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In this episode of How We Work, recorded live at Workhuman Live, we sit down with Fadjanie Cadet, an HR and inclusion leader, speaker, and author to explore what it means to navigate the workplace as a first‑generation professional. Fadjanie shares how first‑gen identity often comes with unspoken challenges: learning workplace norms without a roadmap, navigating impostor syndrome, and carrying responsibilities that aren’t always visible at work. Through the lens of intersectionality, she reflects on how organizations can unintentionally overlook this experience and what thoughtful inclusion can look like in practice.

Change is scary, but that fear can be a signal. Something to observe and understand, something to learn from. Cassandra Worthy is the founder and CEO of Change Enthusiasm Global, and author of the book Change Enthusiasm. On this episode, she talks about what one can learn from fear and how that skill, one of many "soft" skills that shape a person's character, is what will help people and organizations continue to grow through change. RELATED LINK: https://www.workhuman.com/blog/soft-skills-vs-hard-skills/

The world of work is in flux. New technologies like AI tools have altered entire industries in a matter of years or even months in some cases. To adapt to a constantly changing world, traits like consciousness, empathy, integrity, and accountability will prove much more valuable to the organization and employees than specific industry experience. Ginny Clarke is an author, speaker, leadership advisor, and renowned conscious leadership expert. In this episode, she talks about the value of mentorship and the mindset shift leaders need to make to get the best out of their people in a world poised for dramatic change. RELATED LINK: https://www.workhuman.com/blog/how-to-develop-leaders/ Ginny's website

Collaboration, communication, and problem-solving are a few skills you often see pop up in job descriptions, but for years, they have been relegated to "soft skills." They're helpful, but not essential especially compared to experience in a certain role. However, that's changing. As technology is advancing, new jobs are being created every year. And because no one has experience in a job that has yet to exist, one's ability to learn, adapt, and work with others becomes vital to doing that job well. Dr. Michelle Weise is the author of the award-winning "Long Life Learning: Preparing for Jobs That Don't Even Exist Yet." In this episode, she discusses how our careers are poised to change, the human skills that will help employees thrive, and the importance of continuous learning in a continually evolving workplace. *Apologies for the sound quality dip around the 28-minute mark. We don't know what happened there (: RELATED LINK: https://www.workhuman.com/blog/soft-skills-vs-hard-skills/

Late in 2023, The She-Suite and Workhuman® collaborated to discover the trends and untapped insights around women’s experiences in the workplace through an intersectional lens. The research explored hidden barriers to career fulfillment along with the importance of recognition and purpose-centered work. Now, the team is ready to share some of the initial findings that leaders can act on today. Joining Dr. Meisha-ann Martin to discuss the research are Julian Wright, a behavioral science researcher and People Data Analyst at Workhuman, and Melissa Dawn Simkins, the CEO of Velvet Suite and the Founder of The She-Suite. RELATED LINK: https://www.workhuman.com/blog/a-new-standard-for-workplace-culture-an-intersectional-approach-to-women-thriving-at-work/

"Our brain loves to tell stories. And usually, these stories about change are negative. They're usually focused on worst-case scenarios. [But] you are the editor of your story. So we can take that in and say, 'Well, that's an interesting story, brain. But let's also imagine what's possible.'" Nataly Kogan is the founder of Happier, Inc., the author of The Awesome Human Journal, and now a returning guest to the How We Work podcast. In this episode, she discusses how she learned to handle dramatic life changes and the daily practice of managing burnout and building emotional resilience. Edited by: Rob Valois Music by: Breakmaster Cylinder LINKS Nataly's site More on well-being at work FOLLOW US: Instagram LinkedIn Twitter Facebook YouTube Workhuman Content Newsletter

One of the biggest trends in work and culture over the last five years is burnout. Workhuman® has conducted numerous surveys in that time frame that all suggest or directly point to significant levels of burnout in various industries and occupations and demographics in which it runs rampant. But burnout's effects are not just felt at work, they're felt in the entirety of an employee's life and are a massive detractor to their well-being. Siobhan Murray is a resilience coach, best-selling author of The Burnout Solution, an international speaker, and psychotherapist. In this episode, Siobhan talks about her own experiences with burnout and how they led her to the career she has. She also talks about how burnout and specifically, the cascading effects on families and friends, is wildly overlooked. Edited by: Rob Valois Music by: Breakmaster Cylinder LINKS Siobhan's website Check out our latest research projects with BLK Men in Tech and The She-Suite. FOLLOW US: Instagram LinkedIn Twitter Facebook YouTube Workhuman Content Newsletter

