Advertise on podcast: Work in Progress with Christopher Wong Michaelson

Bill George joins Christopher Wong Michaelson for a candid conversation on leadership, purpose, and courage in uncertain times. Drawing on his journey from early career setbacks to leading Medtronic, George reflects on the importance of authentic relationships, values-driven decision-making, and aligning personal purpose with organizational mission. The discussion explores what it means to lead with “true north” amid polarization and crisis, the ethical responsibilities of business leaders to employees and communities, and the growing need for moral courage in navigating complexity and change. Grounded in real-world examples, this episode challenges leaders to move beyond profit as a primary goal and instead focus on impact, integrity, and the long-term good.  Sponsored by The Melrose & The Toro Company Center for Principled Leadership.Produced by Britt CruzEngineered by Tom Forliti

One way in which the University of St. Thomas is  trying to realize its mission to "educate students...to work skillfully...to advance the common good" is with a new course  called Work and the Good Life. Most of our students come here expecting that their college degrees will help them find jobs out of college. But as UST President Rob Vischer says, one reason that we have stellar employment outcomes is that we care about more than employment outcomes. We’re helping to form whole human beings, not just working people. And most of those people don’t just want paid employment; a Gallup study a few years ago found that most of them want a purpose but relatively few would find it early in their careers. So this course is designed to enable  students to think critically about their career choices so they can act wisely on the way to work that serves a worthwhile purpose in their lives and those of others. In the third of a three-part speaker series, students heard from United States Navy Veteran Galon Miller about his work with returning veterans in their quest for work and the good life. Sponsored by The Melrose & The Toro Company Center for Principled Leadership.Produced by Britt CruzEngineered by Tom Forliti

One way in which the University of St. Thomas is  trying to realize its mission to "educate students...to work skillfully...to advance the common good" is with a new course  called Work and the Good Life. Most of our students come here expecting that their college degrees will help them find jobs out of college. But as UST President Rob Vischer says, one reason that we have stellar employment outcomes is that we care about more than employment outcomes. We’re helping to form whole human beings, not just working people. And most of those people don’t just want paid employment; a Gallup study a few years ago found that most of them want a purpose but relatively few would find it early in their careers. So this course is designed to enable  students to think critically about their career choices so they can act wisely on the way to work that serves a worthwhile purpose in their lives and those of others. In the second of a three-part speaker series, students heard from Second Harvest Heartland Chief Development Officer Erica Campbell about her quest for work and the good life. Sponsored by The Melrose & The Toro Company Center for Principled Leadership.Produced by Britt CruzEngineered by Tom Forliti

One way in which the University of St. Thomas is  trying to realize its mission to "educate students...to work skillfully...to advance the common good" is with a new course  called Work and the Good Life. Most of our students come here expecting that their college degrees will help them find jobs out of college. But as UST President Rob Vischer says, one reason that we have stellar employment outcomes is that we care about more than employment outcomes. We’re helping to form whole human beings, not just working people. And most of those people don’t just want paid employment; a Gallup study a few years ago found that 80+% of them want a purpose, but only around half of them would find it early in their careers. So this course is designed to enable  students to think critically about their career choices so they can act wisely on the way to work that serves a worthwhile purpose in their lives and those of others. In the first of a three-part speaker series, students heard from UST alum Quentin Moore about his quest for work and the good life. Sponsored by The Melrose & The Toro Company Center for Principled Leadership.Produced by Britt CruzEngineered by Tom Forliti

Is their one truth or is the truth relative? Are some moral values better than others? Are some cultural artifacts worth teaching and preserving more than others? Guided by perspectives in history, theology, and ethics from St. Thomas faculty (listed below) this conversation aims to foster understanding across differing values and religious beliefs as well as explore how shared values and a deeper understanding of moral differences can lead to a more inclusive higher education culture and stronger societal connections. Dr. Shaherzad Ahmadi, Associate Professor of HistoryDr. Laurel Potter, Assistant Professor of TheologyDr. Christopher Wong Michaelson, Barbara and David A. Koch (“coach”) Endowed Chair in Business Ethics & Academic Director of the Melrose & The Toro Company Center for Principled LeadershipCo-sponsored by the Jay Phillips Center for Interreligious Studies of the University of St. Thomas as part of their 2025 Culture of Encounter Ideas Festival. Sponsored by The Melrose & The Toro Company Center for Principled Leadership.Produced by Britt CruzEngineered by Tom Forliti

