Work And Life With Stew Friedman

Dr. Suskind is a Professor of Surgery, Pediatrics and Public Policy at the University of Chicago, and is Co-Director of the TMW Center for Early Learning + Public Health. She has dedicated her research and clinical life to optimizing foundational brain development and preventing early cognitive disparities and their lifelong impact. She is also the author of the bestselling book, Thirty Million Words: Building a Child's Brain. This episode Stew and Dana discuss her latest book, Parent Nation: Unlocking Every Child’s Potential, Fulfilling Society’s Promise, and the ways parents can use developmental neuroscience to help their children grow and ultimately to build a society that works for families and for all of us.Here then is an invitation for you, a challenge, after you’ve had a chance to listen to this episode.  Go to https://parentnation.org/get-involved/ and find the Big Shift Tool that Stew and Dana talked about on the show.  Take a few minutes to  respond to discover what you can do

Diana Kapp is the author of Girls Who Run the World and now Girls Who Green the World; Thirty-Four Rebel Women Out To Save Our Planet. Her work as a journalist has taken her inside San Quentin prison and to deepest Afghanistan. She’s covered teen suicide clusters in Palo Alto, apps and bots to fight depression, and her father falling headlong in love at 85. She’s also worked for a senator and a biotech start-up, made ads for Nike, and helped launch women’s sportswear retailer Lucy. She’s got an MBA from Stanford, loves the Sawtooth Mountains, Neil Young, her 5am running club, and climbing mountains. She’s also a wannabe “rancher.” This episode, which is about the biggest work/life issue we can imagine, starts with Diana talking about her father’s finding love at 85, after her mother’s death, and how this demonstrated hope for the future emerging from the despondency of loss.  This heartwarming story sounded the keynote of Stew’s conversation with Diana about the inspiring stories of how the women pr

Dr. Amy Beacom is the founder and CEO of the Center for Parental Leave Leadership, the first consultancy in the US to focus exclusively on parental leave, and the author of The Parental Leave Playbook: Ten Touchpoints to Transition Smoothly, Strengthen Your Family, and Continue Growing Your Career.  She is recognized as the United States’ premiere expert on the personal and professional interplay around parental leave for employers and employees. Amy created the first evidence-based parental leave transition coaching model. She has trained and supervised parental leave coaches both in the US and Australia and the manager-focused training program she created can be found in over 80 countries around the world.In this episode, Stew talks with Amy about her evidence-based model for how to manage parental leave, as a working parent and as a manager or co-worker.  They talk through the three phases of preparing for leave (which is mostly about work), during leave (about parenting), and returning (about be

Christine Porath is an Associate Professor at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. She’s the author of the bestseller Mastering Civility and co-author of The Cost of Bad Behavior. Her most recent book is  Mastering Community: The Surprising Ways Coming Together Moves Us from Surviving to Thriving.In this episode, Stew talks with Christine about her research on the waning of community and the effective ways of reweaving the fabric that holds our society together.  She describes contemporary examples from sports, business, health care, nonprofits and other organizations that illustrate what it takes to create and sustain communities in organizations and the many benefits that result.  Stew and Christine get into how the principles – like building a genuine sense of unity while embracing differences in political, religious and other attitudes – play out in the new world of work and how they inform efforts to save the planet from disastrous climate change. Here then is an invi

Gianna Driver is Chief Human Resources Officer at Exabeam who was a student in Stew’s Total Leadership class 20 years ago.  After spending five years running a global fair trade organization, she went on to build a highly successful career in human resources and recently started a new job at a company that fights cybercrime.  Gianna manages the strategy and processes for building, investing in, and retaining top talent at Exabeam, enabling employees to do their best work. Prior to Exabeam, she was the Chief People Officer at BlueVine, a private fintech company based in Redwood City, CA. Before BlueVine, Gianna led HR and People functions in high-growth technology, gaming, consumer, and SaaS organizations including Playstudios, Aristocrat, Actian Corporation, Talend, and Balsam Brands. In this episode, Stew talks with Gianna about her experiences growing up in Texas, daughter of a Philipine woman who was a mail-order bride, and how that shaped her experiences as an undergraduate student at The W

