The Future Of Work Podcast With Jacob Morgan | Futurist | Workplace | Careers | Employee Experience & Engagement |

Have you ever wondered if vulnerability could backfire? Leaders often face tough decisions about when and how to be open, and the stakes are high when trust is involved. In today's Leadership Spark, we explore a powerful story about a CEO who learned hard lessons about vulnerability after it was used against her early in her career. You'll hear insights on navigating trust, why vulnerability is essential for leadership, and how self-compassion can be your safety net when things go wrong. This episode also introduces the "Vulnerability Wheel" framework to help leaders use vulnerability effectively.   ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

Turning around a struggling company isn’t for the faint of heart, but Kate Johnson, CEO of Lumen Technologies, is proving it can be done—and done well. Leading 30,000 employees and steering billions in revenue, Kate is tackling one of the toughest challenges in business: shifting a telecom giant from “playing not to lose” to “playing to win.” In this episode, Kate opens her fresh and fearless playbook on what it really takes to transform a culture: it starts with clarifying your mission and getting everyone aligned. She shares bold, practical strategies like fostering trust, teaching resilience, and encouraging courageous conversations that push teams forward, not sideways. We’ll also unpack why most leaders fail at culture change (and it’s not for lack of trying), how to break silos by getting close to the action, and the non-negotiables for any leader’s first 100 days. If you’re ready to rethink what it means to lead and create a culture that wins, you don’t want to miss this one.  ________________ Start y

Workplace flexibility isn’t new, but its importance is growing. More than just remote or hybrid setups, it’s about giving employees options in career paths, benefits, and how they work best. In today’s Leadership Spark, we explore why leaders must stay true to their company’s culture and values, especially in uncertain times. Flip-flopping on big decisions leads to mistrust, but clear communication and conviction create alignment and loyalty. Learn how successful companies navigated the return to office with confidence and how to lead in uncertainty by knowing what matters most to your organization and standing by it, even as the workplace continues to evolve.   ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

The office isn’t dead—it’s evolving. How do you design a workplace where you could inspire creativity, collaboration, and sustainability? Jordan Goldstein and Elizabeth Brink, co-CEOs of Gensler, the world’s leading design firm, know all about it. They’ve not only spearheaded some of the most iconic workplace designs but but have also championed a co-leadership model that fosters synergy and innovation. Jordan and Elizabeth are behind groundbreaking projects like Under Armour’s net-zero headquarters, vibrant mixed-use lifestyle districts, and adaptive reuse designs that breathe new life into old spaces. In today’s episode, we’ll explore why the office is still vital for culture and collaboration, how to design spaces that foster engagement and innovation, and why immersive technology and sustainability is no longer optional in workplace design. The future of work is more exciting than ever and packed with opportunities to rethink space, culture, and collaboration.   ________________ Start your day with the wo

Are you shaping the future or letting it shape you? In today’s Leadership Spark, we explore how leaders can think in scenarios to prepare for multiple outcomes and avoid being caught off guard. We also dive into the power of AI tools like ChatGPT, which are transforming how leaders train employees, boost productivity, and solve problems. But with great power comes responsibility—balancing AI’s potential with human judgment is key to building the future of work.   ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

If leadership were easy, everyone would do it—but here’s how the best make it look effortless. In this special episode of Future Ready Leadership, three visionary leaders share powerful, actionable strategies to help you activate teams, build unshakable trust, and transform workplace culture. Rachel Cooke, former Director of HR at American Express, host of the Modern Mentor podcast, and founder of Lead Above Noise, unpacks her four-pillar framework for driving team success through connection, development, and well-being. Chris Nicholas, CEO of Sam’s Club, shares his Trust Equation, showing why authenticity and transparency are the foundation of impactful leadership. Lastly, we have Melanie Dulbecco, CEO of R. Torre & Co., Inc., who reveals how a people-first culture can become your ultimate competitive advantage, with insights on purpose-driven operations and profit-sharing. Get ready to lead with purpose and shape the future of work. They say leaders are born, not made—but this episode proves the opposit

