In this episode of The Future of Less Work, host Nirit Cohen is joined by Colette Stallbaumer, General Manager of Microsoft 365 Copilot and Co-Founder of WorkLab, for a timely conversation about how AI is reshaping the very language we use to talk about work.

Together, they unpack Microsoft’s 2025 Work Trend Index, a report that doesn’t just offer predictions—it reframes how we define organizations, teams, and careers in the age of AI. From the rise of Frontier Firms and Agent Bosses, to the shift from org charts to Work Charts, to the idea of Intelligence on Tap as a new kind of workplace capacity, this episode explores the bold new vocabulary that will shape the future of work.

If you’ve ever wondered how AI will change not just how we work—but how we manage, lead, and grow—this is the episode for you.

https://youtu.be/q6fMIsRo2ow

Guest Information:

Colette Stallbaumer is Co-Founder of Microsoft WorkLab and General Manager of Microsoft 365 Copilot. She leads the team behind the Microsoft Work Trend Index, driving research to help predict and shape a more fulfilling future of work for all. Her team is focused on helping every customer adapt and thrive as they become AI-first businesses. For the latest data and insights on how work is changing, visit WorkLab and the 2025 Annual Work Trend Index.

Chapters:

00:00 – How AI Is Redefining the Future of Work
01:09 – Why 2025 Is a Turning Point for Work and Technology
02:27 – What Does 'Intelligence on Tap' Really Mean?
04:18 – Leaders Are Now Driving AI Adoption
05:58 – How to Become an 'Agent Boss' in the Age of AI
07:55 – Real Examples of Using Agents to Boost Productivity
09:25 – Junior Employees Can Do Senior-Level Work
11:08 – Daily AI Use Is the Real Competitive Edge
13:19 – From Org Charts to Work Charts: Restructuring for AI
15:02 – AI Is Breaking Down Silos Across Functions
16:14 – Why Humans Still Matter in an AI-Driven Workplace
18:29 – What Is the Right Human-Agent Ratio?
20:30 – AI Agents Will Join Teams in Three Phases
21:51 – What Makes a Company a 'Frontier Firm'?
23:53 – Inside the Microsoft 2025 Work Trends Index25:50 – The One Piece of Advice for Thriving in the AI Era
28:43 – Why Everyone Needs to Become the AI-Human Bridge
32:09 – Work Only Works When It Works for People

In this episode of The Future of Less Work, host Nirit Cohen is joined by Delphine Donné, General Manager of Personal Workspace Solutions at Logitech, for a powerful conversation about redesigning work to fit people—not the other way around.

Together, they explore what happens when organizations move beyond one-size-fits-all models and co-create work environments that prioritize flexibility, wellbeing, and inclusion. From designing organizations with wellbeing in mind, to embracing flexible work as a strategic advantage, to the impact of ergonomic tools and diverse teams, this episode unpacks the small shifts that can make a big difference—and why the future of work must be personal, adaptable, and human-centered.

If you are curious to understand how small changes at work can make a big impact on wellbeing and why one-size-fits-all work doesn’t work anymore, this is the episode for you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZL70EFHtRI

Guest Information:

Delphine Donné, VP & General Manager of Personal Workspace Solutions at Logitech:

Delphine is a people-first leader and executive with over 25 years of experience in consumer electronics. Lived and worked in China, North America, and Europe she has transformed many global businesses leading innovation and forming cross-functional global teams. Today, she leads Logitech’s biggest business group, Personal Workspace Solutions (over 2.5bn$).
Her mission is to impact people’s lives by creating simple and delightful experiences. A mission that is greatly influenced by her international journey exposing her to different western and eastern mindsets, e.g. China, audience-focused, diverse & inclusive design and innovation, and environmental sustainability are at the center of this mission and are rooted in how she builds any new vision, strategies, organizations and talents. Her current organization is 50/50 women/men (vs. 26% global average) and hosts 30+ different nationalities. The product portfolio she manages is entirely carbon neutral with 2 in 3 products using PCR plastics. She believes that technology must drive more sustainable and inclusive innovation. Fully committed to realizing the company's pledge to being carbon positive by 2030, she leads the way inspiring others through her organization. In her opinion, innovation brings change, and any change leads to exciting, new opportunities.
Delphine is one of only 19%* of women in the tech industry that reach the executive level, and she is a mother of two children. She finds herself in the position of a role model, which she views as a serious and integral responsibility, and as such devotes herself to driving action for a more equal and better future for generations to come.

