Way We Work Podcast with Brendon Schrader

Every single one of us aspires to build a career ignited by passion, driven by purpose, and ultimately, one that leaves an impact on our world. Dr. Arleigh Reynolds is a World Champion Sled Dog Racer, Professor, Veterinarian, Senior Scientist and Director of the One Health Initiative at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Throughout his life, Arleigh has made career decisions that followed a combination of passion and purpose. At the center of his life’s work has been a unique relationship with an unusual group of close friends – his dogs.Early in his career, Arleigh saw an opportunity to meld his passion for endurance sports and his love for veterinary medicine. The result has been a 30-year career that has led him to become a world renown expert in his field and three-time world champion. Arleigh may now be embarking on the most important journey of his career – working on the future of global health and the One Health Initiative.In this episode, Arleigh and I discuss what his dogs taught him about trust an

Have you considered entering the gig economy? A new world of work often described as a work life that is filled with freedom, flexibly and happiness. Although this may be true, striking out on your own and sustaining this type of career forces us to develop new skills and attitudes that are different from those we have used in traditional careers. My guest Diane Mulcahy created the first college course on the Gig Economy. The course gained immediate traction and was named by Forbes as one of the Top Ten Most Innovative Business School Courses in the country. Out of that course grew a best selling book called The Gig Economy: The Complete Guide to Getting Better Work, Taking More Time Off and Financing the Life You Want. In this episode Diane describes the emergence of the “new” American dream, how to create your own security by cultivating multiple sources of income, and the exact steps you can take, while you are employed, to prepare and plan a career inside the gig economy. Take a listen to my conversation

“Why do you get up in the morning?” A simple, yet complicated question that many of us struggle to answer, as we try to understand our life’s purpose – and its impact on our work and careers.My guest, Richard Leider, has pioneered the way we answer that question. Widely viewed as a pioneer of the global purpose movement, his PBS Special – The Power of Purpose – has been viewed by millions of people across the U.S. Richard is ranked by Forbes as one of the “Top 5” most respected coaches in his field. He has written eleven books, including three best sellers, which have sold over one million copies and have been translated into 20 languages. Repacking Your Bags and The Power of Purpose are considered classics in the field of personal growth and human development. In this episode, Richard clears up some common misconceptions about what purpose means, provides specific tools and action steps we can all take to define our own unique purpose, and shares why purpose is fundamental to health, happiness, and longevity

Have you ever experienced the feeling of being an impostor? Millions of people around the globe - including CEOs, PhDs, managers and entrepreneurs – secretly worry they’re not as bright or capable as everyone thinks they are. Dr. Valerie Young is an international expert and an award-winning author on the topic of impostor syndrome. She has spoken to over 200,000 professionals on this topic at some of the world’s largest and most respected companies and universities. In this episode, Valerie and I discuss how impostor syndrome shows up differently in men and women, why it holds us back from success, and what everyone can do to stop feeling like an impostor and unlock their true potential.If you lead, manage, mentor, or parent others - you won’t want to miss this discussion. Listen in on my conversation with Dr. Valerie Young.

As the professional gig economy has grown, millions of well-qualified Americans are now attracted to contract work. The on-demand workforce is stronger and more sophisticated than ever before. This workforce, along with advances in technology, has pushed our corporations, our governments and our society to reconsider what the future of jobs and work may look like.Jeff Wald is the Co-Founder of WorkMarket, an enterprise software platform that enables companies to manage the on-demand workforce. His experience building WorkMarket turned into a deep interest in the future of work, and in turn, spurred Jeff to take both a historical and data driven approach to understanding what this future may mean for all of us. In this episode, Jeff clears up some common misconceptions about the on-demand workforce, shares how technology will disrupt our jobs, and provides some ideas on why the future of work is brighter, better and in some cases, further out, than many of us may think. Take a listen to my conversation with Je

Managing disruption is not new to business leaders. But in addition to the disruptive forces any specific industry may face, there is now an added focus on racial injustice and the realities of the global pandemic – which has added new dimensions to the topic of disruption and its impact on companies.Chiaki Nishino is the President of Prophet, a global consulting firm that helps clients find growth through marketing, brand, experience, innovation and organizational capabilities. In this episode, Chiaki and I discuss the traits needed to lead through disruption, what key priorities have shifted for marketing leaders and the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion – specifically inside the marketing industry. Take a listen to my conversation with Chiaki Nishino.

