Modern Mentor

881. We’re all under pressure to move faster, ship earlier, and do more. But as Rachel Cooke explains this week, "speed" often looks a lot more like chaos when the foundation isn't there. If your team is missing deadlines or burning out, the issue probably isn't a lack of effort—it's a lack of the "unsexy" structure that makes agility possible. Rachel looks at how to spot the difference between tr...

880. Rachel shares why workplaces need expedition leadership - navigating uncertainty together - instead of tour-guide leadership that performs certainty when there is none. Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast. Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email us at modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com . Find Modern Mentor on Facebook , Twitter , and LinkedIn , or...

879. Rachel shares what the workplace can learn from how celebrities choose collaboration partners - and how to make collaboration work even when it's not your choice.   Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast. Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email us at modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com . Find Modern Mentor on Facebook , Twitter , and LinkedIn , or sub...

878. We often talk about "finding" our purpose as if it’s a destination on a map. But what if purpose isn’t a noun, but a verb? This week, Rachel talks with Ira Bedzow, Executive Director of the Emory Purpose Project. They discuss why purpose belongs in every industry—from real estate to healthcare—and how leaders can move away from "shoulds" to focus on what they actually want to cultivate. Learn...

724. Being strategic at work is about focusing less on quantity—how much you can get done—and leaning instead on doing the right stuff in the wisest and most impactful ways. Here are three strategies to unlock that superpower. Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast. Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email us at modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com . Find Mo...

877. As we close the books on a heavy year, Rachel shares her top five work lessons from 2025 to carry into the new year. She looks at why uncertainty is here to stay, how to make AI amplify your humanity, and why the changing nature of workplace loyalty means you need to protect your own career. Start 2026 with a plan to move from worrying to preparing. Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A...

876. It's been a hard year. As we head into 2026, Rachel shares five practices to help you focus on what you can control and make your work better. Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast. Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email us at modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com . Find Modern Mentor on Facebook , Twitter , and LinkedIn , or subscribe to the newslett...

875. As we close out the year, Rachel explores why observation - not action - might be the key to unlocking what's already working. Learn how to find your bright spots and carry them into the new year. Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast. Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email us at modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com . Find Modern Mentor on Facebook ,...

874. In a world defined by change, what are the human elements of work that remain constant? We look at this question with JP Elliot, founder of Future of HR Consulting. He identifies the three fundamental needs employees will always demand from their work experience: to get along, get ahead, and find meaning. Learn why anchoring your leadership strategy on these principles is the key to creating...

718. “Productivity” is the thing we’ve been chasing for years—more, better, faster. But is it really serving us? Or is it time for us to rethink how we measure what the increments of our success? Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast. Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email us at modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com . Find Modern Mentor on Facebook , Twitt...

873. Employees are waiting for leaders to fix work. Leaders are drowning trying to fix everything. Rachel explains why both sides are stuck in an outdated model - and how to break free. Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast. Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email us at modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com . Find Modern Mentor on Facebook , Twitter , and L...

872. Work used to be a place where connection happened naturally. Now it's not - and the impacts run deeper than we realize. Rachel explores why we've lost the "Second Place" and offers five practical strategies to rebuild belonging and connection at work. Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast. Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email us at modernmentor@q...

871. When there's no clear right answer, how do you move forward? Rachel shares insights from philosopher Ruth Chang and her own experience to help leaders break through analysis paralysis and make hard choices with confidence.   Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast. Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email us at modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com . Find...

870. Confidence isn't a character trait you're born with; it's a muscle you develop. In this episode, author and speaker Juan Bendaña shares his personal journey and introduces his Confidence Cycle framework. We look at the three small decisions that help you generate the necessary energy and courage to take action, ultimately building proof of your own competence at work. Learn how to transform s...

869. We gather constantly but feel more disconnected than ever. Rachel uses insights from Priya Parker's "The Art of Gathering" to show how intentional gathering can rebuild the connection we're all craving. Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast. Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email us at modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com . Find Modern Mentor on Face...

868.  AI is everywhere. There’s not currently a right or wrong way to be using it. Many of us aren’t - largely because we’re not sure where to start. In this episode, let’s talk about some possible starting places for someone who just needs to boost. Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast. Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email us at modernmentor@quickan...

867. Are you struggling to articulate your value because you feel like a "jack of all trades"? This episode features Dr. Sarabeth Bickerton, who defines professional identity as the unique combination of your ethics, values, and skills that make you who you are in your work. We look at how clarifying your identity is the key to both feeling more empowered and communicating your value more effectiv...

866. When sales dip, profits stall, or the world throws curveballs, morale tends to suffer. But you do not need to wait for business to be perfect before tending to the human side. In this episode we explore moves that help morale and business at once. Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast. Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email us at modernmentor@quick...

865. We all know trust matters at work—but too often, we’re unintentionally chipping away at it without even realizing. In this episode, we’ll explore some of the most common but overlooked ways we undermine trust, and what you can do to course-correct. Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast. Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email us at modernmentor@quic...

864. Companies these days, amidst uncertain times, are shrinking their investments in wellness and engagement programs. But when well understood, wellbeing at work isn’t about perks or extras. It’s actually about building ways of working that strengthen results while enhancing the human experience. Today I share four strategies currently working well. Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A tra...

Jobs aren’t forever. But instead of disengaging when loyalty feels uncertain, we can use the work in front of us to grow stronger, smarter, and more ready for what’s next. In this episode, I share four strategies to make the way you work today an investment in your tomorrow. Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast. Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email u...

Are you and your team running on a treadmill that's going nowhere? Modern Mentor Rachel Cooke shares four real-world experiments that helped leaders in her lab ditch the burnout and get stronger results. Learn how small, unconventional shifts—like silent brainstorms and customer-led learning—can deliver better outcomes and a more engaged team. Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript...

Learning and development at work are essential - for expanding our skills, for being more innovative, and for keeping us engaged. But also, there’s so much work on our plates it can feel impossible to find the time for learning. So let’s talk about some ways to bake it right on into the work itself. Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast. Have a question f...

We’re not all friends at work. And we don’t have to be. But what you do do have to do is work well - effectively - together. In this week’s episode we’ll discuss a simple framework you can use with your team to define ways of working that suit all of your colleagues while driving your results.   Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast. Have a question for M...

Too many teams are stuck in a swirl. Unclear on priorities, disconnection from purpose, and lost momentum. But we don’t need org-wide overhauls to fix it. In this episode, I’m sharing four practical shifts leaders are making right now to redesign how work gets done - from the inside out. Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast. Have a question for Modern Me...