AI and the Future of Work: Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace, Business, Ethics, HR, and IT for AI Enthusiasts, Leaders and Academics 339: AI Anxiety and Burnout: Brian Elliott, Work Forward CEO, on Building Trust in the Workplace
Jun 9, 2025
Brian Elliott, CEO of Work Forward and bestselling author, shares his journey from Google and Slack to advising leaders on healthier workplace cultures. He highlights the dangers of hustle culture and the need for alignment and accountability. The discussion dives into the hidden risks of AI, revealing how employees often adopt it in secret due to anxiety about judgment. Elliott emphasizes the importance of fostering trust and experimentation, arguing that the future of work relies on collaboration and valuing human craftsmanship in an AI-driven world.
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Brian Elliott’s Career Journey
- Brian Elliott transitioned from startups to Google and Slack, gathering leadership experience.
- He co-founded Future Forum to study pandemic-era workplace changes and now leads Work Forward advising on culture.
Sign of Healthy Culture
- Healthy cultures focus on customer-oriented problems with clear goals and purpose.
- When teams focus on internal conflicts or misaligned goals, culture deteriorates and hinders delivery.
Tech Culture Shift and Tension
- Tech went from lavish employee perks to midnight layoffs and high stress.
- AI and economic pressures have intensified tensions between executives and employees.
