WorkLab

Microsoft corporate vice president of Xbox Sarah Bond explains what games can teach us about the future of work. Today, 3 billion people on the planet play video games—which have a unique and powerful ability to enable collaboration, break down language and geographic barriers, build rapport, spark imagination, and create empathy. As companies explore new ways to enable teamwork, including forays into the metaverse, they can learn a lot about how to best proceed from games.   WorkLab 

Nela Richardson is the chief economist at ADP, a global provider of human capital management solutions. In this episode, she breaks down how the economy is affecting the labor market, the importance of skilling a new workforce, and why leaders should invest in their people above all else. Richardson is the second guest of Season 3 of the WorkLab podcast, in which hosts Elise Hu and Tonya Mosley have conversations with economists, technologists, and researchers who share insights on how work is changing.  WorkLab 

Microsoft leader Jared Spataro unpacks the key findings from the latest Work Trend Index report. In a nutshell: creating the culture and employee experience to meet the needs of today’s distributed workforce requires a new leadership approach. Spataro is the first guest of Season 3 of the WorkLab podcast, in which hosts Elise Hu and Tonya Mosley have conversations with economists, technologists, and researchers who explore the data and insights into why and how work is changing.  WorkLab 

We’re living out the biggest shift in work in a hundred years. In Season 3 of the WorkLab podcast from Microsoft, we’ll explore what all this change means for leaders—and learn how energized, empowered employees can give organizations a competitive edge. Join hosts Elise Hu and Tonya Mosley for big conversations with leading thinkers on the future of work. Season 3 of the WorkLab podcast debuts on Sept. 22. You can follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. 

A few years back, Accenture worked with Microsoft to build a virtual campus called the “Nth Floor.” After the pandemic hit, the Nth Floor became a crucial digital tool in helping Accenture onboard new employees—and an early example of the potential of the enterprise metaverse. What works best in this new virtual universe? What kinks still need to be worked out? To answer these questions, the WorkLab podcast checked in with Paul Daugherty, who leads Accenture’s technology business. WorkLab Episode transcript

Two founders of mentorship platforms, Janice Omadeke and Sarah Haggard, discuss why prioritizing mutually beneficial relationships at work is integral to employee success, and share what business leaders can do to facilitate meaningful connections in the age of hybrid work. Omadeke is the sixth guest of Season 2 of the WorkLab podcast, in which host Elise Hu has conversations with economists, technologists, and researchers who explore the data and insights into why and how work is changing.   WorkLab Episode transcript

What motivates people to do their best work? It helps to understand how their contributions fit into their organizations’ greater goals or purpose. Vetri Vellore, a Microsoft corporate vice president, explains how objectives and key results, or OKRs, can help forge that sense of connection—especially in hybrid work.    WorkLab Episode link WorkLab Microsoft 365 blog post Microsoft Viva goals

Dr. Michael Gervais, high-performance psychologist who has worked with NFL players, Olympic athletes, musicians, artists, and Fortune 100 CEOs, discusses the secret power of cultivating mindsets to drive impact on any team. The podcast explores the importance of psychological skills in high performance and the need for leaders to have sophistication in psychology. Kayla Wapitz, a para triathlon athlete and data research scientist, shares her journey in discovering para sports after a spinal cord injury. The podcast also delves into embracing uncertainty, addressing overwhelm, and the positive aspects of remote work.

Microsoft’s Corporate Vice President of Modern Work, Jared Spataro, unpacks the key findings from the company’s annual Work Trend Index, a survey of more than 30,000 people in 31 countries. In a nutshell: leaders need a new skill set to meet shifting employee expectations. Spataro is the fourth guest of Season 2 of the WorkLab podcast, in which host Elise Hu has conversations with economists, technologists, and researchers who explore the data and insights into why and how work is changing.    WorkLab  Great Expectations: Making Hybrid Work Work (microsoft.com) 

Frances Frei, professor of technology and operations management at Harvard Business School and an advisor to executives embarking on large-scale change initiatives, discusses how leaders can build trust, speak authentically, and empower workers to do their best. Frei is a guest on the WorkLab podcast, in which host Elise Hu has conversations with economists, technologists, and researchers who explore the data and insights into why and how work is changing.