What shapes the employee experience? In this episode of Leadership Spark, we explore the three pillars that define it: physical space, technology, and culture. Physical environments contribute 30% of employee satisfaction, with top companies creating flexible, activity-based spaces. Technology, also 30%, acts as the central nervous system but becomes a human problem when it fails. Culture, the most impactful at 40%, determines how employees feel and connect to purpose. Through compelling stories and research, we unpack how leaders can design workplaces that inspire, support, and engage.   ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

The workplace is evolving faster than ever, leaving leaders scrambling to keep up with new demands. How can you ensure your leadership skills remain relevant and impactful in 2025? In this episode of Future Ready Leadership, we have experts who will share the tools you need to thrive and stand out as a leader. Tom Henschel, host of The Look and Sound of Leadership, shares the secrets to executive presence—commanding attention and respect in any room. Charles Duhigg, bestselling author of The Power of Habit, teaches us how to master conversations to deepen workplace connections and amplify your impact. Together, they reveal how to lead with authority, connect authentically, and shape your future with confidence. The future is fast approaching—get ready to lead it.   ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

One CEO was fired for being vulnerable. Another saved their company. What made the difference? In today’s Leadership Spark, we go beyond the theory of leading with vulnerability to explore how it works in real life. Vulnerability isn’t just admitting mistakes—it’s about showing how you’re taking action to close gaps and grow. Through powerful examples, including the contrasting stories of two CEOs who led with vulnerability, you’ll see how balancing openness with leadership drives results. We’ll also unpack common workplace scenarios and share actionable tips for first-time leaders to use vulnerability as a superpower. Learn how to inspire trust while staying accountable in this episode.   ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

What skills, trends, and strategic thinking do leaders need to embrace for the future? In this episode, we explore three compelling perspectives to help leaders prepare for 2025. Michael Watkins breaks down The 6 Disciplines of Strategic Thinking he authored, showing how leaders can mobilize their teams and make smarter, more impactful decisions. Seth Godin, renowned Author, Entrepreneur, and Founder of the Carbon Almanac, challenges the status quo with his take on why adaptability beats rigid planning and why leaders need to think beyond checklists to thrive. Finally, Nicholas Bloom, William D. Eberle Professor of Economics at Stanford University, reveals surprising data on remote work, from its effects on productivity to what it really takes to retain top talent in a hybrid world.   ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

What does it really mean to lead with vulnerability? In today’s Leadership Spark, we dive into the delicate balance between openness and competence in leadership. Vulnerability is essential for building trust and fostering connections, but simply admitting mistakes isn’t enough, especially in the workplace. Leaders need to pair vulnerability with action. We’ll explore why this concept is more critical than ever in today’s fast-changing environment and how it can help leaders inspire confidence while maintaining accountability. You’ll learn how to embrace this powerful equation: Vulnerability + Leadership = Real Impact.   ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

The pace of change is relentless, and leaders everywhere are grappling with the same challenge: how do we prepare our teams for a future we can’t predict? In this episode of Future Ready Leadership, Google’s first Chief Innovation Evangelist, Frederik Pferdt, offers a solution—shifting your mindset to embrace curiosity, radical optimism, and human-centered leadership. Drawing from his groundbreaking work at Google and insights from his book "What’s Next is Now", Frederik reveals the secrets to transforming uncertainty into possibility. We dive into why innovation dies on idea boards, how replacing “but” with “and” can change everything, and the six dimensions of a future-ready mindset. Frederik also gets personal, sharing stories about handling California wildfires, transforming challenges into opportunities, and how experimenting like a gardener can help your ideas grow.   ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter y

Can leaders keep up when change never slows down? In today’s Leadership Spark, we explore how the accelerating pace of change is reshaping workplaces, work ethics, and the delicate balance between employee empowerment and accountability. From the rise of disengaged work cultures to the struggle for accountability, this episode dives into the realities of modern leadership and what it takes to adapt, thrive, and rebuild the balance.   ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

