Social Responsibility at Work

Join us in this thought-provoking episode as we dive deep into the world of intentional workplace design and its transformative impact on employee well-being and DEI

In this episode, we are thrilled to introduce you to Aparna Rae, a visionary pioneer in the realm of workplace culture and design. Aparna has dedicated their career to bridging the gap between employee aspirations and organizational action. Through data-driven strategies, they have transformed the way companies approach wellness, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Tune in as we explore the essence of this new workplace contract. Employees today are seeking more than just a job; they're yearning for workplaces that prioritize their holistic well-being and foster an inclusive environment. It's a shift that demands employers to lead with wellness and DEI as integral components of their organizational fabric.

Aparna sheds light on how data serves as the bridge between employee voices and organizational transformation. By collecting both quantitative and qualitative data, companies can gain valuable insights into employee needs, sentiments, and aspirations. These insights, derived from thoughtful research, form the foundation of intersectional and actionable strategies that drive impactful change.

Join us as we journey through the intersection of data, research, and purposeful action, all aimed at nurturing workplaces where everyone can thrive. If you're an employer looking to embrace the new contract of wellness and DE&I, or an employee seeking insights into reshaping workplace dynamics, this episode is a must-listen.

And thanks, as always, for tuning in. 

In this captivating episode, we sit down with Josh Levine, a visionary leader and culture expert, to explore his transformative work in building exceptional company cultures. As the author of the influential book "Great Mondays: How To Design A Company Culture Employees Love," Josh shares invaluable insights on creating workplaces that foster genuine employee happiness and success. 

Join us as we delve into the essence of his tagline, uncovering practical strategies for designing a culture that inspires, engages, and unlocks the full potential of every team member. Get ready to embark on a journey towards building a better company culture that leaves a lasting impact on both your employees and organization as a whole.

Josh is an author, consultant, and educator on a mission to help organizations design a culture advantage. His book was listed as one of BookAuthority’s best culture books of all time. 

As a consultant passionate about company culture, Josh has spent over fifteen years helping hyper-growth startups and global blue-chip organizations become more effective, aligned, and profitable. 

From aligning values to fostering meaningful connections, Josh provides actionable steps for leaders and managers to implement positive changes and cultivate a culture where employees feel valued, heard, and inspired to do their best work. Whether you're a seasoned executive or a budding entrepreneur, this episode will leave you equipped with the knowledge and tools to transform your workplace into a space where employees not only thrive but also find genuine joy and fulfillment in their roles. Tune in to gain exclusive insights from Josh Levine's expertise and embark on a journey towards creating a company culture that employees truly love.

Join us in this powerful and inspiring episode as we hear from Diana Chan, an Asian Canadian who fearlessly opens up about her college and corporate life challenges. From navigating cultural barriers to overcoming immense obstacles, Diana's unwavering determination led her to become a successful Self Advocacy Coach. Listen in as she shares her remarkable journey of resilience and triumph, inspiring us all to forge our paths against all odds.

Diana has been recognized as Top 15 LinkedIn Experts to follow in Toronto in 2023, LinkedIn Top Voice in 2022 & has been featured 3 times on the LinkedIn Get Hired Podcast. She is also a LinkedIn Learning Instructor with 5 FREE nano courses. 

In this candid conversation, Diana takes us on a deeply personal journey, recounting the struggles she has faced navigating through college and corporate life. Despite encountering numerous obstacles and prejudices, Diana's unwavering spirit and perseverance propelled her towards her dreams. 

As she shares her experiences of breaking free from societal norms and expectations, she reveals how she harnessed the power of self-belief and resilience to forge her path as a trailblazing entrepreneur. Her story serves as a beacon of hope for listeners, empowering them to embrace their unique identities and embrace challenges as stepping stones to success.

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In this thought-provoking and empowering podcast episode we chat with Dan Pontefract about inspiring leaders to take a fresh look at a new coalescence between work and life.

In Dan's upcoming book, Work-Life Bloom: How to Nurture a Team That Flourishes, he takes a dive into integrating professional and personal lives. Just as a flower needs the right mix of sunlight, water, and nutrients to grow and thrive, team members need the right mix of work-life factors to create a fulfilling and harmonious existence. Through primary global research, interviews, and personal experience, Pontefract delves into the current state of work and life, offering practical solutions for leaders and organizations to create environments where teams can flourish.

There really is no such thing as work-life balance: our rigid attempts to achieve it don’t reflect current realities and are, in fact leading us to further burnout, stress, and unhappiness. Instead, he encourages a more holistic approach, promoting the idea of “blooming” in both work and life. Pontefract stresses that for people to succeed, they must reach fulfillment through the integration of work and the personal aspects of life. After all, people bring their work into their lives and their lives into their work; an improved integration is necessary.

