Empowering Workplaces

In this episode, Sanja talks with Dr. Alexis Fink, an experienced industrial-organizational psychologist who has shaped workforce strategy across global giants including Meta, Microsoft, and Intel. Dr. Alexis shares stories from her career bridging the gap between corporate strategy, daily execution, and human talent. She discusses what it takes to use data to ensure the entire ecosystem thrives ,...

In this episode of Empowering Workplaces, Sanja sits down with Aoife O’Brien, founder of Happier at Work and author of the book Thriving Talent. Drawing on her twenty-year corporate career and a Master’s in Organizational Behavior, Aoife discusses how leaders can move away from "old school" command-and-control styles toward environments where people truly flourish.

What does it really mean to create a psychologically safe workplace and can you actually measure it? 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 int...

In this gripping episode of Empowering Workplaces, host Sanja welcomes Rob Kalwarowsky—an MIT-trained engineer, former NCAA All-American, and author of the bestseller Capitalizing on Chaos: The Executive's Guide to Succeed in Disruption. Rob opens up about his deeply personal journey from high-achieving "performance robot" to surviving a rock-bottom mental health crisis triggered by a toxic work e...

In this episode of Empowering Workplaces , we welcome Clint Kofford, President and Managing Director at LeaderWorks . Clint introduces us to the Family 360 , a 360 feedback tool created at LeaderWorks to help leaders understand how they show up at home just as much as they do in the office. He shares his own experience going through the process, the surprising lessons it revealed, and why he belie...

On this episode of Empowering Workplaces, hosts Sanja Licina, PhD, and Guille Santana sit down with Dr. Shonna Waters and Dr. Erin Eatough, co-founders of Fractional Insights, to explore the findings of their report, The Risk of Angst, and explain why unmet needs like security, significance, and growth silently drain employee performance and engagement. You’ll also learn about three dominant work...

In this episode of Empowering Workplaces , hosts Sanja Licina, PhD, and Guille Santana sit down with Malvika Jethmalani, founder of Atvis Group and Women Shaping AI. Malvika shares her journey from finance to HR, how data and analytics drive her people strategy work, and what inspired her to launch a movement to ensure women have a seat at the table in the future of AI. Together, we talk about rep...

On this episode of Empowering Workplaces we welcome Lynn Merritt, CHRO at Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Lynn shares with us how she’s creating a culture of trust, transparency, and inclusion across a huge network of community-focused healthcare organizations.  With 20+ years in healthcare HR, she shares the ups and downs of piloting initiatives like a four-day workweek pilot, why really list...

In this episode of Empowering Workplaces , we chat with the founders of SkillsBridge AI: Koushik Gupta, Piyush Mathur, and Akesh Agrawal about their innovative platform that helps companies bridge skill gaps using AI. Learn how organizations can motivate employees to upskill, embrace Gen AI, and create a future-ready workforce. Don’t miss insights on the evolving workplace and how AI is reshaping...

HR analytics holds exciting potential to drive success for both organizations and employees. But as technological advancements reshape the workplace, the rise of HR analytics has sparked concerns about privacy, ethics, and the risks of a quantified employee agenda. In this episode of Empowering Workplaces , Dr. Salvatore Falletta, a renowned thought leader in HR analytics and strategy, shares his...

In this episode of Empowering Workplaces , we welcome Dr. Alison Fragale, renowned psychologist, professor, and author of Likeable Badass: How Women Get to the Success They Deserve . Dr. Fragale shares advice on ways women in particular can achieve professional success. In particular she talks about building confidence, overcoming biases, and embracing your inner “likeable badass.”Some particular...

In this episode of Empowering Workplaces, we’re talking with Eric Stone, speaker and author of “Jumpstart Your Workplace Culture,” to explore the critical elements of employee engagement and high performance. Eric shares insights from his career journey and his book, offering practical strategies for leaders to foster a positive and productive workplace environment. We discuss the importance of st...