Lynda Gratton is recognized as a global thought leader on the future of work and a Professor of Management Practice at London Business School where she directs ‘Human Resource Strategy in Transforming Companies.’ Lynda is the founder of the advisory practice HSM and since 2008 has led the Future of Work Research Consortium which has brought together executives from more than 100 companies. Her books have been translated into more than 15 languages. She has been awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by HR Magazine and named by 'Business Thinkers 50' as one of the top 15 business thinkers in the world.In this episode, Stew talks with Lynda Gratton about her latest book, Redesigning Work: How to Transform Your Organization and Make Hybrid Work for Everyone.  It’s a practical guide, with contemporary examples of progressive organizations, for what anyone can do to capitalize on the opportunities created by the revolutionary changes occurring in the world of work, shifts that have the potential to enrich our

Kevin Hancock is the CEO of Hancock Lumber Company, one of the oldest and best-known family businesses in America, and author of The Seventh Power: One CEO’s Journey into the Business of Shared Leadership. Hancock Lumber is an eight-time consecutive recipient of the ‘Best Places to Work in Maine’ award. Kevin himself is a recipient of the Ed Muskie Access to Justice award, the Habitat for Humanity Spirit of Humanity award, the Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizen award, and the Timber Processing Magazine Person of the Year award. He’s also a member of the Maine Indian Tribal State Commission. Kevin is the founder of The Seventh Power, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing economic sovereignty for native communities across America.In this episode, Stew talks with Kevin about how the loss of his own voice due to a rare illness changed his conception of leadership, how his immersion in the culture and values of indigenous peoples informed his radically revised leadership style, how giving voice

Larry Hirschhorn is a Principal and one of the founders of the Center for Applied Research, also known as CFAR (which had its origins at the Wharton School). CFAR is a management consulting firm with offices in Philadelphia and Boston. Larry was also a founder of the International Society for the Psychoanalytic Study of Organizations (ISPSO) and the founder and director of Dynamics of Consulting, a program for experienced coaches and consultants. He has published several books and many articles linking organizational functioning to psychodynamics, among them The Workplace Within and Reworking Authority, both published by MIT Press. Larry has a PhD in Economics from MIT.In this episode, Stew talks with Larry Hirschhorn about his recently published book about the sudden death of his son, called Grieving Aaron: Poems in Response to the Death of My Adult Son. They discuss anger, despair, ambivalence, the various ways different people express grief, the changes wrought by the loss of a loved one, and what it takes

Vanessa Bohns is a social psychologist and professor of organizational behavior at Cornell University. Her new book is You Have More Influence Than You Think: How We Underestimate our Power of Persuasion and Why it Matters.  Vanessa holds a PhD in psychology from Columbia University and an AB from Brown University. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times and Harvard Business Review, and her research has been featured by the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and NPR’s Hidden Brain.In this episode, Stew talks with Vanessa Bohns about eye-opening research on how people undervalue the impact they have on others and what this means for our lives at work, at home, and in the community.  They discuss practical implications for how to ask for help, most effective means for negotiating boundaries between work and home, how to persuade people to take action on social issues like climate change, how embarrassment informs morality, and more.  Here then is an invitation for you, a challen

Alec Ross is one of the world’s leading experts on innovation. A former senior advisor in the Obama Administration, his book is called The Raging 2020s: Companies, Countries, People — and the Fight for Our Future. Alec is currently a Distinguished Visiting Professor at The University of Bologna Business School and a Board Partner at Amplo, a global venture capital firm. During the Obama Administration, Alec served as Senior Advisor for Innovation to the Secretary of State, to help modernize the practice of diplomacy and advance America’s foreign policy interests. He also served as the Convener for the Technology & Media Policy Committee on Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign and on the Obama-Biden Presidential Transition Team. He’s also the author of the bestselling book The Industries of the Future.In this episode, Stew talks with one of the world’s leading experts on innovation, Alec Ross. A former senior advisor in the Obama Administration, his new book is The Raging 2020s: Companies, Countries, People