Thanks Dan for your insights and for sharing with us your ground-breaking work.

Connect with Dan:

Jason Lauritsen is a renowned keynote speaker, author, and consultant who challenges conventional thinking and brings a fresh perspective to employee engagement and performance management. With his extensive expertise, he passionately advocates for creating fulfilling work experiences for every employee.

Jason's unique approach blends research, practical experience, and compelling storytelling to empower managers and leaders to make a positive impact on their teams. Drawing from his background as both a former corporate executive and entrepreneur, Jason has always been driven to build organizations that prioritize both people and profits.

Having led the research team for Quantum Workplace's Best Places to Work program for three years, Jason possesses deep insights into what distinguishes exceptional workplaces from the rest. His extensive study of the employee experience across thousands of companies has equipped him with valuable knowledge about the strategies and practices that engage employees at the highest level.

As an accomplished author, Jason has published two influential books: "Unlocking High Performance: How to use performance management to engage and empower employees to reach their full potential" and "Social Gravity: Harnessing the Natural Laws of Relationships." These books delve deeper into his insights, offering readers comprehensive frameworks and practical tools for creating thriving work environments.

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Achieving success doesn't have to come at the cost of burnout. Nina brings a unique blend of knowledge and expertise to the conversation with her interdisciplinary background in Management and Neuroscience, and currently pursuing a PhD in Management,

Nina's extensive experience as a speaker and workshop facilitator for various organizations, including conferences, private businesses, non-profits, and MBA programs, has equipped her with invaluable insights into addressing work-life balance and managing stress effectively. Having worked as a workshop facilitator for Apple, Nina knows how to engage audiences and make challenging topics like stress, mental health, and burnout both informative and enjoyable.

As a keynote speaker, Nina uses neuroscience-based insights to inspire individuals and teams to create a harmonious work-life balance. She shares practical strategies and evidence-based approaches to help audiences manage stress at work, find fulfillment outside of their professional lives, and foster resilience within teams. Her talks and workshops not only provide invaluable knowledge but also equip organizations with the tools to cultivate wellbeing at work.

Nina's commitment to research in the field of work stress further enhances her expertise. Her ongoing projects delve into the impact of leadership on employee stress experiences, how individuals interpret institutional messages about stress and resilience, and the role of neuroscience in advancing work stress research. By bridging the gap between academia and real-world applications, Nina's research adds depth and credibility to her insights.

In this episode, Nina Nesdoly dives deep into the neuroscience behind work-life balance, debunking myths and providing practical strategies for listeners to implement in their own lives. Her engaging storytelling and expertise in managing stress and burnout will leave you inspired and equipped to thrive in the workplace.

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In this inspiring episode, join us as we sit down with two remarkable marriage and family therapists, Julianne Guinasso, LMFT and Poonam Natha, LMFT. Both passionate advocates for reshaping the culture of work, they discuss the need for more empathy in the workplace and share their insights on how to create a more empathetic work environment.

Julianne Guinasso, LMFT and Poonam Natha, LMFT have dedicated their careers to helping individuals, couples, and families navigate the complexities of relationships. Recognizing the impact of work culture on people's lives, they have set out to redefine the way we think about work and promote a more empathetic approach through their company, Level Up Leaders Inc.

In this episode, they delve into various topics, including the consequences of a lack of empathy in the workplace, the benefits of fostering a culture of empathy, and practical strategies for organizations to implement empathy-driven policies. Drawing on their extensive experience in therapy and their deep understanding of human relationships, they provide valuable insights on how businesses and individuals can create meaningful change.

Throughout the conversation, they share compelling stories that highlight the transformative power of empathy. They explore the role of leaders in shaping work culture and provide actionable tips for managers, employees, and entrepreneurs who wish to prioritize empathy in their organizations.

This episode will leave you feeling inspired and equipped with tangible steps to start reshaping the culture of work within your own sphere of influence. Whether you're a CEO, a manager, or an employee, tune in to discover how empathy can revolutionize the way we approach work and build stronger, more connected teams.

Connect with Poonam:

Leadership is hard, especially when you don’t feel you’re set up for success. You should be able to feel empowered to lead with authenticity and confidence.

My guest today is Jill Katz, who helps business leaders overcome their hurdles to create an authentic, people-focused business. She is the Founder & Chief Candor, Courage & Care Officer of Assemble HR Consulting, a talent strategy firm that offers custom leadership off-sites, learning programs, coaching, and fractional HR services in the areas of culture, change, communication and conflict.

It’s not just about writing a check. Employment is about focusing on unlocking the potential of your people. Jill places her stake in the ground by stating that people are more important than the revenue because when you take care of your people first, the business will fall into place. Stats show that high-performing teams come from a culture of trust, empathy, and collaboration.