We are honored to have Andrea Driessen, a renowned message strategist and TED speaker, join us. Andrea, known for her impactful TEDx talk, “The Profound Power of Gratitude and Living Eulogies,” shares her insights on grace notes—living tributes that show appreciation and love in our daily lives. In the episode we explore how these simple yet profound acts can enhance our personal and professional...

In this episode of Empowering Workplaces, we sit down with Urs Koenig, a military peacekeeping commander, ultra-endurance champion, keynote speaker, and bestselling author of Radical Humility: Be a Badass Leader and a Good Human. Urs shares his unique journey from academia and athletics to military peacekeeping and leadership coaching. He explains how his diverse experiences shaped his views on le...

In today’s episode, we’re thrilled to welcomeIan OKeefe, Founder and CEO of ikona Analytics. With a stellar career leading people analytics teams at some of the world’s most iconic companies, such as Amazon, JPMorgan Chase, and Google, Ian brings unparalleled insights into advancing people analytics strategies. Whether you’re new to people analytics or looking to refine your approach, this episode...

In this episode we’re joined by Melis Abacıoğlu, the visionary founder and CEO of Wellbees, to explore the pivotal role of employee wellbeing in shaping organizational culture. While investing in employee wellbeing feels like the right thing to do morally, sometimes it’s not as easy to get sufficient manpower or budget to make a real difference.  In our conversation with Melis, we discuss innovati...

In today’s episode or Empowering Workplaces, our special guest Enrique Rubio, top 100 HR influencer and founder and head of global community, talks about the evolving landscape of company cultures and some of the positive changes that we have seen in recent years. While the pandemic had a positive impact on some employee experience programs, we’re seeing some initiatives and positive changes being...

Today on Empowering Workplaces we are joined by Stephen (Shed) Shedletzky, founder of Shed Inspires and the celebrated author of “Speak Up Culture.”  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...

In this episode of Empowering Workplaces, we talk about the importance of trust in the workplace with one of our favorite thought leaders, Dan Riley, co-founder of RADICL. We believe trust is the foundation to good relationships at work, do you agree? If you do, this episode has found you for a reason, because we are in a bit of a crisis.  Based on recent research, only about 30% of people reporti...

We are joined by Mine Dedekoca, Chief Happiness Officer at Happy Work Studio to talk about how organizations can better navigate the transition between remote, hybrid, and in-office models.  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...

Stephanie Murphy, PhD, has built an outstanding reputation in the field of Employee Listening by always pushing the boundaries in the ways she connects with, and listens to employees. With over a decade of experience working with large organizations, Stephanie shares her journey from analyzing employee listening data at Dell Technologies to a more recent listening project, where her approach and m...

In this episode of Empowering Workplaces, we talk with Richard Rosenow, VP of People Analytics Strategy at One Model, who talks about the The Three Channels of Workforce Information: conversations (“what people say”), surveys (“what people say they do”) and systems (“what people do”) as a way to build a comprehensive understanding of your workforce. During our conversation, Richard shares practica...

In today’s episode, host Sanja Licina, PhD, engages in an enlightening conversation with Shelmina Abji, a passionate advocate for empowering women and leadership growth. As the bestselling author of “Show Your Worth” and former vice president at IBM, Shelmina shares personal experiences and learnings from her own journey, highlighting intentional manager and mentor relationships as key strategies...

Join host Maddie Grant on Empowering Workplaces as she engages in an insightful discussion with Gallup's Global Practice Leader, Ed O'Boyle. Together, they explore the profound linkages between workplace culture and the art of recognition.  Discover the transformative power of authentic acknowledgment, its impact on employee engagement, and how fostering a culture of recognition resonates at every...

In this episode of Empowering Workplaces, hosts Maddie Grant and Sanja Licina engage in an insightful conversation with Zoe Peterson-Ward, Chief Customer Officer at Workhuman. They talk about the significance of the season of giving and discuss strategies to support employees during the holiday season. Zoe shares her background, experiences, and insights on fostering recognition, rewards, and a cu...