

Happier At Work®
Aoife O'Brien
Happier at Work® is the go-to podcast for client-facing leaders who want to create thriving workplaces where people and businesses succeed. Hosted by career and workplace culture strategist Aoife O’Brien, each episode explores the psychology of work, tackling the biggest challenges and opportunities shaping today’s workplace—from leadership and career growth to workplace culture, imposter syndrome, and employee engagement.
Blending expert insights, psychological research, real-world stories, and actionable strategies, Happier at Work® helps you build a career and workplace where people feel valued, supported, and inspired. Guests include leading psychologists, bestselling authors, and professionals like you who are putting these ideas into practice.
Whether you’re a leader looking to create a high-performing team or an ambitious professional navigating career growth, this podcast gives you the tools to drive real change.
🎧 Subscribe now and join the movement!
Blending expert insights, psychological research, real-world stories, and actionable strategies, Happier at Work® helps you build a career and workplace where people feel valued, supported, and inspired. Guests include leading psychologists, bestselling authors, and professionals like you who are putting these ideas into practice.
Whether you’re a leader looking to create a high-performing team or an ambitious professional navigating career growth, this podcast gives you the tools to drive real change.
🎧 Subscribe now and join the movement!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 19, 2021 • 54min
53: Clare Kennelly on Workplace Disability Inclusion
Clare Kennelly, founder of Inclusive Cork and Inclusive World Training and Aoife O’Brien discuss what is disability and the importance of disability inclusion within the workplace. In this in-depth episode, Clare opens up personally and professionally about disability along with her own vision impairment and covers;
- Behaviours towards disability.
- Shines a light on how companies are limiting themselves from a wonderful pool of talent.
- Offers wonderful tips on how businesses can do better by implementing inclusive practices.
Clare provides interactive and E-learning courses for Diversity and Inclusion. Within 30 years of educating and training, Clare has worked with students with varying disabilities and detected that even though they were succeeding in education, they were subsequently met with obstacles when it came to seeking work placements and employment opportunities.
A passionate activist with a goal to making businesses leaders in inclusion, Clare has broken down many barriers within Ireland and since shifting her training online due to the pandemic, Clare is now providing highly sought after training & educational services to develop disability confidence within businesses on an international level.
Clare is the creator and presenter of the DisruptAbility podcast, an educational and information platform for employers, employees, professionals and parents/guardians to highlight the barriers and opportunities for employing people with disabilities.
Inclusive Cork and Inclusive World Training were established to respond to the Disability Employment gap and support organisations in understanding "Disability in the 21st Century".
Connect with Clare Kennelly:
https://inclusivecork.ie/
https://www.facebook.com/inclusivecork
https://www.twitter.com/inclusivecork
https://www.linkedin.com/in/clare-kennelly
DisruptAbility Podcast on Youtube with captions:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC11H-9rYCOmQN7r_eBfMBFw
DisruptAbility podcast is also available on;
• Soundcloud
• Spotify
• Itunes
Inclusive Word Training course - https://inclusive-world.teachable.com/courses
Connect with Happier at Work host Aoife O’Brien:
https://happieratwork.ie
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrien
https://twitter.com/HappierAtWorkHQ
https://www.instagram.com/happieratwork.ie
https://www.facebook.com/groups/happieratworkpodcast
Resources:
The Valuable 500, founded by Caroline Casey.
A global movement putting disability on the business leadership agenda.
https://www.thevaluable500.com/

Feb 12, 2021 • 39min
52: Kelly Hartman on Being Yourself at Work
Kelly Hartman and Aoife O’Brien speak about what it means to really be yourself at work. We talk about being honest, being bold, and being who you are. Kelly shares some tips on how to show up as your truly authentic self by being around people who bring out the best in you. Always create a judgement-free zone, accept that you’re not going to be liked by everyone, but that this gives you more time to connect with people you truly connect with. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Be self-aware about your needs, and find the courage to voice those needs.
Kel Hartman is the Chief Wellness and Engagement Officer at Flywire. She is passionate about empowering both Flymates and the business to reach their full potential. Kel has more than 20 years of experience in organization development, cultural change, wellness, talent management and acquisition, executive learning and development, remuneration, succession planning, and employee relations. A true global citizen, Kel has worked all over the world, including Australia, Africa, Europe, Asia, and the United States, and has traveled to more than 95 countries. She is a qualified executive coach, has raised more than $20,000 for charity through two photography exhibitions, helped implement an NGO in West Africa, and has written and performed her own play.
Kelly’s links:
https://www.flywire.com
https://uk.linkedin.com/in/hartmankelly
Aoife’s links:
https://happieratwork.ie
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrien
https://twitter.com/HappierAtWorkHQ
https://www.instagram.com/happieratwork.ie
https://www.facebook.com/groups/happieratworkpodcast

