In just five minutes a day, Dr. Jessica Kriegel, Chief Strategy Officer of Workforce and Labor for Culture Partners, unpacks the latest research, trends, and strategies shaping workplace culture—and driving business success. Designed for CEOs and executives, this daily podcast delivers actionable insights to build high-performance cultures that get real results.
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Tentwentytwo / Culture Partners Podcasts
In today's episode: J.P. Morgan is making a bold push to being the world's first AI-powered megabank. Their vision involves fundamental changes to the structure and operations to leverage AI. Executives are expecting a 10% reduction in staff. They're also rethinking the traditional apprenticeship model for rising leaders. There's a lot of AI FOMO a…
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In today’s episode: Workslop -- the results of ChatGPT and other AI being submitted without sufficient human review--is becoming a larger issue in the workplace. People are at risk of submitting workslop when they're made to move too quickly. AI can be used to generate ideas or fine-tune completed work, but it currently lacks the attention to detai…
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In today’s episode: The U.S. GDP has been revised up to 3.8%. The number looks good, but what's really going on? The math behind the GDP can be misleading. Tariffs are reducing imports, which makes the export numbers look relatively larger. When you add the bad labor numbers, it's clear none of this makes sense. Markets and the news aren't celebrat…
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In today's episode: Jessica and Culture Partners CEO Joe Terry discuss the origins of Surrender to Lead, the book they co-authored that's coming out next year. Leaders are often familiar with the phrase "control the controllables" -- it's important to let go of the uncontrollables. Ego and fear lead us to over-focus on control, but great ideas of…
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In today’s episode: Jessica and John discuss Suzy Welch's op-ed, Is Gen Z Unemployable? Gen Z workers prefer self-care, authenticity, altruism, affluence, and beauty. Companies want them to value achievment, learning, and "an unbridled desire to work." These studies about generational stereotypes are, largely, nonsense. When asked directly, most …
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In today's episode: Alorica's Max Schwendner & Mike Clifton describe how they cooperate as Co-CEOs leading over 100,000 employees. One key value: decisiveness. When one makes a decision as CEO, that's the only CEO decision. They communicate constantly to make that work, and they know intuitively what the other is likely to say. They build goals for…
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In today’s episode: Everyone is worried about risk, but what exactly does that mean? Look no further than Section 1A of every public company's 10-K filing with the SEC. We can learn what's concerning company leaders by seeing the risks they're worried about, laid out in the filing. Sales people: If you can identify a company's risks and offer a dir…
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In today’s episode: There was mass outrage following Jimmy Kimmel's show being pulled from the air--but not nearly as much for 800,000 jobs lost this year. Why is that? There was a clear theme with the Kimmel situation: justice versus injustice. When people have a story, they're motivated to take action that moves the needle. Leaders forget that st…
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In today's episode: Jessica and Culture Partners CEO Joe Terry sit down to discuss the origins of Surrender to Lead, the book they co-authored that's coming out next year. Despite coming at ideas from different places, tough conversations led to answers about leadership that they had to write about. Eventually, they hit upon the key idea of surrend…
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In today’s episode: Companies haven't actually figured out how AI can transform their business to the point of replacing broad swaths of the organization. There's a narrative that the job market is stalling because of AI. That's true, but it's because companies are finding the budget to investigate the potential for AI--consulting and exploration, …
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In today’s episode: 39% of Americans 30 and younger regularly get their news from TikTok. There's a lack of trust in government, politics, and instititions--many are aggressively removing themselves from political discourse. That's dangerous for democracy. We no longer have a Walter Kronkite, largely trusted by the public. Objective news doesn't se…
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In today’s episode: Conservative activist Robby Starbuck will be debating DEI with Van Jones in a conversation moderated by SHRM's CEO, Johnny C. Taylor. Taylor received a lot of criticism for SHRM's changing language from "DEI" to "I&D" -- something Jessica discussed with him in her interview last year. CEO Daily Brief is a daily, five-minute podc…
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In today’s episode: Free speech can cost us friends and jobs; it doesn't mean freedom from consequences. There's a difference between condoning behaviors and inciting riots. You can say some pretty vile things legally--but inciting violence is against the law. On the employer side, though: there's plenty that's controversial that would be a bad ide…
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In today’s episode: The Fed governors all agree on one thing: the labor market is failing. They'll cut interest rates, but it's not going to change our labor economy. There's also the strange sitaution of pressure from the Trump administration--which is making it tougher for the Fed to to do what Trump wants them to do. CEO Daily Brief is a daily, …
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Firings For Posts About Charlie Kirk - Jessica on CNN
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In today's episode: Companies across the country are firing employees for some of their comments in the wake of conservative activist Charlie Kirk's assassination. For private companies, the best practice is to make employment decisions based on aligning employees with their culture and strategy. Despite public pressure to act quickly, the great le…
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In today's episode: Aflac's Matthew Owenby works with the philosophy of hiring for life; it forces you to be careful about hiring and throughout an employee's time at the company. By treating people with dignity and respect, the result is that people are committed to the mission; it also builds the next generation of leadership within the company. …
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The Big Picture of Jobs and the Economy - Jessica on Schwab Network
