nationally recognized recruitment firm that places top marketing and sales executives across the U.S. Victoria relies on finely tuned consultative sales skill to draw top candidates into great executive roles.
In this episode, Victoria describes:
Being a successful female executive in a male-dominated culture. Starts at 2:10 The events that led to her surprising headhunting career-pivot. Starts at 5:28 The critical importance of well-written candidate résumés. Starts at 16:44 How technology, and LinkedIn, have transformed headhunting. Starts at 21:46 The success that she enjoys in working from home. Starts at 23:34
On knowing when to leave a job, Victoria says: "Sometimes, you just [meet up with someone and] don't hit it off, no matter what you do or how good you are. That's a signal for most people to start thinking about another environment." When these two headhunters discuss recruiting, listeners can discover valuable insight that they can use to find and do meaningful work. About our guest:
Victoria James earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Bloomfield College and an MBA from Baruch College’s Zicklin School of Business. She and her company are based in South Kent, Connecticut.
EPISODE DATE: November 27, 2020
Social Media:
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One thing is clear: localism shapes the future of work. This week, we re-visit our 2018 interview with Doug Ross and Morley Winograd. They are, with Mike Hais, the co-authors of the book Healing American Democracy: Going Local. When Joe Biden becomes President on January 20, 2021, he will engage with a deeply divided government. Meantime, real governing power is "going local" by moving to our nation's city councils and county boards. And besides, local lawmakers, not the president nor Congress, will scale our nation's economy and drive the future of work. In this episode, Doug and Morley discuss how localism shapes the future of work. They:
Explain why so many Americans have lost faith in our current top-down form of American Democracy. Starts at 4:47 Define their concept of “constitutional localism” and describe how it would operate and provide benefit. Starts at 7:05 Illustrate how “turning scale upside down” to create and staff smaller numbers of new jobs—dozens versus thousands—would help local communities thrive. Starts at 20:01 Identify how localism can become the linchpin for success in creating more meaningful work opportunities. Starts at 23:47
Furthermore, as localism shapes the future of work, Morley says: “People aren’t trying to create the next Budweiser. [They are trying to create] the next IPA that they can sell in the local bar and to drive a nice little employment world that is self-contained and capable of hiring and keeping people at work in their community.” About our guests:
Doug Ross
Morley Winograd
Doug Ross and Morley Winograd are nationally known and respected political practitioners who cross solid data and wishful thinking to paint a hopeful portrait of America based on the idea of constitutional localism.
Doug was a state senator from Michigan and a U.S. Assistant Secretary of Labor under President Bill Clinton. Morley is a Senior Fellow at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School Center on Communication and Leadership Policy. He was a Michigan state political party chair and White House Senior Policy Advisor to Vice President Al Gore. Along with their co-author Mike Hais, they’ve written six books between them.
EPISODE DATE: November 20, 2020
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Healing America: Going Local Website
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Let's ditch the monthly unemployment report.
On January 20, 2021, Joe Biden assumes the U.S. Presidency. But, right now, Mr. Biden focuses time and energy on forming task forces to mitigate the spread of COVID. He will also put in place the supply chain necessary to deliver a vaccine to some 330 million Americans.
COVID will consume the new president's early days and months in office. But, the economic pain of American workers also factors. Already, President-elect Biden's transition team is thinking about how to get people who want to work, and who need to work, back on the job. For over 100 years, the U.S. government published monthly stats on unemployment. That report must update to one that factors the health and wellness of all workers, especially underemployed ones. Important considerations:
As of October 2020, 11 million full-time American workers remain unemployed. That's down from the high water mark of Spring 2020 (23 million workers); That 11 million-member cohort does not include self-employed contract talent, gig workers, part-time employees, or under-employed people; Payscale.com's survey indicates that 46 percent of American workers say that they are under-employed. That's 71 million people!
Not all workers seek full-time employment. So, when we ditch the monthly unemployment report, we better reflect the changes in how American workers seek and do work. Benefit Portability would help all workers. The Biden Administration should allow American workers to take their hard earned benefits with them. Benefit Portability would enable them to port their 401k investments and other things from job to job, and over their lifetimes. Currently, when someone leaves a full-time job, their retirement assets cash-out. And it often becomes the responsibility of the worker to manage those assets parked in an IRA. Often, that doesn't work out well.
First things first: let's ditch the monthly unemployment report, to tell a truer story of the health and well-being of American workers.
EPISODE DATE: October 13, 2020 Please Subscribe to The Dan Smolen Podcast on:
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Subject-matter expert Edythe Richards explains the connection between Emotional Intelligence and Hybrid Work.
Emotional intelligence or EQ helps people to be aware of, control, and express their emotions, and to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically. As the pandemic continues into a tenth month, nearly 8 out of every 10 full-time workers have shifted to remote or hybrid work settings. EQ helps them to seek a clear understanding of others who also work in separate locations.
In this episode, Edythe discusses:
Her insights about the dramatic shift to remote and hybrid work. Starts at 2:17 The special challenges faced by her clients experiencing workplace transitions. Starts at 6:10 How people who use Zoom for work can benefit from EQ. Starts at 8:17 Employing EQ while working remotely to achieve emotional presence. Starts at 16:52
Edythe explains how Emotional Intelligence and Hybrid Work relate to our current stress-packed reality: "[There is an] EQ element called stress tolerance, which is essentially our ability, and tendency, to manage stressful situations. For many of us, our stress levels are going to be amplified during this time." About our guest:
Edythe Richards received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Delaware and a Masters of Arts degree in Counseling from Seton Hall University. Her nationally recognized career counseling consultancy, A Top Career, is headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia.
EPISODE DATE: November 6, 2020
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Workforce expert Adrienne Shoch joins the podcast to encourage us to create hybrid workplace presence. "[We are] constantly helping people get comfortable with certainty. It likes the same thing. It likes routines and all kinds of things. And, we don't live like that, anymore." Adrienne Shoch of five to one in Washington, D.C. is a brilliant thought-leader in workforce and the future of work. A frequent guest, she returns to The Dan Smolen Podcast to help us make the hybrid workplace model, that splits time between home and traditional office settings, more meaningful. To that end, Adrienne wants us all to create hybrid workplace presence. When we do that, we will get more out of our work experience.
Actually, we will thrive.
In this episode, Adrienne discusses:
Key insights of clients who have migrated to hybrid workplaces. Starts at 2:20 Steps that hiring managers and people take to make hybrid successful and enabling of presence. Starts at 6:20 How people may be paired with others to work remotely or at the office. Starts at 13:24 Helping people thrive where and when they want to work. Starts at 19:59
Adrienne gets to "why" we should create hybrid workforce presence: "So the game is, the trick is, to help people get comfortable with uncertainty. It is not about being agile or resilient; it is about being adaptive. And that takes different skills and intentions." About our guest:
Adrienne Shoch is the founder of five to one and an expert on workforce engagement. She received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Towson University and studied at University of Paris - Sorbonne, and, the Neuroleadership Institute. She lives and works in Washington, D.C.
EPISODE DATE: October 30, 2020
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One key outcome in how we work and where we work is fast emerging: a workforce revolution supports hybrid work. The radical shift in our podcast's branding inspired us to explore deeply the suddenly changing nature of work. Not surprisingly, we found that hybrid work has emerged as the way many of us will operate, splitting time each week between home and office. "[The revolutionary forces] unleashed by the pandemic are numerous. But the-most notable paradigm shift is that people who work full-time are getting the tools they need to make work a successful part of their day." In this episode, we highlight fresh insight from SkillCrush which supports the workforce revolution to hybrid work. When remote work options are available:
People become more focused on the job; Workers better manage their mental health, and; Introverts (half of the total workforce) gain solitude and control over interpersonal engagements, making them happier and more successful.
A workforce revolution that supports hybrid work is happening now. Last week, we discovered that 80 percent of people who work full-time will opt for hybrid work. "There is much to be worked out to make hybrid work a successful option. People who share time at home with children are still struggling to create a sense of balance." Still, when people who work full-time are allowed to work in a remote or hybrid fashion, they will become happier. What is more, hybrid work helps them make work part of a day, and not the day. Their relationships with co-workers and family members will become stronger and more fulfilling.
EPISODE DATE: October 23, 2020
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Workforce thought-leader Dan Smolen believes that the future of work is in hybrid work. This week, we dig into fresh workforce market research sponsored by Owl Labs and Global Workplace Analytics. Their study provides a snapshot of a post-COVID workforce that splits its time between home and office. "Now, as millions of people return to the office, they recognize that the office-only workplace has become a relic of the past. With more offices resuming operation, four out of every five [of their full-time workers] will pivot to hybrid work." Survey findings:
70 percent of full-time employees worked from home during the pandemic workers on average saved $473 per month in out-of-pocket expenses for commuting and other needs 20 percent of those working from home clocked more hours than they had in the office 77 percent indicated that a post-pandemic work-from-home option would make them happier about half of respondents have increased their use of Zoom and other conferencing tools working from home added on average 40 minutes to the day that had been used for commuting
KEY FINDING: 80 percent of full-time workers said that they expect to work 3 times a week from home, 2 times a week at the office Clearly, the future of work is in hybrid work. And the ramifications of the shift in how we work, and where we work, will hasten sudden and seismic shifts throughout the economy, infrastructure, and workforce. "The future will involve constant pivots and reassessments. And we will need to real-time reimagine a future of work doing meaningful work." EPISODE DATE: October 16, 2020
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Under any circumstance, a pivot for a future of work podcast is jarring. But for Dan Smolen, making a sudden pivot for his podcast, to a new identity, was absolutely necessary. "Now, everything seemed fine until early September 2020 when we discovered that something was amiss. The Tightrope Podcast had inexplicably disappeared from the web and social media.
What happened?" The sudden pivot for a future of work podcast is now complete. Today, we debut The Dan Smolen Podcast. Some back-story:
One week ago today, on October 2, 2020, we discovered that well-known academic and social media pundit Dr. Cornel West launched "The Tight Rope Podcast." Surprisingly, his podcast [with the same name as ours] redirected our listeners and prospects to his podcast hosting destinations. What is more, Dr. West aggressively promoted his podcast episodes to over 750,000 followers across social media; his podcasting campaign kicked into high gear during the first week of September 2020.
Looking back, it all makes sense as to why our listenership fell off of the tightrope.
We were astonished by our discovery. And we knew that we had to pivot our future of work podcast quickly to a new brand identity. The re-branded Dan Smolen Podcast focuses on future of work and meaningful work topics. We will host experts in business, academia, public service, and workforce to benefit our future of work and meaningful work journeys. Looking forward, we will "real-time reimagine" how the future of work presents in our lives. And right off the bat, we will tackle challenging issues that keep us up at night, like hybrid work arrangements and policies, so that we thrive in the face of sudden change and adversity.
The best minds in branding say that the process of re-branding a product, a service, or a podcast should take time. A re-brand should carefully consider the full array strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to the podcast and its community.
But in our case, we had no time for careful and deliberate processing. Our re-brand from The Tightrope had to happen immediately. In fact, the sudden pivot for [our] future of work podcast happened in less than seven days. Now, as The Dan Smolen Podcast, we know that our best days lie ahead. Please join us each week on this podcast for new episodes and an amazing journey to a future of work doing meaningful work. EPISODE DATE: October 9, 2020 Please Subscribe to The Dan Smolen Podcast on:
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...or wherever you get your podcasts. You may also click HERE to receive our podcast episodes by email. Image credits: Female podcast listener, Rg Studio for iStockPhoto; Behind the podcast mic, Dan Smolen; The Dan Smolen Podcast covert art, J. Brandt Studio for The Dan Smolen Experience. Please check out our most recent podcast episodes and blog posts on The Dan Smolen Experience website.
Public relations executive Aimee Stern believes that bravery and meaningful work are purposely intertwined. “When you heard the process that they went through to get there, it was painful and it was my process, too. It’s like putting aside everything you’ve ever been taught and saying: I’m really good at this. And, it all came down really to the biggest problem people have which is self-doubt.” By all measures, Aimee Stern was a successful executive. Her business portfolio was profitable and scaling. Regrettably, her high quality work often benefitted people she didn't respect. That's when she channeled bravery from within to do good and do well in her professional career. In this episode, Aimee describes:
The first act of bravery. Starts at 2:13 Why many people are not brave. Starts at 4:23 How Generation Z became our bravest workforce cohort. Starts at 9:38 The impact bravery has on a meaningful work career. Starts at 17:29
About our guest:
Aimee Stern is the Chief Bravery Officer of Brave NOW PR based in Washington, D.C. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Education from the State University of New York Oswego.
EPISODE DATE: October 2, 2020
Social media:
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Brave NOW PR Website
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Brave NOW Courageous Content Website
Image credits: Brave woman in superhero cape, Aveson for iStockPhoto; Portrait, Aimee Stern Please check out our most recent podcast episodes and blog posts on The Dan Smolen Experience website.
Anne Holton is a nationally recognized expert on career and technical education. Furthermore, she believes that we must invest in the future of work's talent pipeline. Anne built a formidable résumé in workforce empowerment. Now, Virginia's former Secretary of Education; George Mason University's former interim president, and; current professor at GMU's Schar School drives thought-leadership for career empowerment and the future of work. "I want to research how students choose careers. [My hypothesis] is that students do what their parents do, or what their parents' friends do, or what their friends' parents do. But they don't know career options outside of that. And now, with so many careers that nobody's parents did, like cybersecurity, we have a real disconnect." Along with her husband, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, Anne leads the charge to provide world-class career and technical education (CTE) so that talent in the American workforce pipeline thrive. In this episode, Anne discusses:
What workforce stakeholders are doing, or should be doing, to help people succeed at work. Starts at 2:55 How those workforce stakeholders should help people in disadvantaged communities. Starts at 5:02 The role of community colleges in providing career and technical education (CTE). Starts at 7:52 The efforts of colleges and universities to retain their graduates in the community. Starts at 17:24 The importance of workforce agility and resilience. Starts at 24:51
Moreover, she believes this: stakeholders in business, academia, and public policy, must amply invest in the future of work's talent pipeline so that people benefit with rewarding careers. And among the biggest future of work opportunities Anne sees are in middle skill jobs. About our guest:
Anne Holton grew up in a family committed to public service. Her father, Linwood Holton, is a former governor of Virginia. During her successful career, Anne served as:
Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Judge for the City of Richmond, Virginia (1996-98); Virginia's First Lady when her husband, Tim Kaine, was governor (2006-2009); Virginia's Secretary of Education (2014-2016), and: Interim President of George Mason University (2019-2020).
Currently, she is Professor of Public Policy and Education for GMU's Schar School of Policy and Government.
Anne earned a bachelor's degree from Princeton University's School of Public and International Affairs and a Juris Doctorate from the Harvard University School of Law. She and U.S. Senator Tim Kaine reside in Richmond, Virginia.
EPISODE DATE: September 25, 2020
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Image credits: Technical worker, Jay Yuno for iStock Photo; Anne Holton portrait, George Mason University. Please check out our most recent podcast episodes and blog posts on The Dan Smolen Experience website.
Dr. Dan Hill is employing learning pods, working groups of six people, to help organizations deliver content, develop critical skills, facilitate teamwork, and foster leadership. We believe that Dr. Hill’s learning pods will positively influence the future of work. "So, I was already leaning towards this idea of six people. A [work team] should be no larger than can be fed with two large pizzas." The term learning pods trends high in social media, because many parents across the country are using them to teach and supplement learning for their children who are homebound because of the pandemic. Now learning pods are benefitting the workforce. Learning pods may actually find their greatest utility with people who strive for the future of work doing meaningful work.
In this episode, Dr. Hill explains:
The learning pod for people who work. Starts at 6:28 How learning pods may become useful for people on Zoom. Starts at 11:46 Why a team of six people in a learning pod is optimal. Starts at 14:00 His thoughts on the future of meetings and conference attendance. Starts at 15:30 How learning pods will inform the future of work. Starts at 20:20
Dr. Hill also describes his latest book writing project, The Devil's Dictionary of Work Life. Starts at 28:22
About our guest:
Dan Hill, Ph.D. is a world recognized facial coding expert and founder and president of the consultancy Sensory Logic, Inc. He received a Masters in Creative Writing from Brown University and a Ph.D. in English from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. Further, Dr. Hill earned Facial Action Coding Systems Certification from the Paul Ekman Group. He lives and works in St. Paul, Minnesota.
EPISODE DATE: September 18, 2020
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Website
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–Famous Faces Decoded (Book Page)
LinkedIn Profile
Image credits: Learning pod, Andrey Popov for iStock Photo; Number 6, dimilic for iStock Photo; portrait, Dan Hill, Ph.D. Please check out our most recent podcast episodes and blog posts on The Dan Smolen Experience website.
Teaching in the pandemic age will certainly change how students learn and the future of work for teachers. "I think that [the pandemic] has built a conversation of what public school will look like going forward."
- Maggie Hansford, Prince William Education Association President Maggie Hansford represents public school teachers, students, parents, and guardians in Virginia's second-largest municipality. Many schools are starting the year with remote or virtual instruction. Maggie thinks that many of the technological and operational changes put into use will remain after the pandemic is over.
In this episode, Maggie discusses how:
"Going virtual" stresses teachers, students, parents, and guardians. Starts at 2:48 New technologies like Zoom and Canvas will forever change the classroom. Starts at 4:43 Seasoned teachers are considering early retirement. Starts at 7:10 Attracting top talent to teaching remains a difficult challenge. Starts at 12:01 Teaching pods are changing instruction. Starts at 14:00 Teachers, parents, and guardians can overcome the tension caused by remote learning. Starts at 17:24
On the sudden popularity of teaching pods, Maggie says: "So, it all boils down to life. Everybody is trying to balance work-life, teaching, and helping their students. We have a million things on our plates and now we've just added another element to help ensure that our children are successful. If [teaching pods] are what parents need then I don't see an issue." About our guest:
Maggie Hansford is a teacher and speech pathologist in Northern Virginia's Prince William County Public Schools. In 2020, she was elected president of the Prince William Education Association (PWEA). Maggie and her family reside in Prince William County, Virginia.
EPISODE DATE: September 11, 2020
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Image credits: Cracked Apple, musicphone1 for iStock Photo; Remote Instruction, Tzido for iStockPhoto, Portrait, Maggie Hansford Please check out our most recent podcast episodes and blog posts on The Dan Smolen Experience website.