Jill also shares with us her vision and mission to bring people-focused leadership to the forefront of the workplace. It was a privilege chatting with her and we can't wait to have her back on another episode.

Thanks, as always, for tuning in. We’ll see you next week. 

Managers play a pivotal role in any organization, shaping the work environment, driving employee engagement, and ultimately impacting the bottom line. Yet, too often, the focus on technical expertise overshadows the significance of developing well-rounded managers with strong interpersonal skills.

Join us as we sit down with renowned management expert Laura Sukoroff, who dives deep into the critical role of manager training and the immense value of soft skills in driving business success.

Laura Sukoroff, a respected authority on leadership and talent development, shares her invaluable insights on the importance of investing in manager training programs that prioritize soft skills. Drawing from her vast experience working with diverse industries and teams, Laura emphasizes that a manager's ability to effectively communicate, motivate, and build relationships is the cornerstone of their effectiveness.

Throughout the episode, Laura explores various aspects of soft skills and how they directly contribute to business outcomes. She delves into the art of active listening, empathy, and emotional intelligence, revealing their transformative impact on team dynamics, collaboration, and productivity. She underscores the critical role of self-awareness in fostering a positive work environment and facilitating effective decision-making.

Did you know that only 10% of managers actually possess the skills they need to lead others? That means 9 out of 10 managers really need training. That's where Laura comes in. She provides soft skills training to managers, enabling them to confidently connect with, engage, and inspire their teams to do great work. 

Thanks, as always, for staying tuned to the podcast!

Gethin is an award-winning psychologist who has been helping some of the world’s largest organizations to improve their employee experience and wellbeing for  two decades. The last 10 years have been spent working as part of the senior leadership team at Benefex where Gethin leads our thought leadership in the market.

As a frequent writer and speaker on employee experience and employee wellbeing, Gethin has been featured in Forbes, The Guardian, The Huffington Post and The Financial Times as well as all major HR, Reward and Pensions publications. Gethin has been listed as one of the world’s top 101 Global Employee Experience Influencers for the last two years running, is listed on the Employee Engagement Powerlist and is one of LinkedIn’s top global contributors. Gethin is also a regular keynote speaker, Chair of the UK Government-backed Engage for Success Wellbeing Thought Action Group, a Key Stakeholder in UK Government Transport Employee Wellbeing KPI’s and a Fellow at the RSA.

His new book, ‘A Work In Progress,’ brings together evidence from more than 500 studies, exclusive contributions from leading global workplace experts, and captivating advice from in-house wellbeing leaders from organizations including Ocado, Philip Morris International and Serco. This book aims to support CEOs, HR, Reward, Benefit and Wellbeing leaders to fully understand what impact their organization is having on its people and uses some of the latest post-pandemic research and thinking to ensure we are building more sustainable and resilient organizations that employees want to work for and stay with.

I resonated deeply with the content of this podcast and hope you do as well. Thanks, as always, for your continued support and commitment to building a better future for work. 

I’m so excited to share this in depth discussion with you. Mita Mallick shares insights from her new book, Reimagine Inclusion, where she debunks 13 myths that hold us back from transforming our workplaces. She delivers powerful storytelling combined with practical and hands-on ways for us to be more inclusive leaders. 

In this episode she demonstrates that when we show up as more inclusive leaders, we have the power to change our organizations, ultimately creating a ripple effect across our ecosystem. She discusses how to understand, confront, and mitigate our own biases as we commit to do the work that starts with leaders. 

You’ll also discover how to coach future leaders, how to be intentional about how you lead in your organization―both in public and behind closed doors―and how you can become an active participant in building your workplace’s culture.

Throughout the episode we discuss how leaders can:

• Understand the individual's journey in your organization

• Interrupt bias at every key decision point

• Transform your organization’s systems, processes, and policies to improve inclusivity at every level. 

“I believe diversity of thought doesn’t happen without diversity of representation. When you have all those points of views, life experiences, and cultural backgrounds coming together around a table. Colliding, clashing, and collaborating- that’s when magic happens. That’s when we come up with that one break through innovative idea, campaign, innovation- to authentically and purposefully serve customers and communities.”

Mita is currently the head of inclusion, equity and impact at Carta and is a top LinkedIn voice of 2020. Don’t hesitate to pick up her book today.

In this thought-provoking episode we sit down with the inspiring Melissa Villanueva, a visionary leader in the coffee industry and an advocate for social justice. Join us as we delve into the captivating world of coffee and explore how it can be a catalyst for building a more equitable society.

Melissa Villanueva is the CEO and owner of Brewpoint Coffee in Elmhurst, IL. Brewpoint Coffee has been featured in Forbes, Fast Company, Sprudge, and a number of other publications for their inspiring small business journey. 