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In today's episode: With so much uncertainty in the economy between tariffs, AI, and the possibility of a recession, leaders aren't hiring. They're waiting and seeing. The Fed is likely to cut rates next week--it might be a little late, but they've had a tough choice with their dual mandate. Adaptability is the name of the game. We're in a constant…
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In today’s episode: John and Jessica discuss the public reaction to the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Regardless of his politics, Kirk's public image was about public debate, argumentation, and engagement. The ability to freely discuss and argue is one of America's greatest strengths. When we disengage, we lose the ability to innovate. John discus…
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In today’s episode: Oracle's stock gains are historic--especially for a tech company's that's been around for so long. The company's culture is intensely competitive--and adaptable. They continue to change, year after year. The company also makes small pivots over time, rather than massive company-wide shifts. In making small bets, they ca avoid th…
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In today's episode: The data is in: new research from Boston Consulting Group finds that companies that embraced flexibility are growing faster than their RTO-focused peers. That's still the case even when you adjust for company size. 70% of workers said they'd choose full flexibility, and 83% want at least some flexibility. Forced returns are lead…
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In today’s episode: We all have favorites at work; people we prefer to work with or not. Every professional has the ability to build or break relationships. Everybody should be treated equally--given the same opportunities to practice their craft and prove their dedication. But the line between accurate beliefs and unfair biases is tricky. Sometime…
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In today’s episode: Even if the Supreme Court rules President's Trump's tariffs are illegal, the economy's in trouble. Congress will likely pass the tariffs anyway. But how long would that take? And how many ships would come from China in that time, filled with pre-tariff cargo? And who gets their money back? The midterm elections are also coming u…
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In today’s episode: When you get an aircraft that's going slow enough, it stalls--something similar could be happening with the jobs market. When you look at jobs creation, our economy is at stall speed. 20 states are already in a recession; even more are stalled and in danger of falling into a recession. The jobs report now doesn't matter; it has …
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In today’s episode: There seems to be an uptick in CEOs being caught behaving badly, from stealing hats to inappropriate relationships. With great power comes great responsibility; as a CEO, you're a focus point for public attention. In a few high-profile cases, markets have been responding poorly when companies choose long-running executives to re…
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In today’s episode: Economists at BCA say there's a 60% chance of a recession in the next 12 months. With so much uncertainty, a recession might serve as an economic cleanup--but it will come at the expense of the country's poorest. At the same time, we're dealing with a new variable--tariffs--that are creating inflation and uncertainty without bei…
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In today's episode: When you ask people what they enjoy most about their work, it's often some version of "the people." Humancore's Mike Dolen says that's going to make it hard for AI to ever fully replace managers; people value their workplace relationships. But are workplace relationships authentic, given the hierarchies and internal politics? Mi…
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The State of the Jobs Market - Jessica on Schwab Network
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In today's episode: Today's jobless claims are going to be bad news whether they go up or down. Leaders are largely looking ahead, with the impact of tariffs looming on the horizon. Jobs aren't being added quickly, it's taking longer to get a job, and young people can't find jobs. Most executives are still scratching their heads about AI--but they'…
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In today’s episode: The age of corporate apologies is over; now, it's more common to double down in the face of criticism. Still, "I'm sorry" are some of a leader's most potent words. They create a powerful experience and open the door to empathy. Many leaders are too insecure to use the tool. But when we never apologize--to preserve the idea that …
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In today's episode: Internal communications are no longer a secondary concer; they're critical to an organization's success. In these uncertain times, CEO's can't just stick to the talking points about business results. Employees expect communication on larger political and social issues. To know if you should comment on something, ask these questi…
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In today’s episode: As AI reduces the number of entry-level jobs, young workers are in trouble. Companies need to wonder: what happens in ten years when it comes time to hire people for higher-level positions? Even if companies aren't firing employees now, AI will cause them to hire fewer employees down the line. The standout and most-connected can…
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In today's episode: For the last six months, people who stayed in their job experienced higher wage growth than job switchers--a dynamic we haven't seen since the Great Recession. The labor market is cooling quietly, no matter what the aggregate data says, and inflation is outgrowing wage growth. Hiring windows are opening; it may be a good time to…
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Paying Employees Enough To Buy What You Sell
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In today's episode: If you want customers, pay your workers enough to be them. Inflation may have cooled on paper, but people are struggling and wages aren't keeping pace. Retention and demand are linked. When workers can live on their wages, you expand your market. CEO Daily Brief is a daily, five-minute podcast for CEOs where we dissect the week'…
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In today's episode: Target's choice of new executive--its longtime COO--is raising some questions about how we think about succession. Investors aren't thrilled about the decision. When a company is in trouble, should it look to a lifelong employee or turn to an outsider who can shake things up? Investors tend to prefer fresh blood. It makes some s…
