The Tightrope With Dan Smolen

Designing work from home space is mission critical in the age of the pandemic and the future or work. Leah Margolis Nathan is responding to her clients’ needs for intentional space to work and conduct Zoom meetings. Based in Saratoga, New York, Leah helps her clients to brilliantly reimagine their square footage to live and … Continue reading Designing Work From Home Space →

In 2021, the rise of independent work will benefit people who compete for business with large firms and agencies. Laura Marella co-founded Overflow to help solo-entrepreneur marketing and strategy professionals succeed. As a business accelerator and professional community, Overflow provides independent professionals with specialized tools and resources that they need to compete effectively with big … Continue reading The Rise of Independent Work →

Volunteer programs benefit careers and extend corporate social responsibility. As the CEO of Realized Worth, Angela Parker leads an organization that inspires professionals at AT&T, Deloitte, Microsoft, Walmart and other companies with meaningful volunteer program engagements. “Volunteering can be a safe and non-threatening space where we encounter our own humanity.” Nearly one year separated from workplace … Continue reading Volunteer Programs Benefit Careers →

Following a year of workforce disruption, career coaching empowers professionals to succeed in life and work. Rich Gee is arguably one of the-most successful career coaches in the United States. As principal the of Rich Gee High Performance Coaching, he empowers professionals to improve their on-the-job results and career outcomes. Incidentally, when he encounters clients … Continue reading Career Coaching Empowers Professionals →

Darren Murph works to unleash the remote workforce. As GitLab’s Director of Remote Work, Darren is “the voice in the room” that evangelizes the trailblazing company’s remote work operating model. What is more, he authored The GitLab Remote Work Playbook, which over 80,000 people around the globe have downloaded. As 2021 unfolds, positive forces of … Continue reading Unleash the Remote Workforce →

The new year and the pandemic inform how we use space to live and work. It turns out that one good thing happened in 2020. Because we sheltered in place for weeks and months, we discovered that we could work successfully from home or in a hybrid combination of traditional and untraditional work spaces. In … Continue reading Space to Live and Work →

Comedy empowers veterans careers: see how ASAP’s novel stand-up comedy training program helps the people who served enjoy meaningful lives and work. The Armed Services Arts Partnership or ASAP is a nonprofit organization that uses stand-up comedy training to empower people to connect with beautiful dreams and meaningful work. ASAP cultivates community and growth among veterans, … Continue reading Comedy Empowers Veterans Careers →

In the Spring of 2017, we interviewed noted labor historian and academic David Jacobs, and we asked him: what does it mean to work? Nearly four years have passed since we interviewed Professor Jacobs, and yet very little in the workforce has changed. People who work still have to place their financial concerns above all other … Continue reading What Does It Mean to Work? →

When you discover your personality type, you can benefit in the future of work doing meaningful work. Globally recognized Myers-Briggs expert Edythe Richards returns to The Dan Smolen Podcast. By administering Myers-Briggs assessments, she helps people enjoy better life and work experiences. In this episode, Edythe takes us through the utility and benefits of a … Continue reading Discover Your Personality Type →

As the pandemic rages on and unemployment spikes, one online platform engages former employees. Forward thinking brands that must furlough large numbers of people use online alumni community platforms. They help former headcount develop new skill, find jobs at other companies, or return to the company in new full-time employment roles or contracting assignments. To that … Continue reading Platform Engages Former Employees →

In this episode, two headhunters discuss recruiting. During 1998, Victoria James and Dan Smolen both entered the executive recruiting field. After 20 years, Dan moved on to future of work thought-leadership and podcasting, However, Victoria still enjoys a great run in placing executive-level candidates. Victoria is the founder and president of Victoria James Executive Search. Her … Continue reading Two Headhunters Discuss Recruiting →

One thing is clear: localism shapes the future of work. This week, we re-visit our 2018 interview with Doug Ross and Morley Winograd. They are, with Mike Hais, the co-authors of the book Healing American Democracy: Going Local. When Joe Biden becomes President on January 20, 2021, he will engage with a deeply divided government. Meantime, … Continue reading Localism Shapes the Future of Work →

Let’s ditch the monthly unemployment report. On January 20, 2021, Joe Biden assumes the U.S. Presidency. But, right now, Mr. Biden focuses time and energy on forming task forces to mitigate the spread of COVID. He will also put in place the supply chain necessary to deliver a vaccine to some 330 million Americans. COVID … Continue reading Ditch the Monthly Unemployment Report →

Subject-matter expert Edythe Richards explains the connection between Emotional Intelligence and Hybrid Work.  Emotional intelligence or EQ helps people to be aware of, control, and express their emotions, and to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically. As the pandemic continues into a tenth month, nearly 8 out of every 10 full-time workers have shifted to remote … Continue reading Emotional Intelligence and Hybrid Work →

Workforce expert Adrienne Shoch joins the podcast to encourage us to create hybrid workplace presence. “[We are] constantly helping people get comfortable with certainty. It likes the same thing. It likes routines and all kinds of things. And, we don’t live like that, anymore.” Adrienne Shoch of five to one in Washington, D.C. is a … Continue reading Create Hybrid Workplace Presence →

One key outcome in how we work and where we work is fast emerging: a workforce revolution supports hybrid work. The radical shift in our podcast’s branding inspired us to explore deeply the suddenly changing nature of work. Not surprisingly, we found that hybrid work has emerged as the way many of us will operate, … Continue reading Workforce Revolution Supports Hybrid Work →

Workforce thought-leader Dan Smolen believes that the future of work is in hybrid work. This week, we dig into fresh workforce market research sponsored by Owl Labs and Global Workplace Analytics. Their study provides a snapshot of a post-COVID workforce that splits its time between home and office. “Now, as millions of people return to … Continue reading Future of Work in Hybrid Work →

Under any circumstance, a pivot for a future of work podcast is jarring. But for Dan Smolen, making a sudden pivot for his podcast, to a new identity, was absolutely necessary. “Now, everything seemed fine until early September 2020 when we discovered that something was amiss. The Tightrope Podcast had inexplicably disappeared from the web … Continue reading Pivot for a Future of Work Podcast →

Public relations executive Aimee Stern believes that bravery and meaningful work are purposely intertwined. “When you heard the process that they went through to get there, it was painful and it was my process, too. It’s like putting aside everything you’ve ever been taught and saying: I’m really good at this. And, it all came … Continue reading Bravery and Meaningful Work →

Anne Holton is a nationally recognized expert on career and technical education. Furthermore, she believes that we must invest in the future of work’s talent pipeline. Anne built a formidable résumé in workforce empowerment. Now, Virginia’s former Secretary of Education; George Mason University’s former interim president, and; current professor at GMU’s Schar School drives thought-leadership for career … Continue reading The Future of Work’s Talent Pipeline →