During our conversation, Melissa shares her personal journey and the experiences that shaped her passion for social impact. She delves into the challenges faced by coffee farmers, particularly in developing countries, and how their livelihoods are impacted by systemic issues such as poverty, gender inequality, and climate change.

Throughout the episode, Melissa shares inspiring stories of individuals and communities who have benefited from the transformative power of equitable coffee practices. She emphasizes the need for collaboration and collective action to create a fairer and more sustainable coffee industry that benefits everyone involved.

Tune in to this enlightening conversation with Melissa Villanueva, where we explore the incredible potential of coffee as a vehicle for positive change. Whether you're a coffee lover, an advocate for social justice, or simply curious about the intersection of business and social impact, this episode will leave you inspired to take action and support a more equitable world.

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I’m very excited to be featuring a very special guest and friend who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in the fields of Steam Learning, Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), and Mindfulness Coaching.

In this episode, I am joined by Allan Howard (not related) who will share insights and strategies for integrating SEL and mindfulness practices into Steam education. We discuss how he and his wife got started on this journey and explore how these practices can support the development of essential social and emotional skills, such as empathy, self-awareness, and self-regulation, while also enhancing team cohesiveness and productivity.

Allan also provides tips on how to cultivate a more mindful and compassionate learning environment, where employees can thrive emotionally. We discuss the benefits of mindfulness practices, such as reduced stress, improved focus, and increased resilience.

Thanks again, as always, for tuning in.

Richard Newman is on a mission to transform your mindset, influence, and future to elevate your work, team, and life. His new book, Lift Your Impact, shares the groundbreaking communication techniques that can help you gain the results and respect you deserve. He includes a toolkit of proven, thoroughly researched and tested techniques to help organizations thrive. 

We had a great chat in this episode where he shares how he was inspired to take a gap year before college that completely changed the trajectory of his life. Since then he has trained over 60,000 people from 45 countries and works with over 100 corporate clients.

Lift Your Impact launches on April 28th and will provide you with a simple, practical approach that allows you to remove the challenges that are holding you back from success and build the future you truly desire.

He also had the chance to sing alongside Michael Bublé, which was a lifelong dream of his. 

Thanks Richard, for your time and attention to these important topics. 

Connect with Richard:

Being vulnerable at work can help create a more authentic, empathetic, and supportive workplace culture, which can lead to improved productivity, engagement, and overall well-being.

Vulnerability can help create a safe space for open communication. When you share your thoughts, feelings, and concerns, you can facilitate more honest and productive conversations with your colleagues.

My guest today shares personal experiences being vulnerable at work and how he works with executives to be more vulnerable as a competitive advantage in today’s ever-changing market. Nick Jonsson is the Managing Director of EGN who provides a safe haven for members to share their work-related challenges, receive support, and learn from each other. 

He is a bestselling author, keynote speaker, podcast host, and award-winning entrepreneur who shares his personal highs and lows in the business world. Throughout his journey, he has learned the power of connection and support. 

When you allow yourself to be vulnerable, you're showing your authentic self, and that can help build trust with your colleagues. It can also encourage them to open up and share their own vulnerabilities, further strengthening trust and relationships…which is good for business. 

Thanks, as always, for tuning in to our podcast. 

Connect with Nick: 

My guest today is Geoffrey M. Roche, Senior Vice President at Core Education, public figure, strategist, connector and collaborator, who has leveraged his skills to develop and train healthcare professionals. 

“We need to create a healthcare system that is equitable. We need to create the right providers and train them to meet the needs of different populations. To think that we are not there yet, in 2023, as a healthcare professional, is quite frustrating. Lives are literally at stake.”

According to Geoffrey, our healthcare system has some systemic, long-known issues that have significantly impacted various individuals and communities, not just in the United States, but across the world. He gives an example that the rate of maternal fatalities is significantly higher for African American women and even celebrities like Serena Williams have had to fight for their right to equitable healthcare. 

We also discussed the aim of empathetic leadership, which is to focus on others first by building meaningful relationships and human-centered connections, always daring to think and go big while fostering prosperous environments for change, and facilitating ecosystem partnerships to drive new solutions and results.

If we lead with our hearts we can truly create a different model for the future of healthcare. 

“Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.”  –Ralph Waldo Emerson

This is a quote I adore and the vibe I get when speaking with Lori on this week’s podcast episode. Lori Michele Leavitt is “The Pivot Catalyst” who has coached, consulted, and trained hundreds of leaders around the world to achieve their objectives and generate extraordinary momentum. 

