Leading Up: The Work Shift

Change is constant, but the right insight at the right moment can make all the difference. In this season finale compilation, we're revisiting the hard-won lessons, unexpected turns, and honest conversations that defined Leading Up: The Work Shift. The incredible guests featured in this episode — Krista Chism, Pat Flynn, James Whitmore, Lorraine Lee, Ahyiana Angel, Zak Brown, Terrin Lawrence, Simo...

Professional uncertainty can be as damaging to our health as actually losing a job. So why do we keep white-knuckling for certainty—and what happens when we finally let go? This week, Elizabeth sits down with Simone Stolzoff, author of The Good Enough Job and the forthcoming How to Not Know: The Value of Uncertainty in a World That Demands Answers, to explore why our instinct to seek certainty may...

What if the habit that's made you successful is also holding you back? Meg Josephson, therapist and author of the New York Times bestseller Are You Mad at Me?, joins Elizabeth Weingarten to break down the psychology of people pleasing and its hidden cost on leadership. Drawing on her research and clinical work, Meg explains the "fawn response," the lesser-known survival mechanism that drives us to...

More than half of Americans say job insecurity is crushing them with stress. So how do some people look like they've always had it figured out? Spoiler: they haven't.  Host Elizabeth Weingarten traveled to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland to pull aside C-Suite leaders, entrepreneurs, and founders from companies like BetterUp, Zoom, Bain & Company, and more to talk about the moments w...

In a world of consistent career pivots and shifts, mastering how you show up and speak up isn’t optional—it can be your superpower. So how do you go from nervous novice to powerhouse presenter?  Host Elizabeth Weingarten sits down with Deborah Grayson Riegel to reveal the secrets from her 30 years as an international keynote speaker. As a corporate trainer and instructor at top business schools li...

Doing great work isn't enough to get promoted. You need presence. In this episode, Lorraine K. Lee, author of Unforgettable Presence and former LinkedIn editor, shares why she stayed stuck at the same level for six years despite working hard and being well-liked. She explains the 80/20 rule of career advancement, how to optimize your video presence with the TEAM method, and why introverts have hid...

How do we know when it’s time to leave a job? Or completely reinvent your career? In this episode, we explore what it really takes to make a major career change, and the fear that comes with stepping into the unknown.  Ahyiana Angel, former NBA publicist turned published author and host of the hit podcast Switch, Pivot or Quit, shares her journey from sports PR to entrepreneurship. We’ll hear the...

James Whitemore, Chief Marketing Officer at Indeed, shares insights from billions of job searches on how to navigate career transitions in today's challenging market. He discusses the power of reframing your skills, why focus beats quantity in job applications, and how to discover non-obvious career paths that match your experience. James also reveals the mindset shifts that matter most after a la...

How do you make a quick decision when the stakes are high? Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, shares hard-won lessons from his journey from professional driver to marketing entrepreneur to Formula One executive. Zak reveals why asking questions matters more than having all the answers, how he learned to control emotional reactions that could have derailed his racing career, and what Formula One can...

From being laid off to spinning your wheels in a position with no momentum, getting to the next step in your career can take a lot of energy. And resources, too, if you decide to hire a career coach. This week’s guest has been focused on building a learning culture wherever she goes, and as the Senior Director of Leadership Development at Udemy, Rebecca Stern has applicable ideas on how to use AI...

We live in an age of endless information – books, courses, and even podcasts like this one offer inspiration, success stories, and countless ideas to pursue. But this presents a paradox: the more information we learn, the less we accomplish.  In this week’s episode, Pat Flynn teaches us how to break free from the trap of endless planning without action. Pat Flynn is the founder of Smart Passive In...

40 percent of Americans are laid off or fired at least once in their career. Half of working Americans are anxious about layoffs. This week's guest has faced eleven layoffs and come out stronger each time. Host Elizabeth Weingarten explores what it really takes to survive repeated layoffs, reinvent yourself again and again, and find purpose in the middle of constant professional uncertainty.  Kris...

If you feel like you’re flailing in your career, listen to this. Career reinvention expert Dorie Clark reveals why the "leap and the net will appear" advice is terrible and shares her proven framework for strategic career pivots that work over the long term. Podcast host, author, and Udemy Editorial Director Elizabeth Weingarten breaks down what you need to know to turn career "flailing" into inte...

