Work Made Human

On this episode of Work Made Human, hosts Nichole Méndez and Jill Veglahn sit down with Kate Assaraf, founder of Dip, to explore what happens when a beauty entrepreneur discovers that one of the industry's biggest sustainability promises isn't what it seems. Kate shares how uncovering the truth about plastic recycling changed the course of her career and inspired her to build a company that puts e...

Welcome back to Work Made Human, where we explore the people and ideas shaping the future of work. In this episode, Nichole Mendez and Jill Veglahn sit down with Kristen Habacht, CEO of elly, for a candid conversation on keeping the human element alive in modern hiring. From AI-powered recruiting and high-volume applications to the growing culture of ghosting, Kristen shares how elly is navigating...

On this episode of Work Made Human, Nichole Mendez and Jill Veglahn sit down with Gigi Brett, Head of Investments at EWOR, for a conversation about leadership, entrepreneurship, and the human side of building companies. Gigi reflects on a journey shaped by curiosity, resilience, and relationships. Together, they explore the importance of emotional intelligence in leadership, what founders often mi...

On this episode of Work Made Human, Nichole Mendez and Jill Veglahn sit down with Sofia Noori, co-founder and CEO of Nema Health, to explore how trauma care is evolving and where traditional models fall short. Sofia shares why therapy should be treated like medicine, how "dose" impacts outcomes, and why more intensive care can lead to faster, more effective recovery. This conversation touches on t...

On this episode of Work Made Human, Nichole Mendez and Jill Veglahn sit down with Kwesi Che, co-founder and president of Handspring, a company rethinking how we approach pediatric mental health. What started as a realization, and a massive issue hiding in plain sight, became the foundation for a company focused on supporting children and families at a critical stage of life. But this isn't just a...

On this episode of Work Made Human, Nichole Mendez and Jill Veglahn unpack what actually changed when BAM went fully remote. From expanding access to talent to building more intentional connection, they break down what got better, what got harder, and what most companies still get wrong about culture. This isn't about remote vs. in-office. It's about trust, accountability, and what it really takes...

On this episode of Work Made Human, Nichole Mendez sits down with Chitra Kanagaraj, CEO and co-founder of PikMyKid, a startup transforming school safety through technology. What started as a chaotic school pickup moment — where the wrong child was placed in a car — became the spark for a company now helping schools safely reunite thousands of students with their families every day. But this isn't...

On this episode of Work Made Human, hosts Nichole and Jill sit down with Scott Zimmer, co-founder and CEO of Answers from Me. Together they unpack a critical distinction — AI doing the work for us versus AI helping us make better decisions — and why trust, discernment, and real human insight remain skills leaders simply can't outsource. From lessons learned at IKEA to unexpected inspiration from B...

On this episode of Work Made Human, Nichole and Jill sit down with Katherine Barrios, Fractional CMO and CRO of Autility and co-founder of a stealth startup, for a conversation about leadership, storytelling, and what it really takes to build companies that grow without losing their humanity. Scaling a company isn't just about strategy or metrics. It's about people: how they show up, how they grow...

On this episode of Work Made Human, Nichole and Jill sit down with Abadesi Osunsade, Founder and CEO of Hustle Crew and co-host of the Techish podcast, for a conversation that cuts through the noise and gets to what really matters at work. Because here's the truth: workplaces don't become more human by accident. They become more human when leaders choose to tell better stories, redistribute power,...

On this episode of Work Made Human, hosts Nichole and Jill sit down with Radhika Duggal, Chief Marketing Officer of Major League Soccer, for a candid conversation about what it means to build joyful, people-centered culture inside one of the fastest-moving sports leagues in the world. Together, they unpack how storytelling, gratitude and trust fuel marketing in an industry powered by fans and unfo...

In this episode of Work Made Human, co- host Nichole sits down with Nikhil Sethi, co-founder and CEO of Workgrounds, for a candid conversation about the evolving meaning of gathering at work. What once felt like routine—offsites, retreats, and hallway hellos—now needs a fresh playbook. Together, they explore how intentional design, empathy, and storytelling can turn overwhelming team travel into c...

On this episode of Work Made Human, hosts Nichole and Jill talk with Kate Dilligan, founder and CEO of Cooler Heads, for a conversation that's as honest as it is inspiring. From San Diego, Kate shares her personal journey as a breast cancer survivor and how that experience led her to launch Cooler Heads, a company bringing scalp cooling therapy within reach for chemotherapy patients. She opens up...

On this episode of Work Made Human, hosts Nichole and Jill talk with Sarah Reynolds, CMO of Benifex, about what it truly means to be human at work. Sarah introduces the idea of bringing your "chosen self" rather than your "authentic self," recognizing that safety—not pressure—is what allows people to show up fully over time. They discuss how leaders must model vulnerability first, advocate for wha...

On this episode of Work Made Human, hosts Nichole and Jill sit down with Michelle Duval, founder and CEO of the AI coaching platform Marlee. Michelle shares how her near-fatal autoimmune brain disease became the catalyst for her life's mission: to democratize human potential and make deep self-understanding accessible to everyone. Michelle breaks down the core idea behind Marley—that AI, when buil...

Work Made Human explores the people, purpose, and culture behind today's most innovative startups. Hosts Nichole Mendez, BAM's Director of Talent Acquisition, and Jill Veglahn, BAM's Head of People, chat with startup founders about building teams, shaping culture, and leading with humanity. Each episode highlights the creativity, challenges, and lessons that truly make work human.