Dear Workplace

Did your smart watch tell you that you didn't get enough sleep? Well today's guest is here to tell you that data is not complete. Meet Dr. Russell G. Foster, the Head of the Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology and of the Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute at the University of Oxford. In other words, he has thought a lot about sleep and the science of it for a long time! In his studies he...

Sleep is crucial, yet as busy professionals and leaders, achieving quality rest can feel challenging. Today, our guest Nicolas Decat , a Paris-based PhD student, will shed light on why we need to rethink our approach to sleep to thrive in both work and life. We'll explore Decat's research on the science of sleep and creativity. Join us on Dear Workplace as we delve into the methods and insights of...

How does diversity drive value in business and the supply chain? Supplier diversity leaders offer a wealth of insights, yet this field often remains overlooked. Join me in the coming weeks as we explore key questions: Why is supplier diversity overlooked? How does it benefit companies and communities? And how can we lead more effectively? Our first guest is Kristin Malek, based in Chicago, a veter...

Learning shapes leadership, but how we learn is equally crucial. In today's discussion, I'm joined by Ross Robinson from St. George, Utah, who specializes in training leaders and trainers. Drawing from his global experiences and diverse upbringing, Ross emphasizes the importance of meeting people where they are, especially in training, sales, and people development. As Head of Client Success at Ac...

Leadership evolves, especially when we become parents. But this transition isn't often discussed. How can we navigate this new terrain more effectively? We sat down with Nicola Fitzpatrick , Director of Operations at Medtronic in St. Paul, Minnesota to explore her journeys as a leader and as a parent. Join us on Dear Workplace as we delve into these important conversations about balancing leadersh...

I've often found the mergers and acquisition (M&A) process to be expensive and exclusive, leaving many unsure of where to start or how to succeed. Like dating, it's about finding the right partners and building a dream team, whether you're buying or selling a company. And let's not forget about culture – M&As in the United States, Asia, and Europe all come with unique challenges. Enter Marcus Yeun...

About 70-90 percent of mergers and aquisitions (M&As) fail within their first year. Why? Despite being a longstanding business strategy, M&As continue to stumble. In the coming weeks, we'll explore this complex world and uncover why M&As are so challenging, and how we can improve. Our first guest in this series is Jennifer J. Fondrevay, known as the "M&A Whisperer." With three M&A experiences in m...

After years in finance and business, Sam Paik noticed a troubling trend: overwork starting from childhood. Reflecting on the importance of childhood play and creativity, Sam saw a gap in the next generation's access to these vital experiences. Determined to make a change, he founded several education-focused companies, including Momo Camp. As a serial entrepreneur and educator, Sam is on a mission...

Have you ever found yourself moved to tears while watching a K-drama? You're not alone, and our guest today is here to explain why! Therapist Jeanie Y. Chang recognized the importance of mental well-being, yet found existing information too clinical and distant. Combining her expertise as a licensed marriage and family therapist and certified clinical trauma professional, Jeanie noticed how conver...

Anyonghaseyo! 안녕하세요! We're thrilled to welcome our guest today, Hyunwoo Sun, Founder and CEO of Talk To Me in Korean (TTMIK). Hyunwoo began his Korean language educational services in 2009, recognizing a gap in language learning options. Starting with a meetup in Seoul, he observed limitations in available tools. Understanding the transformative power of language, Hyunwoo aimed to make learni...

What would beer infused with Kimchi, rice, or lemongrass taste like? 'Wholesome' is the word Dokkaebier aims to evoke! Meet Youngwon Lee, Founder and CEO of Dokkaebier. In 2020, he launched this award-winning Asian-inspired brand, his fifth venture in the alcohol industry, to introduce innovation and diversity to craft beer. With only 2 percent of U.S. breweries owned by Asian Americans, according...

Today, the Korean Wave has swept across the globe, but for many in the Korean diaspora like myself, feeling truly seen hasn't always been the case. What's changed, and how have innovators embraced Korean culture to build thriving businesses? As we launch our new series, 'Falling in Love with Korean Culture,' we're thrilled to begin with the story of muralist Julia Chon, known as 'Kimchi Juice.' Ba...