Will Sarni sees the future of work in water. “When I started my career, I worked for a gentleman, David Miller. The name of the company was Geraghty & Miller, and, he said ‘[If] you want a career in water, it will last forever, it will last a lifetime, because it is a public health issue.’”
-Will Sarni, Founder and CEO Water Foundry, LLC There is a future of work in water, because our planet is covered mostly in water. And scarcity of clean, potable water remains the planet's biggest problem to solve.
Will Sarni built an impressive career as a world-recognized expert on water. His mission is to help people, communities, companies, and organizations ensure access to clean water. In this episode, Will:
Relives his early interest in water and the start of his career. Starts at 3:18 Explains water scarcity. Starts at 6:27 Describes the new technologies helping to mitigate global clean water shortages. Starts at 16:13 Discusses the impact water careers will have on the future of work. Starts at 18:54 Introduces his podcast, The Stream. Starts at 20:24
About our guest: Will Sarni is an internationally recognized thought-leader on water strategy and innovation. He has authored numerous books and articles and presented on: the value of water; innovations in digital water technology; the circular economy, and; the energy-water-food nexus. In April 2020, with UK-based co-host Tom Freyberg, he launched The Stream Podcast. Will earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in Earth & Environmental Sciences from Queens College in New York. He lives and works in Denver, Colorado.
EPISODE DATE: September 4, 2020
Social media:
LinkedIn Profile
Water Foundry Website
The Stream on Apple Podcast
The Stream YouTube Channel
World Economic Forum: Harnessing the Fourth Industrial Revolution for Water (White Paper)
Image credits: Water poured into glass, Alter_photo for iStock Photo; Will Sarni portrait, Water Foundry. Please check out our most recent podcast episodes and blog posts on The Dan Smolen Experience website.
Maurice Small supports food justice and the future of work.
"We have to begin to plant orchards in our cities. We have to begin to train each other on how to graft and cross-pollinate plants so we can have food. We have to do these things, because [if we don't] we're going to end up extinct." Maurice is a nationally recognized regenerative farmer and social entrepreneur who helps people to find and do meaningful work in regenerative farming. Inspired by his leadership, people learn how to feed themselves and others with nutritious, locally grown food. What is more, Maurice connects people to work that is profound, protects the planet, empowers people, and is fun to do—meaningful work. But what inspires him most is furthering the cause of food justice and the future of work. He wants people to eat well, eat local, and ensure that their communities thrive.
In this episode, Maurice discusses:
His work as a regenerative farmer and social entrepreneur. Starts at 2:18 Internship programs for people eager to farm. Starts at 2:57 How fresh food transforms food deserts into food oases. Starts at 16:39 Why food justice is important to him. Starts at 23:40 The success story he is most proud of: former intern and [current Elyria, Ohio Mayor Frank Whitfield]. Starts at 29:17
"Food justice means that we all eat, and we all eat well." 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: August 28, 2020
Social media:
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YouTube
Image credits: Gardening with Intern, Maurice Small; Portrait, Maurice Small; Cherry tomatoes, Maurice Small. Please check out our most recent podcast episodes and blog posts on The Dan Smolen Experience website.
Moses Small has embarked on a new career doing the meaningful work of TV news. Growing up as an adopted African-American child of white parents, Moses often felt "otherness." "I remember being a really little kid. My parents would give me $20 for the convenience store. And then, in a couple of instances, a person working [at the store] had to check the [$20 bill], hold it up to the light. He said 'how do you have this money? Is this even real?'"
- Moses Small, TV News Reporter Moses believes that his life experiences prepare him to be an effective TV news reporter who tells compelling stories about people in his new community of Bakersfield, California. After a failed run for high school student government leadership, Moses got hooked on reporting TV news. A recent graduate of Emerson College, he is the new weekend anchor and general news reporter for NBC affiliate KGET TV in Bakersfield, California.
In this episode, Moses discusses:
His new assignment at KGET-TV. Starts at 2:22 The origins of his meaningful work in TV news. Starts at 3:20 Growing up as an adopted African-American child to white parents in Portland, Maine, and, feelings of "otherness." Stars at 10:31 How he met his birth-parents. Starts at 17:05 His "why." Starts at 22:04 Brushing back "fake news" sentiments. Starts at 24:13
Reflecting his new assignment, Moses says: "I'm just so grateful to go to a market where there are such amazing people at my station and I am going to learn something new everyday. Being in a busy news market is very important to me." About our guest:
Moses Small graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from Emerson College. After TV news internships at DatelineNBC and WCVB-TV in Boston, Moses was named the new weekend anchor and general assignment reporter for NBC affiliate KGET-TV in Bakersfield, California.
EPISODE DATE: August 21, 2020
Social media:
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LinkedIn
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Twitter
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KGET Website
Image credits: Studio camera operator, batuhan toker for iStockPhoto; Weekend anchor, Moses Small. Please check out our most recent podcast episodes and blog posts on The Dan Smolen Experience website.
Is Never Normal the future of work? Author and business futurist Greg Verdino believes that the answer is YES. "Leaders need to become more comfortable with how to manage [people] remotely, and, I think, [have always had] this problem in that they hire adults and treat them like children."
- Author and Business Futurist Greg Verdino In his new book Never Normal: Uncommon Ideas for Leaders Who Don’t Settle for the Status Quo, Greg Verdino describes how the answer to constant disruption at work is not technology but rather agile and resilient people.
The pandemic provided a perfect backdrop for discussing with Greg the dramatic forces that have, in an instant, upset our traditional ways of working. With sudden changes in where we work, the work that we do, and so much uncertainty in what it means to do work, Never Normal is the future of work. In this episode, Greg:
Describes what Never Normal: Uncommon Ideas for Leaders Who Don't Settle for the Status Quo is about and why he wrote it. Starts at 1:48 Offers why a lack of resources is a "lame excuse" for today's management. Starts at 3:45 Provides his thoughts on how Never Normal enmeshes into the future of work. Starts at 8:41 Responds to the question: will Never Normal be the death of big companies? Starts at 18:33
Describing the Never Normal paradigm shift, Greg says of the future of work: "This is what work looks like now, and, I don't think we are going to go back. You can't shove it back into a box." About our guest:
Greg Verdino is a highly regarded authority on “the digital now.” He is a veteran marketing executive who has done brilliant work for leading advertised brands, and, the co-founder of Adapt Manifesto. Greg earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Wesleyan University. He lives and works in the Long Island suburbs of New York City.
EPISODE DATE: August 14, 2020
Social media:
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Website
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Twitter
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Amazon Book Page
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Adapt Manifesto
Image credits: Fire extinguisher on an office chair, talaj for iStockPhoto; Never Normal dust cover, Greg Verdino; Portrait, Greg Verdino. Please check out our most recent podcast episodes and blog posts on The Dan Smolen Experience website.
New York Times best-selling author Daniel Pink writes that autonomy, mastery, and purpose drive our pursuit of meaningful work. About this episode: "[The idea] that if you simply dangle money in front of people and they will perform better is a fundamentally erroneous proposition."
- Daniel Pink Daniel Pink inspires our future of work and meaningful work thought-leadership. The author of DRIVE: The Surprising Truth of What Motivates Us demonstrates how autonomy, mastery, and purpose lead people to pursue meaningful work and careers. In good economies and bad, what drives us to live and work remains unchanged. Millions in the American workforce adjust to working from home, or suffer through job loss. Yet often, their motivations drive them towards positive purpose and meaning.
In this episode, we discuss how:
Autonomy, mastery, and purpose motivations take root in our lives. Starts at 2:07 Corporate managers often believe that money is the only work-performance motivator. Starts at 5:06 The pandemic affects our thoughts. Starts at 10:44 Answering "what is my sentence?" can aid your purpose and meaningful work career goals. Starts at 22:00 Regret can help improve our lives and work. Starts at 25:58
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: August 7, 2020
Social media:
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Daniel Pink Website
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World Regret Survey
Media credits: People on a rocky cliff, wilpunt for iStock Photo; Portrait, Daniel Pink Please check out our most recent podcast episodes and blog posts on The Dan Smolen Experience website.
Typical entrepreneurs focus on winning funding rounds and scaling revenue. However, one woman is now guiding the Resilient Entrepreneur to make the world a better place. About this episode: "[You] can have a business plan on paper, but then the first day that you start your business, everything changes. So, the skills of how:
flexible are you? do you adapt? you take things as not going your way?
are learning opportunities."
- Regina Bernal, Entrepreneurship Manager for the University of San Diego In this episode, we meet Regina Bernal. Regina is the University of San Diego School of Business' Entrepreneurship Manager. She guides student entrepreneurs to think beyond typical start-up business metrics to more meaningful ends.
Simply stated, she is guiding the Resilient Entrepreneur. Regina leads a movement that promotes entrepreneurs who are hell bent on launching successful and scalable businesses while creating better outcomes for the planet, people, and communities. In this episode, Regina describes:
The mission behind her role as University of San Diego School of Business' Entrepreneurship Manager. Starts at 2:08 Challenges faced by today's entrepreneurs whose purpose is affected by the pandemic. Starts at 3:34 The Resilient Entrepreneur. Starts at 11:03 How the gift of time may benefit socially distanced student entrepreneurs. Starts at 17:13 Her public speaking and writing experiences. Starts at 21:44
Regina also offers up the story behind guiding the Resilient Entrepreneur: "When we decided that we weren't going to have our big pitch competition, we thought how can we continue to add value right now to our students and pivot into something that they immediately need and can support them [with]? That's when we thought about resiliency." About our guest:
Regina Bernal received a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and a Masters of Science in Leadership from the University of San Diego. She is a passionate member of the San Diego start-up community, a TEDx speaker, and a thought-leader who publishes commentaries on entrepreneurship. Regina lives and works in San Diego, California.
EPISODE DATE: July 31, 2020
Social media:
– Website
– Resilient Entrepreneur Series
Media credits: Resilient entrepreneur, chee gin tan for iStock Photo; Regina Bernal portrait, University of San Diego. Please check out our most recent podcast episodes and blog posts on The Dan Smolen Experience website.
Can work make you healthy? It's a provocative question with an interesting answer. "I truly believe that work as a medium is the purest way, and perhaps the only way, to think about actually discovering health."
- Denise Brouder, Founder of SWAYworkplace As an executive in the financial services sector, Denise Brouder discovered that work can be unhealthful. The demands of a high stress career, and the needs of her young and growing family, made Denise realize that people often suffer ill health from the work that they do.
Inspired to make work meaningful she founded SWAYworkplace, a professional community and career platform that enables overworked people to transition to, and succeed in, a flexible workplace. Denise leads people to the meaningful work of their dreams while proving her case that work CAN make you healthy. Growing up on the western coast of Ireland, Denise adopted a strong Irish work-ethic. Driven by talent and ambition, she got an executive-level job on Wall Street working for a premier financial services company. In striving to do her job well, and balance the work and non-work parts of her day, she embarked on a quest to make work healthy for herself and millions of other people in the American workforce.
In this episode, we discuss:
The story behind SWAYworkplace and its mission to empower people at work. Starts at 2:01 The WHY moment when she discovered her passion for the future of work building a proactive and nurtured workplace. Starts at 3:51 How work can make you healthy. Starts at 16:53
Denise also discusses a future of work that is inclusive and reflects the value of workforce stakeholders: "The future of work is no longer a top-down mechanism. [I think that] real, true, meaningful change and innovation is going to come from the bottom up in community type settings." 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: July 24, 2020
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Website
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Facebook
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Media credits: Happy worker, nortonrsx for iStock Photo; Denise Brouder portrait, SWAYworkplace, LLC. Please check out our most recent podcast episodes and blog posts on The Dan Smolen Experience website.
Serial entrepreneur Isar Meitis' tribal lessons foster meaningful work. About this episode: "In my core, I'm a teacher. If there was a great way to make a living as a teacher, I'd be a teacher. I thrive when I teach."
- Isar Meitis, Founder of the e-tribe Isar Meitis' life story and experience are truly inspiring. With a deep passion for teaching and empowering people, Isar provides tribal lessons to manage our time and priorities, be attentive to our family and friends, and still do the meaningful work of our dreams. In this episode, Isar describes:
The e-tribe and its mission to help people become successful. Starts at 1:53 His time-management best practices. Starts at 9:12 How we all can explore and do meaningful work. Starts at 23:24
Useful hack: Isar uses the free Trello app to fulfill his project and time management needs.
About our guest:
As a young man, Isar Meitis piloted a fighter jet. The experience trained him to make split-second decisions and yet remain grounded and focused after each mission. His intense military training pivoted him to a successful career as a high tech executive and serial start-up entrepreneur who today offers tribal lessons for living a successful life doing meaningful work. Isar graduated from the IAF Flight School and earned a Masters in Business Administration from the Crummer School of Business at Rollins College. He lives and works in Orlando, Florida.
EPISODE DATE: July 17, 2020
Social media:
Website
- Special Link for Listeners of The Tightrope
Image credits: Entrepreneur with tablet on Santorini, Nadezhda1906 for iStockPhoto; Isar Meitis portrait, the e-tribe.
Discover how a radio deejay's meaningful work is rewarded with a global following for 1970's-era Disco music. About this episode:
We travel across-the-pond to chat with Russell White, a London-based executive recruiter who doubles as a radio deejay or presenter playing 1970s-era Disco music. During the day, Russ places professional talent in executive jobs for United Kingdom and European Union companies. But when the sun sets, he becomes Retro Russ. It is behind the microphone where this radio deejay does truly meaningful work. Through terrestrial and internet broadcaster Delite Radio, Retro Russ has gained an appreciative following for Disco around the globe.
In this episode, we discuss:
The origin story of Retro Russ, the radio presenter. Starts at 3:23 How Retro Russ influenced the music choices of house producers. Starts at 7:41 The intersectionality of [our] executive search and radio careers. Starts at 11:05
Since this January 2020 recorded interview, Russ has started a second radio show called Sunday Mid-Morning Delite with Retro Russ. About our guest:
Russell White and Dan Smolen in Central London, December 2018.
Russell White is a veteran executive recruiter and the managing partner of London-based Premier Consultants which places people in a variety of senior-level marketing job assignments. Also, he is known around the globe as Retro Russ, a deejay presenting 1970s Disco music on Delite Radio. Russell earned a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Business Studies from Middlesex University. He lives and works in London, England.
EPISODE DATE: July 10, 2020
Social Media:
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Delite Radio
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Discolicious on Delite Radio with Retro Russ
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Sunday Mid-Morning Delite with Retro Russ
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Facebook
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Instagram
Media credits: Studio microphone, Patrick Daxenbichler for iStock Photo; Russell White and Dan Smolen in Central London 12/2018, Dan Smolen; Air checks 01/2020, Discolicious on Delite Radio with Retro Russ. Please check out our most recent podcast episodes and blog posts on The Dan Smolen Experience website.
Virtual professionalism is critical to doing meaningful work. About this episode:
"Not only are we at an inflection point, what [it feels like to me] is an acceleration of catch-up, because the world is moving in this direction, anyway."
- Adrienne Shoch, Workforce Engagement Expert Workforce engagement expert Adrienne Shoch of five to one takes The Tightrope Podcast's listeners through a crash course in virtual professionalism, which is important to doing meaningful work. A key driver to virtual professionalism: it's all about being present. Adrienne discusses how we can match our new-found skill using Zoom, Skype, Webex, and other platforms, to be more present with, and gain more understanding from, co-workers. Virtual professionalism matters. because many of us now work from home, permanently. In this episode, Adrienne:
Expands on the inflection point and the acceleration of "catch-up." Starts at 2:15 Describes generative listening and its importance. Starts at 5:50 Offers how to use virtual professionalism skills. Starts at 12:23 Elaborates on the importance of intent. Starts at 17:07 Relates to the value of time. Starts at 23:07
About our guest:
Adrienne Shoch is the founder of five to one and an expert on workforce engagement. She received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Towson University and studied at University of Paris – Sorbonne, and, the Neuroleadership Institute. Adrienne lives and works in Washington, D.C.
EPISODE DATE: July 3, 2020
Social media:
Website
Adrienne Shoch LinkedIn Page
Photo credits: Virtual professionalism, fizkes on iStock Photo; Adrienne Shoch portrait, five to one. Please check out our most recent podcast episodes and blog posts on The Dan Smolen Experience website.
Student leadership and meaningful work go together. About this episode: "We're all leaders in some way, shape, or form."
-Courtney Owens, Assistant Director of Student Leadership; Ithaca College Office of Student Engagement Student leadership leads to meaningful work. Coincidentally, leadership programming prepares college students for success doing work that protects the planet and empowers people and community.
People who develop student leadership skill in college enter the workforce as agile participants who are able to pivot to changing circumstances.
So, as colleges and universities welcome back Fall 2020 semester students, Ithaca College will resume its student leadership programming. Undergraduates in the program will learn how to start careers doing meaningful work. The pursuit of meaningful work is a big driver for Ithaca College. Courtney Owens, the Assistant Director of Student Leadership at Ithaca College's Office of Student Engagement, helps students enter the workforce to make a positive difference in the world.
We recorded this podcast episode during December 2019, soon after I addressed the Ithaca College's Student Leadership Forum.
In this episode, Courtney:
Summarizes Ithaca College's student leadership program. Starts at 3:43 Explains the "WE" aspect of student leadership programming. Starts at 5:45 Offers her description of meaningful work. Starts at 9:03 Discusses the generational differences affecting meaningful work priorities. Starts at 18:33 Offers listeners advice for seeking and doing meaningful work. Starts at 30:34
About our guest:
Courtney Owens earned a Master of Arts in Leadership Studies from Western Kentucky University. She lives and works in Ithaca, New York.
EPISODE DATE: June 26, 2020
Social media:
-Website
Image credits: Leadership, Bulat Silvia for iStock Photo; Courtney Owens portrait, Ithaca College Please check out our most recent podcast episodes and blog posts on The Dan Smolen Experience website.
About this episode: "What I do, on a day in and day out basis, is that I am there for them [and just build] relationships and become a trusted companion."
-Mike Shochet, Lead Chaplain of the Fairfax County, Virginia Police We are well into June 2020, a month informed by the grotesquely shocking death of George Floyd—under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer. That shockwave has led many to call for defunding police departments across the United States. Some now ask: is police work meaningful work? Two years ago, we sat down for a conversation with Mike Shochet. Tightrope Podcast listeners discovered how Mike’s meaningful work career spanned three acts, as TV news reporter, Baltimore City cop, and now as police chaplain.
