Your Work Friends | Fresh Insights on the Now and Next of Work

Mel Plett & Francesca Ranieri
  • 5.0 (25)
  • MANAGEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

We break down the now and next of work. You stay ahead.Its not just you - work is bonkers. Burnout is high, trust is low, and everything is changing at breakneck speed. Friend-to-friend?  We get it. We're in it. And we're here to guide you through it. We’re two leadership insiders—and real-life friends—who’ve led teams, sat in the tough seats, and know first hand how fast, complex, and personal work has become. Every week, we break down what’s happening at work and to work, taking you behind the scenes of what's happening now, and preparing you for what you'll see in 6 months. We're bringing you breaking news, workplace trends, and interviews with top experts shaping the future of work. We cover what’s changing so you don’t get left behind.Join us for smart, unfiltered (with the occasional f*bomb or two) conversations about how work is evolving and what you can do about it.Great for: • Employees rethinking their careers and trying to navigate what comes next• People leaders shaping culture and driving change while getting the work done• Orgs wanting to build smarter, more profitable, more human workplaces• Anyone craving more honest and practical conversations about the future of workTopics we cover:Future of work, leadership, workplace culture, team dynamics, change management, human-centered strategy, layoffs, burnout, performance, career growth, workplace news, workplace humor, and more.

  1. 2D AGO

    People Are Not OK: And Business Can’t Pretend Anymore

    Send us a text People are not okay. And if people aren’t okay—neither is your business. This week on Your Work Friends, we slow down and say the quiet part out loud. In just the last two weeks, we’ve watched: AI leaders at Davos predict massive workforce disruption—without clarity on what comes nextCareers become less predictable, five-year plans feel pointless, and the safety net quietly disappearHiring shift from polished resumes to proof of skills—mid-career, mid-gamePolitical and social instability spill directly into the workplace, whether leaders acknowledge it or notThe result? A workforce carrying more uncertainty, pressure, and distrust than ever before. In this episode, Francesca and Mel break down what all of this actually means for work—and what leaders, managers, and employees need to do now. We cover: Why “business as usual” is the riskiest move leaders can make in 2026How silence from leadership erodes trust faster than bad newsThe real human cost of AI, political instability, and chronic uncertainty at workWhat CEOs, managers, and employees can each do this week to make work more doableWhy your biggest business risk isn’t competition—it’s people capacityThis isn’t alarmism. It’s realism. And it’s a call to get congruent about what you stand for—because people will feel it either way. If you lead people, work with people, or are people (hi), this episode is for you. 🎧 New episodes drop every Tuesday. 📬 Sign up for our monthly, insight-driven newsletter at yourworkfriends.com 📩 Reach us at friend@yourworkfriends.com Because you don’t get great work from people who are barely holding it together—and a lot of people are barely holding it together right now. We Referenced:  Above the Law: Trump Sues JP Morgan for ‘Nice Bank You Got There, Be A Shame If Something Happened To it”Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management. Thanks for listening! Hey! We love new friends! Connect with us! On The Socials! You Tube, TikTok, Instagram on LinkedIn - Mel + Francesca. The LinkedIn Group: We'd love to have you join the Your Work Friends Group on LinkedIn Drop Us a Line: Send us your ideas, questions, comments, complements, whatnot, to friend@yourworkfriends.com

    25 min

  2. JAN 21

    Culture Under Pressure: The 5 Behaviors That Decide If You Scale—or Stall

    Send us a text Most strategies don’t fail because leaders don’t know what to do—they fail because organizations can’t behave their way into it. Pressure doesn’t break culture. It exposes it. Most organizations don’t fail because leaders lack strategy or intelligence. They fail because, under pressure, the behaviors required to execute quietly collapse—long before the numbers move. In this episode of Your Work Friends, we break down the five observable behaviors that predict whether a company will scale, stall, or slowly undermine its own execution. These aren’t values or vibes. They’re early warning signals that show up in how decisions get made, how truth travels, and how work actually gets done. Drawing from decades of experience inside complex organizations—and a clear-eyed look at what went wrong at Boeing—we unpack how pressure consistently fractures culture along the same fault lines: Politics: when decisions depend on who, not whatFairness: whether the system actually plays straightPsychological safety: whether truth shows up earlyCollaboration: whether work moves forward or in circlesAdaptability: whether the organization can change before it’s forced toWe also share a simple five-question diagnostic leaders can use this week to spot where drag, risk, and breakdown are already forming—while there’s still time to act. If you lead a team, function, or organization—and you’re feeling the pressure—this episode will help you see what’s really happening beneath the surface, and what to do about it. #Leadership #CultureUnderPressure #Execution #ExecutiveLeadership #StrategyExecution #OrganizationalDesign #ChangeLeadership #DecisionMaking #FutureOfWork Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management. Thanks for listening! Hey! We love new friends! Connect with us! On The Socials! You Tube, TikTok, Instagram on LinkedIn - Mel + Francesca. The LinkedIn Group: We'd love to have you join the Your Work Friends Group on LinkedIn Drop Us a Line: Send us your ideas, questions, comments, complements, whatnot, to friend@yourworkfriends.com

