The Future Of Less Work

Can AI make work more human?What happens when the work your people used to find value in is no longer the work you need them to do?In this episode of The Future of Less Work, host Nirit Cohen sits down with Kelly Jones, Chief People Officer at Cisco, to discuss how AI is changing work and HR.Together they explore what it really takes to lead through a time when work is being redefined—by AI, by shifting values, and by the demand for flexibility and meaning.From rethinking leadership beyond physical office spaces to using AI for personalized learning and well-being, Kelly offers a grounded, practical view of the path forward.And she leaves us with one powerful challenge: Are we involving the right voices—creatives, ethicists, humanists—in shaping what comes next? Want to dive deeper into this topic? Read Nirit’s Forbes article, “Why AI At Work Needs Humans At The Wheel “, to explore these ideas further. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2nhGBb8JN4 Guest Information:Kelly Jones is Chief People Officer at Cisco, where she steers the people strategies, functions, policies, and operations that empower 84,000+ employees to achieve extraordinary results and thrive. She leads the People Team, directing the design and implementation of data-driven, people-first solutions critical to Cisco’s business transformation, enterprisegoals, and company vision. https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellykjones Chapters:00:00 – How Do We Guide Humans Through AI Disruption?03:25 – What Changed in the Workplace Five Years After COVID?05:30 – Why Return-to-Office Mandates Miss the Point?07:40 – How Do You Lead Distributed Teams Effectively?09:40 –Well-Being Is Now a Performance Strategy11:50 – Will AI Replace Humans or Elevate Work?13:30 – What Is ‘Humans at the Wheel’ Leadership?15:00 – The Rise of Power Skills17:20 – Hire for Skills Instead of Roles19:25 – Will People Trust AI as Their Coach?21:25 – What Keeps CHROs Up at Night in the Age of AI?23:40 – Who Should Shape the Future of Work?

In this episode of The Future of Less Work, Deputy CEO Silvija Martincevic joins host Nirit Cohen to explore the forces reshaping the future of work for hourly and shift work. What the Next Generation of Shift Work Really Looks Like? Why More People Are Working Two Jobs – And What It Means for the Future? How microshifts are redefining flexibility, and what Gen Z really wants from work?This is a deep dive into the next generation of shift work—and why it matters for all of us.Want to dive deeper into this topic? Read Nirit’s Forbes article, "Why Micro Shifts Are The New Trend In Flexible Work", to explore these ideas further.#FutureOfWork #ShiftWork #PolyEmployment #Microshifts #GenZatWork #FlexibleWork #HourlyJobs #WorkforceTrends #AIatWork #SilvijaMartincevic #DeputyApp #NiritCohen #PodcastInterview #WorkplaceInnovation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRkgkhzNPgY Guest Information:Silvija Martincevic is the CEO of Deputy, the world’s leading workforce management platform, revolutionizing hourly work for over 1.5 million workers and 375,000 workplaces across over 100 countries. Before Deputy, Silvija was Chief Commercial Officer at Affirm, a Silicon Valley-based fintech, where she scaled the company from 6,500 to 200,000 customers and grew revenue from $100 million to $1.3 billion. She also built industry-leading partnerships with industry giants like Shopify, Walmart, and Amazon. Earlier in her career, Silvija was the Chief Operating Officer at Groupon, overseeing operations in Europe, Australia, and Asia. She also co-founded Zenna Financial Services, focusing on impact investing. Silvija holds an MBA in Econometrics and Statistics from the University of Chicago and serves on the board of Kiva, promoting financial access for underserved communities. Silvija’s career is driven by a commitment to leveraging technology for social good and serving underserved communities.https://www.deputy.com/ Deputy’s Report: The Big Shift: How Gen Z is Rewriting the Rules of Hourly Workhttps://news.deputy.com/new-deputy-report-reveals-key-workforce-trends-for-2025-the-rise-of-micro-shifts-ais-growing-role-and-hourly-workers-evolving-priorities Chapters:00:00 – What Is Poly-Employment and Why Is It Growing in Shift Work?01:40 –Flexible Work Isn’t Just for Office Jobs03:20 – What Does Flexibility Mean for Hourly Workers?05:00 – What Are Microshifts and Why Do Workers Want Them?07:40 – Gen Z Is Changing How Shift Work Gets Done09:00 – How Employers Are Adapting to Keep Shift Workers10:30 – Poly-Employment allows Workers to Stitch Together Income12:00 – How Technology Is Modernizing Shift Work Scheduling13:40 – How Digital Tools Are Empowering Hourly Workers15:10 – Gen Z is Driving the Shift Toward Work-Life Balance16:45 – How Full Employment and Demographics Are Reshaping Labor Markets18:00 – Will AI Replace Shift Jobs or Make Them Better?20:00 – Why Shift Workers Are Becoming More Positive About AI?22:00 – Can AI Create Dignity and Opportunity in Hourly Work?24:10 – Is Gigification of Shift Work a Good Thing?25:45 – How to Make Flexible Work Also Predictable and Secure

In this episode of The Future of Less Work, host Nirit Cohen sits down with Giorgio Benassi, Global Talent Acquisition Director at Sephora, to unpack what it really takes to attract and retain talent in the evolving world of retail.You’ll learn:Why fewer people want retail jobs—and what’s replacing themHow flexibility can be offered without remote workWhat “gigification” of retail really looks likeHow alumni networks can help rehire better and fasterWhy we need to rethink short-term jobs as long-term talent strategiesThis is a conversation about rethinking how we design work in industries where flexibility isn’t about location, but about time, autonomy, and identity. It’s a must-watch for HR leaders, retail executives, and anyone rethinking frontline work in the age of autonomy, gig work, and rapid change. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ey-zdqJ5-68 Guest Information:Giorgio Benassi is a global leader in the Talent space, with experience living and working in Italy, the Netherlands, Hong Kong and Spain. He was the former Group Head of Talent at H&M Group and is currently leading Talent Acquisition globally for Sephora. He has a lot of experience in the retail and consumer world. https://www.linkedin.com/in/giorgiobenassi/ Chapters:00:00 Turning Retail High Turnover into a Talent Advantage01:33 The Future of Work in Retail02:51 How Did COVID Reshape Talent Expectations?04:47 Why Fewer People Want to Work in Retail?06:15 Retail’s New Competitors for Talent10:11 How Can Retail Offer Flexibility Without Remote Work?11:54 Retail Workers Want to Choose Their Own Schedules13:53 Why Retail Turnover Increased Post-COVID15:23 It’s Time to Normalize Short-Term Careers in Retail17:41 How to Build a Skills-Based Talent Pool in Retail19:15 Retail Should Create Alumni Networks for Rehiring23:27 What Will Separate Retail Brands in the Next 2 Years?25:11 Why Flexibility Is the Key to Attracting the Right Talent26:19 Could the Future of Retail Be Uberized?27:31 What Human Needs Should We Solve for in Retail Work?

In this episode of The Future of Less Work, host Nirit Cohen sits down with Jenny Wood, former Google executive and author of Wild Courage, to explore what it really takes to grow your career in the evolving workplace.You’ll learn:Why being bold, direct, and even “a bit much” can be your biggest assetHow to get promoted without waiting for permissionWhat's non-promotable work—and why it’s holding your career backHow to confidently self-promote and build lasting influenceWhat traits you’ve been told to suppress that are actually superpowersThis is a must-watch for professionals navigating the future of work who are ready to take control of their careers and show up with confidence.Want to dive deeper into this topic? Read Nirit’s Forbes article, “Being Nice Won’t Get You Promoted. Nosy, Bossy And Shameless Will.“, to explore these ideas further.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vM_OQeMkkew Guest Information:In her 18 years at Google, Jenny Wood grew from entry-level to executive, and she most recently led a large operations team that helped drive billions of revenue per year. In 2021, she started a passion project within Google called Own Your Career, which grew to one of the largest career development programs in Google’s history. Through the program she founded, she has trained tens of thousands of people on: acing a job search, building relationships, personal branding, effective email writing, landing the right mentor, maximizing workplace influence, and most