Regardless of what industry you may be in, the success of any organization hinges on the talent inside. And building teams through the lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion has been proven to lead to strong cultures and high performance outcomes.  By any measure, our world has always been diverse. But factors such as the global economy, shifting expectations of corporate social responsibility, and nationwide protests, all highlight that reflecting this diversity inside our organizations is both the smart and right thing to do. Many of us what to make change, but how do we get started? For over a decade, Chaka Booker has crisscrossed the country identifying and developing talent. He has interviewed nearly 3,000 professionals from Fortune 500 companies, the military, leadership programs, and non-profit institutions. The start of how we make change may reside inside one of our most common business practices - how we interview talent.In this episode, Chaka talks with us about how bias shows up in our interview

A recent CEO study found that 75% of business leaders are concerned about whether they will have the talent they need for the future. More specifically, how a lack of the right talent will ultimately constrain growth.  As businesses look to protect their workforce, they will still face the challenge of skill gaps within the organization.How can companies adopt new ways of thinking as they build the workforce of the future?If you ask Pat Petitti this question, he’s confident he has the answer.  Pat is the co-founder of Catalant, a software platform designed to help companies get mission critical work done, faster. Catalant’s technology, along with an expert marketplace of over 60,000 world-class independent consultants, is designed to manage work differently, while engaging the right talent at the right time.  In this episode, I talk to Pat about the rapid pace of change facing organizations, how an agile workforce can drive innovation and the best piece of advice he received from one of his early investors, e

Now more than ever before, our workplaces are experiencing massive change. As a result of the coronavirus, our offices have been turned upside down and literally, shut down.The global pandemic has forced us all to ask some very basic questions. What changes do we need to make to our workplaces to help our society return to work? And, how do we keep our employees safe? Rachelle Schoessler Lynn is the Workplace Director at Gensler, a global architecture, design, and planning firm with more than 5,000 professionals spread across the globe. At Gensler, she helps design workspaces that keep the health and well-being of employees top of mind.In this episode, we talk to Rachelle about the impact the global pandemic has had on our workplaces, the key considerations needed for us to return to work, and what we can learn from China’s plans to get employees back to the office. Take a listen to my conversation with Rachelle Schoessler Lynn of Gensler.

Today more than ever, large and small companies alike are facing new challenges with their teams. How do we efficiently and effectively manage and engage remote and distribute teams? How can we use people data to put the right people on the right projects at the right time? My guest Scott Burns spends his days thinking about these questions. As the co-founder of Structural, he is working to develop a new level of productivity and connection inside organizations, that in turn, can help harness the talent you have through intelligent search, AI and data science. In this episode, I talk to Scott about the power of human networks, the pandemic’s impact on internal teams, and how a “connected enterprise”, isn’t just busier, but also becomes more productive, personalized, agile, and joyful for everyone inside. Take a listen to my conversation with Scott Burns. 

Have you ever wondered how some people can commit to really big goals and never, ever give up? They have a clear vision, and they strive towards it every single day. A common characteristic that these people hold, is that they have what’s called, grit.But what is grit? How do you get it? Can you train for it? And, most importantly, how do we go beyond grit to reach our potential, achieve our goals and triumph professionally.My guest Dr. Cindra Kamphoff is a keynote speaker, trainer, entrepreneur, and professor who is a go-to high performance coach for some of the world’s most successful executives, athletes, and entrepreneurs.  Based on nearly 20 years of research and consulting, Cindraʼs pure focus is helping people gain a high-performance edge by embracing passion and purpose in their work and life.In this episode, Cindra and I talk about how to build grit and create a high-performance mindset, why creating a vision for your future is absolutely critical, and how mastering your thoughts and knowing yourself

If you ask people what age demographic is driving the US economy, most would respond that the younger generations are the ones spending the money and starting new businesses.But, that couldn’t be further from the truth.By 2030, people over 65 will make up 20 percent of our population. While some think that America’s aging population will drain the economy, my guest Chris Farrell feels very differently. Chris began to research and interview people in their 50s, 60s, and 70s. And in doing so, found how a growing number of older Americans are embracing an entrepreneurial mindset - whether they decide to train for a new career, combine a part-time job with a side gig, or start their own business. In this episode, Chris and I talk about how to find both purpose and a paycheck in the second half of life, what a work community does for your mental health, why the most undervalued asset in the US economy, may very well be, our aging population. Take a listen to my conversation with Chris Farrell.