    46 min

  3. JAN 14

    New Week, New Headlines: The 2026 Job Market - Hot Jobs, Labor Shortages, and the End of Happy Hour

    Send us a text From AI-reshaping careers to widening talent gaps, 2026 is shaping up to be a year of labor “stuckness.” We analyze the fastest-growing jobs, high-pay trade shortages, teen gap-year programs, and the quiet end of happy hour. Here’s the deal—2026 isn’t a boom year. It’s not a crash either. It’s a labor lockdown. In this episode of Your Work Friends, we break down the biggest signals shaping the U.S. job market right now—and why so many people feel stuck, cautious, and quietly uneasy about what’s next. We cover: The 2026 labor outlook and why “stuckness” is the defining theme (low hiring, low firing, high anxiety)The 25 fastest-growing jobs in the U.S.—and what they reveal about AI, power, and who’s getting left behindA gap year program promising six-figure salaries for teens (and the uncomfortable truth about access, privilege, and judgment)Ford’s $160K mechanic problem—and why the headline hides the real barriers to trade workAnd yes… the death of happy hour 🍸 (what we’re losing, what we’re gaining, and why Tito’s isn’t a culture strategy)We also get real about: The growing two-tier workforce (AI insiders vs. everyone else)Why proof of work can quietly become proof of privilegeWhere the real bright spots are in a shaky, uneven economyAnd how leaders, employees, and independents should be thinking differently about talent, pay, and pathways in 2026This one’s part analysis, part side-eye, part “someone needed to say it.” If you’re feeling stuck, watching the job market with concern, or trying to lead without losing trust—this episode is for you. 🎙️ Hosted by Mel Plett and Francesca Ranieri 🎵 Music by Pink Zebra 🔗 Find more at yourworkfriends.com References:  U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)KPMG 2026 Labor Economic InsightsSHRM 2026 Talent Acquisition ForecastThe Upwork Research Institute: 2026 Strategic Workforce PlanningLinkedIn: Jobs on the Rise 2026 - the 25 Fastest GrDisclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management. Thanks for listening! Hey! We love new friends! Connect with us! On The Socials! You Tube, TikTok, Instagram on LinkedIn - Mel + Francesca. The LinkedIn Group: We'd love to have you join the Your Work Friends Group on LinkedIn Drop Us a Line: Send us your ideas, questions, comments, complements, whatnot, to friend@yourworkfriends.com

    32 min

  4. JAN 7

    Collective Intelligence: Why Team Performance is Set Before the Work Even Begins w/Carnegie Mellon Professor Anita Woolley PhD

    Send us a text Smart people don’t automatically make a smart team. In this episode of Your Work Friends, we talk with Dr. Anita Woolley, professor at Carnegie Mellon University and one of the world’s leading researchers on collective intelligence, about what actually drives team performance—and what most leaders get wrong. Anita breaks down why high-performing teams aren’t about talent density, charisma, or motivation, but about coordination, goal clarity, and participation—most of which is decided before the work begins. We discuss how team intelligence (team IQ) can be measured, why equal participation predicts better outcomes, and how leaders unintentionally undermine collaboration in meetings. We also explore what collective intelligence looks like in remote and hybrid teams, including how to reduce meeting overload, improve asynchronous collaboration, and avoid proximity bias. Then we go into the future: AI agents as teammates. Anita explains why AI doesn’t improve teams by default, the critical difference between AI as production technology vs. coordination technology, and how AI could strengthen collective memory, psychological safety, and cross-team collaboration—if leaders use it intentionally. If you lead, manage, or work on teams in an AI-shaped workplace, this episode is essential listening. Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management. Thanks for listening! Hey! We love new friends! Connect with us! On The Socials! You Tube, TikTok, Instagram on LinkedIn - Mel + Francesca. The LinkedIn Group: We'd love to have you join the Your Work Friends Group on LinkedIn Drop Us a Line: Send us your ideas, questions, comments, complements, whatnot, to friend@yourworkfriends.com