Ordained as a cantor in Reform Judaism, Mike merged his experience as a beat cop with deep spirituality to become the lead chaplain of the Fairfax County, Virginia Police. By tending to the pastoral needs of law enforcement personnel, Mike Shochet does the meaningful work of his dreams. The vexing issues discussed in this episode, recorded in early June of 2018, remain untended. Going forward, we hope (and pray) that police work lives up to the motto: to serve and protect.
In this episode, Mike discusses:
The role of police chaplain. Starts at 2:26 Why police officers often don't like uneventful days. Starts at 8:12 His view on office candidate screening. Starts at 12:55 How first-hand experience with pain and neglect informs his chaplaincy. Starts at 15:18 The role of empathy in police work. Starts at 20:11
About our guest:
Mike Shochet received a Bachelor of Science from Ithaca College’s Park School of Communications and a Masters of Fine Arts degree in Sacred Music from Hebrew Union College. He and his family live in Fairfax County, Virginia.
EPISODE DATE: June 19, 2020
Social media:
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Fairfax County Police Chaplaincy
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Biography, Temple Rodef Shalom
Earlier episodes with Mike Shochet:
-Third Act By 28: One Man’s Unusual Journey to do Meaningful Work (Part 1)
-Third Act By 28: One Man’s Unusual Journey to do Meaningful Work (Part 2)
-Serving Those Who Serve: Finding Meaningful Work as a Police Chaplain
Image credits: First responder with mask, kojophoto for iStock Photo; Ride Along, Michael Ventura; Cantor Mike Shochet Portrait, Temple Rodef Shalom. Please check out our most recent podcast episodes and blog posts on The Dan Smolen Experience website.
About this episode: "One of the things that [companies] haven't done that we start to see is tell you 'Hey, take a moment and take stock of your life. Where are you? Where do you want to be? And, how do we help you get there?'"
-James Sinclair, Chief Executive of EnterpriseAlumni In 2020, a major inflection point in the future of work has emerged. Forward thinking companies that furloughed large numbers of workers are using alumni communities to engage their cast-offs through skill development, help finding work at other companies, and offers to return to the fold in new full-time employee or independent contract roles. Leading this alumni community and meaningful work revolution is James Sinclair. His company, EnterpriseAlumni, enables managers to communicate with their former employees in meaningful ways, keep the lifetime value of talent investment strong, and, to help their former workers build lives doing meaningful work.
In this episode, James describes:
The value proposition of alumni communities. Starts at 2:31 Benefits associated with engaging former company workers. Starts at 3:31 How the riots happening across the US are driving corporate social impact. Starts at 11:11 Two interview questions managers are now asking hired talent. Starts at 17:38 The benefits of an agile workforce. Starts at 26:50 How to achieve meaningful work. Starts at 36:34
About our guest:
James Sinclair is the Chief Executive & Co-Founder of EnterpriseAlumni. James' background is in large enterprise innovation. He worked for companies including IBM, SAP & EDS. Outside of his day job, he contributes to media on future of work, large enterprise innovation, and entrepreneurship topics. James lives and works in Southern California.
EPISODE DATE: June 12, 2020
Social media:
-Website
Media credits: Former worker facing Zoom screen, fizkes for iStock Photo; James Sinclair portrait, EnterpriseAlumni.
Note: in the intro, we regretfully referred to the current events as “riots.” That was unintentional and we regret the error. Please check out our most recent podcast episodes and blog posts on The Dan Smolen Experience website.
Homes and Hops: a realtor becomes the ambassador for her city's craft brewers.
About this episode: "Studies have shown that [craft] breweries have a positive impact on residential real estate sales. And over the past 5 years, we've had several breweries pop up in our area."
-Lisa Resnick, Realtor, Craft Brewers Ambassador, and Host of Homes and Hops Podcast It’s the first week of June 2020 and, across the country, local businesses are reemerging to service a public that’s been homebound since early March.
In Youngstown, Ohio, local businesses—especially breweries—are eager to reengage with customers, even with social distancing requirements. Meet Lisa Resnick: she is an ambassador to Youngstown, someone who tells the stories of craft brewers and the sense of place they create for people in the community. Lisa is a Realtor for residential properties and the host and executive producer of Homes and Hops, a phenomenal podcast about the fast-emerging craft brewing scene in the city.
Back when she was a kid, Lisa dreamt about becoming a courtroom judge. Then, out of college, she produced direct mail campaigns for political candidates. When a recession hit, Lisa pivoted to real estate and a career that truly suits her passions. Moving back with her family to her native Youngstown, Lisa discovered that she could be an effective ambassador for Youngstown and its craft brewers. And that is how Homes and Hops got its start.
In this episode, Lisa describes:
Childhood dreams of becoming a courtroom judge and early jobs supporting political campaigns. Starts at 2:58 Her successful pivot into real estate. Starts at 5:38 How Homes and Hops got started and Youngtown's amazing renaissance. Starts at 22:49 Being an ambassador for her community. Starts at 28:47 Her philosophy for pursuing meaningful work and for living in a place like Youngstown. Starts at 36:05
About our guest:
Lisa Resnick earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Government from Youngstown State University. She is a Realtor with Burgan Real Estate and the Host and Executive Producer of Homes and Hops. Lisa and her family reside in the Youngstown, Ohio area.
EPISODE DATE: June 5, 2020
Social Media:
-Website
-Homes and Hops Podcast Page
Media Credits: Craft ale on tap, zozzzzo for iStock Photo; Lisa Resnick Portrait, Homes and Hops. Please check out our most recent podcast episodes and blog posts on The Dan Smolen Experience website.
Summer Camp: Where Fun and Friendship Lead to Meaningful Lives and Careers
About this episode: "We see a lot of people do well in their [adult] careers who, coincidentally, did well in their careers at camp. I have no data, other than the anecdotal experiences of the time [we spent] there. But you see people who rose to leadership positions in camp and were viewed as successful staff members that have had successful careers in whatever they were doing after camp."
-Stuart Katz, Founder and President of Elm City Communications The Memorial Day Weekend marked the official start of summer. Although this year, it felt like summertime started without the fun. Over 11 million kids and young adults attend summer camp programs. But in 2020, some states—concerned about the spread of the COVID-19 Coronavirus—banned overnight summer camps from operating. For kids who worked hard in school ten months of the year for the reward of two months at summer camp, that loss is palpable.
During August 2019, I recorded this podcast interview with my best friend Stuart Katz. Stu and I attended as campers, and later worked together, at Camp Laurelwood, a non-profit overnight summer camp located near the Southern Connecticut Shoreline. Last week, in response to the COVID-19 Coronavirus outbreak, the State of Connecticut banned overnight camps, including Camp Laurelwood, from operating this summer. At camp, fun and friendship often lead campers and staff to meaningful adult careers. In this episode, Stu describes:
His first summer at camp. Starts at 3:29 Trying activities beyond his comfort zone. Starts at 5:25 The camp radio station where he and Dan were deejays. Starts at 10:40 The spark of imagination and creativity in him that started at camp. Starts at 15:45 How adult professionals benefit from camp-like experiences. Starts at 19:27 Why it is important to send kids to summer camp. Starts at 23:06
We remain hopeful that, in 2021, summer camps like Camp Laurelwood open on schedule. The camper experience most definitely shaped our adult lives and meaningful careers, and fostered hundreds of lifelong friendships.
About our guest:
Stuart Katz first attended Camp Laurelwood in 1968 as a seven-year-old. He later served it as a staff member and board member. Since his first summer there Stu had never, until this year, missed Camp Laurelwood's Opening Day festivities.
Stu earned a Bachelor of Science from the Park School of Communications at Ithaca College, where currently he serves as an adjunct professor. He also received a Master of Arts in Corporate Communications from Seton Hall University. His company, Elm City Communications, provides corporate communications and video production services to the global healthcare community. Aside from his corporate work, Stu is deeply involved in many philanthropic efforts including his lifelong work for Camp Laurelwood. He lives and works in New Jersey.
EPISODE DATE: May 29, 2020
Social Media:
Camp Laurelwood Website
-Team Australia Cheer Audio Recording
American Camp Association: Find a Camp
Elm City Communications Website
-Stu Katz LinkedIn Profile
Media Credits: Happy campers, 2018, Camp Laurelwood; Stu Katz and Dan Smolen, July 4, 1976, Steve Lifshatz for Camp Laurelwood; Stuart Katz portrait, Elm City Communications; Team Australia Cheer audio recording, August 1972, Dan Garson for Camp Laurelwood. Please check out our most recent podcast episodes and blog posts on The Dan Smolen Experience website.
Onboarding helps people achieve success in the work from home age.
About this episode: “Forty percent of new leaders fail in their first 18 months, defined as getting fired, forced out, or quit. [Our work over the last 18 years] has reduced that failure rate from 40 percent to less than 10 percent.”
-George Bradt, Founder & Chairman of PrimeGenesis A new hire failure can cost a company up to 20 times the person’s salary, benefits, and placement fee. Early in his career, George Bradt discovered that the way most companies integrated newly hired professionals didn’t work. He established onboarding to help new hires, companies, and organizations meet and exceed their goals. With millions of Americans now working from home, onboarding new talent to their jobs and companies is mission-critical. Onboarding helps people achieve success in the work from home age. Coincidentally, it is a critical part of the future of work.
In this interview, George:
Defines onboarding and explains why it is important. Starts at 3:19 Relates the only three true job interview questions. Starts at 6:56 Discusses the “fit check.” Starts at 10:05 Describes how onboarding has changed with so many people working from home. Starts at 14:55 Explains why onboarding “C Suite” executives is so difficult during the pandemic. Starts at 25:14 Reacts to the April 2020 CNBC Change Research survey of workforce participation. Starts at 34:12
About our guest:
George Bradt leads the revolution in how people start new jobs. Prior to founding PrimeGenesis, George served as chief executive of J.D. Power’s Power Information Network spin-off and in general management, marketing and sales at Coca-Cola, Procter & Gamble, and Unilever. He is principal of CEO Connection and contributes a weekly column to Forbes.com. George earned a Bachelor of Arts from Harvard University and an MBA from The Wharton School of Business.
EPISODE DATE: May 22, 2020
Social media:
Forbes Magazine Articles by George Bradt
-Acing The Only Three True Job Interview Questions
-Onboarding into The New Normal
Amazon Author’s Page
PrimeGenesis Website
Image credits: Zoom Meeting Engagement, Leo Patrizzi for iStock Photo; Portrait, George Bradt.
Water expert Will Sarni explains why water matters to work. “When I started my career, I worked for a gentleman, David Miller. The name of the company was Geraghty & Miller, and, he said ‘[If] you want a career in water, it will last forever, it will last a lifetime, because it is a public health issue.’”
-Will Sarni, Founder and CEO Water Foundry, LLC Why water matters to work: our planet is covered mostly in water. And yet scarcity of clean, potable water remains the planet's biggest problem. Will Sarni has built an impressive career as a world-recognized expert on water. His mission is to help people, communities, companies, and organizations ensure access to clean water. In this episode, Will:
Relives his early interest in water and the start of his career. Starts at 3:17 Explains water scarcity. Starts at 6:26 Describes the new technologies helping to mitigate global clean water shortages. Starts at 16:12 Discusses the impact water careers will have on the future of work. Starts at 18:54 Introduces his new podcast, The Stream. Starts at 20:23
About our guest:
Will Sarni is an internationally recognized thought leader on water strategy and innovation. He has authored numerous books and articles and presented on: the value of water; innovations in digital water technology; the circular economy, and; the energy-water-food nexus. In April 2020, with UK-based co-host Tom Freyberg, he launched The Stream Podcast. Will earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in Earth & Environmental Sciences from Queens College in New York. He lives and works in Denver, Colorado.
EPISODE DATE: May 15, 2020
Social media:
LinkedIn Profile
Water Foundry Website
The Stream on Apple Podcast
The Stream YouTube Channel
World Economic Forum: Harnessing the Fourth Industrial Revolution for Water (White Paper)
Image credits: Clean water, Jacob Wackenhausen for iStock Photo; Will Sarni portrait, Water Foundry, LLC. Please check out our most recent podcast episodes and blog posts on The Dan Smolen Experience website.
Read people with facial coding. You can use it on Zoom.
About this episode: "Even a person born blind emotes the same way as you or I. [It is hard-wired into the brain] and the face is the only place on the body where the muscles attach right to the skin."
- Dan Hill, Ph.D. It is hard enough to be face-to-face with another person, to read their facial expressions and determine what they are truly thinking and feeling. And, you have likely discovered how much harder that process becomes when we are on Zoom. What do these facial expressions really mean? CLICK THE ABOVE IMAGE for Dr. Hill's decoded answers.
Our guest this week, Dan Hill, Ph.D., is here to help us relate. He is a world-recognized expert on facial coding and the author of several books including Famous Faces Decoded.
Dr. Hill explains how we can use facial coding to better understand what others are thinking, especially to read people on Zoom, and to use that insight to make our engagements with them more meaningful. What is more, he cites examples of "famous faces" he decoded, such as disgraced financier Bernie Madoff and President Dwight D. Eisenhower, to understand what [they] were truly communicating through their facial expressions.
We also discuss how he decided to make this study of people the meaningful work of his career.
In this episode, Dr. Hill:
Defines facial coding. Starts at 3:20 Explains the non-verbal hinderances of the Zoom setting. Starts at 9:57 Offers the benefits of leveraging facial coding. Starts at 13:43
About our guest:
Dan Hill, Ph.D. is founder and president of the consultancy Sensory Logic, Inc. He received a Masters in Creative Writing from Brown University and a Ph.D. in English from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. Further, Dr. Hill earned Facial Action Coding Systems Certification from the Paul Ekman Group. He lives and works in St. Paul, Minnesota.
EPISODE DATE: May 8, 2020
Social media:
Website
- Faces of the Week Blog
-Famous Faces Decoded (Book Page)
LinkedIn Profile
Image credits: Facial expression composite, 2014, D.A. Smolen; Zoom session, Fillipo Bacci for iStock Photo; portrait, Dan Hill, Ph.D.
New financial realities: A financial consultant offers insight on money and the future of work
About this episode: "Your question about how do you deal with all this stuff? The answer is just like anything else: with a good counselor, the most important thing that they can do is shut up and listen."
-Steven M. Oriol, Chartered Financial Consultant It is Week 7 of sheltering in place. It’s also the last week of April 2020. Those of us who got a paycheck this week are doing the best we can to use our time well. Others of us, who were furloughed from our jobs, may be struggling, wondering what new shockwaves will hit us next. Working or not, the anxieties we feel about money and work are deep enough to keep us up at night. The process of managing personal financial resources is a lifelong endeavor. But the current COVID-19 crisis makes that endeavor mission critical. And if we are suddenly out of work, we need to think carefully about our financial security and future work opportunities.
This week, we speak with Steven M. Oriol of Evergreen Life Wealth Partners, to probe our new realities. He is a chartered financial consultant who works with a wide variety of clients seeking lifetime financial security. Steve is also an adjunct professor of business at the University of the District of Columbia, where he challenges his students to map their career and life plans with value clarity.
In this episode, Steve addresses the new financial realities:
Describes the process people can use to relate to, and mitigate, their financial situations. Starts at 2:57 Illustrates how moments of grief and anxiety can turn into something positive. Starts at 10:52 Addresses career opportunities and pivots, such as additive manufacturing and 3D printing, that could result from the COVID-19 crisis. Starts at 23:34 Discusses what his undergraduate students are expressing about their futures. Starts at 27:46
About our guest:
Steven M. Oriol earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Finance from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. He also received Chartered Financial Consultant accreditation from The American College. Steve lives and works in the Washington, D.C. area.
NOTE: In the intro for this podcast episode, we incorrectly described Steven Oriol's job title and certification. He is, as stated in these show notes, a Chartered Financial Consultant accredited by The American College. We regret the error.
EPISODE DATE: May 1, 2020
Social media:
-LinkedIn Profile
Image credits: Ben Franklin on $100 bill wearing mask, Diy13 for iStock Photo; Portrait, Steven M. Oriol.
Pandemic affected Aruba seeks aid for its impacted workforce.
About the episode: "You cannot create a diverse economy and just put it on every island. What you need to make sure is that you understand the USPs—the Unique Selling Points—of an island, not only for tourism, but also for what is going on in nature, the availability of technology, and the self sustaining options on the island."
- Bianca Peters, Island Impact People who work in American tourism and hospitality jobs are truly suffering, because their industries shut down in the wake of the COVID-19 Coronavirus. They are bound to wonder not only when, but if, they will return to work.
Such fear is magnified on islands like Aruba, where most members of the workforce rely on tourism and hospitality. Pandemic affected Aruba seeks aid. Some on the island nation are running out of money; they are hungry, and need shelter. Among the bold civic leaders on the island are Daniel Tecklenborg of CEDE Aruba and Bianca Peters of Island Impact. Daniel is working hard to feed and provide shelter to thousands of in-need Arubans; Bianca is helping to shape the post-COVID vision for a diversified economy and sustainable workforce.
In this episode, we discuss:
The current mood, and state of well-being, of Arubans. Starts at 3:05 CEDE Aruba's role in feeding and supporting people in need. Starts at 5:03 The Happy to Give Back crowd funding program. Starts at 8:41 The future of work on Aruba. Starts at 20:21
About our guests:
Daniel Tecklenborg is the Director of CEDE Aruba.
Bianca Peters is the Founding Partner of Island Impact. She earned a Master's Degree in Strategic Management & Facilities Management from Saxion University of Applied Sciences.
EPISODE DATE: April 24, 2020
Social media:
CEDE Aruba Website
-Happy to Give Back Program
Bianca Peter's LinkedIn Page
Image credits: Boats near Rodgers Beach, Aruba, Flavio Vallenari for iStock Photo; DiviDivi Tree, Aruba, Nisangha for iStock Photo; Happy to Give Back on YouTube, CEDE Aruba; Portrait, Bianca Peters.
As America makes the future of work.
About this episode: "Never before, in the history of manufacturing, can you impact a supply chain with a piece of equipment in your garage or your home office. ... You have the opportunity to build something special and make that a career."
-Andrew Resnick, America Makes In the fight against the COVID-19 Coronavirus, some people are sewing face masks and brewing hand-sanitizer. Others are tinkering with additive technology like 3D printers, to make protective face shields for health care workers. Additive manufacturing is a future of work game-changer
Andrew Resnick is the Director of Communications & Public Affairs for America Makes, the nation’s leading collaborative partner in additive manufacturing and 3D printing technology research, discovery, creation, and innovation. He thinks that additive manufacturing technology, like 3D printing, will become a big future of work trend and a way for people to serve the greater good.
