In this episode of Empowering Workplaces, host Sanja Licina, PhD sits down with Dr. Serena Huang, AI leader, people analytics expert, and author of The Inclusion Equation. Together, they explore the intersection of data, AI, and human behavior, unpacking how organizations can move beyond good intentions and start building environments where people feel safe to speak up, contribute, and challenge the status quo.

Serena shares insights from her experience leading AI and analytics at companies like PayPal, GE, and Kraft Heinz, including the surprising moment when an algorithm predicted her own resignation. The conversation dives into responsible AI, bias in hiring technologies, and why psychological safety is far more nuanced than most organizations realize.

If you care about leadership, culture, and the future of work, this episode offers both practical frameworks and thought-provoking perspectives on turning data into meaningful change.

Visit LeaderWorks website and learn more about the Family 360: leaderworks.co

You’ll also learn about three dominant work mindsets: Universalists, Transactionalists, and Stewards, and how leaders can shift their cultures to meet diverse expectations.

If you care about performance, retention, and designing better workplaces for everyone, this episode offers powerful insight, clear data, and immediate takeaways.

Download The Business Risk of Work-Related Angst Study: https://www.fractionalinsights.ai/the-business-risk-of-work-related-angst

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With 20+ years in healthcare HR, she shares the ups and downs of piloting initiatives like a four-day workweek pilot, why really listening to employees matters, and how being authentic keeps teams engaged and motivated.

Join hosts Sanja Licina, PhD, and Guille Santana for this inspiring conversation full of real talk about making work better and more meaningful. Plus, Lynn’s top tips for HR leaders trying to do the same.

An AI tool helped us write this description, and that’s ok!

• The “gray areas” of analytics that threaten workplace ethics.
• A seven-step HR Analytics Cycle to build and scale evidence-based practices.
• How to create smarter, more ethical workforce decisions without crossing the line.

Tune in to learn how to balance data innovation with ethical responsibility for a better workplace.

• Practical tips on asking for raises and promotions.
• Advice for navigating complex office politics and advice for women who feel they must choose between being liked and being respected?
• What allies—both men and women—can do to support women in their quest for success in the workplace.
• And much more!

This conversation is a must-listen for anyone who wants to feel more empowered and is passionate about empowering women and transforming organizational culture as well.

Eric also addresses the pressing issue of burnout and provides actionable advice on how organizations can support their employees’ well-being while ensuring accountability. Join us for an enlightening conversation that aims to help you create a thriving workplace culture.

In the episode we explore how these simple yet profound acts can enhance our personal and professional relationships, fostering a culture of mattering and belonging. Tune in to discover practical tips for crafting your own grace notes and learn how such gestures can create lasting, positive ripple effects in our lives and workplaces.

Join us as Urs discusses the critical need for a human-centered leadership approach in today’s fast-paced world. He talks about the balance between being a firm, results-driven leader and maintaining genuine human connections with your team. He also provides actionable insights on the power of feedback, the role of vulnerability in leadership, and how to challenge traditional top-down management styles.

You can also learn more about the hosts Sanja and Guille, and the sponsor of Empowering Workplaces, QuestionPro Workforce here.

Whether you’re new to people analytics or looking to refine your approach, this episode is packed with valuable lessons and actionable insights. We discuss the four pillars of Productizing the People Analytics Function (governance, infrastructure, methods, products), the balance between building and buying capabilities, and much more. Throughout our conversationIan Ian shares both his expert advice as well as practical examples to help you navigate and enhance your organization’s data strategies.

Melis has an incredible wealth of knowledge on the topic of wellbeing, and shares numerous research, as well as her vast experience, which provide a solid support for her recommendations.

If you’re interested in learning more about how employee wellbeing can drive engagement, productivity, and fulfillment in the workplace, as well as how to even better advocate for, and drive, wellbeing initiatives inside your organization, you have to tune into this episode.

 How can organizations effectively continue to support programs, ones focused on wellbeing for example, even in the face of adversity? Join us to learn more about how organizations can continue to drive positive change, even in a post-pandemic world, to continue to create more empowered workplace cultures.

Shed is an igniter, speaker, and master facilitator who as a part of his career trajectory had also worked on Simon Sinek's team for over a decade.In this episode, we talk about the importance of psychological safety in the workplace and its role as the foundation of high-performing teams. 

Shed shares his insights on creating environments where employees feel safe to voice their ideas, concerns, and feedback, emphasizing the transformative impact this can have on organizational culture and success.If you want to get ideas and practical tips for how to create an environment where everyone feels valued, heard, and encouraged to contribute their best, while also feeling inspired along the way, this is a great episode to tune into.

Based on recent research, only about 30% of people reporting high trust work relationships, and 35% are experiencing neutral to toxic workplace dynamics. Why is this happening? 