Is beauty something that's antithetical to work, or is beauty to be found anywhere and everywhere, including work? During this LIVE podcast recording, hear from St. Thomas students who talk about the future of work that they are hoping for, from professionals who share their everyday reality of work, and scholars who connect goodness, truth, and beauty to meaningful work and a meaningful life.  Student panelists: Cheniqua Morrison, majors in English and Film Studies Joe Burbach, major in Business Administration Katie Iverson, majors in Accounting and Law and Compliance, minor in Philosophy Professional panelists: Maija Garcia, Director of Education and Professional Training, Guthrie Theater Quentin Moore, VP Advancement, Ascension Catholic Academy John Sullivan, J.D, Nonprofit Board Member and Retired General Counsel, Carlson Companies Expert panelists: Mark McInroy, Th.D, Associate Chair of the Theology Department; Founding Co-Director of the Claritas InitiativeWendy Wyatt, Ph.D, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs; Founding Co-Director of the Claritas InitiativeCo-sponsored by: Academic AffairsThe Career Development CenterThe Center for the Common GoodThe Claritas Initiative Sponsored by The Melrose & The Toro Company Center for Principled Leadership.Produced by Britt CruzEngineered by Tom Forliti

Is fantasy football part of the good life, is it just a colossal waste of time – or worse? This podcast is ordinarily about work, but this episode is about play, and whether any redeeming consequences come from the work that a $30 billion industry of analysts, podcasters, pundits, gamers, and other fantasy nerds put into it. To put that question to the test, in Fall 2024, 11 honors students at the University of St. Thomas and Professor Christopher Wong Michaelson formed a fantasy football league for a class called “Fantasy Football and the Good Life.” While playing fantasy football against each other, they also discussed ethical questions in fantasy sports: from fairness to conflicts of interest, racism to sexism in sports, collusion and punishment, and more.  For the final class assignment, students had to select and debate five propositions examined over the semester. The propositions concern the following topics: success, punishment, fair play, luck, and gambling. Who won and who lost each debate doesn’t matter any more than who won and lost on the fantasy football field. To judge the arguments, student judges were joined by one celebrity guest judge: University of St. Thomas Head Football Coach and multiple coach of the year award-winner, Glenn Caruso.  Listen and learn about "Fantasy Football and the Good Life." Thanks for listening to Work in Progress with Christopher Wong Michaelson.  Sponsored by The Melrose & The Toro Company Center for Principled Leadership.Produced by Britt CruzEngineered by Tom Forliti

The Melrose Twin Cities Principled Leadership Award was established in 2021 to honor Ken Melrose, namesake of the Melrose & The Toro Company Center for Principled Leadership and fervent champion of ethics and servant leadership as well as promote an aspirational vision of responsible and responsive leadership in practice. The 2023 awardee, George Lee, is the founder of Jobs Foundation, REPOWERED, and CEO Snap Agency. His genuine care for people is at the cores of his character. Poverty alleviation, vocational skills development, promotion of sustainable industry, elimination of discrimination, urban waste management, hazardous waste reduction, and climate change mitigation are just a few of the United Nations Sustainable Development goals achieved here in Twin Cities as a result of Lee's unwavering dedication to create social enterprises focused on BOTH providing comprehensive job training for individuals facing barriers to employment AND responsible electronic waste recycling. Listen and learn more about Lee and his service to the common good. Thanks for listening to Work in Progress with Christopher Wong Michaelson.  Sponsored by The Melrose & The Toro Company Center for Principled Leadership.Produced by Britt CruzEngineered by Tom Forliti

Is Your Work Worth It? : A conversation with Chad Sokol is the third of three episodes of Work in Progress with Christopher Wong Michaelson featuring interviewees whose stories appear in my new book with Jennifer Tosti-Kharas, Is Your Work Worth It? Because don’t we all, at some point, wonder whether what we get out of our work is worth what we give to it?  Sokol has held some of the best executive positions we can imagine, as the head buyer of wine, beer, and now candy at Costco, the U.S.-based warehouse club retail chain. But on his career journey, he has also operated a drill press machine and herded carts in the parking lot. Did I mention he also performs music and is a published poet? Listen on for his take on what makes his work worth it.  Thanks for listening to Work in Progress with Christopher Wong Michaelson. Sponsored by The Melrose & The Toro Company Center for Principled Leadership.Produced by Britt CruzEngineered by Tom Forliti