Rob Cross is the Edward A. Madden Professor of Global Leadership at Babson College and the author of Beyond Collaboration Overload: How to Work Smarter, Get Ahead and Restore Your Well-Being. He has studied the underlying network dynamics of effective organizations and the collaborative practices of high performers for more than 20 years. Rob is cofounder and Research Director of the Connected Commons business consortium. He writes about practical approaches to enhancing collaboration, and is the coauthor of five other books, including The Hidden Power of Social Networks.In this episode, Stew talks with Rob about the causes of the epidemic of too much collaboration at work and how this problem has reduced productivity and well-being in all parts of our lives.  They discuss Rob’s research on how effective collaborators break free from the tyranny of inessential collaboration and then focus their attention and energy on, among other things, finding simple ways to cultivate diverse networks that give them g

Scott Behson is a professor of management and Silberman Global Faculty Fellow at Fairleigh Dickinson University where he is an award winning researcher and teacher. He is published in academic journals as well as in the popular press. He is the author of The Working Dad’s Survival Guide and most recently The Whole-Person Workplace: Building Better Workplaces Through Work-Life, Wellness and Employee Support.In this episode, Stew talks with Scott about insights for action from his new book on how to garner employer support for all employees, and for working parents in particular, in the new world created by the pandemic’s jolt.  Scott describes what he’s learned about what employees want these days, he offers advice for job seekers in the current labor market, and he suggests some practical ideas for how managers can build a better workplace and improve business results.   Here then is an invitation for you, a challenge, after you’ve had a chance to listen to this episode:  What can you

Carmen Fernandez is Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer at Marsh McLennan, one of the world’s leading professional services firms in the areas of risk, strategy and people. She is committed to creating a culture that is inclusive and vibrant with inspiring leadership.In this episode, Stew talks with Carmen about the new challenges in Human Resources today as we strive to emerge from the pandemic; how to attract and retain talent now that so many people have been changed by the experience of remote work and by their increased interest in what matters most in life; diversity and inclusion best practices; what she learned from Stew’s Total Leadership approach, and more. Here then is an invitation for you, a challenge, after you’ve had a chance to listen to this episode: Try using Carmen’s great example of a community-building activity by starting a meeting asking attendees to write a short note of appreciation to someone in your organization. And here’s another great practice from Carme

Daisy Dowling is Founder and CEO of Workparent, an executive coaching and training firm, and in 2021 she published the book Workparent: The Complete Guide to Succeeding on the Job, Staying True to Yourself, and Raising Happy Kids. As an advisor to working parents, Daisy draws on her own experience as a parent, her years in investment banking, and her work in the field of talent and leadership development to help people find happiness in their careers. In this episode, Stew talks with Daisy about her evolution from investment banking to advisor for working parents, the useful tips she gathered from speaking to a variety of working parents across different stages of the parenting life cycle, what it takes to be the mayor of the village that raises your children, and more about how to succeed as a parent and in your career.   Here then is an invitation for you, a challenge, after you’ve had a chance to listen to this episode, and if you are a working parent.  Take a moment to find an opp

Jen Fisher is Deloitte’s chief well-being officer in the United States and the co-author of Work Better Together: How to Cultivate Strong Relationships to Maximize Well-Being and Boost Bottom Lines. As Deloitte’s chief well-being officer in the United States, Jen helps Deloitte’s people to prioritize their well-being so they can be at their best in both their professional and personal lives. In this episode, Stew talks with Jen about relationships at work, how the pandemic as well as technology have had an impact on work connections and performance, and why it’s crucial to care for yourself if you’re going to succeed.   Here then is an invitation for you, a challenge, after you’ve had a chance to listen to this episode. What can you do to care for yourself that will improve your performance at work as well as in your family and in your community?  Share your reactions to this episode and your suggestions for future shows with Stew by writing to him at friedman@wharton.upenn.edu or via