Today, most product innovations are focused on two senses: vision and audio. However, this overlooks the experiences of over 2.2 billion people with vision impairment or blindness, leaving them unable to fully engage with the world. When Keith Kirkland first recognized this issue, he was struck by curiosity: How could his passions for fashion, technology, industrial design, and engineering contrib...

Welcome to our first live conversations at Dear Workplace! I'm excited to share a sneak peek into the special day I had with DC Women Techmakers event in Washington D.C. I hosted on March 25, 2024. Women Techmakers (WTM) is a community program backed by Google and led by local community leaders like myself, and I'm thrilled to have made this event come to life with my friend Megha Sanghvi. As we b...

AI has changed how we work, but how much are we keeping up with it? Today's guests are excited to shed some light on today's AI development and how its future is changing. From starting several AI startups to making sense of how to navigate AI skills in the workplace, we'll explore how we can upskill with AI. Meet Stephanie Wong from San Francisco and Alexander Fred-Ojala from Stockholm, Sweden. B...

If AI can help everything, what about skincare? You may be surprised, but somebody has thought of that solution and has made headways in how we rethink skincare products and innovation. Meet Yarden Horwitz, co-founder of SPATE, who is changing how we do skincare innovation and market research with the help of AI. Studying the market is key for any product development and today, your product can ta...

AI is everywhere, but how much do you know? I'll be honest. I'm still making sense of it, and today's guests are here to say it's ok! For the next few weeks, we will speak with leaders who are building careers and companies in AI, making sense of the technology and its changes. And today's guests are a special start as we kick off the series. Meet Anne T. Griffin in New York and Andrew Ngui in Kan...

How can we cultivate better leaders, and why is leadership development so important? In today's conversation, we want to dive into leadership development by meeting two leaders working on L&D in different ways - in international development and technology. While where they are may look different, why they value leadership development and want to encourage you to invest in yourself may resonate. Me...

Why do some people love what they do, and how can they build such careers? Public relations and software engineering are two competitive careers that could lead to burnout but also great success if you do it right. I was curious. Even if you don't choose to work in these fields, there is something important to learn about their journey that you'd want to include in your career development. Meet so...

What if I don't have the right connections or a traditional resume? How can I find good jobs and stay calm from all the applying? You're not alone. Many people fall under this category, and we wanted to investigate further what we could do differently. This is the very gap that Jerry Lee and Jonathan Javier wished to address as they started their careers at Google. Learn how Wonsulting started and...

The job market has been weird lately. Despite the growing economy, we still see many layoffs and burnout in the workplace. What is going on, and why is this happening? Is it the right time to find a job? If so, how can I position myself to get the best pay? Luckily, we have Dr. April Willis and Lola Han to shed more light on what we can do better to make sense of this changing job market and how w...

Hello friends. We are thrilled to return with new stories and research to untangle your workplace questions. We hope you have been well. Subscribe today to Dear Workplace by InnovatorsBox® , hosted by the Founder & CEO of InnovatorsBox®, Monica H. Kang . Send us your questions and stories you'd like us to investigate at info@innovatorsbox.com . Learn more at dearworkplace.com .  

After interviewing innovators from across the world in countless industries and in countless roles, one thing stuck out - we all have the power to design the life we want. It takes courage, intentionality, and trial and error but it's so key to have that protagonist mindset. And again, thank you so much again for joining us on this journey together. So are you ready for it? Here let's dive into th...

In these past years, while some of us were furloughed or let go, many others have also transitioned, got promoted, or resigned to start their dream jobs. In this episode, I want to dive deeper into the stories of people who have created their own jobs and opportunities both in organizations, and outside on their own, to see what we can learn as we continue to build our own careers and growth oppor...

Designing for inclusion - whether it's technology, a workflow, a product - is incredibly important as we move into the new normal of working. Creating a workplace for all is not an overnight journey, which is why constant care and development is there, but so is our workflow. In this episode, I dive deeper into the aspects of inclusive design with inclusivity experts Richard Reiman and Margaret Pa...