Burnout, Power, and the Culture Mistake Leaders Miss | Jessica Kriegel

My guest for Episode #292 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Dr. Jessica Kriegel, Chief Strategy Officer of Workforce and Labor at Culture Partners and an internationally recognized speaker. 

Episode page with video, transcript, and more

Known for her transformative 'Culture Equation,' Jessica has been featured on CNBC, MSNBC, CNN, and more. At Culture Partners, she leads pioneering research and strategy with Stanford University, working to reshape the DNA of Fortune 10 and 500 companies for long-term success.

Jessica holds a doctorate in Human Resources Development and Educational Leadership from Drexel University and is the author of Unfairly Labeled, a book that challenges generational stereotypes in the workplace. She also hosts the podcast "Culture Leaders," where she dives into the essence of true transformation.

In this episode, Jessica shares insights on leadership, culture transformation, and her unique journey through pivotal career experiences. Jessica discussed her favorite mistake—a whirlwind promotion at Oracle to Head of Strategy for the Head of Cloud, a role she describes as "seven promotions" above her current position at the time.

Although the experience quickly led to burnout due to overwhelming demands and a relentless work pace, it also became one of her most transformative learning experiences. Jessica credits those six intense weeks as the foundation for her "Culture Equation" framework, which she has since applied to drive organizational change and foster alignment between purpose, strategy, and culture.

The conversation also explored the critical role of leadership in shaping workplace culture and addressing challenges like burnout, disengagement, and generational stereotypes. Jessica emphasized that culture is fundamentally about how people think and act to achieve results, and leaders must align beliefs and behaviors to operationalize strategy. She shared her perspectives on overcoming employee disengagement, fostering innovation through psychological safety, and breaking free from generational labeling in the workplace.

Jessica also discussed her TED Talk, "How to Help People Give a Shit," highlighting how employees' perceived apathy often stems from overwhelm and a lack of agency rather than genuine disinterest.

Questions and Topics:

• What’s your favorite mistake?
• Would you say six weeks is an unusually fast burnout cycle?
• Was the 3 a.m. call part of a broader pattern of disrespect or just a one-off incident?
• Are these patterns common across organizations, or are they specific to individual leaders?
• How do you define culture?
• Did you face challenges getting your TED Talk title approved?
• What advice do you have for leaders to address this challenge of employee disengagement?
• How do you see leaders' perceptions of mistakes influencing workplace culture?
• What led you to write your book Unfairly Labeled?
• How do you think generational stereotypes impact workplace dynamics?
• Do you believe evolving workplace expectations are driven more by technology than generational differences?