Minnesota’s economy is vibrant, due in large part to our access to excellent human capital. But staying vibrant could be challenging. We are facing a potential workforce shortage in the coming decades. Jobs should continue to grow, while most regions of the state expect to see declines in their working-age populations. In this episode, my guest is Allison Liuzzi, an expert on demographic trends and workforce development. We discuss Minnesota’s changing demographics, the impact of these important changes on Minnesota’s workforce and talent communities, and why it is in all of our best interest to play a role in solving these challenges that are facing our state. Take a listen to my conversation with Allison Liuzzi.

Work-life balance is an idea that every worker dreams of. But what does it really mean on the job? Is balance even possible in our always-on culture? These questions aren’t new to my guest, who’s spent two decades exploring flexibility in the workplace. Cali Williams Yost is a change strategist, researcher, speaker and founder of the Flex+Strategy Group, which helps leaders build cultures that attract the right people, improve business, and increase employee happiness. She is the author of Tweak It: Make What Matters to You Happen Every Day, and the critically-acclaimed, Work+Life: Finding the Fit That’s Right for You.In this episode, Cali talks with us about the future of remote work, how greater flexibility improves performance on the job, and how all of us can define our personal work-life fit. Take a listen to my conversation with Cali Williams Yost.

People go into business for themselves for a variety of reasons. But whatever your goal, your personal brand is one asset you cannot succeed without. Ryan Estis is a sales professional, business leader, researcher, and a former chief strategy officer. And now, as a sought-after public speaker and writer, he travels the country sharing his ideas about how companies and individuals can embrace change and achieve breakthrough performance. In this episode, Ryan and I discuss what it takes to build a successful business based on your expertise, what skill set is the “knock-out” punch for solopreneurs, and how routines and boundaries are critical for entrepreneurs to manage their mindset, health and happiness. Take a listen to my conversation with Ryan Estis.

What will the future of work look like in 2020 and beyond? How will our workforce change? Will robots take our jobs? Linda Nazereth is economist, author, broadcaster and national speaker. For over a decade, Linda was the Senior Economic Analyst for Canada’s Business News Network. Now, as the Principal of her own firm, Relentless Economics, she provides specialized economics research and consulting services to global corporations, non-profit organizations and governments. In this episode, Linda and I discuss the changing demographics that are impacting our workforce, the acceleration of AI and robotics in our work lives, and how individuals should be thinking about reskilling and training to be competitive in 2020 and beyond. Take a listen to my conversation with Linda Nazereth. 

The post-millennial generation of workers has arrived. And like everything in our culture they touch, work will never be the same. My guest Jonah Stillman is a 20-year-old entrepreneur and competitive snowboarder with a vision for Gen Z’s place in the world of work. And organizations like LinkedIn, Intuit, and the NFL are listening. Jonah and his father conducted national and global surveys into youth trends in the workplace and marketplace. Now they’ve turned their findings into a best-selling book called Gen Z @ Work: How the Next Generation Is Transforming the Workplace. In this episode, Jonah and I talk about what people misunderstand about workers born around Y2K, how they think differently about work and career, and why his generation is nothing like the Millennials that preceded them. Let’s dive in with Jonah Stillman.

When you think about businesses with a single employee, you probably think about modest scale and limited earnings. But who says a very small business can’t hit the big time? Elaine Pofeldt is a journalist specializing in entrepreneurship and careers. She is the author of The Million-Dollar, One-Person Business, a look at how everyday Americans are breaking $1 million in revenue, with no employees besides the owners. A former senior editor at Fortune Small Business magazine, Elaine has written about entrepreneurship for leading publications such as Fortune, Money, Inc. Magazine, and many others. In this episode, I talk to Elaine about solopreneurs who are defying expectations, the pursuit of a great work life and lifestyle, and the recipe for building a million-dollar business without all the overhead. Take a listen to my conversation with Elaine Pofeldt.

In 2005, entrepreneur and investor Scott Belsky founded a company called Behance. Seven years later, with over a million creative professionals using the online platform, Scott and his team sold Behance to Adobe, where he now serves as the company’s Chief Product Officer. Scott is the author of the international bestseller Making Ideas Happen and his latest book, The Messy Middle, about getting through the most crucial phase of anything worth doing. In this episode, we talk to Scott about his multifaceted professional path, his advice for creating a “fully utilized” career, and how all of us can navigate the messy middle of any ambitious project. Take a listen to my conversation with Scott Belsky.

I’m Brendon Schrader and this is The Way We Work – the podcast where explore the future of work, and hold candid conversations about the forces reshaping our careers, workplaces, and work lives. Listen in as I speak with fascinating thinkers and leading experts from across the business landscape as we explore – the way we work.