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In today's episode: Clothing is a signal; it's one of the first experiences that leaders can create for their employees. For men in power, the suit look is pretty straightforward. Deviating from that choice is often framed as bold. Women's clothing choices are scrutinized under a harsher lens; it's seen as less of a strategy than a statement. As a …
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In today's episode: Fear is the source of most dysfunctions in corporations. Open, honest communication solves most problems. Companies get in trouble when they start making decisions from false premises. Skillibrium's Bart Fanelli focuses on building patterns of communication and accountability. When people in an organization share information, sk…
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In today's episode: Results come from actions. Actions are driven by belief. Beliefs are built by experiences. Current results--for better or worse--are a result of existing actions, beliefs, and experiences within the company. To change results, leaders should avoid getting caught in the "action trap." Think about the experiences you want employee…
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In today’s episode: As AI makes it harder for college grads to find entry-level jobs, there's one key way people can still differentiate themselves: lean into being human. Conversations, connections, networking, and referrals are key to differentating ourselves from the competition. When in doubt: act like a 1950s businessman (without the bigotry).…
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In today’s episode: 212,000 women have left the workforce since the beginning of the year. That's a result of the return-to-office movement and the disproportionate burden of caregiving that falls to women. The wave of RTO mandates was poorly thought-out and fundamentally misunderstands culture and productivity. Leaders should be able to lead witho…
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In today's episode: Companies have been using AI to screen applicants for years; the difference is that now applicants are using it, too. Anyone who claims to know the full impact of AI on the workforce has an agenda; the truth is, it's still an open question. College grads are having a hard time finding jobs because entry-level positions have been…
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In today’s episode: The news has been abuzz with coverage of AT&T CEO John Stankey's letter to employees. Jessica argues he's just saying the quiet part out loud: company loyalty is dead in both directions. John says the role of a CEO is to inspire--and the letter's preachy tone has incited anger, not results. CEO Daily Brief is a daily, five-minut…
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Jobless Claims and the Jobs Reports - Jessica on Schwab Network
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In today's episode: Many CEOs are pausing; not too much hiring or firing as they're waiting to see what happens with inflation, AI, and tariffs. Maintaining adaptaibility is key to success in ever-changing circumstances. We're also seeing a huge need for alignment at the executive level. 212,000 women have left the workforce this year--that's a ref…
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In today’s episode: 58% of workers complain they're being underutilized at work. Most salaried employees would complain about also feeling overworked, especially if made to work the full forty-hour of the workweek. We're in a society where people see what's broken--which leads to the sense that we can do more to fix it. CEO Daily Brief is a daily, …
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In today’s episode: The firing of the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics is going to have a damaging effect on the economy. The jobs report has been looking good over the last few months--but only if you read the headlines. The BLS has been transparent about the limitations of the data. The trick is to ignore the jobs report from this month; pa…
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In today's episode: Conscious capitalism is an apolitical movement that's trying to make capitalism work for all. It has four tenets: First, a higher purpose. Without meaning, you're just trying to grab dollars. Second, stakeholder orientation: create value for all the stakeholders, including employees, shareholders, and customers. Third, conscious…
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In today's episode: In order to be AI-first and people first, we need to consider how our communication, work methods, and employee talent development are changing. We all need to be constant learners--at every level of the corporate ladder. In order to succeed, leaders need to learn how to acquire employee buy-in for their visions. The key is to m…
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The Revised Jobs Numbers - Jessica on Bloomberg Radio
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In today's episode: The newly-revised jobs numbers don't look good. Growth is slowing, and business investments are down. Most Americans have felt the economy is getting worse--and now we have the numbers to show for it. President Trump's pressure on the Fed is working against him; its need to appear impartial means it might take longer to lower in…
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In today's episode: A special guest--Jessica's 8-year-old daughter--gains a working understanding of the results pyramid. In order to achieve a results (Mom buying her a hamster), Eleanor has been caught in an action trap. Really, she needs to change some of Jessica's underlying beliefs about buying a hamster. Experiences shape beliefs; beliefs dri…
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In today’s episode: There's been a shift this year in the language around layoffs. Companies aren't just unapologetic about cuts, but pointing to them as accomplishments in the AI era. Transparency is a good thing. These decisions have always been happening--now that they're being made openly, employees can better prepare. Leaders need to make toug…
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In today’s episode: The position of "interim CEO" is becoming increasingly common. In a world where layoffs are always seen as a bad decision, it becomes tempting to use a "disaster CEO" to make the painful decisions. But this can hurt a sense of transparency. An interim role is that it can tell the wrong story to employees. If executive leadership…
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In today's episode: To understand the future of AI, Jessica has been reading AI: Unexplainable, Unpredictable, Uncontrollable by Roman Yampolskiy. Since it's not human, AI is in some ways unpredictable. That could be a bad thing, but it may also free it from predictable human impulses. We tend to operate from a place of fear and resource-hoarding, …
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