The manager-direct report relationship is one of the most critical in every workplace. It can make or break the employee experience. What helps make it successful is a consistent check-in cadence for employees to raise concerns or seek support. But beyond frequency, there isn't a lot of training for managers and there's even less research as to what makes them work. Steven Rogelberg is the author of the new book Glad We Met: The Art and Science of 1:1 Meetings, a rare exploration of the recipe for an effective check-in between a manager and direct report. In this episode of How We Work, he explains the responsibilities of managers and direct reports, and ultimately what an effective check-in should look and sound like. Edited by: Mike Lovett Music by: Breakmaster Cylinder LINKS Steven's website Check out our latest research projects with BLK Men in Tech and The She-Suite. FOLLOW US: Instagram LinkedIn Twitter Facebook YouTube Workhuman Content Newsletter

Dr. Kalifa Oliver joins How We Work to talk about using data to initiate change, how to support parents at work, creating boundaries for showing up at work, and why inclusivity isn't hard, but being an a-hole is just easier. Edited & mixed by: Rob Valois Music by: Breakmaster Cylinder LINKS Kalifa's website Check out our latest report -> The Evolution of Work: The Value of an Employee-First Culture FOLLOW US: Instagram LinkedIn Twitter Facebook YouTube Workhuman Content Newsletter

In research conducted by Workhuman® and BLK Men in Tech into the experience of Black employees in the tech industry, four challenges at work rose to the surface: bringing their authentic selves to work, the effect of negative workplace experiences on their mental health, their broader financial responsibilities, and difficulties with career advancement. Kham Ward, founder of BLK Men in Tech, returns to the show to discuss the research, including the power of mentorship and the importance of understanding the financial well-being of Black employees. Edited & mixed by: Rob Valois Music by: Breakmaster Cylinder LINKS Black Men in Tech Kham on LinkedIn FOLLOW US: Instagram LinkedIn Twitter Facebook YouTube Workhuman Content Newsletter

"When people look back on their experiences, they don't store those experiences like videos and just replay them end to end. Most of what we experience dissolves, and what we're left with are just certain scenes, snippets, or moments, and those are the peak moments." Dan Heath is a senior fellow at Duke University’s CASE center, the founder of ThinkWell, and a 4-time NY Times bestselling author. In this episode, he discusses the research behind creating peak moments, including in the employee experience. Edited & mixed by: Rob Valois Music by: Breakmaster Cylinder LINKS Dan's website Check out our latest report -> The Evolution of Work: The Value of an Employee-First Culture FOLLOW US: Instagram LinkedIn Twitter Facebook YouTube Workhuman Content Newsletter

There is no shortage of data in the world of work. But often, it can feel as if analytics and metrics are measured and sent to the ether rather than used as the basis for continual change. As work has evolved, one question has followed: How do we use data to keep pace and even get ahead of changes to improve the employee experience? Kevin Campbell is the Employee Experience Scientist at Qualtrics and Founder of Lifted Leadership LLC. In this episode, we dive DEEP into the power of data and what it can tell us about how to improve the world of work if we choose to act on it. Edited & mixed by: Rob Valois Music by: Breakmaster Cylinder LINKS Kevin on LinkedIn Check out our latest report -> The Evolution of Work: The Value of an Employee-First Culture FOLLOW US: Instagram LinkedIn Twitter Facebook YouTube Workhuman Content Newsletter

Failing or falling short can be a disheartening experience, but often it's also a learning experience. Bouncing back from failure is far more valuable to growth than striving for perfection. Reshma Saujani is an author, speaker, and founder of Girls Who Code and Marshall Plan for Moms. On this episode, she discusses how failure made her more courageous and what she wants to instill in the next generation of young girls so they strive to dream big. "To be great you have to make mistakes, you have to fail." Edited & mixed by: Rob Valois Music by: Breakmaster Cylinder LINKS Reshma's site Check out our latest report -> The Evolution of Work: The Value of an Employee-First Culture FOLLOW US: Instagram LinkedIn Twitter Facebook YouTube Workhuman Content Newsletter

New York Times bestselling author, podcast host, Workhuman Live keynote speaker, and professional troublemaker Luvvie Ajayi Jones joins the show to talk about making friends with fear, causing professional trouble, and living audaciously. Edited & mixed by: Rob Valois Music by: Breakmaster Cylinder LINKS Luvvie's site Check out our latest report -> The Evolution of Work: The Value of an Employee-First Culture FOLLOW US: Instagram LinkedIn Twitter Facebook YouTube Workhuman Content Newsletter

In part 1, we discussed where the workforce is– many employees are still looking for a new job, caretakers and employee resource group members are feeling acute stress, and the way an employee works has a profound impact on their experience On this episode, Dr. Meisha-ann Martin and Dr. Isha Vicaria pick up their conversation with the findings and action steps from the latest iQ report survey, The Evolution of Work: The Value of an Employee-First Culture. Edited & mixed by: Rob Valois Music by: Breakmaster Cylinder LINKS Check out the report -> The Evolution of Work: The Value of an Employee-First Culture FOLLOW US: Instagram LinkedIn Twitter Facebook YouTube Workhuman Content Newsletter