The Future of Work

Hosted by UC Berkeley Extension

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May 2026

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About the show

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the way we worked and the skills we needed to succeed in our respective fields was shifting. Increased reliance on data to inform business decisions. The automation of job duties that made some workers redundant. The value of incorporating sustainability into everyday processes on the bottom line. And then COVID-19 shut down the world. Racism and inequalities came to dominate every conversation. And as companies grapple with DE&I initiates and engage with a remote workforce, the way we work today looks drastically different than from just a few years ago. What trends, skills, initiatives and equity will we face in the years to come? Each month, we talk with industry leaders in their fields to discuss the changing evolution of the workforce and the skills needed to stay competitive.

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48 recent

May 21, 2026Episode 1252 min

AI As Your Writing Partner

AI can brainstorm at lightning speed, clean up clunky sentences and help you get unstuck when the blank page stares back. But are you losing your own brand voice and your critical-thinking skills by offloading tasks to AI? Or are you sharpening your writing and accelerating your productivity with AI assistance? In this episode, we explore using AI as your writer and editor companion. How do you decide when AI is used as a creative copilot and when human judgment is needed most? How are communicators in jobs like product development, sales, marketing and HR using AI to work faster, without—and this is key—losing authenticity, accuracy and trust? Let's talk about the art of augmentation, because the future of writing in the workplace is not human or AI. It's human with AI. To discuss this topic, we're delighted to welcome technical communications strategist Dr. Sara Faradji. Read the transcript @https://bit.ly/49K0V1c Learn more about UC Berkeley Extension @https://bit.ly/4nGGJ69

April 22, 2026Episode 1143 min

Creating Your Agile Mindset

In this episode, we're exploring how to approach your career and job search with an Agile mindset, borrowing from both modern product development thinking and from an unexpected source of inspiration: the Japanese concept of Ikigai, a philosophy around your "reason for being" and what brings you purpose, joy and fulfillment. We talk about how small experiments can lead to big clarity, why progress beats perfection and how staying flexible helps you respond to change without losing your sense of self. To discuss this topic, we're delighted to welcome Pepe Valiente, who is a UC Berkeley Extension instructor, and global product and innovation leader with more than 25 years of experience driving complex initiatives across aerospace, the electric sector, consulting, retail and software. Read the transcript @https://bit.ly/4vK1m57 Learn more about UC Berkeley Extension @https://bit.ly/4eC2KAw

March 23, 2026Episode 1039 min

The Power of Stop

We live in a moment where speed is celebrated, productivity is prized and new tools—especially AI—promise to help us do more, faster, with less friction. But somewhere along the way, many of us have started acting like machines ourselves: optimizing every minute, competing with algorithms and measuring our worth by output alone. In today's episode, we explore a different idea: That stillness isn't a luxury, it's a necessity. It's a conscious choice to pause, assess and reconnect with what actually matters. When work is evolving faster than we can process, our mental health, our relationships and our sense of purpose are in need of TLC. So in this moment when productivity is prized, we look at moving from being a "human doing" to "human being." Let's explore how trust, wisdom and building connections—uniquely human strengths—should define our roles and how companies need to foster cultures that prioritize well-being, not burnout. To guide this conversation, we welcome Jordan Peace, co-founder and CEO of Fringe. Read the transcript @https://bit.ly/4uSvjj6 Learn more about UC Berkeley Extension @https://bit.ly/4uMuUyx

February 25, 2026Episode 936 min

AI and Personal Financial Planning

AI is changing how we think about money—from budgeting apps and digital investment assistants to tools that promise personalized financial guidance in seconds. But knowing when to use AI, when not to and when to bring in a personal financial professional isn't always obvious. In this episode, we unpack where AI truly helps with personal financial planning; where its blind spots show up; and why context, critical thinking and human judgment still matter. We also explore how today's financial planners are using AI to focus more on what clients need: clarity, confidence and guidance through life's biggest decisions. If you're navigating financial choices in an AI-powered world, this conversation will help you use the tools wisely—and know when it's time to talk to a human. To guide this conversation, we welcome Craig Kirkpatrick, who is the co-founder of Optimal AdvisorAI, the AI Learning Partner for financial services firms. Read the transcript @https://bit.ly/4aQnhhs Learn more about UC Berkeley Extension @https://bit.ly/4cdnX2L