importantly, increasing confidence. Jenny’s writing has been featured in Harvard Business Review, Entrepreneur, Inc., and Forbes. She is an FAA-licensed private pilot, a daily hiker, an improv student, a tap dancer, and a zucchini bread connoisseur. She lives in Boulder, Colorado with her two young children and her husband, Jon. She met Jon by chasing him off the NYC Subway, and the New York Times featured their story.https://www.instagram.com/itsjennywood/https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennyilleshttps://itsjennywood.com/book Chapters:0:00 The Subway Moment That Changed Everything1:33 How to Get Promoted at Work3:10 From Google Executive to Career Coach4:43 Wild Courage: Traits That Drive Career Growth5:04 Why Being a Bit Much Is a Career Superpower6:45 The Truth About Self-Promotion at Work8:09 Your Power Assets: How to Talk About What You’re Good At11:34 Translating Your Skills to New Roles14:03 Get Promoted by Building Influence18:18 Avoiding the Career Trap of NAP Work22:34 How to Say No and Set Work-Life Boundaries24:39 The Power of Brutal Honesty at Work29:44 Handling Rejection and Bouncing Back35:21 Know When to Flip Jobs Using the FLIP Framework38:51 Final Thoughts: One Small Step of Wild Courage

What happens when the workplace becomes an orchestrated experience—one that blends technology, behavior, and place into a seamless, human-centric ecosystem?In this episode of The Future of Less Work, host Nirit Cohen sits down with Peter Miscovich, Executive Managing Director and Global Future of Work Leader at JLL, to explore how hybrid work is evolving beyond the “home vs. office” debate. Together, they unpack what it means to design for a hybrid work ecosystem, how AI and immersive technologies are reshaping the workplace, and why leaders must shift from mandates to mindset.Drawing from insights in his book The Workplace You Need Now, Peter shares how the "4 Cs"—culture, collaboration, creativity, and community—can guide workplace strategy in a time of unprecedented change. The conversation also dives into how organizations can move from rigid policies to flexible frameworks, the coming role of digital twins and AI agents in workplace orchestration, and what it will take to build peak experiences in both physical and virtual environments.If you’re reimagining how work should work—in 2025 and beyond—this episode will expand your view.Want to dive deeper into this topic? Read Nirit's Forbes article, “Forget Hybrid—Work Location As A Service Is The Future", to explore these ideas further. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KERHnfgwphc Guest Information:Peter J. Miscovich: Executive Managing Director, Global Future of Work Leader - JLL As an executive management consultant, Peter develops Global Future of Work solutions for leading Fortune 100 organizations. He is co-author of “The Workplace You Need Now” book publication by Wiley Publishing which serves as an executive management guide to the Future of Work. Peter’s consulting expertise includes the integration of Business Strategy, Workforce Strategies, Emerging Technologies, Workplace Transformation and corporate real estate portfolio optimization. He has helped to transform over 1.5 Billion Square Feet of corporate real estate including 50 Fortune 100 corporate headquarters projects.Full bio and links: https://www.us.jll.com/en/people/peter-miscovich Chapters:00:00 – Will AI replace human creativity?03:35 – How work has evolved since the iPhone07:20 – AI will soon orchestrate our daily work experience08:28 – The home vs. office debate outdated10:10 – Do physical workplaces still matter?12:30 – The 4 Cs of a thriving workplace14:10 – How can leaders facilitate culture in distributed work?16:15 – Why is resilience so critical right now?19:20 – What should companies do to prepare for the future?21:50 – How do we balance flexibility with organizational goals?27:45 – Will technology adapt to humans or the other way around?29:44 – The office of the Future – A vision for 2030