She speaks globally on catalyzing momentum, leading, pivoting, and workplace culture change. She also leads the 10x!® business and leadership private peer advisory groups. She is also founder and president of Abrige Corp., which offers the Aligned Momentum (A.M.)® program and software to help managers lead. A.M. transforms performance management into performance momentum. 

In this episode we discuss how high performers can transform into the creative leaders needed, unlocking new strategies for growth, and discovering how, when, and why a company should pivot. 

The world of work is constantly changing around us and it’s important to take risks and pivot when the “old ways” are no longer working. Lori has made many pivots in her career and is not afraid to drop practices that no longer serve her. It is a great lesson for all of us to constantly be moving forward. 

Thanks, as always, for tuning in. We’ll see you on next week’s episode!

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Joey Price is one of my favorite HR influencers, I’ve been following him longer than he knows, and am so excited to have him on the show today. He has spent over 15 years in the HR Industry, starting as a Human Resources Assistant, who now runs Jumpstart: HR, an HR consulting for small businesses and startups.

Joey wants people more excited for Monday than they are for Friday. The ideal experience is that employees can go to a job that they enjoy and can feel happy and productive.

“HR is the glue that holds an organization together, and if it’s a messy organization, it’s going to be messy glue, but if it’s a nice, well run organization, it’ll bond well for a reason.”

Join us for a conversation around emerging AI tech like ChatGPT, modern HR practices, and how to embrace employee experience design to achieve a balance of productivity and fulfillment for your workforce. 

Thanks, as always, for staying tuned to the podcast!

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Some call them “soft skills.” I call them “hard AF skills,” because they transcend all roles and should be the center of all our talent development efforts. That’s why I got excited to hear my guest today call them “core skills,” which brings so much light to the importance of our work.

Johnny Campbell is Co-Founder and CEO of SocialTalent, the world’s most popular e-learning platform dedicated to hiring and talent management. Their industry-leading content enables organizations to find and hire top talent, engage and retain their teams, and build diverse, inclusive workplaces.

In this episode we discuss talent development across the three big HR verticals: hiring, onboarding, and development. Leaders have a transformative role at each stage of the employee lifecycle and Johnny lays out some practical steps to take to improve career mobility, development, and upskilling.

“Our goal is simple – we enable companies and teams with the skills and training to hire, onboard, engage, develop and retain great talent. With expert-led training content for every stage of the employee lifecycle, we empower you to attract, find and hire top talent and create engaging, inclusive workplaces where your teams can thrive.”

Thanks, Johnny, for your time today and we can wait to catch up with you on another episode.

Emmanuel is a social entrepreneur from Kampala, Uganda with a passion for upskilling the next generation of talent in preparation for jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities in Africa. In this episode we dive deep into his story and the personal struggles he endured to make it out of the slums in Uganda and eventually lead era92, a youth creative agency training and employing Uganda's young adults in design, art, and technology.

“I believe that talent is equally distributed but the opportunity is not. I am an opportunity creator, committed to releasing the brilliance of millions of unemployed young people in Africa”

Achieving systemic change for low opportunity youth may seem like a gigantic mountain to climb, but I’m so grateful for the efforts of social entrepreneurs like Emmanuel who are on the front lines working to bring about these changes in today’s youth and beyond.

If you are interested in contributing to the movement that mobilizes young adults across Africa, connect with Emmanuel on LinkedIn and visit his website to find opportunities to educate and empower the youth of Uganda.

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The topic of psychological safety in the workplace cannot be emphasized enough. If we fail as businesses to create psychologically safe environments, all of our other design efforts will fall short. The strength of a good leader can be measured by their ability to create a safe space for employees. That’s why we are tapping into the neuroscience behind workplace psychology on today’s episode.

Our guest is Jordan Zezza, a Senior Manager and R&D Data Science Portfolio Management at The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson. Jordan joined the healthcare industry after he discovered a deep passion to support his family and friends in leading a happy and healthy life.

If we are to achieve our ideals of an inclusive and productive workplace, we must build a foundation of psychological safety for all employees. This is the chief cornerstone of all healthy corporate cultures.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by my guest today do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the organization he works for.

Connect with Jordan:

At Call For Culture, we offer a fresh take on workplace culture consulting. If you’ve ever heard me speak, you know our mission is to foster workplace culture partnerships and communities built on meaningful connection, sustainable change, and regenerative outcomes.

Sustainable and regenerative. These are also terms our guest uses several times in this episode to show how the economy needs to evolve to better serve the people it was designed for. Don Golden is Founder at Just Capital Quotient LLC and Chief Impact Officer at Threefold Private Equity, a firm that invests in businesses that are seeking to make a difference in the world by developing a regenerative economic model.

In this episode we cover how partnerships will become more prevalent than ever before, giving more than we take, and leaving a legacy that is rooted in human centered design.

