The Floorplan with Dr Libby Sander

Libby Sander & Matt Webber

The Floorplan is a thorough and sometimes funny exploration of our attempts to navigate the modern workplace and the future of work. Steven Spielberg says he wakes up so excited that he can’t eat breakfast. But for most of us, work is far less fulfilling. The way we design jobs and where we expect people to perform  can be dull at best and dehumanizing at worst. Less than a third of workers worldwide are engaged, sociopathic leadership is one of the hottest topics trending in management research, and 61% of workers report that work-related stress makes them physically sick. Far from overjoyed, and after enduring lengthy commutes, work for many employees seems to fall on either end of an unhappy spectrum – bored to death or stressed to death. Borrowing from case studies, expert guests, and ground-breaking research, The Floorplan hosts Dr Libby Sander and broadcaster Matt Webber uncover what individuals and organizations can do to make the workplace experience better for everyone.  For more head to www.libbysander.com

  1. 10/12/2025

    Popcorn brains, infinite workdays and the concept of digital minionship w/ Professor Marek Kowalkiewicz

    he Floorplan returns! Do we ever stop working? A resounding no according to a new study. What are popcorn brains and do you have one? And Professor Marek Kowalkiewicz joins the podcast to ponder digital minionship and the augmentative qualities of workplace AI that excite him. We dive into the ideas behind his award-winning book "The Economy of Algorithms: AI and the Rise of the Digital Minions”, exploring: How AI is reshaping work at every level What “digital minions” really are — and why they matter Algorithmic power, organisational change, and the new digital economy What leaders must understand to stay relevant The most important skills for the next decade of work This conversation is essential for anyone curious about the future of work, AI strategy, leadership, and the profound economic shifts underway. About Professor Marek Kowalkiewicz Marek is a Professor and Chair in Digital Economy at QUT Business School. Listed among the Top 100 Global Thought Leaders in AI by thinkers360, Marek has led global innovation teams in Silicon Valley, was a Global Research Program Lead and Founding Research Manager of SAP's Machine Learning lab in Singapore, and a Research Fellow at Microsoft Research Asia. His newest book, "The Economy of Algorithms: AI and the Rise of the Digital Minions" is a winner of Australian Business Book Awards (Technology) 2024. Marek received his MSc in Business Information System from Poznan University of Economics in 2002, and PhD (Summa C*m Laude) from the same university in 2006.

    48 min
4.8
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

The Floorplan is a thorough and sometimes funny exploration of our attempts to navigate the modern workplace and the future of work. Steven Spielberg says he wakes up so excited that he can’t eat breakfast. But for most of us, work is far less fulfilling. The way we design jobs and where we expect people to perform  can be dull at best and dehumanizing at worst. Less than a third of workers worldwide are engaged, sociopathic leadership is one of the hottest topics trending in management research, and 61% of workers report that work-related stress makes them physically sick. Far from overjoyed, and after enduring lengthy commutes, work for many employees seems to fall on either end of an unhappy spectrum – bored to death or stressed to death. Borrowing from case studies, expert guests, and ground-breaking research, The Floorplan hosts Dr Libby Sander and broadcaster Matt Webber uncover what individuals and organizations can do to make the workplace experience better for everyone.  For more head to www.libbysander.com