Right now, additive manufacturers are filling in critical supply chain gaps for personal protective equipment (PPE) required by our front-line healthcare professionals.
In this episode, Andrew:
Describes America Makes and its mission. Starts at 2:44 Defines additive manufacturing. Starts at 3:44 Explains how makers are responding to the COVID-19 Coronavirus Crisis. Starts at 6:17 Provides examples of how people tinkering with 3D printers can do something for the greater good. Starts at 11:51 Discusses maker-career opportunities. Starts at 15:50
As America makes the future of work, the nation and the world benefit. About our guest:
Andrew Resnick received a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from American University and a Masters of Arts in Government/Political Communications from The Johns Hopkins University. He lives and works in the Youngstown, Ohio area.
EPISODE DATE: April 17, 2020
Social media:
Website
-COVID-19 Repository
-2nd COVID-19 Maker Challenge (WFMJ TV)
-Contact Andrew Resnick
Image credits: Healthcare worker wearing protective face shield, C2 Imaging for Flickr; 3D printer, kynny for iStock Photo; Andrew Resnick portrait, America Makes.
Tribal lessons for work from the e-tribe's founder: working from home can be successful and rewarding.
About this episode:
"In my core, I'm a teacher. If there was a great way to make a living as a teacher, I'd be a teacher. I thrive when I teach."
- Isar Meitis, Founder of the e-tribe
As of this episode, we are in Week 4 of sharing time, broadband, and square footage with loved ones and other household members. Work before the COVID-19 Coronavirus Crisis was tough enough; now, all of us struggle to make telework successful and rewarding. To that end, our podcast guest Isar Meitis offers sage advice. As a former fighter pilot-turned business executive and start-up entrepreneur, Isar developed expertise in time, stress, and work/life management. With a deep passion for teaching and empowering people, Isar demonstrates how we can manage our time and telework priorities and still be attentive parents, family members, and friends.
Informed by tribal lessons for work, Isar describes:
Lifelong lessons he learned as an F-16 fighter pilot. Starts at 2:24 His pivot into executive work and start-up entrepreneurship. Starts at 8:34 The company Tourico Holidays and the academy he helped create to ensure success with people working remotely around the world. Starts at 11:19 The e-tribe and its mission to help people become successful. Starts at 17:20 His time-management best practices. Starts at 24:48 How we all can explore and do meaningful work. Starts at 38:59
Useful hack: Isar uses the free Trello app to fulfill his project and time management needs.
About our guest:
Isar Meitis graduated from the IAF Flight School and earned a Masters in Business Administration from the Crummer School of Business at Rollins College. He lives and works in Orlando, Florida.
EPISODE DATE: April 10, 2020
Social media:
Website
- Special Link for Listeners of The Tightrope
Image credits: Person working from home, Chris Ryan for iStock Photo; Isar Meitis portrait, the e-tribe
Virtual Professionalism: The Future of Work's Key Learning Component About this episode:
"Not only are we at an inflection point, what [it feels like to me] is an acceleration of catch-up, because the world is moving in this direction, anyway."
- Adrienne Shoch, Workforce Engagement Expert In this episode, we build on the key learning provided by Carla Fleming of Pivoting Strategies, LLC. Carla uses time-management hacks to make remote-office work productive and successful.
Workforce engagement expert Adrienne Shoch, of 5 to 1 Consulting, builds on those best-practices. In this episode, she takes listeners through a crash course in virtual professionalism.
Virtual professionalism: it's all about being present.
Adrienne discusses how we can match our new-found skill using Zoom, Skype, Webex, and other platforms, to be more present with, and gain more understanding from, co-workers. And that is important, because we all are confined to their homes, because of the COVID-19 Coronavirus outbreak.
Adrienne:
Expands on the inflection point and the acceleration of "catch-up." Starts at 2:22 Describes generative listening and its importance. Starts at 5:57 Offers how to use virtual professionalism skills when interviewing for a job. 12:30 Elaborates on the importance of intent in the virtual meeting setting 17:14 Relates to the value of time in virtual professionalism 23:14
About our guest:
Adrienne Shoch is the founder of 5 to 1 Consulting. She received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Towson University and studied at University of Paris – Sorbonne, and, the Neuroleadership Institute. Adrienne lives and works in Washington, D.C.
EPISODE DATE: April 3, 2020
Social media:
5 to 1 Consulting Website
Adrienne Shoch LinkedIn Page
Photo credits: Zoom Room, Zoom Communications US; Portrait, Adrienne Shoch.
Working remotely and future work: How the COVID-19 Coronavirus is pivoting people and careers.
About this episode:
"An inflection point is something that can have a seismic effect on what we call a 10x impact on the business model as you know it today. When we sit back and look at what we are doing with COVID-19, I would say we are at an inflection point right now."
- Carla A. Fleming, CEO and Founder of Pivoting Strategies
Carla Fleming has teleworked for half of her business career. And over that time, she developed and perfected time-management hacks that render the remote-work day both productive and successful.
Working Remotely and Future Work: An Inflection Point
Carla is a management consultant who studies market trends and business best-practices. She says that the COVID-19 Coronavirus has brought us to an inflection point that will permanently change how we work.
In this episode, we discuss Carla's thoughts on how:
Work is changing as a result of COVID-19 and social distancing. Starts at 1:55 People can scaffold their skill and experience of working from home. Starts at 8:15 Things are going to change. Starts at 17:10
About our guest:
Carla A. Fleming received a Bachelor of Science in Management, with coursework concentration in Journalism and Mass Media, from Rutgers University. She also earned a Master’s degree in Business Administration from The George Washington University. She lives and works in the Washington, D.C. suburbs of Northern Virginia.
EPISODE DATE: March 27, 2020
Social media:
Pivoting Strategies, LLC – Website
LinkedIn Profile
Photo credits: Mom Working From Home, dragana991 for iStock Photo; Portrait, Carla A. Fleming
The Pizza Man Delivers: Providing Chicagoans Food and Comfort During the Pandemic About this episode: "You have to do your best to be optimistic, because we are going to get through this. And, we have to find fun, we have to do our best to make each other feel good at this very difficult and unprecedented time."
- Billy Jacobs, Owner of Piece Pizzeria and Brewery in Chicago The pizza man delivers: Chicago food scene disruptor Billy Jacobs has an amazing story to tell. In the early 1980s, he and his three brothers achieved phenomenal success when they introduced their fresh New York-style bagels to a city that had none. Then, years later, Billy founded the immensely successful Piece Pizzeria & Brewery, which serves authentic thin-crust New Haven style pizza and craft beers.
Billy and his team have scaled Piece to become the highest-grossing independent pizza restaurant in the United States.
However, this week, like every other restaurant in the United States, Piece is responding to the COVID-19 Coronavirus crisis. Billy’s popular sit-down restaurant is now closed to customers, but he and his team are working hard to bring the joy of Piece to hungry and thirsty social distancing customers by way of curbside pickup and delivery services.
Billy Jacobs lives his dreams doing meaningful work. And he inspires the team members that he employs. But, the COVID-19 crisis challenges him to keep his brand and business thriving and his people employed doing the meaningful work that he provides them.
About our guest:
Billy Jacobs received a Bachelor of Arts in History from Boston University. The New Haven, Connecticut native has called Chicago home since 1983.
EPISODE DATE: March 20, 2020
Social media:
Piece Website
Piece Instagram Feed
Past episodes:
Give Piece a Chance (Part 1)
Give Piece a Chance (Part 2)
Photo credits: Pizza Delivery Dude, Piece Pizzeria & Brewery; Billy Jacobs portrait, Billy Jacobs.
It is a monumental task to feed needy kids during pandemic lockdowns and disruptions.
About this episode:
Adelle Settle is the founder of Settle the Debt, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Through Settle the Debt, Adelle does meaningful work in ensuring that kids in-need get healthy meals at their public schools. She updates us on the success her organization has enjoyed in paying off thousands of dollars in accumulated student lunch debt at public schools in her Northern Virginia community. We also talk about the fast spreading COVID-19 Coronavirus, and plans to make sure that kids who rely on school-served meals get fed, even if their schools suddenly close. During this podcast episode we discuss:
Settle the Debt's big fundraise which helped pay off school lunch debt for hundreds of children. Starts at 2:39 New laws in Virginia which make sure that kids-in-need get healthy meals at school. Starts at 4:00 How children who depend on school-served meals will get fed if COVID-19 Coronavirus shuts down schools. Starts at 7:30 The organization's future plans. Starts at 13:37
About our guest:
Adelle Settle received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Albion College, and a Juris Doctorate from George Mason University. She and her family live in Prince William County, Virginia.
EPISODE DATE: March 12, 2020
Social Media:
Website
– Make a Donation
Photo credits: Mask-wearing child with laptop, MarsYu for iStock Photo; Adelle Settle and Dan Smolen at school building (11/2019), Adelle Settle
CORRECTION: In this interview, White House Cabinet member Sonny Purdue was incorrectly described as the Secretary of Health and Human Services. In fact, Mr. Purdue is the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA).
A career coach guides sidelined people to meaningful work.
"In 2009, I really believe that's when work changed. I remember I had to find the self-motivation to be productive and to move myself forward and find some type of purpose."
- Natalie Pryce, Career Coach About this episode:
A self-described introvert and computer geek, Natalie Pryce struggled in grade school and knows first-hand what it is like to have a major career disruption. Yet, Natalie, who is wickedly smart, has never defined herself by her personality type or her past professional setbacks; instead, she channels her own bravery to empower vulnerable people—especially older, out-of-work professionals—find and do meaningful work. Natalie gets them grounded, focused, restored to self-confidence, and earning a paycheck.
A career coach guides sidelined people. Astoundingly, over 90 percent of her clients find new jobs and re-start their careers.
In this podcast episode, Natalie, describes:
Her childhood work-dreams. Starts at 2:51 Breakthrough moments in college. Starts at 7:50 The work done, and value proposition of, Pryceless Consulting. Starts at 25:01 The critical need for ongoing professional development. Starts at 42:58 How she thinks future of work may be more meaningful. Starts at 48:28
About our guest:
Natalie Pryce received a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Public Relations from Central Connecticut State University. She is a successful entrepreneur and TEDx Speaker who uses her skill, resources, and thought-leadership to help local businesses grow and people thrive. Natalie lives and works in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
EPISODE DATE: March 6, 2020
Social media:
Linked In
Pryceless Consulting Website
Tedx Talk - Future of Work
Image credits: Sidelined workers, iStock Photo; Portrait, Olivier Kpognon.
Will there be clean energy jobs in 2020?
About this episode:
It may come as quite a surprise to some that, in 2020, one of the fastest growing sectors in the American workforce happens to be the clean energy space: think solar, wind, geothermal, energy storage (batteries), hybrid and electric vehicles, and, energy efficiency as some of the big drivers in the scale-up.
Currently, 3.3 million American workers are actively employed in meaningful work doing clean energy jobs.
To learn more about this exciting development, we spoke with Bob Keefe. He is the Executive Director of Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2), a nonprofit that helps build economic and employment opportunities across the clean energy space.
In this episode, Bob describes:
E2's mission and his role in driving its success. Starts at 5:24 How many, and what types of, clean energy jobs already exist in the United States. Starts at 7:04 The job growth value frames that E2 provides to elected officials. Starts at 11:24 Clean energy's surprising appeal in Red States. Starts at 15:32 Workforce training requirements for clean energy jobs. Starts at 24:22 Ways people may explore clean energy careers. Starts at 33:20 E2's parent NRDC and its famous new CEO. Starts at 35:28
In the news:
Dan headlines the alarming drop in American workforce participation (now at 63.4 percent) and the added threat to workers from robots and AI.
About our guest:
Bob Keefe enjoyed a successful career in print journalism before entering the advocacy space. Earning a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from UNC Chapel Hill, he worked as a correspondent for Cox Newspapers and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Bob joined the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) as Press Secretary in 2011; in 2014, he became Executive Director of NRDC affiliate, Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2). Bob lives and works in Southern California.
EPISODE DATE: February 28, 2020
Social media:
E2 website
- Clean Energy Jobs Reports
Image credits: Wind turbine technician, iStock Photo; Bob Keefe portrait, E2.
Does smart transportation of the future include autonomous vehicles in urban areas?
About this Episode:
Dr. Richard Ezike is leading the charge for American Transportation Equity, to make the full range of mobility options—and, in particular, Autonomous Vehicles or AVs—as readily available for inner-city residents as they are for people in our more affluent suburbs. He believes that AVs will provide safer and more accessible mobility, and may greatly improve the lives of inner-city residents who otherwise are deprived of quality transportation.
During these key interview segments, Richard covers autonomous vehicles in urban areas. He:
Defines the term “Autonomous Vehicle.” Starts at 5:09 Offers his insight as to whether people of color will accept AVs as a transportation equity option. Starts at 10:19 Addresses the national security and “hackability” concerns related to the development of AVs. Starts at 14:22 Offers his thoughts on how, 30 years from now, AVs may revitalize historically poor and underserved communities such as Southeast Washington, D.C. Starts at 26:58
About our guest: Dr. Richard Ezike received a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from North Carolina State University and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan. Currently, he is a Senior Policy Associate, Innovation for Inclusion at The Urban Institute in Washington, D.C. Dr. Ezike is a frequent events speaker and podcast guest in the areas of transportation equity, resource sustainability, social responsibility, STEAM learning, careerism, and the environment.
EPISODE DATE: February 21, 2020
Published work:
Transportation, Sustainability, and Equity and the Effect on the African-American Community, Published October 20, 2016
Transportation, Environment and Health: Inexorably Linked for Black People, Washington Informer, Published September 7, 2016
Can Transportation be a Bridge to Wealth for African Americans?, Published May 10, 2016
Social media:
Richard Ezike, Ph.D. Website
LinkedIn Page
Photo credits: Autonomous Vehicles in Urban Areas, iStock Photo; Photographic Portrait, Richard Ezike, PhD.
The future of work doing meaningful work includes pursuing truly epic experiences.
About this episode:
Pew Research finds that the American Dream many in the workforce experienced as upward mobility is long gone; it was replaced by a soberer pursuit of economic stability. As a result, we now fill our homes and storage bins with less stuff. More of us, and especially Millennials, instead pursue less stuff and more profound meaning and experience.
There are few industries where that shift to experience is more evident than in the travel and hospitality space.
Eva Grodberg is a lifelong lover of international travel and an entrepreneur who delivers epic vacation travel and leisure experiences to her discriminating clients who are pursuing truly epic experiences.
In these key interview segments, Eva:
Relates how we may make the most of a life with less stuff and more experience. Starts at 6:30 Describes how the dynamic aspect of the pursuit of experience gets factored in to the work that she does. Starts at 16:53 Speaks to how “adrenaline junkies” escape the rush of work when on vacation. Starts at 18:31 Dreams of an epic experience she would like to have. Starts at 19:55
In the news:
Fifty-five percent of people on the job don't use all of their earned vacation time. And the reason may be FOMO, or, a fear of missing out. We discover how skipping vacation time can prove harmful to health and work performance.
About our guest:
Eva Grodberg is the Founder and President of Epic Experiences, LLC. She is a graduate of the Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York, and, lives and works in New York City.
EPISODE DATE: February 14, 2020
Social media:
Epic Experience Website
- Newsletter
Image credits: Woman kayaking in Norway, iStock Photo; Portrait of Eva Grodberg, Karl Grobl.
Two headhunters on executive recruiting, and the rewarding experience of helping people connect with work and career. About this episode with two headhunters on executive recruiting: Listeners of The Tightrope Podcast know that Dan Smolen successfully managed a 20-year run in executive recruiting—a career act that happened because of our guest, Victoria James. She is the founder and president of Victoria James Executive Search, a nationally recognized and respected recruitment firm that places top executives in the digital marketing services space.
Before she became a headhunter, Victoria enjoyed a successful sales and management career supporting major marketing services companies.
Also:
Dan describes reading, and listening to on Audible, Disney CEO Bob Iger's inspiring new biography, The Ride of a Lifetime.
About our guest:
A native of Newark, New Jersey, Victoria James earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Bloomfield College and an MBA from Baruch College's Zicklin School of Business. She and her company are based in South Kent, Connecticut.
EPISODE DATE: February 7, 2020
Social Media:
-
Facebook
-
LinkedIn
-
Twitter
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Victoria James Executive Search Website
-
Featured Blog Post: Tackling the Work from Home Dilemma (Again) Please Subscribe to the podcast on:
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…or wherever you get your podcasts. You may also click HERE to receive our podcast episodes by email. Image credits: Seated job-seeker, iStock Photo, Portrait, Victoria James.
With Nicole Rousseau, we discuss how to instill nurturing workforce culture.
About this episode:
Nicole Rousseau has made it her mission to help people in the workplace thrive. During a Fall 2019 appearance on The Tightrope Podcast, Nicole described how she helps people and hiring managers work effectively and happily to scale revenues, but also to make the work that they do more meaningful. She has been so particularly effective in her work that clients dubbed her the Queen of the Millennials—it is a hat-tip to her uncanny ability to empower members of the American workforce’s largest cohort. Without hesitation, she took that title and proudly made it her professional brand.
Instilling a Nurturing Workforce Culture
Nicole returns to The Tightrope Podcast to discuss the role of nurturing in the workplace; hiring managers, she says, must look beyond their revenue targets to fulfill the emotional needs of their workplace talent. We spoke in January 2020, over Skype, from her family home in Western Massachusetts.
In the news:
Reflecting on a difficult week in the news that included the sudden passing of Kobe Bryant, we discuss deliberately pursuing second-act careers to do well, but also to do good for the world, our neighbors, and lots of people that we may never meet.
About our guest:
As a kid growing up in the Berkshires, Nicole Rousseau dreamed about helping people and her community. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Smith College, an MBA from New York University’s Leonard N. Stern School of Business, and Professional Coaching certification from Columbia University. Nicole splits her time between New York City and Pittsfield, Massachusetts
EPISODE DATE: January 31, 2020
Social Media:
Queen of the Millennials Website
Coachable Solutions Website
Instagram Page
LinkedIn Page
Photo credits: Two people embracing, FGTrade/iStock Photo; Portrait, Nicole Rousseau.