    45 min

  5. 12/09/2025

    Ownership Works: When All Employees Own a Piece of The Upside w/ Anna-Lisa Miller

    Send us a text Why are we still treating wealth-building at work like a VIP perk? Senior executives have long enjoyed equity as part of their compensation.  But what happens when everyone gets a piece of the upside? This week, we sit down with Anna-Lisa Miller, Executive Director of Ownership Works, a nonprofit partnering with companies and investors to expand broad-based employee ownership - creating real financial stability for workers and driving stronger business performance for employers. 📈 Here’s the wild part: Shared ownership isn’t a feel-good perk. It’s delivering life-changing payouts — helping employees pay off debt, buy homes, build generational wealth, and finally get out from under the daily squeeze that 1 in 4 American workers are living in. In this conversation, we get into: How equity for all employees actually works (it’s simpler than you think)Why private equity has become an unlikely accelerant of inclusive wealth-buildingThe cultural shift that happens when workers feel, think, and act like ownersWhat CEOs gain when they stop treating employees as a cost and start treating them as partnersWhy empathy + transparency are becoming future-of-work leadership superpowersThis movement is already proving what many of us believe: When companies win, workers should too. And Anna-Lisa? She’s a powerhouse — and the daughter of a badass immigrant mom who built the American dream the hard way. This work is deeply personal. Listen in to hear how shared ownership could redefine what’s possible for millions of workers - and for the companies bold enough to lead the way. About Anna-Lisa Anna-Lisa Miller is the founding Executive Director of Ownership Works. She is responsible for the organization’s strategy, key partnerships, growth, and overall impact. With a career deeply rooted in expanding shared ownership, advancing racial equity, and driving systemic change, Anna-Lisa is a recognized leader in the nonprofit sector. She brings extensive experience in building organizations, designing impactful programs, and forging partnerships that deliver lasting social and economic benefits to communities. More about Ownership Works:  SiteVideos Anna-Lisa references:Ownership Works – ISC Employees Share in Big Payout, Showcasing the Power of OwnershipDisclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management. Thanks for listening! Hey! We love new friends! Connect with us! On The Socials! You Tube, TikTok, Instagram on LinkedIn - Mel + Francesca. The LinkedIn Group: We'd love to have you join the Your Work Friends Group on LinkedIn Drop Us a Line: Send us your ideas, questions, comments, complements, whatnot, to friend@yourworkfriends.com

    45 min

  6. 11/25/2025

    Code Red: Zapier's Approach to Move from AI Fear to AI Integration w/ Zapier's Brandon Sammut

    Send us a text “With AI you can delegate a bunch of the work, but you cannot delegate the accountability.” This week on Your Work Friends, we sit down with Zapier’s Chief People & AI Transformation Officer Brandon Sammut to break down how Zapier hit 97% AI adoption without traditional L&D, why they declared an internal “Code Red,” and how culture—not tools—is the real engine of AI transformation. We get into Zapier’s AI fluency rubric for new hires, their “clear the lane” discipline that freed HR to actually innovate, and the role of AI Automation Engineers reshaping how teams work. If you’re stuck in pilot purgatory, wrestling with tool sprawl, or trying to get your leaders hands-on with AI, this episode gives you the moves. What you’ll learn: Why Zapier called “Code Red” on AI earlyThe habits behind their 97% adoption rateHow transparency + psychological safety supercharge experimentsThe AI fluency bar every new hire must meetOne golden rule: delegate work, not accountabilityIf you’re a CHRO, CPO, or operator trying to make AI real inside your org—not just a slide—this one’s your playbook. About Brandon Sammut Chief People & AI Transformation Officer at Zapier, leading the organization’s AI adoption, AI fluency standards, and automation strategy. Follow him on LinkedIn for playbooks and real-world experiments:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-sammut-8147b76 #YourWorkFriends #Zapier #AIAtWork #AITransformation #FutureOfWork #HRLeaders #PeopleStrategy #TalentStrategy #Automation #GenerativeAI #Leadership #WorkplaceCulture Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management. Thanks for listening! Hey! We love new friends! Connect with us! On The Socials! You Tube, TikTok, Instagram on LinkedIn - Mel + Francesca. The LinkedIn Group: We'd love to have you join the Your Work Friends Group on LinkedIn Drop Us a Line: Send us your ideas, questions, comments, complements, whatnot, to friend@yourworkfriends.com