We discuss research and our take about the underlying factors driving these trends.Tune in to get some ideas for both how you can measure, and strengthen, trust across your organization.

Mine sheds light on crucial considerations, recognizing that the shift is not merely about where we work but fundamentally about how we work.Whether your organization is currently embracing remote work or in the process of contemplating a return to the office, this episode is a must-listen.

Throughout the episode, Stephanie highlights the crucial realization that behind every data point of every survey lies a unique story, an individual narrative, and shares practical advice and best practices for creating employee listening programs. No matter the size of your organization, or where you are on the employee listening journey, we are certain you’ll walk away with some great learnings from our conversation with Stephanie.

During our conversation, Richard shares practical examples and strategies for harnessing the power of these channels to make informed decisions that positively impact your organization. This episode is a must listen for anyone seeking to enhance their understanding of workforce dynamics and drive success in the ever-evolving landscape of People Analytics.

The episode also explores the transformative power of feedback in improving one’s leadership capabilities. Shelmina shares her experience with 360-degree assessment and the crucial lesson it taught her in delivering constructive feedback for professional growth.

Don’t miss out on the invaluable insights and career advancement advice shared in this episode.

Discover the transformative power of authentic acknowledgment, its impact on employee engagement, and how fostering a culture of recognition resonates at every organizational level. Tune in to unravel the fabric of recognition's influence on workplace dynamics and organizational success.

Zoe shares her background, experiences, and insights on fostering recognition, rewards, and a culture of appreciation within organizations. The discussion explores the impact of recognition programs on employee engagement, the importance of tying rewards to company values, and strategies to design effective recognition initiatives. 

In this episode, Jordana examines into the misconceptions surrounding perfectionism. She distinguishes between healthy drive and the relentless pursuit of unrealistic standards driven by fear. Drawing from her own experiences as a lawyer, she identifies the negative impact of perfectionism on mental health, wellbeing, and overall success.

Don’t miss out on this fantastic episode!

Dr. Shaffer’s insights will challenge your preconceptions and provide you with the tools needed to navigate life’s complexities. Whether you’re a professional striving to optimize your time or a parent committed to supporting your child’s growth, we’re sure this episode will be a source of invaluable wisdom for you.

Join us as we uncover the impact of integrating spirituality into our professional lives, fostering inclusivity, and redefining how we connect with our work and colleagues. Don’t miss this conversation with a true enthusiast for creating empowered and harmonious workplaces.

Discover the surprising findings from Cassie’s research, including the relationship between discretionary time and happiness, the power of turning routines into rituals, and the importance of savoring everyday moments. You’ll leave this episode with practical insights to invest your time more wisely and find joy in the ordinary.

Join us for an insightful and data driven conversation with Serena Huang, PhD, Founder and CEO of Data with Serena and Chief Data Officer at Abe, that sheds light on the importance of tailoring strategies to meet the unique needs of employees while fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion and creating a culture of wellbeing.

Eric shares both strategic and practical advice from the first moment that World Market decided to evaluate their values, all the way to how they are bringing them to life during every step of their employee journey. This episode is a must listen for all culture champions who are looking for better ways to use employee surveys as a part of their organizational strategy, especially when it comes to redefining their organizational values and using them to ignite their culture.

Join us as we unveil Erin’s inspiring story, her strategies for self-exploration through journaling and meditation, and the profound impact that embracing your genuine self can have on your overall life satisfaction. If you’ve ever felt confined by the pressures of conforming to external expectations, this episode is a must listen.

Discover the transformative power of assessing and nurturing the diverse facets of your life – from career and relationships to health and personal growth. As we hear stories of self-discovery and growth, you’ll gain insights into aligning your values and priorities to lead a purpose-driven life.

Aoife shares her personal journey from the fast-moving consumer goods industry to becoming an expert on workplace culture, imposter syndrome, and podcasting. Learn how imposter syndrome affects visibility, novelty, and representation, and gain insights into recognizing and managing these challenges.

The conversation delves into the impact of multiculturalism in today's workplace and its evolution over time. Juana emphasizes the importance of embracing diversity and intersectionality, as well as the value of young generations in revitalizing the workforce. With millennials and Gen Zs shaping a new electorate and identifying as multicultural, the hosts explore how these emerging leaders can bring hope and positive change to society.

Discover how remote work has provided a unique opportunity to glimpse into the personal lives of employees, bringing a newfound sense of authenticity and human connection to professional interactions. Kori explores the impact of creating comfortable, relaxed environments that foster organic collaboration and meaningful conversations.

With years of experience and research, our guests shed light on the importance of psychological safety and how it enables high-performing teams, fosters innovation, and cultivates a sense of inclusion and belonging. Discover practical strategies for individuals and organizations to enhance psychological safety and create safer, more empowering workplaces.

Join us as we explore what psychological safety means, how it impacts workers, and why it is gaining significant attention in today’s workplaces.