One thought-leader is guiding entrepreneurs to conscious leadership.
In this episode:
Jake Mitchell, the founder of consultancy Serenity Labs, says that impact entrepreneurs tend to give all of their energy towards making a positive difference in the world, among people, and their communities. But, he also asks: how can those same impact entrepreneurs change the world for the better when they are totally drained? Guiding entrepreneurs to conscious leadership is Jake Mitchell's mission. It’s an important question—one that Jake is not letting go unaddressed. He works with people to help them to achieve goals that go well beyond building revenue scale to mindful pursuits. And among those goals: to carve out considerable time during the day to escape work and do something joyful.
For Jake, joyfulness comes from the precious time he spends with his girlfriend and playing Disc Golf.
To extend his considerable thought-leadership, Jake speaks to a global audience as host of The Conscious Leader Podcast. Each week, he interviews a wide range of thought-leaders—in business, academia, and the healing arts—who serve humanity.
About our guest:
As a young child, Jake Mitchell thought that he would become a professional baseball player. But, it was when he dreamt at night that he pondered the meaning of the universe. Jake earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Skidmore College. In the years after graduation, he became a New York-based film producer. Then, he relocated to Boulder, Colorado where he brings the same deep well of creativity and passion to his work guiding and empowering impact entrepreneurs.
EPISODE DATE: January 24, 2020
Social Media:
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Serenity Labs Website
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The Conscious Leader Podcast
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Instagram Page
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LinkedIn Page
Image credits: Water droplet, iStock Photo; Upside Down, Voyage Denver; Jake Mitchell Portrait, Serenity Labs.
We explore a Londoner's work in recruiting and radio.
About this episode:
We go across-the-pond to chat with Russell White, a London-based executive recruiter who doubles as a radio host representing 1970s-era Disco music. Russ recounts his considerable success placing professional talent in executive roles in United Kingdom and European Union companies, and, offers his surprisingly positive post-Brexit outlook for people seeking work.
But, it is during evening hours behind a radio station microphone where he truly discovers the meaningful work of his dreams.
In a Londoner works in recruiting and radio, Russell discusses:
Executive recruitment in the UK and EU including the anticipated effect of Brexit. Starts at 5:43 Being "Retro Russ" on Delite Radio. Starts at 35:26 His thoughts on doing meaningful work. Starts at 49:10
In the News:
Mid-January 2020 marked an epochal moment in American labor history as women became the majority of the active workforce. While their newfound majority will create some positive market-driven dynamics, we believe that women still need the protection of new state and federal laws too fully achieve income equality and proper family leave benefits.
About our guest:
Russell White and Dan Smolen in Central London, December 2018.
Russell White is a veteran executive recruiter and the managing partner of London-based Premier Consultants which places people in a variety of senior-level marketing job assignments. Also, he is known around the globe as "Retro Russ," presenting 1970s Disco music on Delite Radio. Russell earned a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Business Studies from Middlesex University. He lives and works in London, England.
EPISODE DATE: January 17, 2020
Social Media:
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Premier Consultants
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Delite Radio
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Discolicious on Delite Radio with Retro Russ
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Facebook
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Instagram
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Twitter
Media credits: Turntable, iStock Photo; Russell White and Dan Smolen in Central London 12/2018, Dan Smolen; Air checks 01/2020, Discolicious on Delite Radio with Retro Russ.
Adrienne Schoch discusses how to apply science and empathy for work.
About this episode:
If you are committed to finding meaningful work in the new year, then we urge you to consider an internship. We discuss why they are not just for career-focused college students; internships help mid-career professionals to seek meaningful work.
Also in this "between the seasons" episode, we meet Adrienne Shoch of 5 to 1 Consulting who describes steps needed to apply science and empathy for work. She is an industry recognized expert on neuro-centricity. Major corporations and organizations hire Adrienne to ensure that their people work efficiently, but also in a way that fosters their mutual support and respect. We also discuss empathetic recruiting, how it helps people to find meaningful work, and changes how they get hired.
About our guest:
Adrienne Shoch is the founder of 5 to 1 Consulting. She received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Towson University and studied at University of Paris – Sorbonne, and, the Neuroleadership Institute. Adrienne lives and works in Washington, D.C.
EPISODE DATE: January 10, 2020
Adrienne's social media:
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5 to 1 Consulting Website
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Adrienne Shoch LinkedIn Page
The GREEN Program:
- Learn More About the GREEN Program
Photo credits: Conference Room, iStock Photo; Adrienne Shoch Portrait, 5 to 1 Consulting.
A discussion of how we went about designing the user experience for DanSmolen.com with Gresham Harkless, Jr.
About this episode:
In the first of our "between the seasons" episodes, we ring in 2020 with New Year's resolutions—particularly the ones in which people set out to find a new job. According to an Inc. Magazine survey, 16 percent or nearly 53 million of us will seek a new job this year. It surprises us that the number is not higher; the Gallup Organization reports that 66 percent, or 145 million American workers, find work to be, to some degree, meaningless. Designing the user experience for future of work and meaningful work thought-leadership. Also in this episode we meet Gresham Harkless, Jr. of Blue16 Media. Along with our Tightrope Podcast co-producer Carla A. Fleming, Gresh completely reimagined the DanSmolen.com website to provide our followers a phenomenal user experience, to fully explore all of our content: podcast episodes, blog posts, and work-related thought-leadership. Most important, Gresh takes us through the critical design thinking that went into launching the new DanSmolen.com site.
About our guest:
Gresham Harkless, Jr. creates dazzling multimedia presences for his Blue16 Media clients. He also produces and hosts the I AM CEO and CB Nation podcasts. Gresh is a native of the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C. where, as a kid, he built his own kit computers, He received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from Howard University, and a Masters of Science in Sports Management from George Washington University.
EPISODE DATE: January 3, 2020
Social Media:
Blue16 Media Website
CB Nation
I AM CEO Podcast
Progreshion Website
Photo credits: User experience development, iStock Photo; Portrait, Gresham Harkless, Jr.
Settle the debt: school lunch debt relief non-profit provides attorney meaningful ork
About this episode: "In 2017, I was just driving down the street and I heard this interview on NPR and it was about this child in New Mexico who had gone to get a school lunch. And he walked up to the cash register with his meal in his hands, and it turned out that he didn't have enough money in his account to pay for the lunch. So, the lunch lady took the meal out of his hands and threw it in the trash right in front of him, and, gave him an alternative meal like a cold cheese sandwich instead of the healthy meal—one that had already been served that they couldn't give to anybody else. And instead of letting that child eat that meal, they threw it away. And they did it in front of him. You know, of course, that the child is going to be traumatized by that."
-Adelle Settle, Founder of Settle The Debt She already does meaningful work as an attorney for a federal government agency.
But as mom to an elementary school-aged child in Virginia’s second-largest school system, Adelle Settle discovered that thousands of kids in her community often go hungry, because they, their parents, or caregivers cannot afford to re-pay their outstanding student lunch debt.
Adelle could not sit idly by; she founded Settle the Debt, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that pays off the unpaid school lunch accounts in her community.
In this episode, Adelle describes:
How, as a very young child, she developed a strong social conscience [starts at 2:27] The mission of Settle the Debt [starts at 19:57] What happens to a student who lacks proper nutrition [starts at 27:19] Her work with elected officials to pass "anti-food shaming" legislation [starts at 34:36]
About our guest:
Settle the Debt founder Adelle Settle and host of The Tightrope Podcast Dan Smolen
Adelle Settle is a Senior Attorney Analyst with the Social Security Administration in Washington, D.C. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Albion College, and a Juris Doctorate from George Mason University. Adelle and her family live in Prince William County, Virginia.
EPISODE DATE: December 27, 2019
Social Media:
Website
- Make a Donation
Photo credits: Child with school lunch, iStock Photo; In front of school building, Adelle Settle; Adelle Settle and Dan Smolen at school building (11/2019), Adelle Settle
Bravery Part 2, an episode about the superpower that people need.
About this episode: “When you heard the process that they went through to get there, it was painful and it was my process, too. It’s like putting aside everything you’ve ever been taught and saying: I’m really good at this. And, it all came down really to the biggest problem people have which is self-doubt.”
- Public relations executive Aimee Stern By all measures, she was successful in ways that mattered most in the professional world: her business portfolio was profitable and scaling.
But Aimee Stern discovered that her work, while effective in its strategy and execution, was done for people that she didn’t always respect. Aimee lamented that her focus was directed to [not messing up], rather than to making her work meaningful.
As a single mother of two kids, she couldn’t just “blow up” her career to do something else. But Aimee made a bargain with herself, to continue to scale her PR practice, but do it on her own terms.
And, that’s when Aimee Stern channeled bravery to do good and do well in her professional career.
In Bravery Part 2 episode of the podcast, Aimee describes:
The first act of bravery [starts at 2:30] Why many people are not brave [starts at 4:40] How GenZ, a generation exposed to existential crises, is our bravest cohort [starts at 9:57] The impact of bravery on a meaningful work career [starts at 17:48]
About our guest:
Aimee Stern is the Chief Bravery Officer of Brave NOW PR based in Washington, D.C. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Education from the State University of New York Oswego.
EPISODE DATE: December 20, 2019
Social media:
Brave NOW PR Website
Brave NOW Courageous Content Website
Image credits: Brave young woman, iStockPhoto; Portrait, Aimee Stern
Bravery Part 1: the superpower people need to do meaningful work.
About this episode: “When you are 26-years-old and being thrown into boardrooms to interview the CEO of Pepsi and General Foods and places like that, you really have to learn how to talk to people and to be a little differential, but still to be yourself. Otherwise, [they] won’t tell you anything.”
- Public relations executive Aimee Stern By all measures, she was successful in ways that mattered most in the professional world: her business portfolio was profitable and scaling.
But Aimee Stern discovered that her work, while effective in its strategy and execution, was done for people that she didn’t always respect. Aimee lamented that her focus was directed to [not messing up], rather than to making her work meaningful.
As a single mother of two kids, she couldn’t just “blow up” her career to do something else. But Aimee made a bargain with herself, to continue to scale her PR practice, but do it on her own terms.
And, that’s when Aimee Stern channeled bravery to do good and do well in her professional career.
In the podcast episode Bravery Part 1, Aimee describes:
A childhood informed by fear and the loss of her mom [starts at 2:34] Developing a social conscience [starts at 5:19] The importance of writing in her life [starts at 10:40] Her first job in advertising and dealing with sexual harassment [starts at 14:07] An act of bravery that changed her career for the better [starts at 22:26]
About our guest:
Aimee Stern is the Chief Bravery Officer of Brave NOW PR based in Washington, D.C. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Education from the State University of New York Oswego.
EPISODE DATE: December 13, 2019
Social media:
Brave NOW PR Website
Brave NOW Courageous Content Website
Image credits: Child in a cape, iStockPhoto; Portrait, Aimee Stern
Courtroom to Screening Room: A Lawyer Finds Purpose as a Filmmaker
About this episode: "Let me say it, again. Matt Weiss, a traffic lawyer from New York with no experience whatsoever, got to direct an Oscar winning actress. I mean, how cool is that?"
- Attorney and Filmmaker Matthew Weiss Matthew Weiss is a successful attorney and a restless dreamer. He built a formidable New York City-based private law practice that helps thousands of people. And yet, he yearned for greater purpose in his life and career.
A chance meeting with the father of a fallen 9/11 hero would radically change Matthew's life and unexpectedly pivot his career in a new and meaningful direction as a filmmaker.
Matthew’s debut film, the documentary called Man in Red Bandana, memorializes the life of Welles Crowther, a 24-year-old equities trader who worked in the World Trade Center. On September 11, 2001, as the Twin Towers burned, Welles escorted at least 10 people to safety before losing his own life when the South Tower he was in collapsed. Man in Red Bandana debuted in September 2017 and won critical acclaim.
Soon after, he co-produced his first feature film, Vault, which stars Chazz Palminteri and Don Johnson. The movie recalls the true story of one of the largest heists in American history.
In this episode, Courtroom to Screening Room. Matthew describes his:
Childhood dreams of work and early entrepreneurial experiences [starts at 2:30] Success building one of the largest traffic law practices in New York [starts at 8:10] Chance encounter with the father of fallen 9/11 hero Welles Crowther that led him to produce the documentary, Man in Red Bandana [starts at 20:37] Second project, the feature film Vault [starts at 39:00] Work as a film producer [starts at 42:10]
About our guest:
Matthew Weiss grew up in New York City's Long Island suburbs. While he dreamed of becoming an entrepreneur, his early career led him to the law and founding the New York City-based firm Weiss & Associates, PC, and, the 888-Red-Light traffic law brand. He is CEO and executive producer at RDZ, a film production company. Matthew earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Philosophy from Brandeis University and a Juris Doctorate (Law) Degree from Hofstra University. He and his family live in South Florida.
EPISODE DATE: December 6, 2019
Social Media:
Facebook - Man in Red Bandana
IMDB Page
LinkedIn Page
Man in Red Bandana - Trailer
Vault - Trailer
TED Talk
Media credits: Matthew Weiss at editing station, Matthew Weiss; Portrait, New York Times; Man in Red Bandana poster, RDZ Productions; Man in Red Bandana Trailer, RDZ Productions; Vault Trailer, RDZ Productions.
As Coach MD, Charles Glassman is a doctor on a meaningful work mission
About this episode: I told my [high school] advisor that I was thinking of going into medicine. Well, he kind of paused as he said: ‘Look, medicine is a really tough field. Maybe you ought to think of something different?’ And when he said that, that made me decide—no matter what—I WAS GOING TO DO IT.”
– Charles Glassman, MD With grit and determination, Charles Glassman, MD has achieved success as a gifted physician, published author, and globally recognized thought-leader in the study of wellness. Charles Glassman, MD: a doctor on a meaningful work mission In a portion of this episode, originally streamed on The Tightrope in September 2019, Dr. Glassman:
Takes us back to high school and the experience he had with that skeptical guidance counselor [starts at 5:12] Describes his nerve-racking decision to ditch the traditional fee-for-service patient care arrangement [starts at 10:16] Provides insight on what truly makes people sick [starts at 20:26] Discusses the importance of meaningfulness and the pursuit of meaningful work [starts at 28:16] Reveals his exciting new work chapter [starts at 40:43]
About our guest: From the time of his youth, Charles Glassman discovered that close friends sought and appreciated his advice. As a board-certified internal medicine doctor, and now as a well-recognized author and thought-leader, he finds his greatest purpose in empowering thousands of people around the globe to seek better health outcomes and more meaningful lives.
On November 22, 2019, he retired from his concierge medical practice to pursue new and exciting career opportunities.
Charles Glassman received a Bachelor of Science degree from Hobart and William Smith Colleges and his M.D. from New York Medical College.
EPISODE DATE: November 29, 2019
Dr. Glassman’s books include:
Brain Drain: The Breakthrough that will Change Your Life (Amazon.com)
Fake News Stories by Your Brain (FREE E-Book)
Dr. Glassman’s social media:
Coach MD Website
Coach MD YouTube Channel
Coach MD Facebook Page
Coach MD Twitter Page
Photo credits: Stethoscope, iStock Photo; Portrait, Charles Glassman, MD
Bridgeport: City Strives for Meaningful Work.
About this episode: "We are in a global race for innovation, and, if we do not prepare—and we can't wait for kids to graduate high school and college—we need that work now."
- Career coach and entrepreneur Natalie Pryce The city of Bridgeport—the second largest in the state of Connecticut—was once an industrial powerhouse. Fueled by New Deal-era federal investment, Bridgeport became home to companies that supported our armed forces during World War II. After the war, and through the mid-1960s, Bridgeport needed so much skilled labor that people arrived from across the U.S. and Puerto Rico to live and work there.
But, in the 1970s, Bridgeport fell into despair. Companies left town and took most of the skilled jobs with them. Whole blocks of the city’s industrial center closed down and high unemployment followed. And, adding insult to injury, Bridgeport lost a thriving downtown where new businesses could start up and restaurants and other attractions could drive a civic renaissance. Bridgeport: City Strives for Meaningful Work In their book, Healing American Democracy: Going Local, authors Mike Hais, Doug Ross, and Morley Winograd describe how constitutional localism is moving decision-making and governing authority away from Washington to our cities. The result? Our localities are beginning to thrive, businesses are succeeding where—for decades—they had previously failed. Best of all, cities and small communities are becoming places where people want to live and do meaningful work. In a segment not previously streamed on The Tightrope podcast, Doug and Morley describe how Bridgeport is one of many American cities that is going local to again make it an attractive place to live and work.
We also meet a young entrepreneur who has her own take on Bridgeport’s efforts at driving localism. Career counselor and business owner Natalie Pryce describes some of the challenges the city continues to face for it to again be a thriving and scaling business and residential community.
In this podcast episode:
Doug and Morley describe Bridgeport's steps at achieving localism [starts at 3:15] Natalie offers her sobering perspective on Bridgeport's localism efforts [starts at 9:30]
About our guests:
Doug Ross and Morley Winograd are nationally known and respected political practitioners who cross solid data and wishful thinking to paint a hopeful portrait of America based on the idea of constitutional localism.
Ross was a state senator from Michigan and a U.S. Assistant Secretary of Labor under President Bill Clinton. Winograd was a Michigan state political party chair and White House Senior Policy Advisor to Vice President Al Gore. Along with their co-author Mike Hais, they’ve written six books between them.
The authors have appeared as guests on CNN, The Today Show, PBS News Hour, and Univision. They have also been featured in stories in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, USA Today, and The Christian Science Monitor.
Natalie Pryce is a self-described introvert who by her own admission did not fair well in grade school. Yet, she learned grit by playing outdoor sports with the boys is her neighborhood, and, early computer coding with her brother. She fought against all of the obstacles of her youth to become a bold and engaging TedX speaker, a trailblazing entrepreneur, and a passionate career coach who successfully reengages downsized work professionals, at a rate exceeding 90 percent. Natalie received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Central Connecticut State University. She lives and works in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
EPISODE DATE: November 22, 2019
Doug and Morley' social media:
Healing American Democracy: Going Local
Book website
Natalie's social media:
Website
LinkedIn page
Photo credits: Community, City of Bridgeport, Connecticut; Bridgeport downtown, iStockPhoto; Natalie Pryce Portrait,
Queen of the Millennials: One Leadership Coach's Passion for Gen Y Empowers America's Intergenerational Workforce
About this episode: "At the end of the first group that I had, we were wrapping up and we're saying goodbye. One of them said, 'you're the only one who likes us, no one in the company likes us ... you are like the Queen of the Millennials!' And I was like—DING!!!—and I went on GoDaddy and got that URL!"