What happens when employee wellbeing moves beyond perks and benefits to become a core pillar of workplace culture? In this episode of The Future of Less Work, host Nirit Cohen sits down with Anthony Knierim, Managing Director, Americas at Reward Gateway | Edenred, to explore how the landscape of wellbeing is evolving—and why it’s no longer just about healthcare or gym memberships. Together, they dive into how shifting workforce demographics, shorter employee lifecycles, and the rise of the independent workforce are transforming what organizations need to offer, emphasizing the shift from traditional perks to a more integrated approach that focuses on culture and individual accountability. The conversation highlights the changing incentives for employers, the importance of personalization in benefits, and the role of CFOs in managing costs while enhancing employee engagement. The discussion also touches on the consumerization of health and wellness, the impact of demographic shifts, and the future of work in relation to employee expectations and choices.If you’re rethinking how to support your team in a rapidly changing work environment, this episode is essential.  Want to dive deeper into this topic? Read Nirit's Forbes article, "The Death Of Traditional Employee Benefits—And What Comes Next", to explore these ideas further. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eb0nwcTPSQU Guest Information: Anthony Knierim, Managing Director, Americas at Reward Gateway | Edenred. https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyknierim/ Chapters:00:00 - Do Employers Really Know What’s Best for Their People?01:30 - Meet Anthony Knierim04:25 - How Has Employee Wellbeing Evolved Over Time?06:28 - Employers Must Rethink Preventative Health08:09 - The Impact of Shorter Employee Lifecycles on Wellbeing10:37 - Is the Traditional Benefits Model Still Relevant?12:26 - How Employee Wellbeing Has Shifted14:40 - Why Flexibility & Choice Are Key to Wellbeing17:35 - Should Employers Just Increase Pay Instead of Benefits19:24 - How Companies Can Support Wellbeing Without Overreach21:28 - The CFO’s Role in the Future of Wellbeing Benefits23:51 - Will Employee Wellbeing Become More Consumer-Driven?26:32 - What Happens When Employees Own Their Wellbeing?29:17 - Why Personalized Benefits Matter More Than Ever34:02 - Are We in the Middle of a Wellbeing Market Disruption?36:10 - The Future of Wellbeing in the Workplace

In this episode of The Future of Less Work, Dr. Jasmine Escalera and Nirit Cohen explore how careers are evolving and why taking control of your career path has never been more important. They discuss the shifting dynamics in the workplace, the impact of DEI initiatives, and the growing challenge of burnout.The conversation highlights the power of career reinvention, the role of AI in shaping work, and the importance of open dialogue between employees and management. Jasmine shares insights on how professionals can navigate change, advocate for themselves, and create opportunities that align with their values.If you’re looking for practical strategies to rethink your career and adapt to the changing world of work, this episode is for you.Want to dive deeper into this topic? Read Nirit's Forbes article, "The Hypocrisy Of Women’s Day—Celebrating Progress While Undoing It", to explore these ideas further.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MglVi2JS14&t=648sGuest Information:Jasmine Escalera, PhD, is a MyPerfectResume Career Expert with over 15 years of experience in hiring, management, and leadership. For the last five years, she has helped professionals find fulfilling roles and create supportive workplaces. A passionate advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, Jasmine focuses on career clarity, job search strategies, professional branding, interviewing, salary negotiation, and building an empowered career mindset. Her insights have been featured in Forbes, HuffPost, Nasdaq, and Business Insider. Recognized as a LinkedIn Top Voice in careers, Jasmine blends her science background (PhD in Neuropharmacology) with her expertise in career development.Chapters:00:00 – Who really controls your career?02:00 – Breaking barriers for women in STEM05:00 – Is workplace diversity progress stalling?07:30 – Return to office: Flexibility or control?10:00 – The Great Detachment: Why employees are checking out12:30 – AI and the workplace: Disruption or opportunity?15:00 – Why pay and burnout are deeply connected18:00 – Should you build a personal brand?21:00 – You don’t have to quit your job to take control24:30 – What can managers do to support their teams?27:00 – What’s the most important question about the future of work?

