Workquake Weekly

This week on Workquake Weekly , we’re stirring things up with a story that hits close to home — especially if you’re a coffee lover. Inspired by Heather Haddon’s recent piece in The Wall Street Journal , “Inside the Starbucks Plan to Get 200,000 Baristas on the Same Script,” we dive into one of the most pressing questions in today’s workplace: Can you engineer human connection… with a script? Stev...

In this episode of Workquake Weekly , Steve Cadigan dives into something that feels almost rebellious in today’s always-on world: boredom. Inspired by Arthur Brooks’ recent article in Harvard Business Review , “You Need to Be Bored. Here’s Why,” Steve explores how boredom isn’t wasted time—it’s fertile ground for creativity, reflection, and even breakthrough ideas. From brain science to leadership...

AI feels brand new, but the pattern we’re living through is not. In this week’s episode, Steve Cadigan explores why most AI investments are failing to deliver value — and what history can teach us about breaking that cycle. Inspired by Ibanga Umanah’s article “From Email to AI: The Hidden Pattern Behind Tech Adoption Failure,” Steve examines why it’s so hard to let go of old processes, why unlearn...

AI is supposed to be our shiny new superpower, yet many people feel embarrassed using it. In this episode, Steve digs into the rise of “AI shame” at work, unpacking a Times of India report, “AI Shame Is a Real Phenomenon in the Workplace, Claims Report: What Is Scaring Top Execs in America.” The surprising part, executives and Gen Z appear to be hiding it most. According to the survey Steve cites,...

In this episode of Workquake Weekly , Steve Cadigan explores why Taylor Swift isn’t just a global pop icon — she’s also a masterclass in leadership. From constant reinvention to building genuine community, from generosity that strengthens her team to humanity that inspires an entire industry, Taylor shows us what modern leadership looks like. Steve unpacks four big lessons we can borrow from her p...

Manager engagement just dipped to 27% in Gallup’s latest survey, and Steve asks a sharper question: is this a manager problem, or a system that keeps overloading and undertraining leaders? In this episode, Steve pairs the Gallup data with Jonathan J. Hsu’s Rolling Stone argument for slowing down, going deeper, and leading more humanly. The result is a candid look at why speed and dashboards won’t...

Welcome to Workquake Weekly. Each week we take a short pause to make sense of the wild, ever-changing world of work, without the doom and gloom. Think of this as your weekly coffee break for fresh ideas, practical experiments, and maybe a laugh when work feels like it is spinning out of control. In this episode, Steve Cadigan digs into a surprising insight from recent research covered in Fast Comp...

This week on Workquake Weekly , we’re heading to the gridiron—not for football tips, but for leadership gold. Steve Cadigan takes inspiration from Bill Belichick’s new book The Art of Winning —specifically Chapter 5, a masterclass in talent evaluation—and breaks down how the Patriots’ legendary coach built a dynasty by spotting potential others overlooked. Forget résumés and star power. Belichick...

Most companies aren’t falling behind in AI because they lack the tools… they’re falling behind because they don’t know what they’ve already got. In this week’s episode of Workquake Weekly , Steve unpacks two powerful articles—one from Sally Thornton at Forshay, and another by David Michels in Forbes —that both spotlight a surprising but critical truth: the real AI opportunity isn’t just about upsk...

In this week’s episode, Steve tackles a question that just won’t go away: Does working from home damage company culture? Inspired by a recent article in The Economist — “Does working from home kill company culture?” — Steve unpacks why this debate is still alive years after the pandemic “officially” ended, and why the return-to-office narrative isn’t as clear-cut as some leaders might think. Key t...

In this episode, we’re diving into a question that touches just about everyone—students, parents, leaders, and anyone thinking about the future of work: Is the traditional college-to-career pipeline still working? Steve breaks down two recent articles from The Atlantic by Rose Horowitch that reveal a surprising shift in education trends: ✅ Humanities majors are making a comeback ❌ Computer scien...

AI isn’t the end of leadership. It might just be the beginning of better leadership. In this episode, I dig into two recent Fortune articles that finally move the AI-leadership conversation from theory to reality. We explore how Chris O’Neill, CEO of GrowthLoop, is using AI to become more present, not less. And we zoom out with Fortune’s bold insight: “AI doesn’t make you less of a leader. It forc...

This week on Workquake Weekly , Steve Cadigan takes you inside a recent trip that left him more hopeful than ever about the future of work. Invited to speak at Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin), Steve didn’t just deliver a talk—he discovered a living, breathing ecosystem that’s actively reshaping how learning and careers intersect. From students solving real-world problems to industry pa...

🎓 This week on Workquake Weekly , we’re diving into the crisis that’s quietly reshaping the early career landscape: the disappearance of entry-level work. With headlines flooding in from The Wall Street Journal , The Economist , The Financial Times , and more, it’s clear—this isn’t just a bad year for new grads. It’s a global shift. And it’s time we stop pretending otherwise. In this episode, Ste...

This week on Workquake Weekly, Steve unpacks a jarring headline: Ford just pulled its financial forecast for the year. With profits plunging and EV policy swinging wildly, one of America’s most iconic companies hit pause on long-term planning. But this isn’t just Ford’s problem. It’s a signal flare for every employer navigating the intersection of business, politics, and people. In this episode, S...

Hello everyone — welcome back to Workquake Weekly ! I’m Steve Cadigan, and in this episode we’re getting personal… with AI. That’s right. We’re not talking about AI in the abstract. We’re talking about AI and YOU. And me. And how it’s reshaping not just our workflows, but how we think about value, identity, and growth. Here’s what we’ll dig into: Why graduation season isn’t just for students anymo...

Hey friends, Steve Cadigan here! This week on Workquake Weekly , we’re diving into two trends that might seem totally separate — but together, they’re telling a powerful story about where the future of work is headed. First up: Gen Z is not waiting around for corporate ladders to offer stability. A new global study from Fiverr shows nearly 70% of Gen Z is leaning into freelancing — not as a backup...

This week on Workquake Weekly, Steve Cadigan dives into two rising trends that are shaking up how we think about work: ghost jobs and micro-retirements. On the surface, they couldn’t be more different — one’s frustrating job seekers, the other’s helping employees reset. But together, they reveal a deeper truth: our old strategies for hiring, planning, and leading might be past their prime. Steve b...

In this debut episode of Workquake Weekly, Steve Cadigan explores how two companies—Moderna and Klarna—are making bold, contrasting moves in the age of AI. One is merging tech and HR leadership to build a more integrated future. The other is learning what happens when efficiency trumps empathy. What do these stories reveal about leadership, talent, and the real role of AI? Tune in for fresh insigh...