Leading Up: The Work Shift is your compass that guides you back to your career values, goals, and vision. If you’re feeling lost, you're not alone. Host Elizabeth Weingarten talks to executives, entrepreneurs, and Udemy instructors who have survived layoffs and career uncertainty. We ask how to rebound after getting fired, what blocks talented individuals from getting promotions, and how to build...

In this special mini-episode of Leading Up, host Kelly Schwarze highlights key takeaways from the Udemy Forward 2024 virtual event. This episode features advice from Paul Kent, the senior L&D manager at PepsiCo, about how best to leverage skills-based practices to boost employee performance, engagement, and retention. Paul also emphasizes the importance of developing core skills, the impact of set...

In this special best-of episode of Leading Up with Udemy, Kelly Schwarze, senior digital marketing manager at Udemy, revisits powerful leadership lessons from the past seven seasons. Hear from former Charles Schwab CEO Dave Pottruck on the importance of humility and emotional intelligence when leading from the middle, Starbucks Head of Learning Brandon Carson on building a strong company culture t...

Alan Todd sits down with Alan Murray, President of the Dow Jones Leadership Institute and former CEO of Fortune Magazine. Murray shares his journey from a young journalism enthusiast to a leader in the media industry, offering insights on adapting to technological disruption and the evolving role of business in society. He also discusses the challenges facing journalism today and the importance of...

Alan Todd speaks with Jessica Michaels, an award-winning speaker and expert in leadership development. After discovering in her thirties that she has autism and ADHD, Jessica became an advocate for neurodiversity in the workplace. She shares practical insights on how leaders can create more inclusive environments that unlock the potential of neurodivergent employees. With humor and directness, Jes...

Alan Todd sits down with Hebba Youssef, creator of the popular HR newsletter I Hate It Here and Chief People Officer at Workweek. With over 130,000 subscribers, Heba's newsletter provides candid insights and advice for HR professionals looking to build workplaces that people love. In this conversation, Heba shares her human-centered approach to leadership, offering fresh perspectives on the future...

Join Alan Todd as he sits down with Cynthia Pong, founder and CEO of Embrace Change, a firm dedicated to helping women of color achieve their career goals. Cynthia shares her innovative concept of "career insurance" — steps to ensure long-term career success. They discuss her transition from law to career coaching, strategies for career advancement for women of color, and overcoming systemic margi...

Alan Todd sits down with David Yeager, Associate Professor of Developmental Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin, and Stefani Okamoto, Director of Manager Excellence at ServiceNow. They discuss debunking negative stereotypes about Gen Z, introducing the mentor mindset in leadership, and exploring practical insights from David's book, 10 to 25. Learn how to foster growth, support potenti...

Alan Todd as he sits down with Sophie Riegel, a best-selling author, speaker, coach, and mental health advocate. Sophie shares her journey as a young mental health advocate, strategies for optimizing intergenerational relationships, tips for talking about mental health with young people, and how to offer, ask for, and accept help. They also discuss the impact of generational dynamics in the workpl...

Join Alan Todd as he sits down with Sunny Bonnell, co-founder of the renowned branding agency Motto and co-author of "Rare Breed: A Guide to Success for the Defiant, Dangerous, and Different." In this episode, Sunny shares key lessons from her book, strategies for balancing creativity and business, and the importance of visionary leadership. Learn more about Udemy Business at https://bit.ly/udemy-...

Alan Todd sits down with Dr. Ann Schulte, a versatile executive with a career spanning communications, consulting, higher education, and work-based learning leadership. Dr. Schulte, former Chief Learning Officer at MasterCard and Procter & Gamble, now serves as an academic director at the University of Pennsylvania. They discuss leadership and development, strategic self-awareness, feedback recept...

In the premiere episode of Leading Up’s seventh season, Alan Todd sits down with Charles Duhigg, the renowned journalist and author of Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection. Charles shares insights on how mastering the art of super communication can significantly enhance your life in numerous ways — whether at work, with friends, or with family. Learn more about Udemy...