Feb 5, 2021 • 53min
51: Lasse Rheingans on the 5 Hour Work Day
Lasse Rheingans and Aoife O’Brien speak about the 5 hour work day and what this means for the future of work. Lasse shares some key insights and practical tips from his own experience. We talk about things like what productivity means, what rules you can put in place to become more focused at work, outcomes versus outputs, automation, why it’s important to be happy at work, the concept of ‘urgency’.
Lasse is a media science expert, holding a Bachelor of Arts in media production and a master’s degree in „interdisciplinary media sciences“.
In 2017 he introduced the 5-hour working day at his company while honouring existing salaries and holiday entitlements. He believes that ‘work’ should neither be a question of location, nor can it really be measured in time; it’s the result that truly matters. To cope with today’s challenges he believes we should focus on people, their wellbeing, and their personal growth. He is committed to promoting digital and cultural change in people’s minds – to successfully overcome growing social problems in this uncertain world.
Lasse is in constant pursuit of making a contribution to the change he wants to see in the world, of bringing people together and make people’s life better, of being a leader or mentor his younger self would have wished for.
In 2018 he was rewarded the 2nd place of the „Chefsache Award“, in 2019 he won the „XING New Work Award“ and published his book „The 5-hour revolution“ (Campus, Germany), in 2020 he placed second for the „HR Personalwirtschaftspreis“, in 2021 his company was certified by the Fair Pay Initiative and also the „NEW WORK Arbeitgebersiegel“. He is married and a father of two, living and working in Bielefeld, Germany.
Lasse’s links:
https://www.ted.com/talks/it_s_time_to_rethink_work_lasse_rheingans_tedxkassel
https://www.facebook.com/RheingansBielefeld
https://www.instagram.com/lasse.rheingans/
https://www.twitter.com/pixelkoenig
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lasserheingans/
Aoife’s links:
https://happieratwork.ie
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrien
https://twitter.com/HappierAtWorkHQ
https://www.instagram.com/happieratwork.ie
https://www.facebook.com/groups/happieratworkpodcast
Resources:
Dropbox Blog: https://blog.dropbox.com/topics/work-culture/haltung--the-german-answer-to-happier--healthier-virtual-work
Rheingans:
https://rheingans.io
Simon Sinek, The Millennial Question:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vudaAYx2IcE
Vouchercloud study:
https://www.vouchercloud.com/resources/office-worker-productivity
Cal Newport Deep Work (book)
https://www.calnewport.com/books/deep-work/

Jan 28, 2021 • 50min
50: Bhushan Sethi on the Future of Work
Bhushan Sethi and Aoife O’Brien speak about the future of work. With everything happening in the world right now, Bhushan shares some key insights and practical steps you can take today to make work better for everyone. We cover topics such as the health and wellbeing of employees, mental health and wellbeing, vulnerability in leadership, outcomes versus outputs, worker preferences, leadership role-modeling, issues around bias, inequality and white privilege, working collaboratively, and four key areas to focus on right now.
Bhushan is the joint leader of PwC’s Global People & Organization practice, where he shapes and drives the firm's global network strategy across its 11000+ practitioners in 150+ countries delivering standalone and integrated solutions across people strategy, technology, process and risk & compliance.
Demonstrable track record of working with business leaders to define and implement organization & workforce strategies which enable sustainable business, financial, regulatory and customer outcomes.
Award winning thought leader and media spokesperson on topics including “future of work”, culture, workforce strategy and diversity & inclusion. He has recently featured in WSJ, Bloomberg, CNBC, Yahoo Finance, New York Times, American Banker and HR Digest. Current member of T20 “Future of work task force” and World Economic Forum Council on Skills and Education, having previously served on WEF Equality & Inclusion Council. He currently resides in New York City and has lived and worked in Europe, Asia and the US.
Bhushan’s links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bhushansethi1
Aoife’s links:
https://happieratwork.ie
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrien
https://twitter.com/HappierAtWorkHQ
https://www.instagram.com/happieratwork.ie
https://www.facebook.com/groups/happieratworkpodcast