At the end of the day, business owners have a multidimensional platform to achieve a specific purpose. It’s important to get extremely clear on that purpose, regularly communicate it to employees, and constantly reconnect to the higher function of why the business exists.

Connect with Don:

The impact of strong leadership and culture on an organization’s success has already been well documented, and yet some companies are still struggling to implement even the basic culture initiatives for employees. Next level leaders empower their people. With me to discuss is strategy facilitator, board director, and speaker, Alex Brueckmann.

It’s great to have Alex on the show again where he shares some raw and exciting insights from his upcoming book, Secrets of Next-Level Entrepreneurs, 11 Powerful Lessons to Thrive in Business and Lead a Balanced Life. He presents a collection of practical and insightful resources that walk you through how to grow a profitable business while maintaining a healthy and fulfilling life. You’ll learn to run your company while, at the same time, contributing to and improving a community and world we all want to live in.

I appreciate Alex’s insights and that he truly practices what he preaches to make the world a better place.

And thank YOU for tuning in to another great episode.

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According to the Surgeon General’s workplace wellbeing report, 76% of U.S. workers reported at least one symptom of a mental health condition, 84% of respondents said their workplace conditions had contributed to at least one mental health challenge, and 81% of workers reported that they will be looking for workplaces that support mental health in the future.

This tells us that workplaces are contributing negatively to mental health, but they don’t have to. On the show to discuss with us today is my good friend, Raymond Achille. “Recovery Ray” is a Wellness Consultant, Health Equity Advocate, Speaker, and  Podcast Host who owns a wellness and health equity firm called Balance Period.

Balance Period is focused on creating a world where generational wellness is accessible to everyone. They strive to create an environment where family systems and businesses pass down healthy habits from one generation to the next.

“When we think about our black and brown communities in the states and look at the data around their longevity and the different ailments they die from (diabetes, heart disease, hypertension), it is disproportionate to their white counterparts in this country. A lot of what contributes to these ailments is aligned with the habits we practice and the environments we are forced into with systematic racism etc…there is a lot of inequality.”

This is why one of my foundational tenets is to facilitate sustainable behavior change in organizations so we can take care of the humans that entrust us with 8 hours of their day.

Thanks Ray, for your wonderful insights.

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Today we’re going to be talking about how systems change happens and how it’s actually just a culmination of micro progressions and behavioral shifts over time.

Dr. Jacqueline Kerr is a behavior change scientist.TEDx and keynote speaker, and podcast host. Our work intersects when organizations are looking for culture change and we teased out some important tenets when it comes to doing this effectively.

Jacqueline shares some of her journey with us, “I am on a mission to prevent burnout in other working moms and to change the narrative that burnout is an individual problem. It is a systemic problem that needs strategic multi level solutions. I host the podcast Overcoming Working Mom Burnout & I write and speak regularly about burnout and behavior change.”

As scary as systems change may seem, it’s by identifying and taking that first step that leads to healthier and more productive organizations. Thanks for joining us on the show today!

Connect with Dr. Jacqueline Kerr:

Today we’re talking about a crucial topic and experience that is often overlooked in the workplace and within the context of broader well-being and mental health conversations - perinatal mental health.

My guest today is a special one. Kendra Vargas, LCPC, PMH-C, is owner and founder of Authentically You Psychotherapy, PLLC. She is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and a Certified Perinatal Mental Health Professional  in the state of Illinois. Kendra is also a childhood friend of mine (our dads were besties), and the fact that we both have an opportunity to bring our work and experience together for this conversation gives me so much joy!

Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders are among the most common complications that can occur before conception, during pregnancy, or in the first 12 months after delivery (often also called postpartum depression).

We talk more about health disparities when it comes to general healthcare and underserved communities, what perinatal care is, and how it connects to the larger picture of the mental health crisis at work. We discuss where employers and leaders are missing the mark (due to lack of knowledge or acknowledgement) and  how they can create an inclusive and flexible environment where parents and those going through family planning have the appropriate resources and support they need.

Connect with Kendra:

Well that’s a wrap! It’s been an amazing year working with some of the most talented HR, DEI, and Wellbeing professionals on the planet.

We conclude 2022 with my favorite annual tradition by bringing in two top minds from Qualtrics to discuss employment trends for 2023. I'm so excited to welcome Haley Kuschman and Frank Laterza to the show.

We go deep on the research Qualtrics has produced in its Employee Experience Trends report to help you kick start the new year with vigor and employee-centric focus.

Trends we cover:

• Employee Engagement
• Intent to stay
• Inclusion & belonging
• Experience vs. Expectations
• Reclaiming boundaries
• Managing burnout
• Connected to purpose

As we transition to a new year, it’s more important to listen and understand than to have the perfect plan. If you don’t know where to start, ask for feedback on where you should start, communicate your results, and, as always, be caring and transparent. This is an iterative process and I am so excited to be on this journey with you.