January 16, 2026Episode 849 min

2026 Workforce Signals to Keep an Eye On

It's a new year, and if you're like us you're probably wondering what 2026 has in store for workers, job seekers and leaders. Glassdoor's latest trends show some big signals to watch: a growing disconnect between employees and leadership, mini-layoffs creating near constant anxiety and job searches stretching longer than ever. Burnout is high, trust is low and a lot of people are "job hugging"—or staying put because the market feels so uncertain. But there are also some clues about where opportunity might pop up this year, from shifting expectations around AI skills to what's really happening with remote work and promotions. To guide this conversation, we're looking at the real-world data from Glassdoor. In case you're not familiar with it, Glassdoor is a website where current and former employees anonymously review companies that they have worked for. These anonymous and candid insights into company culture, salaries and leadership from real employee experiences help job seekers make informed career decisions and help companies showcase their culture. To talk about this, we're delighted to welcome back Daniel Zhao, chief economist at Glassdoor, who has been doing research on trends in the job market and workplace. Read the transcript @https://bit.ly/4qkZGMh Learn more about UC Berkeley Extension @https://bit.ly/3YFsDq7

December 23, 2025Episode 739 min

Super-Shifts—Designing Your Role in an AI-Driven Future

As we wrap up 2025 and look ahead to 2026, one thing is clear: Artificial Intelligence isn't slowing down—it's reshaping jobs, expectations, productivity and even how we see our contributions as humans. If you want insider advice on how to adapt to these shifts and hints on how to become more agile and less stressed, this conversation is a good place to start. We're discussing partnering with AI; standing out when everyone else uses AI; and growing your agency, authority and autonomy to design the future that you want. We also look into how you can become more adept at reading signals so that you can be proactive and not reactive. If you're feeling the fast pace of change in your bones, you're not alone. Let's huddle up for some practical tips on staying grounded and making sense of the constant reinvention ahead. It's all about expanding possibilities. To talk about this, we're delighted to welcome Steven Fisher, who helps organizations anticipate disruption and turn uncertainty into opportunity. Read the transcript @https://bit.ly/4b15DZR. Learn more about UC Berkeley Extension @https://bit.ly/4avRDY2

November 14, 2025Episode 632 min

AI and the Hiring Game, Part 2

This month, we continue our conversation about AI's impact on recruitment and rewriting the rules of hiring. With hundreds of resumes for every role and too few recruiters to review them, algorithms now decide who makes it through the virtual and actual door. It's efficient—but also impersonal. Candidates are ghosted, culture gets reduced to keywords, and the job search feels like a numbers game or playing the lottery where the odds are stacked against you. And even if you make the first round, it feels more like a transaction than a conversation. To talk about this, we're delighted to welcome Leandro Cartelli, founder of a staffing and recruiting agency specializing in connecting U.S. businesses with top Latin American talent. Read the transcript @https://bit.ly/3JE28xs Learn more about UC Berkeley Extension @https://bit.ly/4i6uptm

October 25, 2025Episode 530 min

AI and the Hiring Game, Part 1

This month, we're looking through the eyes of recruiters to see how AI is rewriting the rules of hiring. With hundreds of resumes for every role and too few recruiters to review them, algorithms now decide who makes it through the virtual and actual door. It's efficient—but also impersonal. Candidates are ghosted, culture gets reduced to keywords, and the job search feels like a numbers game or playing the lottery where the odds are stacked against you. And even if you make the first round, it feels more like a transaction than a conversation. In this episode, we'll explore how AI is transforming recruitment—the opportunities it creates, the challenges it leaves behind and what it means for the future of work. To talk about this, we're delighted to welcome Leandro Cartelli, founder of a staffing and recruiting agency specializing in connecting U.S. businesses with top Latin American talent. Read the transcript @https://bit.ly/49rsSeK Learn more about UC Berkeley Extension @https://bit.ly/4huOKbd

September 29, 2025Episode 431 min

Skills Shift—Thriving With AI, Part 2

We're continuing our conversation about AI and skills and what organizations are looking for as they develop their workforce. What skills do you need to fortify your career, and how do you demonstrate you have those skills? From practical project-based work to the redesigning of roles, let's look under the hood of the modern workplace so we can see exactly what's driving the change and how you can stay in the driver's seat. To get this behind-the-scenes look at what companies are prioritizing, we're delighted to welcome back Kate Bravery, senior partner and global leader of talent advisory at Mercer. Learn more about UC Berkeley Extension @https://bit.ly/48C0ypF Read the full transcript @https://bit.ly/3IG2gvN

August 29, 2025Episode 337 min

Skills Shift—Thriving With AI

In today's fast shifting workplace, the rules of success are being rewritten. HR leaders and executives are looking for skill sets that blend adaptability, agility,and the ability to work alongside AI, not against it. We explore the skills that are on the rise and the ones fading away. What skills do you need to fortify your career and how do you demonstrate that you have those skills? From practical project-based work to the redesigning of roles, let's look under the hood of the modern workplace so we can see exactly what's driving the change and how you can stay in the driver's seat. To get this behind-the-scenes look at what companies are prioritizing, we're delighted to welcome Kate Bravery, senior partner and global leader of talent advisory at Mercer. Learn more about UC Berkeley Extension @https://bit.ly/4lPV2mg Read the transcript @https://bit.ly/47To1SW