    49 min

  7. 11/11/2025

    AI Ambition: Balancing Innovation with Trust, Connection and Human Relationships w/McKinsey NA CHRO Wendy Miller

    Send us a text Here’s the deal—AI promises a lot. Efficiency, productivity, transformation. Every week, something new. But work also runs on things like trust, connection, and human relationships. So the real question isn’t just how fast we adopt AI—it’s how we balance ambition with reality, timelines, people, and humanity. In this episode, we sit down with Wendy Miller, Chief HR Officer for North America at McKinsey & Company, to talk about what balancing AI ambition and reality actually looks like on the ground. Wendy gets candid about the chaos, the learning curves, and what it really takes for leaders and teams to adapt without losing their footing—or their people. We dig into the rewiring of organizations, the blind spots most execs miss, and why the real edge in the AI era isn’t speed—it’s humanity. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why “go smaller, but go fast” might be the smartest AI adoption strategy yetThe cost of chasing speed before impact—and how to avoid itHow to upskill, experiment, and play without losing controlThe new role of HR as the human side of digital transformationWhy trust and authenticity are still your best performance toolsWhat a “learner’s mindset” really looks like in practiceHow to reinvest AI’s efficiency gains back into better leadership, better work, and better cultureFind Wendy on LinkedIn  Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management. Thanks for listening! Hey! We love new friends! Connect with us! On The Socials! You Tube, TikTok, Instagram on LinkedIn - Mel + Francesca. The LinkedIn Group: We'd love to have you join the Your Work Friends Group on LinkedIn Drop Us a Line: Send us your ideas, questions, comments, complements, whatnot, to friend@yourworkfriends.com

    40 min

  8. 10/28/2025

    Be Bold: The Surprising Science of Everyday Courage w/ Ranjay Gulati

    Send us a text Here’s the deal—fear isn’t the villain.  Left alone, it just drives.  In this episode, we sit down with Harvard Business School professor and Thinkers50 honoree Ranjay Gulati, author of How to Be Bold: The Surprising Science of Everyday Courage  to talk about acting through fear—at work, in leadership, and in a world that feels permanently uncertain. We get into why uncertainty hijacks the brain, what separates risk from true unknowns, and how everyday people “hack” fear with rituals, reframes, and the right support squad. For leaders, we get real about absorbing ambiguity, setting a confident narrative (without turning into a motivational poster), and why courage—not conformity—is becoming a competitive advantage. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why uncertainty (not danger) triggers fear—and how to build a rapport with itThe freeze → flight → fight reality, and practical “fear hacks” that actually helpThe four kinds of support that make courageous action possible (resources, info, moral, feedback)How to reframe your team’s story to build self-efficacy without the cringeWhat bold leadership looks like in down markets (plus the 9% who invest and win)Why outcomes don’t always prove courage wrong—and how to “give luck a chance”The culture shift from fear/anger to purpose/impact—and why courage is the new currencyFind Ranjay:  On LinkedIn His Website  Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management. Thanks for listening! Hey! We love new friends! Connect with us! On The Socials! You Tube, TikTok, Instagram on LinkedIn - Mel + Francesca. The LinkedIn Group: We'd love to have you join the Your Work Friends Group on LinkedIn Drop Us a Line: Send us your ideas, questions, comments, complements, whatnot, to friend@yourworkfriends.com

    42 min
See All (95)

5
out of 5
25 Ratings

About

We break down the now and next of work. You stay ahead.Its not just you - work is bonkers. Burnout is high, trust is low, and everything is changing at breakneck speed. Friend-to-friend?  We get it. We're in it. And we're here to guide you through it. We’re two leadership insiders—and real-life friends—who’ve led teams, sat in the tough seats, and know first hand how fast, complex, and personal work has become. Every week, we break down what’s happening at work and to work, taking you behind the scenes of what's happening now, and preparing you for what you'll see in 6 months. We're bringing you breaking news, workplace trends, and interviews with top experts shaping the future of work. We cover what’s changing so you don’t get left behind.Join us for smart, unfiltered (with the occasional f*bomb or two) conversations about how work is evolving and what you can do about it.Great for: • Employees rethinking their careers and trying to navigate what comes next• People leaders shaping culture and driving change while getting the work done• Orgs wanting to build smarter, more profitable, more human workplaces• Anyone craving more honest and practical conversations about the future of workTopics we cover:Future of work, leadership, workplace culture, team dynamics, change management, human-centered strategy, layoffs, burnout, performance, career growth, workplace news, workplace humor, and more.

Information