Have a great end to your year and we’ll look forward to seeing you again in 2023!

Get the Qualtrics Employee Experience Trends report:

I grew up in a multiracial home in the diverse neighborhood of Roger’s Park, Chicago. It wasn’t until I entered corporate America and grad school that I realized that I was different. I realized I was disadvantaged because I was putting in a lot of energy trying to be someone I am not. We need to do better for the next generation, to enable them to be their authentic and real selves at work.

That’s why I am so eager to chat with my guest today, André Darmanin. André is an inclusive leader, people manager and systems thinker with two decades of diverse international experience in matrixed environments. He is a disruptor and relationship builder focused on equitable and strategic organizational solutions.

André makes the argument, “we need systemic, urban solutions to provide more opportunities to our employees and the people we lead.” Change can happen on several levels at an organization and André is thinking big.

The truth is, building a culture around work should not be a thing, we should be building a culture around culture. Meeting our people where they are and giving them the opportunity to shine, regardless or race, age, or sexual orientation.

Thanks for bringing your best to the podcast today, André.

Also, get excited for next week as I interview Rosanna Durruthy, Vice President, Global Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging at LinkedIn.

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It seems like we are faced with current and global events that impact us on a weekly basis, which can shake our confidence in our systems. Some employees trust their employer more than they trust their government, so we have an important role to capture those communications. As conscious communicators we have to respond and be that source of truth.

That’s why I am excited to welcome Kim Clark to the podcast today. Kim is Co-author of the Amazon #1 bestseller, "The Conscious Communicator: The Fine Art of Not Saying Stupid Sh*t," She is a Speaker, DEI Strategist, and “Perpetual Learner”

“What is an organization, but a whole bunch of people working towards a common goal?” Kim reminds us that all our business activity is a vessel to achieve greater heights in humanity. We need all of us in order to achieve great things.

We all play a critical role in the DEI efforts of our organization. Let’s make sure to be conscious of our communications to provide a safe space to explore our unconscious biases to ensure a team’s communications are supporting an inclusive environment.

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Fear. It holds us back. It makes us doubt ourselves. It keeps us from advancing in our careers. So how can we overcome such an omnipresent obstacle that stands in the way of our success? Joining me today is none other than Dr. Benjamin Ritter to help us navigate this topic.

Dr. Benjamin Ritter is the founder of Live for Yourself Consulting, a leadership coach and podcaster who’s passionate about guiding leaders to be the leader of their own career and create a career they love.

“Leadership isn’t easy. It can be challenging and scary, but you have it within you to overcome your fears and accomplish great things for the people and organization you lead”

I continue to drive this home in EVERY conversation I have, leaders are first and foremost responsible for creating psychological safety and trust among the people they lead. If you are creating fear, you are sowing distrust. If you are creating unity, you are sowing trust.

We must understand how important it is to make this a priority so workers can overcome their fears and achieve what they are capable of.

Thanks again for another great conversation, Ben, we’ll see you all next week!

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“There’s got to be more than this.”

That’s the big question employees are starting to ask themselves, as, in recent years, their employers have shown their true colors behind all this “purpose” talk. Employees have come to value life outside of the office more and have awoken from their stupor that chasing a career isn’t all that it’s made up to seem. That’s why instilling and living a true purpose at work is the best way to bring meaning to the individuals doing the work.

Brandon Peele is Co-Founder of Unity Lab, which empowers organizations to solve their retention, engagement, inclusion and mental health challenges. They create cultures of purpose, empathy, and trust and empower each employee to feel a sense of belonging no matter where they work.

"If you've worked alone long enough, and seek connection and greater impact through collaboration, I invite you into a vibrant community of purpose professionals like you.”

Enjoy this podcast episode where I share some of my culture learnings from my recent travels to Europe and we dig in about how to develop global purpose leaders.

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I’m willing to bet you’ve had more bosses that you’ve struggled with than bosses you were actually excited to work for. Honestly…it’s not their fault. We’ve designed work systems that promote top performers and not the employee with the top leadership skills. It’s time for a change and I am so excited to discuss this with today's podcast guest.

Matthew Sandel’s goal is to wipe out bad leadership. He leverages neuroscience to create better leaders who promote positive culture to change the workplace. I’ve had the privilege of working with his firm, DX Learning, for a while now and I can say that it is the best leadership development training program that I’ve seen. It’s rich, research-driven and empirical.

DX Learning creates learning experiences that lead to new and compelling acts of leadership. This in turn drives visible and immediate change within the organization. DX experiences are quickly and easily adapted to your own company’s values and leadership framework. The focus is not on sharing ever more models and new knowledge, but on embedding vital skills that will motivate people at every level in the business, to achieve more.