Jan 22, 2021 • 48min
49: Aoife Mollin on Fitting in at Work
Aoife Mollin and Aoife O’Brien speak about fitting in at work. Aoife Mollin shares her research on job satisfaction in remote working teams, which ultimately led to a finding of the importance of ‘fit’. We discuss needs satisfaction, with a focus on autonomy and flexible working, as well as trust as a key component of a well functioning team. We talk about culture, communication and what makes for a great remote working environment.
Aoife Mollin helps senior & middle managers who are dissatisfied in their careers to uncover a high impact plan to a more satisfied & successful career, without the stress. She combines this with supporting leaders to lead effectively in a way that works for their organisation and themselves. This results in confidence, satisfaction & success in their role as a leader.
Having over 15 years consulting experience working across industries within both the private & the public sector, she spent over 10 years in management consultancy, delivering change programmes in large organisations. Working within organisations on change programmes, her focus was on supporting people through the change which was sometimes being imposed on them. Combining this consulting experience with training and coaching skills, allows her to challenge individuals to understand how they can work through change to contribute more effectively to organisational performance, while enjoying work. She delivers both 1:1 coaching & group leadership development programmes.
She holds a Masters in Applied Positive Psychology & Coaching Psychology (MAPPCP); a European bachelor of Business and Legal Studies, a diploma in Corporate and Executive Coaching and a diploma in Small Business Coaching. She is a member of the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and the Irish Institute of Training & Development (IITD). She was a finalist for the 2016 ICF Ireland Coach of the year award & is a qualified DISC practitioner. Investing in her own belief of lifelong learning, she is currently working towards PCC ICF Certification.
Aoife Mollin’s links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemollin/
https://amaresults.com
Aoife’s links:
https://happieratwork.ie
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrien
https://twitter.com/HappierAtWorkHQ
https://www.instagram.com/happieratwork.ie
https://www.facebook.com/groups/happieratworkpodcast

Jan 15, 2021 • 53min
48: Zoe Routh on Leadership & Self-Awareness
Zoe Routh and Aoife O’Brien speak about leadership and self-awareness, the importance of understanding yourself in order to become a better leader. Sometimes power can impact on our humility, and we lack empathy, compassion and service to others - the reason we became leaders in the first place! It’s important to be aware of our triggers, observe ourselves without judgement. Two critical areas of self-awareness are covered: feedback; and self-reflection. We touch on the importance of giving feedback, how to give feedback effectively, and there are several self-reflection prompts you may want to jot down!
Zoë Routh is a leadership expert specialising in the people stuff. She shows leaders and teams struggling with office politics and silos how to work better together.
She has worked with individuals and teams internationally and in Australia since 1987. From the wild rivers of northern Ontario to the remote regions of Australia, Zoë has spent the last thirty years showing teams how to navigate the wilderness of people stuff.
Zoë is the author of four books: Composure, Moments, Loyalty, and People Stuff - Beyond Personalities: An advanced handbook for leadership, released July 2020.
Zoë hosts the Zoë Routh Leadership Podcast, dedicated to all things people in leadership.
Zoë is an outdoor adventurist and enjoys telemark skiing, has run 6 marathons, is a one-time belly-dancer, has survived cancer, and loves hiking in the high country. She is married to a gorgeous Aussie and is mother to a geriatric garden-wrecking chook.
Zoe’s links:
https://www.zoerouth.com
https://www.facebook.com/zoe.routh
https://twitter.com/zoerouth
https://au.linkedin.com/in/zoerouth
https://www.instagram.com/zoerouth/
Aoife’s links:
https://happieratwork.ie
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrien
https://twitter.com/HappierAtWorkHQ
https://www.instagram.com/happieratwork.ie
https://www.facebook.com/groups/happieratworkpodcast

Jan 8, 2021 • 50min
47: Shane Twomey on the Hybrid Workforce
Shane Twomey and Aoife O’Brien speak about the distributed hybrid workforce, focusing on how to manage people in this new world of remote (working from home, wfh) and office working. We cover why it’s important to manage staff on outcomes, not inputs, and how to make that change. Shane speaks about “being deliberate” in your actions, and the three key dynamics within an organisation - social dynamics, power and influence, and creative dynamics. What are you doing to make sure your people are thriving?
Shane Twomey is a senior Organisation, Change and Management Consultant with over 25 year’s experience in Multi-national, Indigenous and Public Sector environments. He is experienced in providing a range of organisation solutions including Organisation Design & Development, Organisation Change and Executive Coaching.
Prior to moving into consultancy, Shane worked in a range of Senior Human Resources roles with numerous blue chip organisations including Maxtor, where he had a European brief, Siemens, where he was responsible for implementing Strategic HR, and Viridian Power & Energy, where Shane developed a commercial HR Framework.
A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development, Shane holds a Masters in Human Resources from the Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business. He is a Registered Coach with Henley Management School, is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Management Consultants & Advisors and a member of the Institute of Directors.
Shane’s links:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanetwomey/
Website: www.organisationdynamics.ie
Aoife’s links:
https://happieratwork.ie
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrien
https://twitter.com/HappierAtWorkHQ
https://www.instagram.com/happieratwork.ie
https://www.facebook.com/groups/happieratworkpodcast