- Leadership Coach Nicole Rousseau Nicole Rousseau is not a Millennial. And yet the "Queen of the Millennials," as she is known within the leadership coaching ranks, is successfully empowering people from all demographic cohorts to learn from and embrace the generation that now comprises the largest part of the American workforce.
A former corporate executive with deep experience in leadership and training, Nicole’s current mission is to help management in companies successfully harness their Millennial workers’ buoyant energy and collaborative working style, for those companies that channel Millennials' skills and perspectives well will succeed while others that don’t will be left in the dust heap of change.
In this episode, Nicole discusses:
Her childhood dreams of doing meaningful work [starts at 3:35] Her pivot into corporate sustainability and overcoming a fear of public speaking [starts at 16:55] Experiencing layoffs and how that actually changed her life for the better [starts at 23:36] Becoming the Queen of the Millennials and how she helps multigenerational companies thrive [starts at 27:22] How Millennials have changed work [starts at 38:11] What makes the work that she does meaningful [starts at 42:52] Her deep interest in Localism and the Maker Movement [starts at 45:19] Her thoughts on the future of work [starts at 51:15]
About our guest: As a kid growing up in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts, Nicole Rousseau dreamed about doing work that helped people and community. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Smith College, an MBA from New York University's Leonard N. Stern School of Business, and Professional Coaching certification from Columbia University. Nicole splits her time between New York City and Pittsfield, Massachusetts.
EPISODE DATE: November 15, 2019
Social media:
Queen of the Millennials Website
Coachable Solutions Website
Instagram Page
LinkedIn Page
Photo credits: Crown, iStock Photo; Portrait, Nicole Rousseau; Millennials at Work, iStock Photo.
Stand Up: Comedy Connects Veterans to Beautiful Dreams and Meaningful Work
About this episode: "It was very interesting to come into a fully formed class that has a clear way of getting you from 'you think that you are funny?' to 'how does that translate on stage for five minutes?'"
- US Army veteran and ASAP comedian Monica Daly Typical hard-working Americans often do work that becomes devoid of meaning...and good humor. According to the Gallup Organization, 66 percent of the American workforce is not engaged at work: their jobs and management structures change often; work that they do becomes directionless; assignment objectives are vague, and; their workplaces turn toxic causing some people in them to suffer mental, emotional, and physical illness.
Consider that last impact. Can you imagine how difficult the quest for meaningful work must be for active military service members, veterans, military families, and caregivers?
That is why the Armed Services Arts Partnership or ASAP is such a game-changer. This nonprofit organization based in the Washington, DC area uses the arts—and in particular stand up comedy—to empower people to connect with beautiful dreams and meaningful work.
ASAP cultivates community and growth among veterans, service members, military families, and caregivers through the arts. But their real impact is in liberating people from fear, pain, and loss, to get them to a place of joy and empowerment. People who have benefitted from ASAP training and programming use their newfound creativity to confidently express themselves and their purpose, and find greater success and happiness in life and work. ASAP programming is available in the Washington DC metropolitan area as well as in Hampton Roads, Virginia.
To learn more, we sat down with executive director Brian Jenkins at ASAP’s headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia. We also meet with Monica Daly who, along with other veterans, performed a five-minute stand-up comedy set before a live audience at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, Virginia.
During this episode, you will discover:
Comedian and US Army veteran Dewayne White [starting at 0:01] What the Armed Services Arts Partnership is about [starting at 2:41] Comedian Monica Daly's take on ASAP and the benefits that it provides her [starts at 7:22] Important research study insight that demonstrates ASAP's benefits [starts at 15:22] What participants may expect during their stand-up comedy training program [starts at 18:22] Comedian and US Coast Guard member Noah Miller [starts at 22:28] Brian Jenkins' earliest work dreams and his introduction to ASAP [starts at 23:37] Comedian and US Army veteran Claudia Arceo [starts at 29:28] Comedian and US Air Force veteran Vinny Lombardi [starts at 30:33]
About our guests:
ASAP Executive Director Brian Jenkins
Brian Jenkins received a Bachelor of Arts degree in religious studies from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. His life path, which aligned with community building and social responsibility, prepared him well to be the Executive Director of the Armed Services Arts Partnership. Brian lives in Northern Virginia.
Monica Daly grew up in the Washington, DC suburbs of Northern Virginia and is a US Army veteran. A member of the federal government workforce, she is settling into a new assignment based in Indianapolis, Indiana. Before agreeing to relocate to Indianapolis, Monica made sure that there were plenty of comedy clubs for her to play.
EPISODE DATE: November 8, 2019
Social media:
ASAP website
Photo credits: Microphone and crowd, iStock Photo; Monica Daly doing stand up, Marsha D. Weiss; Brian Jenkins portrait, Armed Services Arts Partnership.
To B or Not to B: A Nature Lover Turns Businesses into Benefit-Driven Brands
About this episode: "[They've got some stuff] that makes good headlines on sustainability, but it is not moving many at all on the speed of urgency."
- Jen Boyton, regarding her decision to "break up" with Amazon.com As a young child growing up in rustic New Hampshire, Jen Boynton discovered the joys of nature. Play for her and her siblings was dirty, lots of sticks and stones...and mud.
In 2007, she helped to launch and scale Triple Pundit which grew to become one of largest sources of news and information in the sustainability and social responsibility sectors.
Then in 2018, after exiting Triple Pundit, she founded BTargetedMarketing, a marketing services company based in San Diego that maximizes the localistic impacts of for-profit and non-profit brands and the people who work for them.
In this podcast episode, you will discover her:
Early childhood work dreams [starts at 3:00] Unconventional schooling experience [starts at 5:44] Pivot into the business world [starts at 18:49] Business philosophy for BTargetedMarketing [starts at 23:54] Breakup with Amazon [starts at 30:04]
About our Guest
From early on, Jen Boynton's life path aligned with nature and community. And family dinner table conversations revolved around current events and politics. Jen's passion for the natural world and social responsibility continues to this day through her innovative business, BTargetedMarketing.
Jen received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Pitzer College and an MBA in Sustainable Management from the Presidio School of Management. She and her family live in San Diego, California.
EPISODE DATE: November 1, 2019
Published work:
Why I'm Breaking Up with Amazon
Social media:
Website
Twitter Page
Photo credits: Green Cityscape, iStock Photo; Photographic Portrait, Jen Boynton
Emotional Intelligence: How EQ Helps People to Succeed in Meaningful Work Part 2
About this episode: "How often do you know people who take the time to actively pay attention to what they are feeling, identify the source of their feelings, and, take the time to think about how that affects other people?"
-Emotional Intelligence Expert Edythe Richards Most everyone knows what IQ means—it’s the intelligence quotient, a score derived from several standardized tests to measure a person’s intelligence. An average IQ score might be around 100, whereas the score of a genius-level person might exceed 150. But, few people in the world know what EQ means—that is the quotient of emotional intelligence, which measures our ability to be aware of, control, and express emotion, and, to handle interpersonal relationships judicially and empathically.
In this second part of a two-part podcast episode, we continue our conversation with Edythe Richards. She is the founder and executive coach at A Top Career and a subject-level expert on Emotional Intelligence. Edythe helps us dig into the practical applications of EQ, especially how we can use it to make our work and workplace experiences positive and meaningful.
Important discussion points:
Do Millennials relate well to EQ involvements? [starts at 2:11] How does EQ relate to Meaningful Work? [starts at 7:40] Why is EQ critical for a career change? [starts at 13:57] What has the use of personal technology done to EQ? [starts at 20:51] Can EQ help workers who are on the Autism spectrum? [starts at 22:14] What is the future of EQ? [starts at 24:12]
About our guest: When she was a child, growing up on a farm in Delaware, Edythe Richards dreamed about being a singer. “It wasn’t just the music, or the pitch, or whatever was playing on the radio,” she recalls. “More than anything, for me being a singer was about performing in front of an audience. I loved making others feel good and bringing them joy.”
Richards never rode her childhood dreams of singing into a performing arts career. But, she leveraged her love of public speaking and passion for empowering others as a professional career counselor, a Master Practitioner in Myers-Briggs Type Indicator assessment, and, a subject-matter expert in the field of Emotional Intelligence.
Edythe Richards received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Delaware and a Masters of Arts degree in Counseling from Seton Hall University. Her nationally recognized career counseling consultancy, A Top Career, is headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia.
EPISODE DATE: October 25, 2019
Previous guest appearance:
Discovering Yourself: ‘Knowing Your Myers-Briggs Type’ Opens Gateways to Meaningful Work
Published work:
Myers-Briggs Myths and Misuse
Social media:
A Top Career Website
A Top Career Facebook Page
MBTI Question Corner Podcast
LinkedIn Page
Photo credits: Emotional Intelligence at Work, iStock Photo; Photographic Portrait, Edythe Richards
Emotional Intelligence Part 1: How EQ Helps People to Succeed in Meaningful Work
About this episode: "Every reveal, so to speak, is unique and everybody's results are unique. So, before [they even get their] results back, I think it is really important to provide an understanding of what Emotional Intelligence is."
-Emotional Intelligence Expert Edythe Richards Most everyone knows what IQ means—it’s the intelligence quotient, a score derived from several standardized tests to measure a person’s intelligence. An average IQ score might be around 100, whereas the score of a genius-level person might exceed 150. But, few people in the world know what EQ means—that is the quotient of emotional intelligence, which measures our ability to be aware of, control, and express emotion, and, to handle interpersonal relationships judicially and empathically.
In Emotional Intelligence part 1 of a two-part episode, we welcome back Edythe Richards. She is the founder and executive coach at A Top Career and a subject-level expert on Emotional Intelligence. Edythe helps us to take on emotional intelligence to learn what it is, why it is important, and how we can use it to make our work and workplace experiences positive and meaningful.
Important discussion points:
What is EQ? [starts at 2:39] How does EQ differ from IQ? [starts at 5:57] Edythe reviews Dan's EQ assessment [starts at 7:48] How do her clients turn the "shock" of revealed results into positive action? [starts at 24:59]
About our guest: When she was a child, growing up on a farm in Delaware, Edythe Richards dreamed about being a singer. “It wasn’t just the music, or the pitch, or whatever was playing on the radio,” she recalls. “More than anything, for me being a singer was about performing in front of an audience. I loved making others feel good and bringing them joy.”
Richards never rode her childhood dreams of singing into a performing arts career. But, she leveraged her love of public speaking and passion for empowering others as a professional career counselor, a Master Practitioner in Myers-Briggs Type Indicator assessment, and, a subject-matter expert in the field of Emotional Intelligence.
Edythe Richards received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Delaware and a Masters of Arts degree in Counseling from Seton Hall University. Her nationally recognized career counseling consultancy, A Top Career, is headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia.
EPISODE DATE: October 18, 2019
Previous guest appearance:
Discovering Yourself: ‘Knowing Your Myers-Briggs Type’ Opens Gateways to Meaningful Work
Published work:
Myers-Briggs Myths and Misuse
Social media:
A Top Career Website
A Top Career Facebook Page
MBTI Question Corner Podcast
LinkedIn Page
Photo credits: Emotional Intelligence, iStock Photo; Photographic Portrait, Edythe Richards
Give Piece a Chance Part 2: An Entrepreneur Disrupts Chicago’s Food Scene
About this episode: “We didn't have the luxury of a soft opening. So, we're packed, it's hard getting the product out of the kitchen, because we really don't know how to do volume yet. And we're learning how to do service. So, we're pissing off people right and left and it took awhile to settle down. And fortunately, it did. But definitely it was a double-edged sword. And we were in the papers; we were in the media all of the time. [There were] cameras there!"
- Billy Jacobs, founder of Piece Pizzeria & Brewery
Cheap Trick founder and RockHall Inductee Rick Nielsen is co-owner of Piece; he is shown here with Billy Jacobs and Sammy Hagar. In this episode, we learn how one entrepreneur dared—not once, but twice—to disrupt the established food scene in a major American city.
In 1983, along with his three brothers, Billy Jacobs arrived in Chicago with a dream: to bring fresh New York style bagels to the city’s food scene. Their effort was a smashing success. After scaling Jacobs Brothers Bagels to 20 stores and hundreds of employees, they took a buy-out offer. Billy’s brothers went on to second-act careers while Billy started dreaming again, to turn his next big disruption into reality.
That’s when his idea to bring to Chicago the classic New Haven-style pizza of his youth took shape. Soon after, Billy opened Piece Pizzeria and Brewery in Chicago’s trendy Wicker Park neighborhood.
According to industry trade publication Pizza Today, Piece Pizzeria and Brewery is the highest-grossing single location pizzeria in the United States.
Joining us on Give Piece a Chance Part 2 is our lifelong friend Stu Katz who provided wise counsel when Billy established his restaurants.
In this second part of a two-part podcast episode, we discover how:
Piece paired great pizza with award winning ales [starts at 2:08] The partnership with Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick happened [starts at 5:17] Piece Out became a successful delivery operation [starts at 11:09] Localism and community philanthropy through Pilot Light Chefs enmeshed into Piece's business [starts at 16:06] Piece collaborated with Chicagoland food legend "Hot Doug" Sohn [starts at 19:50] Along with creative director Jim Furrh, Piece created provocative and highly effective branding, advertising, and marketing [starts at 21:46] Billy got back into the bagel business with brobagel [starts at 26:53]
About our guests:
L-R: Dan Smolen, Stu Katz, and Billy Jacobs at Wrigley Field.
Billy Jacobs received a Bachelor of Arts in History from Boston University. By his own admission, majoring in history was a wise study track, for a degree in business administration would probably have ruined his entrepreneurial dreams. The New Haven, Connecticut native is a lifelong Ultimate Frisbee player and an avid Chicago Cubs fan who attends almost all home games.
Stu Katz received a Bachelor of Science degree from the Park School of Communications at Ithaca College and a Masters of Arts in Corporate Communications from Seton Hall University. The New Haven, Connecticut native is also the founder and executive producer of Elm City Communications, a corporate communications services company headquartered in New Jersey.
EPISODE DATE: October 11, 2019
Social media:
Piece Website
Piece Instagram Feed
Photo credits: Rick Nielsen with Billy Jacobs and Sammy Hagar, Piece Pizzeria & Brewery; Billy Jacobs portrait, Billy Jacobs; Dan Smolen, Stu Katz, and Billy Jacobs at Wrigley Field, Marsha D. Weiss.
Give Piece a Chance Part 1: An Entrepreneur Disrupts Chicago’s Food Scene
About this episode: “There were plenty of naysayers. Chicago is known for deep dish pizza. That is what Chicago is. And people were telling me [you can’t go] into Chicago with a New Haven-style pizza, because frankly, not many people know where New Haven is let alone what New Haven-style pizza is!”
- Billy Jacobs, founder of Piece Pizzeria & Brewery In this episode, we learn how one entrepreneur dared—not once, but twice—to disrupt the established food scene in a major American city.
L-R: In 1983, Pete, Billy, Steve, and Andy Jacobs launched Jacobs Brothers Bagels.
In 1983, along with his three brothers, Billy Jacobs arrived in Chicago with a dream: to bring fresh New York-style bagels to the city’s food scene. Their effort was a smashing success. After scaling Jacobs Brothers Bagels to 20 stores and hundreds of employees, they took a buy-out offer. Billy’s brothers went on to second-act careers while Billy started dreaming again, to turn his next big disruption into reality.
Piece's popular Hot Doug's Atomic Pizza.
That’s when his idea to bring to Chicago the classic New Haven-style pizza of his youth took shape. Soon after, Billy opened Piece Pizzeria and Brewery in Chicago’s trendy Wicker Park neighborhood.
According to industry trade publication Pizza Today, Piece Pizzeria and Brewery is the highest-grossing single location pizzeria in the United States.
Joining us on this episode is our lifelong friend Stu Katz who provided wise counsel when Billy established his restaurants.
In Give Piece a Chance part 1, we discover:
Billy’s early career dreams [starts at 3:23] The big moment that focused his entrepreneurial career [starts at 4:59] How and when the brothers introduced New York-style fresh bagels to Chicago [starts at 7:14] The big scale of Jacobs Brothers Bagels (and how Billy truly hated it) [starts at 15:55] Billy’s “What were you thinking?” moment when he pursued opening a New Haven-style pizzeria [starts at 18:50] Billy and Stu’s childhood memories of Sally’s Apizza in New Haven, the inspiration for Piece [starts at 23:35] Piece’s rewarding customer experience [starts at 26:48]
About our guests:
L-R: Dan Smolen, Stu Katz, and Billy Jacobs at Wrigley Field.
Billy Jacobs received a Bachelor of Arts in History from Boston University. By his own admission, majoring in history was a wise study track for a degree in business administration would probably have ruined his entrepreneurial dreams. The New Haven, Connecticut native is a lifelong Ultimate Frisbee player and an avid Chicago Cubs fan who attends almost all home games.
Stu Katz received a Bachelor of Science degree from the Park School of Communications at Ithaca College and a Masters of Arts in Corporate Communications from Seton Hall University. The New Haven, Connecticut native is also the founder and executive producer of Elm City Communications, a corporate communications services company headquartered in New Jersey.
EPISODE DATE: October 4, 2019
Social media:
Piece Website
Piece Instagram Feed
Photo credits: Hot Doug's Atomic Pizza, Piece Pizzeria & Brewery; Billy Jacobs portrait and the Jacobs Brothers, Billy Jacobs; Dan Smolen, Stu Katz, and Billy Jacobs at Wrigley Field, Marsha D. Weiss.
Beyond Dreams: where will the Tightrope take us? We tackle the topic.
About the episode:
On the Fall 2018 season of The Tightrope, we learned that, born from our beautiful childhood dreams, we can find success as adults doing meaningful work.
Through their own storytelling, our guests inspired us to seek out work and career opportunities that are profound, empower people, protect the planet, and fun-to-do.
But we also learned that dreams alone cannot lead to meaningful work. We must aid our dreams through exploration of work and entrepreneurial opportunities, a solid and well-thought-out strategy to pivot into a new role, and then bold action to make it all happen.