All in all, connecting our hearts, hands, and minds will allow us to develop better leaders, strengthen work cultures, and drive forward a regenerative and sustainable leadership model that brings out the best in our people.

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My work is focused on building human-centric companies. I want to help drive organizations to truly put culture first and help leaders worldwide to build profitable, sustainable, and regenerative ecosystems at work. That’s why I get excited when I connect with like-passionate individuals like Fresia on the podcast.

Fresia Jackson is Lead Researcher at Culture Amp and kindred I/O Psychologist so you might notice our excitement escalating the more we talk together 🤩

Culture Amp is a values-driven company whose mission goes beyond just building a business tool. It includes a commitment to providing the education, community, and support companies need to bring a culture-first approach to their employees..

Just listen to Fresia present some of her research around company culture and you’ll see why it is crucial that we keep moving and keep pushing for change. We can build a lasting culture if we dedicate ourselves to the cause.

Thanks, Fresia and Culture Amp, for the foundational work you are doing. Take this quiz to know which direction your company culture is headed.

The Four Company Directions: QUIZ

If you’ve seen the news lately, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with all of the problems we are currently grappling with. Economic downturns, racial injustice, wars on distant shores, natural disasters that ravage the lives of the innocent.

In times like these, I like to turn to my “why,” or the purpose that is driving my work forward. I can be encouraged to know that, at least in my own little corner of the world, I am doing some good to improve people’s lives at work.

That’s why I’ve enjoyed my conversation with today’s guest, Eric Ressler, who has a keen eye for macro changes and helps individuals take action in micro ways that have a big impact.

Eric is Founder of Cosmic, a Social Impact Creative Agency that empowers social impact in organizations to catalyze real world change by helping them nail their impact story, build brand awareness, and inspire action.

When we focus on what drives us, we can do great things, no matter the challenges. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did!

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When you think about what makes us great as humans is that we have the capacity for deep emotional connection. The biggest travesty, however, is when we, as individuals, buy into the concept that our self-worth should be tied to the work that we produce. Aiko and I agree that it is wrong and we are here to address it.

Aiko Bethea, Esq., PCC, is Founder of RARE Consulting and Coaching LLC who specializes in providing leadership coaching and workshops for underrepresented individuals. She has been working with leaders for decades who have a desire to create equitable and inclusive teams, want to develop an awareness of their blindspots, and recognize behaviors and circumstances that create barriers for underrepresented individuals.

“The amount of workplace suicide has gone up 39% since the year 2000. Everything that we talk about in terms of workplace psychology and the workplace being a place where people can thrive is because we are wired to show up with our full selves in the workplace, not just a piece of us.”

Your self-worth is not tied to the work you do. It is reflected in the life you choose to lead.

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At their core, DEI professionals are change experts. They own the challenge of shaking the foundation of traditional corporate cultures to help leaders confront subconscious bias.

I usually talk to white male leaders who recognize that they are entitled and privileged, they will say “I’m the last person you should be talking to about DEI,” but that’s not true! For what they lack in lived experiences, can be made up by actively deciding to use that privilege to do better. We need everyone for diversity to flourish.

That’s just what Valerie sets out to do. Valerie Williams is Founder and Managing Partner at Converge Firm, a diversity, equity & inclusion (DEI) advisory that helps organizations design and implement DEI strategies and have bold conversations. Converge aims to address equity issues at scale and drive systemic change within the workplace.

In this episode, we cover:

• Keeping an eye on the 30,000 level view
• Always coming back to your WHY
• Staying strategic as possible
• Leveraging the ability to improvise

We need to meet people where they are and not where we think they should be. DEI is a function where people can bring so many perspectives and value to work. Let's unleash this potential by giving them a voice.

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How do you measure wellbeing at work? Is it the number of company retreats each year? The number of positive comments among coworkers? Is it how well employees can memorize the company values?

Being someone who works daily in the culture space, a lot of people reach out to me with “symptoms,” but there is a huge gap between the responsibility of direct leaders and the implementation of company culture. We need to look at our day to day behaviors and make sure they match the values that we proclaim to hold at the organization. Wellbeing is the byproduct of a leaders’ behaviors at work.

My guest today is Matthew Jackson, a subject matter expert in the global HR & benefits SaaS space. Matt is passionate about mental health in the workplace with a proven success record at building high performing teams. Matthew believes in better, empathetic leaders, who are bringing the wellness epidemic to the forefront of productivity management and creating healthy programs for companies to take care of their people.

Wellness programs are not an add-on. They are about fixing fundamental business practices to include human experience at work.

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch new episodes every Wednesday morning.

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