What if the biggest challenge your employees face isn’t just the workload—but everything outside of work? In this episode of The Future of Less Work, Nirit Cohen sits down with Jon Cooper, CEO of Overalls, to explore why traditional employee benefits are no longer enough in today’s world of constant disruption. Drawing on insights from Overalls’ 2024 Year in Review report, Jon explains why the old, one-size-fits-all benefits model no longer serves the modern workforce. From rising employee stress levels to increasingly complex life challenges, today's workers are juggling more than ever before—often during work hours. They’re handling medical claims, financial pressures, and everyday disruptions like broken appliances or childcare emergencies, all of which drain productivity and focus.If you’re wondering how to modernize your benefits strategy and support your employees in ways that truly matter, this episode is a must-listen.Want to dive deeper into this topic? Read Nirit's Forbes article,  "⁠The Death Of Traditional Employee Benefits—And What Comes Next", to explore these ideas further.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6MclpkyLisGuest Information:Jon Cooper, CEO & Founder, OverallsJon Cooper is a serial entrepreneur and change agent with a focus on employee benefits, insurtech, and healthtech. As the Founder and CEO of Overalls, Jon is redefining employee well-being through Overalls LifeConcierge™, a solution that simplifies life’s complexities. His achievements include founding ⁠Life.io⁠, a disruptive platform in the insurance sector that was acquired in 2021. Jon has also held strategic roles at TriZetto, WellCare, and Oliver Wyman. He holds an MBA from The Wharton School and a BA from the University of Pennsylvania. Outside of work, Jon enjoys spending time with his family, skiing, and is trilingual.https://getoveralls.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/getoveralls/posts/?feedView=allYour TurnI spent years as a Compensation and Benefits leader at Intel, and one thing I learned is simple: If you ask people what they need, they’ll tell you. So here’s my question for you: If there was one thing your employer could offer that would truly make a difference in your work and life—something so valuable that it would even make you rethink leaving your job—what would it be?Drop your answer in the comments or share it on social media using #FutureOfLessWork.And here’s the best part: If you share, we’ll personally respond with thoughts, resources, or ideas that might help you get closer to what you need.Chapters:00:00 – What are employees actually dealing with during office hours?01:21 –Are traditional benefits still addressing employee needs?04:25 – Why is employee stress worse than ever?07:59 – What are the most common stressors employees deal with at work?09:18 – Why do small, daily disruptions impact productivity more than we realize?10:45 – Is one-size-fits-all still a viable model for employee benefits?12:25 – Why are most workplace stressors hard to categorize?13:48 – Different employee demographics have different benefit needs14:41 – Benefits need to address real-life employee stressors15:48 – Your Turn: What’s one benefit that would make you stay at your job?17:24 – How can benefits become more personalized without adding complexity?18:45 – What’s the hidden cost of employees handling personal issues at work?21:24 – What new categories of employee benefits are emerging today?22:05 – Should employers offer support beyond traditional workplace needs?24:02 – What’s the future of employee benefits?25:25 – How will AI disrupt benefits?27:23 –What should companies focus on to truly support employees?

For decades, professionals relied on their employers to guide career growth, provide training, and ensure job stability. That era is over. In today’s workplace, if you’re not actively managing your career, you’re falling behind.In this episode of The Future of Less Work, Nirit Cohen sits down with David Fano, CEO of Teal, to discuss why career ownership is no longer optional. Whether you’re happily employed or considering your next move, waiting for your company to invest in you is a mistake.David shares why the best professionals treat their careers like a business—continuously learning, networking, and staying aware of industry shifts before they need to.Want to dive deeper into this topic? Read Nirit's Forbes article, "⁠Why You — Not Your Employer — Must Focus On Your Own Career Development", to explore these ideas further.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZMG7BVU63oGuest Information:David Fano is the founder and CEO of Teal, an AI-driven technology platform that helps consumers find and land jobs they love. Teal’s mission is to empower professionals with the tools, insights and guidance they need to navigate their career in the increasingly complex digital jobs landscape. Prior to founding Teal, Fano served as the Chief Growth Officer at WeWork where he grew the team from 400 to 4,000 people – and launched physical and digital product lines such as WeWork Enterprise, WeWork HQ, and We Membership. In the span of four years, he helped build a global growth team that opened and sold over two million square feet of space per month. Prior to that role, he founded CASE, a building information consultancy, which he grew to 65 people before it was acquired by WeWork in 2015. Since launching Teal in 2019, Fano has grown the company to 26 employees and they serve nearly two million professionals to-date. His work at Teal