So why is this so important? Because, somewhere between childhood and our adult years, most of us abandon our dreams of doing meaningful work. Instead, we settle for meaningless work that covers expenses and offers some benefits…but renders us bored, miserable, angry, and longing to do better. Beyond dreams, THIS is our journey. Let us walk the Tightrope together to leave despair behind and the promise of meaningful work ahead in our sights. We’ll be taking some time off to prepare for the next season of The Tightrope podcast, expand our value proposition to you our listeners, and to help and inspire more people to live their dreams of doing meaningful work.
And, while we’re doing that, we ask you for your help, to do four things:
FIRST: Sign up for The Dan Smolen Experience and our newsletter. You can find us on the web at DanSmolen.com.
SECOND: Subscribe to our podcast so you can catch up on missed episodes and get new ones as soon as they stream. Just keyword “The Tightrope with Dan Smolen” on Apple Podcast or wherever you get podcasts.
THIRD: Help us get the word out by referring five friends and colleagues to The Dan Smolen Experience. Point them to dansmolen.com to sign up.
AND LAST: Tell us your ideas for future podcast episode topics and other things by writing us at info@dansmolen.com. If we chose your topic, we’ll give a nice shout-out on the podcast.
Where this walk across the Tightrope takes us…we don’t know for sure. But we’ll take it the inspiring journey TOGETHER. And it will be amazing!
EPISODE DATE: December 14, 2018
Photo credits: Woman in Diner, Getty Images
Serving Those Who Serve: Finding Meaningful Work as a Police Chaplain About this episode: “My career has been one of twists and turns, but ultimately things connected to each other. And what I do now—to help people in need—is something that helps me feel whole.” - Michael Shochet, Senior Cantor of Temple Rodef Shalom, Falls Church, Virginia; Chief Chaplain of Fairfax County, Virginia Police Few can tell a personal career story as dramatic and ever-changing as Mike Shochet. He became one of the youngest TV reporters in Baltimore. But bothered by covering “if it bleeds, it leads” stories, he pivoted into law enforcement as a Baltimore City police officer where he hoped that he could help people more effectively. Then Tom, his partner on patrol, got shot. Shochet used his own shirt to stanch the bleeding from Tom’s gunshot wound. Immediately, Shochet suffered PTSD, but his superiors told him to take a day off and get back on the job. He couldn’t. Shochet turned in his badge and eventually found his calling as a cantor in a large D.C. area synagogue and as lead chaplain for Virginia’s largest municipal police department. After so many career “twists and turns” Mike Shochet had found the work of his dreams—meaningful work. Now, he is serving those who serve as lead chaplain for the Fairfax County Virginia Police. In this episode, Shochet:
Explains what a police chaplain does [starts at 2:00] Describes the motivations that allow police officers to do such stressful work [starts at 7:30] Discusses the role of empathy in policing [starts at 19:30]
About our guest: Michael Shochet received a Bachelor of Science from Ithaca College’s Park School of Communications and a Masters in Sacred Music from Hebrew Union College. He is the Senior Cantor for Temple Rodef Shalom in Falls Church, Virginia and Chief Chaplain of the Fairfax County, Virginia Police Department. Shochet and his family live in Fairfax County, Virginia. EPISODE DATE: December 7, 2018 Social media: Temple Rodef Shalom - Profile Photo credits: Police Officer in Vest, Getty Images; Chaplain Michael Shochet in Ride Along, Michael Ventura
Neurocentricity and recruitment align the corporate mission to meaningful work.
“We’re looking at a world of more empathetic buying, empathetic recruitment, empathetic reading, empathetic leadership. It is absolutely the way of the future. It is allowing anyone who is connected to a common cause to feel respected and safe in a way that will change the world.”
- Adrienne Shoch, Corporate Performance Expert and Founder of 5 to 1 Consulting
An unusual alignment of forces is taking hold in today’s workplace, one that merges the needs of hiring managers and the express wants and desires of professionals. The alignment is aided by what our guest, performance expert Adrienne Shoch, calls neurocentrity, the dynamics that encapsulate how we relate to the world and what allows us to thrive. The merger has ushered in a new era of empathetic recruitment.
In this episode, Shoch:
Defines the concept of neurocentricity [starts at 1:25] Describes empathetic recruitment [starts at 6:55] Discusses the importance of workplace flexibility [starts at 22:24] Relays the importance of BREATHING [starts at 30:33] Describes a future built around workplace empathy [starts at 33:31]
About our guest: Adrienne Shoch is the founder of 5 to 1 Consulting. By employing holistic, performance-focused practices, Shoch helps clients to understand how the brain, body, and language influence workforce behavior and decision-making. What is more, she empowers company leaders to effectively apply “generated from within us” skills and behaviors to build trust, inspire, and lead team members to overcome highly stressful situations and complex business contexts.
Adrienne Shoch received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Towson University. She studied French at University of Paris – Sorbonne and Neuroleadership at the Neuroleadership Institute. She lives and works in Washington, D.C.
EPISODE DATE: November 30, 2018
Social media:
5 to 1 Consulting Website
Adrienne Shoch LinkedIn Page
Photo credits: Empathetic Workers, Getty Images; Photographic Portrait of Adrienne Shoch, 5 to 1 Consulting.
A meaningful career: leading autonomous vehicle adoption In Urban America.
“The community has to trust developers of the cars, users of the cars, and they also have to see that these cars are going to take them to the places that they have had difficulty getting to.”
- Richard Ezike, Ph.D., Noted Subject-Matter Expert on Transportation Equity
Dr. Richard Ezike’s earliest childhood dreams of doing meaningful work were about building beautiful buildings and cityscapes. But after earning advanced degrees in science and advocating for the environment and our urban centers, his career pivoted in a completely unexpected direction.
Now, Dr. Ezike leads the charge for American Transportation Equity, to make the full range of mobility options—and, in particular, Autonomous Vehicles or AVs—as readily available for inner-city residents as they are for people in our more affluent suburbs. He believes that AVs will provide safer and more accessible mobility, and may greatly improve the lives of inner-city residents who otherwise are deprived of quality transportation.
During these key interview segments, Dr. Ezike:
Defines the term “Autonomous Vehicle” [starts at 1:40] Offers his insight as to whether people of color will accept AVs as a transportation equity option [starts at 6:51] Addresses the national security and “hackability” concerns related to the development of AVs [starts at 10:55]
Offers his thoughts on how, 30 years from now, AVs may revitalize historically poor and underserved communities such as Southeast Washington, D.C. [starts at 23:31]
About our guest: As a child growing up in Kingsport, Tennessee, Richard Ezike was “fascinated by the design of buildings.” On family trips, young Richard brought along his Kodak camera to capture images of the buildings that he admired most. He recalls: “I really wanted to be someone that was able to design the next major city in the country.”
In high school, Richard discovered a passion for scientific study; he thrived in AP Chemistry, and soon after, earned bachelors and doctoral degrees in Chemical Engineering. But it was years later, at a prized fellowship with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, that he understood the importance of an equitable transportation system to a functioning system. That was when his childhood dream of creating great places to live merged with his passion for promoting science and economic, environment, and social parity.
Today, he is nationally recognized thought-leader in Transportation Equity.
Richard Ezike received a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from North Carolina State University and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan. Currently, he is a New Mobility and Equity Fellow for the Union of Concerned Scientists in Washington, D.C. Dr. Ezike is a frequent events speaker and podcast guest in the areas of transportation equity, resource sustainability, social responsibility, STEAM learning, careerism, and the environment.
EPISODE DATE: November 23, 2018
Published work:
Transportation, Sustainability, and Equity and the Effect on the African-American Community, Published October 20, 2016
Transportation, Environment and Health: Inexorably Linked for Black People, Washington Informer, Published September 7, 2016
Can Transportation be a Bridge to Wealth for African Americans?, Published May 10, 2016
Social media:
Richard Ezike, Ph.D. Website
LinkedIn Page
Photo credits: Autonomous Vehicle, Getty Images; Photographic Portrait, Richard Ezike, PhD.
Dr. Charles Glassman explains overcoming Brain Drain and other obstacles to leading a meaningful life.
“It’s so convincing, the physiological feeling that we have when we’re anxious: our stomachs feel tight, we might have to go to the bathroom, we might feel jittery, we might have brain fog, we might not feel on top of our game or strong. And those are very convincing feelings to tell us we have to fight or flee.”
- Charles Glassman, MD
In this episode of The Tightrope with Dan Smolen podcast, guest Charles Glassman, MD returns to discuss Brain Drain, his study of how discordant emotions negatively impact our physical health. While board certified to practice internal medicine, Dr. Glassman treats his patients holistically by addressing their physical, emotional, and spiritual health. And while listening carefully to his patients, he has determined that we often try unsuccessfully to treat our physical illness through too much self-medication and prescription drugs, overreliance on specialists, and—most of all—not mitigating our mental and emotional pain. Dr. Glassman believes that, by controlling Brain Drain, we may all lead healthier and more productive lives. Overcoming Brain Drain and other obstacles is key to leading a meaningful life. In these key interview segments, Dr. Glassman:
Describes the meaning behind “Brain Drain” and the ill effects that it has on mind, body, and spirit [starts at 1:33] Details how self-medication and over-medication can make our physical ills worse [starts at 9:00] Offers his professional opinion on cannabis as an effective alternative to opioid pain treatments [starts at 16:34] Delves into our emotional responses and the destructive power of holding grudges [starts at 18:28]
Lays out steps one can take to find profound meaning and “daily magic” [starts at 23:16]
Offers wisdom that he has received from his patients and how he applies it in his own life [starts at 28:03]
About our guest: From the time of his youth, Charles Glassman discovered that close friends sought, and appreciated, his advice. As a board-certified internal medicine doctor, and now as a well-recognized author and thought-leader, he finds his greatest purpose in empowering thousands of people around the globe to seek better health outcomes and more meaningful lives.
In 2002, he stopped accepting the health insurance payments that most doctors still take in favor of a “concierge” system in which patients pay his practice an annual fee. The result? His patients now get ample time with him and find the interactions more useful and enjoyable. What is more, Dr. Glassman gets beyond treating their illnesses to help them achieve a lifetime of wellness.
Part of his value proposition to patients is the advice that he offers in his blog. A patient once described Dr. Glassman’s wisdom as that offered by a coach, thus, Dr. Glassman became Coach MD. In 2009, and based partly on his newsletter and blog writings, Dr. Glassman published his first book, Brain Drain: The Breakthrough that will Change Your Life.
In 2018, he published an e-book to help readers thrive through our discordant times: Fake News Stories by Your Brain.
Charles Glassman received a Bachelor of Science degree from Hobart and William Smith Colleges and his M.D. from New York Medical College. His medical practice, the New York Center for Longevity and Wellness, is based in Pamona, New York.
EPISODE DATE: November 9, 2018
Dr. Glassman’s books include:
Brain Drain: The Breakthrough that will Change Your Life (Amazon.com)
Fake News Stories by Your Brain (FREE E-Book)
Dr. Glassman’s social media:
Coach MD Website
Coach MD YouTube Channel
Coach MD Facebook Page
Coach MD Twitter Page
Photo credits: Anxiety in a Dark Tunnel, Getty Images; Portrait, Charles Glassman, MD
Going local creates meaningful work.
“People aren’t trying to create the next Budweiser. They are trying to create the next IPA that they can sell in the local bar and to drive a nice little employment world that is self-contained and capable of hiring and keeping people at work in their community.”
- Morley Winograd, Co-author of Healing American Democracy: Going Local
One revolutionary change happening in the United States right now is largely overlooked by our Members of Congress, top business executives and other thought-leaders. It is the rise of localism, and the transcendence of something called “constitutional localism,” that is revitalizing local communities across the country while creating new and economically sustainable sources of commerce and meaningful work.
Helping us to understand this seismic change in our governance are Doug Ross and Morley Winograd. Together with Mike Hais they are the authors of the important new book Healing American Democracy: Going Local. In it, they explain how governing authority is shifting away from Washington to our localities. As a result, citizens are becoming engaged, new locally owned and operated businesses are thriving, and more of us are finding and doing meaningful work in the places where we want to live.
In this episode of The Tightrope with Dan Smolen podcast, they:
Explain why so many Americans have lost faith in our current top-down form of American Democracy [starts at 3:45] Define their concept of “constitutional localism” and describe how it would operate and provide benefit [starts at 5:58] Illustrate how “turning scale upside down” to create and staff smaller numbers of new jobs—dozens versus thousands—would help local communities thrive [starts at 18:54]
Identify how localism can become the linchpin for success in creating more meaningful work opportunities [starts at 22:41]
Going local creates meaningful work. About our guests:
Doug Ross and Morley Winograd are nationally known and respected political practitioners who cross solid data and wishful thinking to paint a hopeful portrait of America based on the idea of constitutional localism.
Ross was a state senator from Michigan and a U.S. Assistant Secretary of Labor under President Bill Clinton. Winograd was a Michigan state political party chair and White House Senior Policy Advisor to Vice President Al Gore. Along with their co-author Mike Hais, they’ve written six books between them.
The authors have appeared as guests on CNN, The Today Show, PBS News Hour, and Univision. They have also been featured in stories in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, USA Today, and The Christian Science Monitor.
EPISODE DATE: November 2, 2018
Social media:
Healing America: Going Local - Website
Amazon.com Book Page
Photo credits: The Commons in Ithaca, New York, Stuart Katz; Portrait, Doug Ross; Portrait, Morley Winograd.
The Design Thinker: Turning Childhood Dreams Into Business Success
“People come to me realizing that something’s not working, or, that they have an aspiration of what they want. At the end of the day, they want to make a pivot to something else. In order to get down there and make that pivot they need a strategy. And what I tell people is that it may take multiple strategies for you to get where you want to be. And we will get there. The question is, are you ready for a marathon? Because, it’s not a sprint.”
- Carla A. Fleming, CEO and Founder of Pivoting Strategies, LLC
Carla Fleming’s gloriously happy childhood dreams of doing meaningful work included being a teacher, a doctor, and a journalist. To the casual observer, work dreams such as these seem disconnected, but not to Fleming, who says that, together, they pointed her to a career that’s all about solving difficult business problems: “A teacher helps you learn to be better, a doctor makes diagnoses to make you better, and the journalist figures out what’s going on.” These, Fleming recalls, “laid the groundwork for consulting.”
And now, Fleming, uses design thinking in her consultancy to help business clients to thrive, scale revenues, and most important, connect with their consumers in what she calls “wearing the customer’s badge.”
In this episode of The Tightrope with Dan Smolen podcast, Carla the design thinker:
Recalls her early childhood dreams and the profound influence of loving parents and grandparents on her life and career as a problem-solver [starts at 2:00] Describes in detail the process she has used to repurpose and reposition one of her clients [starts at 16:13] Defines her concept of “wearing the customer’s badge” and why it is important for today’s businesses to embrace in our digitally connected economy [starts at 22:43]
About our guest: Carla A. Fleming received a Bachelor of Science in Management, with coursework concentration in Journalism and Mass Media, from Rutgers University. She also earned a Master’s degree in Business Administration from The George Washington University. A successful marketing and management executive who held multiple executive roles at IBM, Fleming founded and is the CEO of business consultancy Pivoting Strategies, LLC. She lives and works in the Washington, D.C. suburbs of Northern Virginia.
EPISODE DATE: October 26, 2018
Social media:
Pivoting Strategies, LLC – Website
LinkedIn Profile
Photo credits: Design Thinkers, Getty Images; Portrait, Carla A. Fleming
Third Act By 28: One Man's Unusual Journey to do Meaningful Work (Part 2)
“People said ‘well, he was a reporter, and a cop, and now he’s a cantor.’ When I look back on it, everything that I’ve done in my life, all of those jobs and the other smaller jobs in between, have always been about doing things with people, for people—helping them in some way.”
- Michael Shochet, Senior Cantor of Temple Rodef Shalom, Falls Church, Virginia; Chief Chaplain of Fairfax County, Virginia Police
Few of us can tell a personal career story as dramatic and ever-changing as Michael Shochet. After college, he became one of the youngest TV news reporters in Baltimore before pivoting to police work.
But, Shochet was hardly settled on patrolling the streets of one of America’s most dangerous cities.
Extreme on-the-job stress—and PTSD—sent him soul-searching. The work he eventually embraced, that of a cantor in Reform Judaism and police chaplain, would redefine his life and bring him boundless purpose and joy.
In Third Act by 28 Part 2, Shochet:
Provides his first-person account of a police shooting that seriously injured his partner [starts at 1:28] Details his own struggle with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as well as the seemingly uncaring attitude of his superiors who expected him back at work quickly [starts at 7:55] Describes how he left policing to became a Cantor in Reform Judaism [starts at 12:40]
Connects his skill and experience as a communicator, former police officer, and member of the clergy in the role of Chief Chaplain for Virginia’s largest police department [starts at 17:55]
About our guest: Michael Shochet received a Bachelor of Science from Ithaca College’s Park School of Communications and a Masters in Sacred Music from Hebrew Union College. He is the Senior Cantor for Temple Rodef Shalom in Falls Church, Virginia and Chief Chaplain of the Fairfax County, Virginia Police Department. Shochet and his family live in Fairfax County, Virginia.
EPISODE DATE: October 19, 2018
Social media:
Temple Rodef Shalom - Profile
Photo credits: Chaplain Michael Shochet in Ride Along, Michael Ventura; At Podium, Michael Shochet.
Music credit: “Kadusha,” performed by Cantor Michael Shochet, Temple Rodef Shalom (Used with permission).
Third Act By 28: One Man's Unusual Journey to do Meaningful Work (Part 1)
“When I was a little kid, I loved police officers. I could spot a police car a mile away. I think it started when I was seven or eight years old and a police car came into our neighborhood, which never happened, to go to someone’s house to talk to them about something. And he was really nice to us—all of my friends. Who knows if that set a journey for me in the back of my mind that police work—such a noble profession—is really important to society, but I always had a love of police officers.”
- Michael Shochet, Senior Cantor of Temple Rodef Shalom, Falls Church, Virginia; Chief Chaplain of Fairfax County, Virginia Police
Few can tell a personal career story as dramatic and ever-changing as Mike Shochet. As an ambitious high school student from an affluent Baltimore suburb, Shochet became “enthralled” with television production and news reporting. And soon after college graduation, he became a reporter for Baltimore’s NBC affiliate, WMAR-TV.
But the excitement of on-air reporting turned to agitation. Shochet wanted to help people through his work, but he felt that the “if it bleeds it leads” stories that his bosses wanted him to report wasn’t the way. So, at age 23, Shochet became a Baltimore City cop.
And that is only half of his story.