Throughout our conversation, we emphasize the importance of evidence-based decision-making, effective governance, and integrated approaches within organizations. Moreover, we delve into the advocacy for a purpose-driven workplace experience that aligns individual, team, and organizational goals, all while addressing the crucial aspects of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The discussion touches on the responsibility of managers to show up for their people with empathy and compassion, and the role of organizations in equipping managers to support employee wellbeing. Dr. Safeer provides insights and tips for creating a healthy workplace culture that empowers employees and leaders to prioritize mental health and wellbeing.

She explains the concept of biomarkers and how they can be used to identify the things that indicate a problem in leadership, and emphasizes the importance of taking care of oneself and filling one’s own energy cup to show up authentically in the workplace. We also share an interesting data point: According to a recent QuestionPro Instant Answers Survey, 64% of people feel like they can be their authentic selves at work as a leader. However, 28% of people responded with “somewhat”, 5% said “not really”, and 4% said “not at all.”  Tune in to hear Dr. Warner’s insights on how to cultivate authenticity and energy in your leadership style.

Does your company suffer from "awkward collaboration", "heavy agility" or "incomplete innovation"? Find out in this fascinating conversation.

With only 30% of workers responding with self-kindness versus self-criticism when they make a mistake a work, and just a half saying their manager supports them when they are at distress, we have a ways to go to create more compassionate workplaces.  During this episode we discuss the importance of compassion in the workplace and how to better instill it and cultivate it inside the workplace.

With a focus our discussion on action and impact, and among other findings discuss the general lack of satisfaction among workers with current efforts to foster a diverse culture across organizations. Tune in as we explore the importance of creating a supportive and inclusive workplace culture and the impact it can have on employee satisfaction and retention.

You can find the full study here: https://www.questionpro.com/diversity-equity-inclusion-study.html 

In this episode, we are joined by special guest Daniel Strode, Group Director of Culture & Strategy at Banco Santander and author of the book The Culture Advantage: Empowering your People to Drive Innovation. With Dan we delve into the principles that shape organizational culture and discuss how managers play a crucial role in creating a strong and positive work environment.

These are the data points that we discussed during the conversation with Dan, that we collected from 600 workers through QuestionPro surveys.

How open do you think your employer organization is to change?

Extremely open, we are frequently going through change 43%

Somewhat open, we are not always changing but it's does happen 30%

Not very open, there is some change but it's very rare 20%

Not at all open, I feel like we have barely changed at all 7%

How important do you think company culture is to your manager?

Extremely important 39%

Somewhat important 44%

Not very important 10%

Not at all important 8%

We are two friends who created this podcast to talk to all kinds of fascinating people about how to empower BOTH employees and companies to create the kinds of human, empathetic, happy workplaces we all aspire to have.

We talk to people doing big things inside a variety of companies, as well as authors, consultants, coaches and other individuals who have a story to share or really inspirational research. We really love data so we always share new and interesting data and insights related to the topic at hand!

If you have ideas about people we should have a conversation with, or maybe that’s you! Let us know! You can find us at empoweringworkplacespodcast.com.

From today Work@Life podcast will be called Empowering Workplaces. We are stepping into the new year with a clear mission, and a name that we felt best reflects that mission. We want to help empower organizations to be the best places for their people, and help empower workers to be the best version of themselves.

Thank you so much to those who have been on this journey with us, we can't wait to show you what we have planned for 2023!

Join us and our special guest Darya Belsner, Business and Leadership Coach, as we talk about how she uses the saboteur assessment in her work to help people grow personally and professionally .You can discover your saboteurs and what may be holding you back by taking this assessment: https://www.positiveintelligence.com/saboteurs/

While there may not be a magic answer, there are things that both employees and employers can do to make this feeling of fulfillment and flexibility a reality. In today’s episode, Jennie Dede, Director of Sales, Search and People at LinkedIn, a wife and a mom of two amazing boys, joins us to discuss how to prioritize the things that matter most in work, and life.

Join us with our special guest Andy Nester, Chief Marketing Officer at Firstup, for a conversation about how to effectively manage getting the right information, at the right time.

Join us in this conversation to Dr. Deborah Gilboa, author of the book From Stressed to Resilient: The Guide to Handle More and Feel It Less to talk about how to deal with stress better and practice resilience.

These issues of sustainability and ethical corporate responsibility have been important for decades, but never more than now as climate change, the environment and also underserved communities are becoming more and more top of mind for workers. Do you know if your company does anything in these areas? Find out what our data says, and listen to Keesa describe how this issue is more important than ever.

In this episode we’re joined by Mihaela Berciu, Leadership Breakthrough Specialist, who focuses on exploring personal and professional values, understanding aspirations, removing barriers and visualizing the path to success.