is a direct extension of his mission to empower professionals to take control of their career paths. Fano graduated from Columbia University with a Master’s degree in Architecture where he was also an adjunct professor.Teal’s Career Growth Platform:https://www.tealhq.comFollow David on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidfano/Your Turn:What’s holding you back from owning your career? Is it a lack of skills? Not knowing where to start? Financial concerns? Fear of making a change? Drop your thoughts in the comments or on social media using #TheFutureOfLessWork. We want to hear from you! Tag us, and we’ll personally respond with insights, resources, and ideas to help you move forward. Don’t wait for a career breakthrough—start building it today.Chapters:00:00 - Take ownership of your career03:52 - Why you shouldn't rely on your employer for career growth05:10 - Is AI about to change your job—even if you stay put?07:30 - You should always be looking for your next opportunity09:28 - Every job experience belongs to you11:54 - Career fulfillment as a salaried employee13:37 - AI will simplify the job search process19:20 - Will skills replace degrees in hiring?22:00 - How can job seekers prove their value beyond resumes?24:09 - Why upskilling is no longer optional26:10 - Are you using your company's career development resources?29:53 - Why your career growth is your responsibility31:44 - What’s holding you back from your dream career?33:58 - How to network without exposing you're looking for a job37:22 - Let go to grow your career

What happens when AI, economic opportunity, and human skills collide? In this episode of The Future of Less Work, Nirit Cohen sits down with Aneesh Raman, LinkedIn’s Chief Economic Opportunity Officer, to unpack the Work Change Report⁠ and what it reveals about the evolving nature of work. From the rise of AI-driven job shifts to the increasing value of social and human-centric skills, Aneesh shares his perspective on why we’re not just moving into an AI-powered economy—but an innovation economy. He challenges the assumption that AI will simply lead to mass layoffs and instead argues that the companies that thrive will be the ones that prioritize adaptability, innovation, and human potential. Together, they discuss why skills—not job titles—are the new currency of work, how CEOs need to rethink workforce planning, and whether the future belongs to billion-dollar companies with no employees—or billion-dollar individuals with no companies.If you’re wondering how to future-proof your organization and your own career in an era where AI is changing everything, this episode is a must-listen.Want to dive deeper into this topic? Read Nirit's Forbes article, "Forget Billion-Dollar Companies—Will AI Create Billion-Dollar People?", to explore these ideas further.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=su_tl7Y2MjMGuest Information:Aneesh Raman is LinkedIn’s Chief Economic Opportunity Officer, working with leaders across sectors and around the world to make LinkedIn’s vision of creating economic opportunity for every member of the global workforce a reality in our time. Prior to LinkedIn, Aneesh served as a Senior Economic Advisor for California’s Governor, helping to shape and communicate the economic agenda for one of the world’s largest economies, as well as the state's response to the global pandemic. Aneesh joined the Governor’s Office after five years in the tech industry, including as Head of Economic Impact at Facebook.  From 2009-2013, he held multiple positions in the Obama Administration, including as a speechwriter to President Barack Obama and as speechwriter to the Treasury Secretary amidst a historic economic crisis.  Aneesh began his career as a CNN correspondent. A graduate of Harvard College and a former Fulbright Scholar, Aneesh is a Board member of Shanti Bhavan, an education non-profit that works with children from the most economically disadvantaged communities in India.  He is also a former term member at the Council on Foreign Relations and former member of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library’s New Frontier Award Committee.Your Turn:If you had to describe your career in terms of skills—not job titles—what would it look like? Share your thoughts #FutureOfLessWork.Chapters:00:00 – What is a Chief Economic Opportunity Officer?01:15 – How is AI changing work?03:09 – Will AI lead to mass layoffs or new opportunities?04:50 – How past technologies shaped today’s labor market?06:37 – The labor market is broken07:56 – Are job titles and degrees becoming obsolete?09:39 – Is AI the next general-purpose technology?10:46 – AI will push us toward a human-centric economy11:43 – What skills will define the future of work?13:13 – The essential human skills AI can’t replace15:18 – Rethinking workforce planning for the AI era16:59 – Will AI benefit everyone or just elite few?18:28 – Will entrepreneurship replacing traditional jobs?20:26 – Are we moving toward a world of “less work”?22:17 – "Skills first" is the key to future-proofing your career23:50 – From job titles to skill-based hiring25:48 – How to describe yourself through skills not job titles27:52 – The evolution of careers from rigid paths to dynamic skills portfolios29:46 – Curiosity and continuous learning are essential in an AI world31:42 – Individuals career agency amid rapid change33:41 – From hierarchical organizations to networked economies35:31 – A billion-dollar company with no employees or a billion-dollar individual with no company?