In Third Act by 28 Part 1, Shochet:
Describes his early fascination with television production and reporting news [starts at 2:49] Recalls the on-the-air story he was assigned to report that upended his career [starts at 17:11] Relives his pivot to from reporter to Baltimore City Policeman [starts at 21:19]
About our guest: Michael Shochet received a Bachelor of Science from Ithaca College’s Park School of Communications and a Masters in Sacred Music from Hebrew Union College. He is the Senior Cantor for Temple Rodef Shalom in Falls Church, Virginia and Chief Chaplain of the Fairfax County, Virginia Police Department. Shochet and his family live in Fairfax County, Virginia.
EPISODE DATE: October 12, 2018
Social media:
Temple Rodef Shalom - Profile
Photo credits: Evening Crime Scene, Getty Images; Chaplain Michael Shochet in Ride Along, Michael Ventura.
Beautiful Dreams: What did you want to be when you grew up? What were your dreams of doing meaningful work? In this special episode of The Tightrope with Dan Smolen podcast, we ask these questions which are so central to our personal narratives, but also to our pursuit of happiness. You will discover the beautiful dreams of some of our season’s guests, like: Charles Glassman who knew early on that he wanted to be a doctor; Richard Ezike who saw himself building beautiful buildings and great cities; Edythe Richards who wanted to perform before a live audience, and; Michael Shochet who was enthralled with being on TV.
This season, we meet highly successful people—all leaders in their respective fields of influence—who overcame life and professional challenges to do truly meaningful work. Each shares their remarkable stories and useful insight on how we can aspire to do the work of our dreams—work that is profound, protects the planet, helps people, and is fun.
So…let’s walk this Tightrope together, to recapture our dreams of doing meaningful work.
Keyword “The Tightrope with Dan Smolen” on Apple Podcast or wherever you get your podcasts. And make sure to sign up for our newsletter at DanSmolen.com. That way you’ll hear about new episodes and important developments as they happen. What were your beautiful dreams? Please join us for an amazing experience. And do remember this: our best days lie ahead.
Photo credit: Getty Images
The Experience Shaper Part 2: One Performance Expert is Transforming HOW We Work
“I was across the country in probably 12 different cities—about 500 people—and I would ask the question: How many of you have had a transformativeperformance evaluation in your career? And only THREE PEOPLE out of 500 said that they had had a transformative conversation.”
- Adrienne Shoch, Corporate Performance Expert and Founder of 5 to 1 Consulting Performance reviews are a stable of the workforce. It is how companies measure a worker’s job skill, set salary levels, and establish future goals. But they are also often ill-timed and poorly conceived, set out to accomplish too much, and leave both parties—the hired talent and the hiring manager—reeling.
In the Experience Shaper Part 2, corporate performance expert and “experience shaper” Adrienne Shoch shows us how we can radically transform the performance review process so that it helps the hiring company dramatically improve performance, mitigate on-the-job problems, and, provide people with better communication as well as a sense of partnership that renders the work done more meaningful and fun.
In this podcast episode, she
Describes how most hiring managers conduct their performance reviews improperly[starts at 2:01] Explains the “5 to 1” process of holistic performance-focused practices [starts at 11:06] Defines “experience shaping” [starts at 17:46] Offers examples of how transformative performance reviews helped a major building products client boost sales and customer satisfaction [starts at 21:47] Shares her insight on how listeners can make the work that they do more meaningful and fun [starts at 26:53]
About our guest: Adrienne Shoch is the founder of 5 to 1 Consulting. By employing holistic, performance-focused practices, Shoch helps clients to understand how the brain, body, and language influence workforce behavior and decision-making. What is more, she empowers company leaders to effectively apply “generated from within us”skills and behaviors to build trust, inspire, and lead team members to overcome highly stressful situations and complex business contexts.
Adrienne Shoch received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Towson University. She studied French at the Sorbonne (La Chancellerie des Universités de Paris) and Neuroleadership at the Neuroleadership Institute. She lives and works in Washington, D.C.
EPISODE DATE: September 28, 2018
Social media:
5 to 1 Consulting Website
Adrienne Shoch LinkedIn Page
Photo credits: Performance Review, Getty Images; Photographic Portrait of Adrienne Shoch, 5 to 1 Consulting.
The Experience Shaper Part 1: One Performance Expert is Transforming HOW We Work
“As a child, I did have a moment when my mom said, ‘you know, you are going to have to work for yourself. You are going to find your way outside of what everyone else is doing.’ And I’ve never forgotten that.”
- Adrienne Shoch, Corporate Performance Expert and Founder of 5 to 1 Consulting
Early in life, she knew that her mind worked differently than the other kids. She knew she was dyslexic. But she also knew that she was very smart. And her parents fully supported her dreams and life journey, with mom telling her, “just have fun, just go out and enjoy your day.”
In The Experience Shaper Part 1, corporate performance expert and “experience shaper” Adrienne Shoch describes how she turned difficult early life challenges into an extraordinary ability “to see things outside of the norm,” to understand how our mind/body connections work, and apply her unusual insight towards creating better work engagements and outcomes for her clients.
In this podcast episode, she
Describes early challenges with dyslexia and how conventional educational approaches offered her little utility or enjoyment [start point at 5:33] Recalls the important life lesson she learned when everyone on her youth swim team “had a job” and how that model shaped the inclusive business practices that she employs today [start point at 11:43] Relives the exhilarating college experience of moving to Paris when she spoke very little French [start point at 17:07
Explains the important concept of Systems Thinking and how she has applied it in her career [start point at 22:38]
About our guest: Adrienne Shoch is the founder of 5 to 1 Consulting. By employing holistic, performance-focused practices, Shoch helps clients to understand how the brain, body, and language influence workforce behavior and decision-making. What is more, she empowers company leaders to effectively apply “generated from within us”skills and behaviors to build trust, inspire, and lead team members to overcome highly stressful situations and complex business contexts.
Adrienne Shoch received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Towson University. She studied French at University of Paris – Sorbonne and Neuroleadership at the Neuroleadership Institute. She lives and works in Washington, D.C.
EPISODE DATE: September 21, 2018
Social media:
5 to 1 Consulting Website
Adrienne Shoch LinkedIn Page
Photo credits: Flystroke, Getty Images; Photographic Portrait of Adrienne Shoch, 5 to 1 Consulting.
Transportation Equity: Reengineering the Quality of Urban Life
“When someone is deprived of transportation options [it affects] their ability to get an education, it affects their ability to have access to healthy food, it affects their ability to access employment centers.”
- Richard Ezike, Ph.D., Noted Subject-Matter Expert on Transportation Equity
Transportation access remains one of the most important issues affecting American urban life. And yet, many commuters—especially those who live in affluent suburbs and exurbs—remain woefully unaware that many of their urban counterparts are deprived access to the full array of mobility choices. Such transportation inequity means that a resident in the inner city would require a painstakingly long commute to work at a job, acquire healthcare, shop, or attend school.
In this episode, Richard Ezike, Ph.D. discusses his nationally recognized thought leadership regarding the inequities inherent in the American transportation system. His career is inspired by his early childhood dreams of becoming an architect building beautiful cities, advanced scientific study, and fellowships at some of the nation’s leading policy organizations. During these key interview segments, Dr. Ezike builds a story on reengineering the quality of urban life:
Relives his childhood dream of doing meaningful work as an architect building cities [starts at 4:42] Defines Transportation Equity and the benefits that it can provide access-deprived residents of urban communities [starts at 13:48] Explains the importance of promoting science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) in education [starts at 22:15]
Offers first-hand the benefits of mentoring young people from underserved groups [starts at 26:01]
About our guest: As a child growing up in Kingsport, Tennessee, Richard Ezike was “fascinated by the design of buildings.” On family trips, young Richard brought along his Kodak camera to capture images of the buildings that he admired most. He recalls: “I really wanted to be someone that was able to design the next major city in the country.”
In high school, Richard discovered a passion for scientific study; he thrived in AP Chemistry, and soon after, earned bachelors and doctoral degrees in Chemical Engineering. But it was years later, at a prized fellowship with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, that he understood the importance of an equitable transportation system to a functioning system. That was when his childhood dream of creating great places to live merged with his passion for promoting science and economic, environment, and social parity.
Today, he is nationally recognized thought-leader in Transportation Equity.
Richard Ezike received a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from North Carolina State University and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan. Currently, he is a New Mobility and Equity Fellow for the Union of Concerned Scientists in Washington, D.C. Dr. Ezike is a frequent events speaker and podcast guest in the areas of transportation equity, resource sustainability, social responsibility, STEAM learning, careerism, and the environment.
EPISODE DATE: September 14, 2018
Published work:
Transportation, Sustainability, and Equity and the Effect on the African-American Community, Published October 20, 2016
Transportation, Environment and Health: Inexorably Linked for Black People, Washington Informer, Published September 7, 2016
Can Transportation be a Bridge to Wealth for African Americans?, Published May 10, 2016
Social media:
Richard Ezike, Ph.D. Website
LinkedIn Page
Photo credits: METRO Green Line Train, Getty Images; Photographic Portrait, Richard Ezike, PhD.
Discovering Yourself: Knowing Your Myers-Briggs Type Opens Gateways to Meaningful Work
“Myers-Briggs is all about preferences. We all have our preferences in life. Like our preference for chocolate or vanilla, we may eat both from time to time, but we prefer one over the other. So, with Myers-Briggs, the first step is to understand who we are, most naturally and comfortably. And when we are in a good place, Myers-Briggs helps us feel more empowered to make better decisions for our lives and careers.”
- Edythe Richards, Certified Myers-Briggs Master Practitioner
How might your life have been different if you had deliberately chosen work and career opportunities that aligned expressly with your personality type preferences? Would you have been happier and more satisfied with the work you chose to do, the life you led, and the people you sought out in your everyday experiences? If you could go back in time to do work that was more meaningful than you are accustomed, would you?
In this episode, veteran career coach Edythe Richards takes us through the notable benefits and unique insights available to people who take the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator assessment.
In these key interview segments, she:
Summarizes the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and its components [starts at 3:30] Reviews in detail the results of an actual Myers-Briggs assessment [starts at 4:22] Differentiates between Extroverted and Introverted personality types [starts at 7:54] Contrasts Sensing and Intuitive personality types [starts at 10:01] Compares Thinking and Feeling personality types [starts at 13:52] Describes Judging and Perceiving personality types [starts at 16:14] Explains the WHY behind Myers-Briggs assessments [starts at 30:36]
About our podcast guest: When she was a child, growing up on a farm in Delaware, Edythe Richards dreamed about being a singer. “It wasn’t just the music, or the pitch, or whatever was playing on the radio,” she recalls. “More than anything, for me being a singer was about performing in front of an audience. I loved making others feel good and bringing them joy.”
Richards never rode her childhood dreams of singing into a performing arts career. But, she leveraged her love of public speaking and passion for empowering others as a professional career counselor, a Master Practitioner in Myers-Briggs Type Indicator assessment, and, a subject-matter expert in the field of Emotional Intelligence.
Edythe Richards received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Delaware and a Masters of Arts degree in Counseling from Seton Hall University. Her nationally recognized career counseling consultancy, A Top Career, is headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia.
EPISODE DATE: September 7, 2018
Published work:
Myers-Briggs Myths and Misuse
Social media:
A Top Career Website
A Top Career Facebook Page
LinkedIn Page
Photo credits: Myers-Briggs Type Badge Illustration, Marsha D. Weiss; Photographic Portrait, Edythe Richards.
Coach MD: How One Physician Leads Patients to Live Better, Stronger, and More Meaningful Lives
“I told my [high school] advisor that I was thinking of going into medicine. Well, he kind of paused as he said: ‘Look, medicine is a really tough field. Maybe you ought to think of something different?’ And when he said that, that made me decide—no matter what—I WAS GOING TO DO IT.”
- Charles Glassman, MD
Imagine being an average high school student who gets dream-crushing discouragement from a guidance counselor after expressing a serious interest in pursuing a medical career. Instead of wallowing in despair, you find within you the courage to prove that guidance counselor wrong.
In this episode, we meet Charles Glassman, MD. With grit and determination, he has achieved success as a gifted physician, published author, and globally recognized thought-leader in the study of wellness known as Coach MD.
In these key interview segments, Dr. Glassman:
Takes us back to high school and the experience he had with that skeptical guidance counselor [start point 4:05] Describes his nerve-racking decision to ditch the traditional “fee-for-service” patient care arrangement [start point 9:06] Provides insight on what truly makes people sick [start point 19:29] Discusses the importance of meaningfulness and the pursuit of meaningful work [start point 27:19]
About our podcast guest: From the time of his youth, Charles Glassman discovered that close friends sought, and appreciated, his advice. As a board-certified internal medicine doctor, and now as a well-recognized author and thought-leader, he finds his greatest purpose in empowering thousands of people around the globe to seek better health outcomes and more meaningful lives.
In 2002, he stopped accepting the health insurance payments that most doctors still take in favor of a “concierge” system in which patients pay his practice an annual fee. The result? His patients now get ample time with him and find the interactions more useful and enjoyable. What is more, Dr. Glassman gets beyond treating their illnesses to help them achieve a lifetime of wellness.
Part of his value proposition to patients is the advice that he offers in his blog. A patient once described Dr. Glassman’s wisdom as that offered by a coach, thus, Dr. Glassman became Coach MD. In 2009, and based partly on his newsletter and blog writings, Dr. Glassman published his first book, Brain Drain: The Breakthrough that will Change Your Life.
In 2018, he published an e-book to help readers thrive through our discordant times: Fake News Stories by Your Brain.
Charles Glassman received a Bachelor of Science degree from Hobart and William Smith Colleges and his M.D. from New York Medical College. His medical practice, the New York Center for Longevity and Wellness, is based in Pomona, New York.
EPISODE DATE: August 31, 2018
Dr. Glassman’s books include:
Brain Drain: The Breakthrough that will Change Your Life (Amazon.com)
Fake News Stories by Your Brain (FREE E-Book)
Dr. Glassman’s social media:
Coach MD Website
Coach MD YouTube Channel
Coach MD Facebook Page
Coach MD Twitter Page
Photo credits: Charles Glassman, MD
Meet Eva Grodberg, a corporate escapee turned travel provider of epic experiences.
Imagine embarking on an advertising career on famed Madison Avenue, where all the entry level jobs available to recent college grads like you require proficiency in typing. Then imagine getting a lucky break with a pivot to print media sales where you rise to become a top direct response advertising sales mega-producer with a $20.5 million revenue portfolio and a huge expense account.
Next, imagine what happens when your great career in print media sales comes to a screeching halt?
And finally, imagine reinventing yourself in a dream role providing customized travel and leisure experiences to discriminating clients.
All that and more happened to corporate escapee turned “epic” travel pro Eva Grodberg. In these key interview segments, she
Describes her lucky post-college-graduation career in advertising sales [start point at 5:31] Relives the “I should have gotten out of it sooner, but I didn’t” end to her advertising career [start point at 12:16] Details becoming an entrepreneur [start point at 14:49] Identifies the skills that got her to providing epic travel experiences [start point at 17:14]
About our guest: Eva Grodberg experienced unrivaled success as a senior sales executive in the advertising industry, but after a sudden downsizing from her company, she reinvented herself doing work that she truly loves: providing epic travel and leisure experiences to discriminating world travelers.
Grodberg is the Founder and President of Epic Experiences, LLC. Our conversation covers her amazing journey from successful media sales executive, to corporate escapee, to blissful entrepreneur doing the meaningful work of her dreams that benefits grateful clients.
Grodberg is a graduate of the Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York. She lives and works in New York City.
EPISODE DATE: May 11, 2018
Eva Grodberg’s social media:
Epic Experiences Website
Epic Experiences Twitter Page
Photo credits: Corporate Escapee, iStock Photo; Eva Grodberg portrait, Karl Grobl.
Living a Life of Less Stuff And More Epic Experience
According Pew Research's groundbreaking January 2017 report, the American Dream that we all knew as Upward Mobility is long gone; it was replaced by a soberer pursuit of economic stability. As a result, we now fill our homes and storage bins with less stuff. Instead, more of us, and especially Millennials, pursue profound meaning and experience. There are few industries where that shift to experience is more evident than in the travel and leisure space. In these key interview segments, she:
Relates how we may make the most of a life with less stuff and more experience [start point at 3:08] Lays out what it is like being an entrepreneur [start point at 5:19] Describes how the dynamic aspect of the pursuit of experience gets factored in to the work that she does [start point at 12:10] Speaks to how “adrenaline junkies” escape the rush of work when on vacation [start point at 14:10] Dreams of an epic experience she would like to have [start point 15:32]
About our podcast guest:
Eva Grodberg experienced unrivaled success as a senior sales executive in the advertising industry, but after a sudden downsizing from her company, she reinvented herself doing work that she truly loves: providing epic travel and leisure experiences to discriminating world travelers.
Grodberg is the Founder and President of Epic Experiences, LLC. Our conversation covers her amazing journey from successful media sales executive, to corporate escapee, to blissful entrepreneur doing the meaningful work of her dreams that benefits grateful clients.
Grodberg is a graduate of the Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York. She lives and works in New York City.
EPISODE DATE: May 11, 2018
Eva Grodberg’s social media:
Epic Experiences Website
Epic Experiences Twitter Page
Photo credits: Dad and child at Sunset, iStock Photo; Eva Grodberg portrait, Karl Grobl.
Edythe Richards sees a path forward staying nimble for career success. The workforce’s notions of work and career have massively shifted. Edythe Richards is a veteran career counselor and Emotional Intelligence expert. In this episode, she provides a path forward, why it is so critically important that we stay nimble to achieve lasting career success in sustainability, social responsibility, and other fields.
Indeed, there is a path forward staying nimble for career success.
About our guest:
Edythe Richards received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Delaware and a Masters of Arts degree in Counseling from Seton Hall University. Her nationally recognized career counseling consultancy, A Top Career, is headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia. Here are other episodes that include our guest: -Discovering Yourself: ‘Knowing Your Myers-Briggs Type’ Opens Gateways to Meaningful Work
-Emotional Intelligence: How EQ Helps People to Succeed in Meaningful Work (Part 1)
-Emotional Intelligence: How EQ Helps People to Succeed in Meaningful Work (Part 2)
EPISODE DATE: January 23, 2018
Social media:
-A Top Career Website
-LinkedIn Profile Please Subscribe to The Dan Smolen Podcast on:
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