Ulcca Joshi Hansen,  a researcher and education advocate, is the author of The Future of Smart: How Our Education System Needs to Change to Help All Young People Thrive. Ulcca believes each young person deserves the chance to discover their unique potential, and to explore what that means for how they contribute to the world. She explores the disconnect between what we want for our children, what we value, and what our education system is actually providing. She’s a mother of two and a former elementary teacher who has worked in education for two decades. She is herself an English as a second language learner and a first generation college graduate. Ulcca is the Chief Program Officer at Grantmakers for Education, the nation's largest and most diverse network of education grant makers dedicated to improving educational outcomes and increasing opportunities for all learners. She has a BA in philosophy, a PhD from the University of Oxford, and a JD from Harvard Law School. She is a two-time TEDx speaker and

Gorick Ng is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Business School and is now a career adviser at Harvard College, specializing in coaching first-generation, low-income students. He’s also a researcher with the Managing the Future of Work project at Harvard. His new book, The Unspoken Rules:  Secrets to Starting Your Career Off Right, is now offered to employees at companies such as IBM, Houlihan Lokey, Invesco, Cigna, Qualcomm, GE, and others. Harvard Business School has also given The Unspoken Rules to every 2021 MBA student to give them an edge in their internships and full-time jobs. In this episode, Stew talks with Gorick about specific guidance for how young people can navigate school and their first jobs for early career success, with particular emphasis on first-generation and low-income students.   Gorick’s research and practice reveals there are three critical questions one must answer well: Are you competent? Are you committed? Are you compatible?  After Gorick describes how

Richard Culatta is author of Digital for Good: Raising Kids to Thrive in an Online World. Richard serves as CEO of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), a nonprofit serving education leaders in 127 countries. A teacher by training and innovator by inclination, Culatta works to leverage technology to reinvent learning and was appointed by President Obama as the Director of the Office of Educational Technology for the US Department of Education. Currently, he serves as a senior fellow at NYU’s GovLab and as a design resident for the San Francisco-based innovation and design firm IDEO.In this episode, Stew talks with Richard about practical ideas for how we can cultivate good digital citizenship in our children by developing five essential qualities:  focusing on the quality and value of specific content and not on the amount of time spent online; staying informed as a discerning consumer of online content; learning to take in alternative perspectives; engaging in the community; and

Jessica Bacal is director of Reflective and Integrative Practices and of the Narratives Project at Smith College.  Her latest book is The Rejection That Changed My Life: 25+ Powerful Women on Being Let Down, Turning It Around, and Burning It Up at Work. It’s is a sequel of sorts to Jessica’s first bestseller, Mistakes I Made at Work: 25 Influential Women on What They Got Out of Getting It Wrong. The Narratives Project at Smith encourages students to explore their passions and articulate their values and goals through personal storytelling. Before her career in higher education, Jessica was an elementary school teacher in New York City, and then a curriculum developer and consultant. She received a bachelor’s degree from Carleton College, an MFA in writing from Hunter College, and an EdD from the University of Pennsylvania.In this episode, Stew talks with Jessica about how to learn and grow from rejection, a kind of experience everyone has.  She describes how to glean useful data from rejections, esp

Latha Poonamallee is an Associate Professor, Chair of Faculty of Management, and University Fellow at the New School in New York City. In her book, Expansive Leadership: Cultivating Mindfulness to Lead Self and Others in a Changing World, she explains that meditation and mindfulness are tools that can change how we do business and are part of a new way to lead us to a better, more equitable world. Latha created the  Management and Social Justice Conversation Series that she hosts at the New School, and serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the Society of Advancement of Management’s Advanced Management Journal. She is also a tech entrepreneur; she co-founded In-Med Prognostics, a neuroscience AI venture that brings affordable and accessible brain health tools to underserved markets.In this episode, Stew talks with Latha about her optimistic view of how the pandemic can change for the better the way we do business. They discuss how mindfulness can increase the resilience of individuals and organizations alike a