Leading Up: The Work Shift
Udemy | Pod People
Shift happens. This podcast can help. Layoffs can leave you scrambling for what’s next. Company priorities can switch at the speed of light. Promotions can feel out of reach. Or perhaps you’re starting a new venture. For better or worse, our work lives are constantly changing. How do we forge our career path through this ever changing landscape?
Leading Up: The Work Shift is the compass that will guide you back to your career values, goals, and vision. If you’re feeling lost, you're not alone. Host Elizabeth Weingarten talks to executives, entrepreneurs, and Udemy instructors who have survived layoffs and career uncertainty. We ask how to rebound after getting fired, what blocks talented individuals from getting promotions, and how to build a career that makes you proud.
Elizabeth is a journalist, applied behavioral scientist, and author of the book “How to Fall in Love with Questions: A New Way to Thrive in Times of Uncertainty.” Elizabeth is the Director of Thought Leadership for Udemy, and your guide through whatever shifts are happening in your world of work.
We all deserve to thrive in our careers, even when we’re not sure what’s next. Whether you're stuck in a job that's crushing your soul, facing an unexpected layoff, or ready to make a bold move but don't know where to start, your next chapter starts now.
Follow Leading Up: The Work Shift on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube. New episodes drop Tuesdays.
Find out more about Leading Up: The Work Shift at business.udemy.com/leading-up-podcast
Production by Pod People
Leading Up: The Work Shift is the compass that will guide you back to your career values, goals, and vision. If you’re feeling lost, you're not alone. Host Elizabeth Weingarten talks to executives, entrepreneurs, and Udemy instructors who have survived layoffs and career uncertainty. We ask how to rebound after getting fired, what blocks talented individuals from getting promotions, and how to build a career that makes you proud.
Elizabeth is a journalist, applied behavioral scientist, and author of the book “How to Fall in Love with Questions: A New Way to Thrive in Times of Uncertainty.” Elizabeth is the Director of Thought Leadership for Udemy, and your guide through whatever shifts are happening in your world of work.
We all deserve to thrive in our careers, even when we’re not sure what’s next. Whether you're stuck in a job that's crushing your soul, facing an unexpected layoff, or ready to make a bold move but don't know where to start, your next chapter starts now.
Follow Leading Up: The Work Shift on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube. New episodes drop Tuesdays.
Find out more about Leading Up: The Work Shift at business.udemy.com/leading-up-podcast
Production by Pod People
Episodes
Mentioned books
Dec 16, 2025 • 38min
Indeed CMO James Whitemore: How to Stand Out in the Job Hunt
James Whitemore, Chief Marketing Officer at Indeed, shares insights from billions of job searches on how to navigate career transitions in today's challenging market. He discusses the power of reframing your skills, why focus beats quantity in job applications, and how to discover non-obvious career paths that match your experience. James also reveals the mindset shifts that matter most after a layoff, why sales roles can be strategic career moves, and how to build a profile that shows adaptability and lifelong learning: the qualities employers value most.
Follow Leading Up: The Work Shift on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen. New episodes drop Tuesdays.
Subscribe to our Substack .
If you’re trying to skill up to land a new job, head to Udemy.com
Find out more about Leading Up: The Work Shift at business.udemy.com/leading-up-podcast Production by Pod People
Dec 9, 2025 • 23min
Zak Brown: F1 Racing, Leading Under Pressure, and Split-Second Decisions
How do you make a quick decision when the stakes are high? Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, shares hard-won lessons from his journey from professional driver to marketing entrepreneur to Formula One executive. Zak reveals why asking questions matters more than having all the answers, how he learned to control emotional reactions that could have derailed his racing career, and what Formula One can teach anyone about decision-making under pressure. He discusses the parallels between driving at 200mph and leading 1,400 people, why sleep and attention to detail are underrated skills, and how embracing failure accelerates learning.
Follow Leading Up: The Work Shift on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen. New episodes drop Tuesdays.
If you’re trying to skill up, head to Udemy.com
Find out more about Leading Up: The Work Shift at business.udemy.com/leading-up-podcast
Subscribe to our Substack: workshifthappens.substack.com
Learn more about Zak’s new book: Seven Tenths of a Second: Life, Leadership and Formula 1 Production by Pod People
Nov 18, 2025 • 29min
Rebecca Stern: How to Turn AI Into Your Career Coach
From being laid off to spinning your wheels in a position with no momentum, getting to the next step in your career can take a lot of energy. And resources, too, if you decide to hire a career coach. This week’s guest has been focused on building a learning culture wherever she goes, and as the Senior Director of Leadership Development at Udemy, Rebecca Stern has applicable ideas on how to use AI as a thought partner to assist you in achieving your goals.This episode covers how human coaching can be inaccessible and how AI models can serve the same purpose, from identifying and contextualizing your career strengths and areas for improvement to facilitating learning through small experiments or tests of a new skill. Turning the page to the next chapter in your career will take a bit of planning. This episode will leave you with small, actionable steps to regain your confidence and find the motivation within.
Follow Leading Up: The Work Shift on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen. New episodes drop Tuesdays.