Dec 18, 2020 • 46min
46: Karin Tischler on Flexible Working for Gender Equality
Karin Tischler and Aoife O’Brien speak about flexible working, specifically job sharing, and the impact this has on gender equality. We cover topics such as the gender pay gap, transferable skills, top sharing (a new concept to me!), the importance of role models, unpaid care work. We also touch on the difference between the US and Europe, and Karin shares some wonderful examples from SAP.
Karin Tischler is the founder of Emily’s Path Consulting, promoting flexible working methods to create a more diverse workforce and increase gender equality. She is a speaker, researcher and podcast host of “Job Sharing And Beyond” – talking to international experts about job sharing, reduced work hour weeks, father networks, professionals returning from unpaid care work and much more. A returner herself with a master’s degree from the University of Oxford and a focus on professional research and consulting, Karin utilizes her European & German background to raise awareness of this untapped part of the workforce, to share innovative solutions and to create international collaborations. She is also a co-host of LinkedIn Local in Vancouver, a global volunteer initiative to organize networking events focused on human connections.
Karin’s links:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karin-tischler/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmilysPathConsulting
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karintischlerbc/ https://www.instagram.com/jobsharingandbeyond/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/karin_tischler
https://twitter.com/JobsharingByond
Website: https://emilyspath.ca/
My social links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrien
https://twitter.com/HappierAtWorkHQ
https://www.instagram.com/happieratwork.ie
https://www.facebook.com/groups/happieratworkpodcast

Dec 11, 2020 • 51min
45: Helen Joy on First Time Managers
Helen Joy and Aoife O’Brien speak about first time managers, and answer the question: what makes a great manager? In this current Covid world, we cover the non-verbal cues and how to check in with people to make sure they’re doing ok. Traditionally the role of the manager has been to make sure that stuff gets done, now it is more focused on getting the best out of people. We talk about the key skills required to be an effective manager, such as communication, including setting clear expectations for the role of the manager, emotional intelligence (self-awareness, self-management in particular), flexibility, adaptability, critical thinking and coaching.
Helen passionately believes that we are all capable of creating a motivating and inspiring workplace if we want to do so.
She is passionate about Leadership and Management Development, particularly aspiring and new managers. She led and developed teams within operational and support environments to achieve results through formal/informal training and coaching.
Helen has held senior operational and training roles in the recruitment industry and has a clear understanding of the need to balance commercial realities and results with people development.
Helen's expertise lies in enabling businesses to grow from the inside out by working with managers to create inspired, motivated, top-performing teams.
Helen’s links:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenjoyleadershipgrowth/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PeopleSparkltd
Website: http://www.people-spark.co.uk
My social links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrien
https://twitter.com/HappierAtWorkHQ
https://www.instagram.com/happieratwork.ie
https://www.facebook.com/groups/happieratworkpodcast

Dec 4, 2020 • 45min
44: Katharine Slattery on Effective Mentoring
Katharine Slattery and Aoife O’Brien speak about mentoring: the difference between mentoring and coaching; the benefits of mentoring specifically; what makes an effective mentoring programme. We also talk about the preparation needed for both the mentor and the mentee when it comes to designing and delivering an effective mentoring programme.
Katharine Slattery established Mentoring Resources in 2012, to design and deliver in-person and eLearning training programmes for mentors and mentees participating in mentoring programmes in professional, educational and community settings in Ireland. Katharine believes in the power of mentoring in providing an additional level of support for those going through a time of transition and challenge - whether that is starting off in a new level of education, beginning a new role, or striving for professional or personal development. Mentoring Resources also design, implement and manage mentoring programmes for small and large-scale organisations in Ireland.
Katharine has worked with several Irish Higher Education Institutions, corporate sector and community sector clients, and other organisations such as the HSE, HIQA and the Law Society of Ireland, and has seen first-hand the benefits to mentees, mentors and the organisation in which mentoring is embedded. Katharine is a member of the European Mentoring and Coaching Council and the Women’s Inspire Network. Katharine holds a B.A. and M.A. in English Literature from the Queen’s University of Belfast, as well as a Professional Practice Certificate in Training Development & Delivery from the Irish Institute of Training and Development. She has just begun a post-graduate Diploma in Business in Executive Management.
A mentor provides three Ss – a safe pair of ears, a sounding board, and a source of possible solutions. Amid the noise and competing demands of a workplace environment, it’s not hard to see how the opportunity to have those ears, that sounding board and that source of help could make you ‘Happier At Work’.
Katharine’s links:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Trainer4Mentors
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katharineslattery/
Website: https://www.mentoringresources.ie/
My social links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrien
https://twitter.com/Empowerment_IE
https://www.instagram.com/happieratwork.ie
https://www.facebook.com/groups/happieratworkpodcast