Is Your Work Worth It? : A conversation with Kristine Enea, JD, is the second of three episodes of Work in Progress with Christopher Wong Michaelson featuring interviewees whose stories appear in my new book with Jennifer Tosti-Kharas, Is Your Work Worth It? Because don’t we all, at some point, wonder whether what we get out of our work is worth what we give to it?  Enea has had many careers: in law, big tech, writing a book, politics, and real estate, among others. Now 58 years old, she is a student again, preparing for her next career: as a medical doctor. Listen on for her take on what makes her work worth it.  Thanks for listening to Work in Progress with Christopher Wong Michaelson. Sponsored by The Melrose & The Toro Company Center for Principled Leadership.Produced by Britt CruzEngineered by Tom Forliti

Is Your Work Worth It? : A conversation with Dennis Curley is the first of three episodes of Work in Progress with Christopher Wong Michaelson featuring interviewees whose stories appear in my new book with Jennifer Tosti-Kharas, Is Your Work Worth It? Because don’t we all, at some point, wonder whether what we get out of our work is worth what we give to it?  Dennis Curley has sung “Sweet Caroline” at least 1,000 times. That helps to explain why he says, “You can’t base your perception of who you are on what you do.” Listen to what makes Dennis’ work as a music performer worth it.  Thanks for listening to Work in Progress with Christopher Wong Michaelson. Sponsored by The Melrose & The Toro Company Center for Principled Leadership.Produced by Britt CruzEngineered by Tom Forliti

In Search of Careers for the Common Good is a four-part series of candid conversations with professionals across three different career stages – early, middle and encore – discussing the ways in which reality and one’s ideals about careers intersect in the search and struggle to find careers for the common good.   In part four of this series, Christopher Wong Michaelson has a discussion with John Sullivan, who recently retired from a long and distinguished career as a corporate lawyer but who remains active in volunteer engagement with organizations such as the Minneapolis Foundation and the Matthew Shepard Foundation. Sullivan shares his story about following his interests rather than a pre-set plan in his search for a career for the common good. He says, “I doubt that my legal work will be remembered for long, but I believe that I have helped local nonprofits become more effective and I have created significant change for the lives of LGBTQ+ people and my hope is that those changes will inspire additional changes by future leaders.”  This series is co-sponsored by the following enterprises at the University of St. Thomas:  The Center for the Common Good The Alumni, Career & Corporate Engagement Center The Selim Center for Lifelong Learning  Sponsored by The Melrose & The Toro Company Center for Principled Leadership.Produced by Britt CruzEngineered by Tom Forliti

In Search of Careers for the Common Good is a four-part series of candid conversations with professionals across three different career stages – early, middle and encore – discussing the ways in which reality and one’s ideals about careers intersect in the search and struggle to find careers for the common good.   In part three of this series, Christopher Wong Michaelson has a discussion with Lindsey Hickey, CEO of Simek’s, who shares her story about thriving in the chaos of balancing a family while leading a second-generation family business in her search for a career for the common good.   This series is co-sponsored by the following enterprises at the University of St. Thomas:  The Center for the Common Good The Alumni, Career & Corporate Engagement Center The Selim Center for Lifelong Learning  Sponsored by The Melrose & The Toro Company Center for Principled Leadership.Produced by Britt CruzEngineered by Tom Forliti

In Search of Careers for the Common Good is a four-part series of candid conversations with professionals across three different career stages – early, middle and encore – discussing the ways in which reality and one’s ideals about careers intersect in the search and struggle to find careers for the common good.   In part two of this series, Christopher Wong Michaelson has a discussion with recent University of St. Thomas graduate, Katrina Anderson, a park ranger in the Great Smoky Mountains, who shares her story about changing her major, her expectations and her zip code in her search for a career for the common good. She is still figuring out the path to that waterfall but has discovered along the way that she’s allowed to enjoy the view along the journey.  This series is co-sponsored by the following enterprises at the University of St. Thomas:  The Center for the Common Good The Alumni, Career & Corporate Engagement Center The Selim Center for Lifelong Learning  Sponsored by The Melrose & The Toro Company Center for Principled Leadership.Produced by Britt CruzEngineered by Tom Forliti

In Search of Careers for the Common Good is a four-part series of candid conversations with professionals across three different career stages – early, middle and encore – discussing the ways in which reality and one’s ideals about careers intersect in the search and struggle to find careers for the common good.   In part one of this series, Christopher Wong Michaelson has a discussion with recent University of St. Thomas graduate, Cesar Osvaldo Mendez Portillo, a self-described “banker by accident” who shares his story about the importance of building relationships in his search for a career for the common good.   This series is co-sponsored by the following enterprises at the University of St. Thomas:  The Center for the Common Good The Alumni, Career & Corporate Engagement Center The Selim Center for Lifelong Learning  Sponsored by The Melrose & The Toro Company Center for Principled Leadership.Produced by Britt CruzEngineered by Tom Forliti