Subscribe to our Substack .
If you’re trying to skill up, head to Udemy.com
Use code SHIFT25 for 20 percent off your first month on Udemy and turn today's inspiration into actual progress.
Find out more about Leading Up: The Work Shift at business.udemy.com/leading-up-podcast
Production by Pod People
Nov 12, 2025 • 30min
Pat Flynn: Another Podcast Won’t Help You Take Action (But this one might)
This week, Pat Flynn, founder of Smart Passive Income and author of Lean Learning, shares his insights on overcoming information overload that stunts productivity. He contrasts just-in learning with just-in-case learning, emphasizing that action fuels progress. Flynn introduces the concept of 'junk sparks' that lead to distraction and discusses his 60-day video experiment that led to viral success. He also reflects on identity after a career pivot, highlighting the importance of prioritizing family time and authenticity in our work.
Oct 28, 2025 • 31min
I survived 11 layoffs: How to Rebuild After Loss
40 percent of Americans are laid off or fired at least once in their career. Half of working Americans are anxious about layoffs. This week's guest has faced eleven layoffs and come out stronger each time. Host Elizabeth Weingarten explores what it really takes to survive repeated layoffs, reinvent yourself again and again, and find purpose in the middle of constant professional uncertainty.
Krista Chism, Udemy's SEO Director, shares her hard-won wisdom on separating your identity from your job, building community during unemployment, creating structure in chaos, and even finding unexpected gifts in career setbacks. Whether you're facing a layoff now or want to prepare for the future, this conversation offers practical strategies and emotional resilience tools for navigating one of work's most challenging transitions.
Follow Leading Up: The Work Shift on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen. New episodes drop Tuesdays.
Subscribe to our Substack .
Use code SHIFT25 for 20 percent off your first month on Udemy and turn today's inspiration into actual progress.
If you’re trying to skill up after a layoff, head to Udemy.com
Find out more about Leading Up: The Work Shift at business.udemy.com/leading-up-podcast Production by Pod People
Oct 14, 2025 • 39min
Dorie Clark: Reinvent Your Career (Without the Risk)
In this insightful discussion, Dorie Clark, a strategy and career reinvention expert, shares her invaluable techniques for de-risking career changes. She highlights why the conventional 'jump and hope' advice can backfire, advocating for gradual transitions instead. Dorie emphasizes the power of networking without immediate motives, crafting a compelling career narrative, and treating setbacks as data for growth. With practical advice on navigating AI resume systems and maintaining a balanced perspective, she offers a roadmap for anyone seeking intentional career shifts.
Oct 7, 2025 • 2min
Introducing: The Work Shift
Leading Up: The Work Shift is your compass that guides you back to your career values, goals, and vision. If you’re feeling lost, you're not alone. Host Elizabeth Weingarten talks to executives, entrepreneurs, and Udemy instructors who have survived layoffs and career uncertainty. We ask how to rebound after getting fired, what blocks talented individuals from getting promotions, and how to build a career that makes you proud.
Elizabeth is a journalist, applied behavioral scientist, and author of the book “How to Fall in Love with Questions: A New Way to Thrive in Times of Uncertainty.” Elizabeth is the Director of Thought Leadership for Udemy, and your guide through whatever shifts are happening in your world of work.
Follow Leading Up: The Work Shift on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube. New episodes drop Tuesdays.
Find out more about Leading Up: The Work Shift at business.udemy.com/leading-up-podcast
Production by Pod People
Oct 23, 2024 • 11min
Building a Skills-Based Organization with Paul Kent
In this discussion, Paul Kent, Senior L&D Manager at PepsiCo, reveals how skills-based practices can elevate employee performance and engagement. He stresses the need for core skills like digital fluency and resilience amidst rapid changes in the workplace. Paul also highlights the effectiveness of cohort learning, fostering communities that support education. Furthermore, he delves into the synergy between AI and human intelligence, showcasing innovative ways these technologies can enhance collaboration and productivity for organizational success.
Oct 16, 2024 • 20min
Leadership Lessons from Fortune 500 Executives
Join former Charles Schwab CEO Dave Pottruck as he shares his wisdom on humility and patience in leadership. He emphasizes leading from the middle, where collaboration thrives and team insights are valued. The discussion also highlights the importance of building a strong learning culture, fostering trust, and nurturing continuous leadership growth. Pottruck’s insights illuminate how effective leaders embrace diversity and prioritize self-awareness to enhance decision-making. This conversation is a treasure trove for anyone looking to lead with impact.
Sep 18, 2024 • 34min
From Newsrooms to Boardrooms: Alan Murray's Leadership Insights
Alan Todd sits down with Alan Murray, President of the Dow Jones Leadership Institute and former CEO of Fortune Magazine. Murray shares his journey from a young journalism enthusiast to a leader in the media industry, offering insights on adapting to technological disruption and the evolving role of business in society. He also discusses the challenges facing journalism today and the importance of integrity in leadership. Tune in to learn how to navigate change and lead with purpose in an ever-changing world.Learn more about Udemy Business at https://bit.ly/udemy-podcast.
