Dear Workplace

In our first bonus episode, we are excited to share our full interview with the Meta Team- the first and only national, certified women-owned commercial roofing company in the United States. Meta was founded by five women who provide over 250 years of combined expertise and experience in the roofing industry. But as you can imagine, their journey both into roofing and now leading roofing was not easy- as diversity and inclusion are still lacking. Here is our full interview Monica Kang had with the five co-founders Candace Klein, Erica Jackson, Alicia Michael, Sherri Miles, and Kelly Braddy Van Winkle. Visit the MetaTeam’s website to learn more about their work. Learn more about us at dearworkplace.com. Watch the full video interview at our Youtube channel here. Join our newsletter from InnovatorsBox here.

Who we surround ourselves with at work matters. Not just because we could get new jobs, business opportunities, or recognition but because they could lead to friendships, innovation, partnerships, and finding new meaning in how you thrive. In this episode we study how to build more meaningful relationships at work, when relationships continue to change at work. Thanks to our guests: Meg Ugenti, Leo Chan, Alice Hu, Derrin Slack, and Meta Team, for sharing your insights. Learn more at dearworkplace.com.

If the way we work is changing so much, would how we lead change too? COVID has taught us a lot of new lessons and what we expect of leaders and how we lead has been impacted too. In this episode, we dive into what makes a good leader and how good leaders are made today and will be needed for the future workforce. Thank you, Brandi Nicole Johnson, Abraham Kim, Jadayah Spencer, Jennifer Shinkai, Monica Maglaris, and Blair Glencorse for your insights. Learn more at dearworkplace.com. Join our newsletter from InnovatorsBox here.

How do you handle ambiguity and uncertainty? Change is inevitable yet getting comfortable with uncertainty takes practice. How can I get better with it and why does this matter as we think about the future of work? In this episode, we untangle why understanding how we feel about ambiguity may help us get comfortable with it. I spoke with some friends to learn more. Thank you to Sudebi Thakurata, Andrew Ngui, Alana Karen, and the Complexity Weekend Team (Daniel, JP, and Shaun) for sharing your insights. Learn more at dearworkplace.com.

The importance of being authentic is limitless - it’s liberating, truthful, and a key foundation of building trust. But showing up authentically at work is not always easy. How much sharing is oversharing? What makes certain workplaces emotionally safe or not? In this episode, we untangle what it means to be authentic, why it’s hard, and what we can do differently to still show up authentically with courage. Hint: Self-reflection is a key element.  Learn more at dearworkplace.com. Learn more about our guests: Thank you, Dr. Stephanie Han, Probal Banerjee, Heather Murphy, and Eli Murphy for sharing your insights.

Where do you start? Yes, gender pay gaps, overlooked harassment incidents, or lack of representation across industries are all still crucial problems we should change. But it’s also incredible to see more female youth programs, female entrepreneurs, and female leaders such as the U.S. Vice President. In this episode, we untangle the goods, bads, and unknown questions to reimagine how we can have a workplace that works for women too. Learn more at dearworkplace.com. Thank you to Coonoor Behal, Alana Karen, Michelle Sttecase, Meg Ugenti, Cassandra Lane, and Natashia Deón for sharing your insights.

Let’s be honest. All of us want to be successful - professionally, personally, and in everything we do. Yet it’s worth wondering if what we define as success is the very barrier to us succeeding? In this episode, we’ll study how we redefine success may open up new doors of possibilities and growth both at work and in life that we may not have foreseen. Learn more at dearworkplace.com. Thank you to Coonoor Behal, Kevin Felix Chan, Ariana Gomez, Jeff Harry, and Luke Helder for sharing your insights.

A year of working from home forced us to ask some new questions about the purpose of a physical office - do we need it? and if so, what is the purpose of it if we can work from home? In this episode, we’ll study how the purpose of the office space is changing and what will remain. Learn more at dearworkplace.com. Thank you to Andrew Ngui, Kendall Ratliffe, Jan Wong, and Kia Weatherspoon for sharing your insights.  

Getting comfortable with uncertainty is hard. How can you get better at it when everything is always changing? Welcome to our Rethink series where Monica H. Kang shares bitesize power insights and actionable tips for innovators. In this first Rethink episode, she shares insights on how to rethink ambiguity by shifting the way you think and process information. Learn more at dearworkplace.com.

Why does it feel so hard to create something we all want - an inclusive, equitable, and diverse workplace? In this episode, we’ll study the top challenges and opportunities associated with DEI, examine how we can build a workplace where everyone feels like they belong, and explore why all this is really important. Learn more at dearworkplace.com. Learn more about our guests: Thank you, Corey Ponder, Daniel Parra, Heather Hiscox, Abadesi Osunsade, Van Lai-DuMone, and Anne T. Griffin for sharing your insights.