Chapters:

00:00 – Why RTO Mandates Are Failing
06:30 – How To Design Work Around People?
08:30 – How Do We Support Work from Anywhere?
10:20 – Why Flexibility Attracts Top Talent
12:00 – Why One-Size-Fits-All Work Doesn’t Work
14:00 – Can Ergonomics Improve Wellbeing?
17:30 – How Inclusion Drives Better Products
19:30 – Where Will We Work in the Future?
21:30 – How Can AI Help Us Work Smarter?
24:30 – What Does Modern Leadership Require?
27:50 – Why Wellbeing Is the Future of Work
30:00 – Are You Happy With How You 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 Strategy
11:50 – Will AI Replace Humans or Elevate Work?
13:30 – What Is ‘Humans at the Wheel’ Leadership?
15:00 – The Rise of Power Skills
17:20 – Hire for Skills Instead of Roles
19:25 – 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 Work

https://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 Jobs
03:20 – 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 Done
09:00 – How Employers Are Adapting to Keep Shift Workers
10:30 – Poly-Employment allows Workers to Stitch Together Income
12:00 – How Technology Is Modernizing Shift Work Scheduling
13:40 – How Digital Tools Are Empowering Hourly Workers
15:10 – Gen Z is Driving the Shift Toward Work-Life Balance
16:45 – How Full Employment and Demographics Are Reshaping Labor Markets
18:00 – 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 them
• How flexibility can be offered without remote work
• What “gigification” of retail really looks like
• How alumni networks can help rehire better and faster
• Why we need to rethink short-term jobs as long-term talent strategies

This 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 Advantage

01:33 The Future of Work in Retail

02:51 How Did COVID Reshape Talent Expectations?

04:47 Why Fewer People Want to Work in Retail?

06:15 Retail’s New Competitors for Talent

10:11 How Can Retail Offer Flexibility Without Remote Work?

11:54 Retail Workers Want to Choose Their Own Schedules

13:53 Why Retail Turnover Increased Post-COVID

15:23 It’s Time to Normalize Short-Term Careers in Retail

17:41 How to Build a Skills-Based Talent Pool in Retail

19:15 Retail Should Create Alumni Networks for Rehiring

23:27 What Will Separate Retail Brands in the Next 2 Years?

25:11 Why Flexibility Is the Key to Attracting the Right Talent

26:19 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 asset
• How to get promoted without waiting for permission
• What's non-promotable work—and why it’s holding your career back
• How to confidently self-promote and build lasting influence
• What traits you’ve been told to suppress that are actually superpowers

This 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/jennyilles

https://itsjennywood.com/book

Chapters:

0:00 The Subway Moment That Changed Everything

1:33 How to Get Promoted at Work

3:10 From Google Executive to Career Coach

4:43 Wild Courage: Traits That Drive Career Growth

5:04 Why Being a Bit Much Is a Career Superpower

6:45 The Truth About Self-Promotion at Work

8:09 Your Power Assets: How to Talk About What You’re Good At

11:34 Translating Your Skills to New Roles

14:03 Get Promoted by Building Influence

18:18 Avoiding the Career Trap of NAP Work

22:34 How to Say No and Set Work-Life Boundaries

24:39 The Power of Brutal Honesty at Work

29:44 Handling Rejection and Bouncing Back

35:21 Know When to Flip Jobs Using the FLIP Framework

38:51 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 iPhone
07:20 – AI will soon orchestrate our daily work experience
08:28 – The home vs. office debate outdated
10:10 – Do physical workplaces still matter?
12:30 – The 4 Cs of a thriving workplace
14:10 – 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 Knierim
04:25 - How Has Employee Wellbeing Evolved Over Time?
06:28 - Employers Must Rethink Preventative Health
08:09 - The Impact of Shorter Employee Lifecycles on Wellbeing
10:37 - Is the Traditional Benefits Model Still Relevant?
12:26 - How Employee Wellbeing Has Shifted14:40 - Why Flexibility & Choice Are Key to Wellbeing
17:35 - Should Employers Just Increase Pay Instead of Benefits
19:24 - How Companies Can Support Wellbeing Without Overreach
21:28 - The CFO’s Role in the Future of Wellbeing Benefits
23:51 - Will Employee Wellbeing Become More Consumer-Driven?
26:32 - What Happens When Employees Own Their Wellbeing?
29:17 - Why Personalized Benefits Matter More Than Ever
34:02 - Are We in the Middle of a Wellbeing Market Disruption?
36:10 - The Future of Wellbeing in the Workplace