Amid constant change, how can leaders prepare for what's next without losing focus on today? In this episode, Lisa Bodell, Bestselling Author of "Kill the Company" and "Why Simple Wins", shares powerful strategies for becoming future-ready. She explains why agility and resilience matter more than rigid planning, how to leverage tools like STEEP and the Futures Wheel, and why every company must "Kill the Company" to uncover blind spots and innovate. Lisa also explores the dangers of "perma crisis" on creativity and why teaching human-centered skills like curiosity and agility is essential to thriving in uncertainty.   ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

Why do so many companies struggle to attract and retain top talent? Is it the lack of free food, shiny perks, or unlimited vacation days? Or is the issue much deeper? As leaders, it’s time to confront the uncomfortable truth: perks aren’t purpose, and engagement isn’t just an adrenaline shot. In today’s Leadership Spark, we'll unpack why many organizations are stuck on the “hedonic treadmill,” cycling through perks and benefits to boost short-term satisfaction but failing to create a lasting impact. I explore how outdated workplace practices, bureaucracy, and lack of purpose disengage employees over time—and why leaders must shift their focus from free lunches to fostering growth, meaning, and leadership.   ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

Leadership in 2024 was challenging, and 2025 promises to be even more demanding. With economic pressures, hybrid work complexities, and the rapid rise of AI, the expectations for leaders have never been higher. But the good news is we've packed the best leadership advice from 2024 into one powerhouse episode, giving you the tools to thrive in the year ahead. In this episode, Guy Kawasaki, Author & Chief Evangelist at Canva, kicks things off by sharing how a growth mindset and resilience can help leaders tackle challenges head-on and turn them into opportunities. Dr. Amy Edmondson, Novartis Professor of Leadership & Management, reveals why creating psychological safety and embracing “intelligent failures” is the key to innovation and team trust. Finally, John R. Miles, Founder & CEO of PASSION STRUCK, wraps it up with his next-level framework for mindset and behavior shifts, showing leaders how to unlock intrinsic motivation and lead with intention. Get all the insights you need to lead with confid

People don't want to work for leaders who power play and hide mistakes. Nowadays, what they need more are leaders who lead with vulnerability. In this episode, we'll understand why vulnerability matters in leadership and discover why, according to global research, showing your human side is essential for inspiring innovation, building trust, and keeping your career alive. Drawing on fascinating insights from 14,000 employees around the world, Harvard research, and the surprising lesson of a butterfly, we'll unpack how "leading with vulnerability" is reshaping organizations worldwide. This episode will help you step up as the leader the world needs today.   ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

What if the secret to success in leadership lies in something deeper than just strategy? In this episode, Dr. David Miller, Executive Director of the Princeton Faith & Work Initiative, dives into what it means to lead with integrity, why ethics should be a core part of every organization, and how faith, regardless of belief system, can shape values that stick. We explore why many people feel a “calling” for ethical leadership, and how faith can serve as a foundation for values-based decision-making. Dr. Miller also shares his approach to teaching ethics through the “Five Essential Questions,” which challenge leaders to think deeply about the source of their values, make ethical decisions in gray zones, and foster a culture of transparency. Dr. Miller also introduces his TAM model—believability, buy-in, and barometer—as a guide for companies pursuing ethical transformations.   ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just e

How do you keep your team ready for the future when tech constantly reshapes the workplace? AI is rewriting the rules of work and pushing us to think beyond the traditional job roles. In today's Leadership Spark, we break down three ways leaders can stay ahead: helping employees make the most of tech, encouraging a culture of self-driven learning, and focusing on human skills that strengthen team connections. If you're a leader looking to keep your team adaptable and engaged in the tech-driven future of work, this episode offers you real, practical insights on embracing change without losing that all-important human touch.   ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

How do top leaders close impossible deals and get buy-in from the toughest stakeholders? James Sebenius, Professor of Business Administration at Harvard and co-founder of Harvard’s Negotiation Program, has been involved with the world’s most successful negotiation cases. In today’s episode, he reveals the top strategies that make great negotiators. Drawing from icons like Bob Iger, Jim Baker, and Henry Kissinger, James shares the keys to negotiation that every leader needs: when to use “intermediate moves” to gain advantage, why the best negotiators think like chess players, why “setup” is everything in negotiation, and how to balance empathy with assertiveness to get results.