In this episode, Jared Weintraub, PhD and founder of The Flow Group, LLC joined us to have a conversation on how to create the best conditions (individually and organizationally) for being in flow.

Burnout is something that can affect anyone and has resulted in whole industries of self-help and related solutions… but what if the responsibility for fixing burnout doesn’t actually lie within the individual worker? What if the antidote to burnout is actually community, as well as a different kind of leadership?

Regardless of how you define happiness, most of us are often looking for more of it. So, how do we go about feeling happier? Join Sanja Licina, PhD and Maddie Grant as they discuss the meaning of happiness, fulfillment and purpose and how it all intertwines with work and our personal lives.

In this episode, Kasey Chas, Culture Cultivator and Mental Health Educator at Dopple XR joins us to share how a holistic approach to employee wellness can better encompass all of the aspects that contribute to individual physical, mental and emotional health.

Join Sanja Licina, PhD and Maddie Grant in this episode, where they discuss how compassion will become an increasingly important skill and how leaders can effectively develop it to lead teams and grow businesses.

Joining us for this episode is Ashley Menzies Babatunde, Attorney, Storyteller and host of the podcast “No Straight Path”, who talks to us about the story behind her success and how when she realized that her path wasn't linear anymore, it sent shockwaves to the system.

We are joined in this episode by Anna Bruns, Head of Talent and Culture at Popmenu, who talks about how the head of talent can work hand in hand with the CEO in building a culture where both the people and the business thrives.

In this episode, we talk about both the simple and the complex things that keep us going, and what can we do to start walking on the sunnier side of the street.

She joins us as she launches her newest book: Get Your Career in SHAPE: A Five-Step Guide to Achieve the Success You Need, Want, and Deserve.

For this episode, our guest Yaagneshwaran Ganesh —also known as Yaag— host of the podcast ABM conversations, joins us to talk about how effectively marketing your company culture can significantly help you employment brand.

The answer may be in creating succession chains based on skill and merit, and making them fit into the organization’s plans for the near future, while preparing leaders and direct reports for a vast array of possibilities.

Joining us for this episode is a very special guest, Julie Rodda, PhD, Talent Management Leader, to talk about the future of succession planning and career development and how to best prepare for it.

Managers can play a monumental role in helping their teams thrive on their own terms. This starts by giving them choice and flexibility, so that they can work in the best way that suits them, and not necessarily adhering to the usual four walls, 9-to-5 gigs. Because work is not defined as something that you come to the office for nonetheless, it is something that you do. So, why are some managers still so hesitant to provide this flexibility?Joining us in this episode is Meighan Newhouse, CEO & Co-Founder of Inspirant Group, who shares some actionable ideas for challenging the norm.

Joining us in this episode is Michelle Armer, Chief People Officer at C.A. Fortune, who shares her journey about redefining their values, aligning them with business outcomes, and driving behaviors through them.

How do we combat that nagging feeling that we should be spending all of our time being productive, and on others? Join Maddie Grant and Sanja Licina, PhD, in this conversation about self-care and how to build the best journey for yourself.

Join us and our very special guest Cecil Puvathingal, Vice President of Sales at On The Stage, for this conversation about authenticity and empathy in the workplace.

Whether it’s a product of miscommunication, a result from working in silos, unresolved tension, or lack of direction… conflict shows up when you least expect it — and, for that reason, it’s important for HR Departments to address new factors of workplace discord and prevent additional issues from arising among employees.

Join our discussion with Jamie Notter, Co-Founder and Culture Strategist at PROPEL, to learn more about how can companies manage conflict in today’s changing work environment.

In today’s episode, Sanja Licina, PhD, and Maddie Grant, tackled the concept of pay from the increasingly important angles of recruiting, attracting, and retaining talent — and, of course, building a sense of community at work.

In today’s episode, hosts Sanja Licina, PhD and Maddie Grant, highlight relevant datapoints from a survey study of over 3,000 workers across the globe, and why it’s important to understand the differences between how managers and individual contributors may experience a company culture to make well-informed decisions about your strategy.

We are at a pivotal moment where we can create truly innovative and sustainable DEIB programs, focused on four main employee lifecycle pillars: recruitment, development, promotion and retention. All the changes we are experiencing in the labor market truly provide The Great Opportunity to make a significant mark on these initiatives. Are you ready to accelerate your progress?

Our special guest Arti Pullins, CEO of Pundit Consultantz, joins us for this very special episode of Work@Life to share her perspective on what people, and organizations, can do to make this stage we're going through a long-term win-win for both parties.

Join this conversation with our special guest Meighan Newhouse, founder of Inspirant Group, and learn about how organizations can encourage their employees to seek out help when they most need it, and the process of understanding yourself and others.

Listen to this conversation with Alex Assaley, CEO of AFS 401(k) Retirement Services. Our big question for today's conversation was, "In what ways will Baby Boomers working longer have an impact on today's workplace?"