Future Of Work Podcast

About This Episode 
Artificial intelligence has become one of the defining topics in business, yet much of the public conversation continues to focus on one question: Will AI eliminate jobs? In this episode of the Future of Work® Podcast, Frank Cottle welcomes Sebastian Fixson, Professor of Innovation & Design at Babson College and Founder of the Work Futures Lab, to examine a far more meaningful question: how AI is changing the way work itself is designed. 

Rather than focusing solely on automation, Sebastian explains why organizations should rethink workflows, redesign value streams, and develop innovation capabilities that allow employees and AI to work together. The conversation explores how AI is influencing productivity, organizational structures, decision-making, leadership, entrepreneurship, hybrid work, and the future quality of work. Throughout the discussion, Sebastian emphasizes that technology alone rarely creates lasting value. Organizations realize AI's full potential only when they redesign the systems surrounding it. 

Whether you're leading a large enterprise, building a startup, or preparing your workforce for AI, this episode offers a thoughtful framework for understanding how organizations can embrace innovation while creating work that remains productive, engaging, and meaningful.

About This Episode 
Artificial intelligence is dominating boardroom conversations, yet many organizations are struggling to move beyond experimentation. In this episode of the Future of Work® Podcast, Frank Cottle sits down with Peter Cappelli, one of the world's leading researchers on management, employment, and workplace strategy, to separate perception from reality. 

Drawing on decades of research, Cappelli explains why AI implementation is less about technology and more about organizational design. The conversation explores workflow analysis, job design, hybrid work, remote collaboration, workplace relationships, onboarding, office strategy, and why many executives are approaching AI implementation the wrong way. 

The discussion also examines return-to-office policies, the purpose of the office, flexible work models, and why relationships remain the foundation of collaboration. Whether you're implementing AI, leading organizational change, or refining your workplace strategy, this episode provides practical guidance rooted in research rather than speculation.

About This Episode 
Leadership, workplace flexibility, and artificial intelligence are often treated as separate conversations. In reality, they are increasingly interconnected forces influencing how organizations attract talent, engage employees, and prepare for the future. 

In this Future of Work® Podcast Expert Compilation, three leading voices explore the human side of workplace transformation. Matt Bertman shares research revealing growing employee dissatisfaction with management and explains what employees are asking for from today's leaders. Nick Bloom examines why hybrid work continues to outperform rigid return-to-office mandates and what organizations are learning about employee preferences. Ram Srinivasan explores the people side of AI adoption and explains why technology initiatives succeed or fail based on trust, mindset, and change management. 

The speakers collectively explain how employees reject managers, RTO rules, and AI rollouts for the same reason: weak trust, poor communication, and misaligned expectations. Success depends less on policies or tech and more on how well organizations bring people into change. 

Together, these conversations reveal a common theme: organizations that succeed in the future of work will be those that understand human behavior as deeply as they understand technology. Whether addressing leadership, workplace flexibility, or AI, people remain the foundation of every successful transformation.

About This Episode 
Hybrid work is no longer an experiment and has now become the standard operating model for much of the workforce. In this episode of The Future of Work® Podcast, Frank Cottle spoke with Wesley Edmonds, Director of Workplace at OFS, to explore how organizations can create workplaces that employees genuinely want to use. 

Drawing from workplace research, design expertise, and conversations with architects, designers, and business leaders, Wesley explains why today's workplace must go far beyond furniture, layouts, and amenities. The discussion examines employee autonomy, workplace experience, culture, productivity, and the growing importance of designing environments that support a wide range of work styles and human needs. 

The conversation also explores the role of AI, flexible workspace strategies, coworking environments, and how organizations can prepare for constant change. As companies continue balancing employee expectations with business goals, this episode offers practical insights into creating workplaces that support engagement, performance, and long-term talent retention.

About This Episode 
In this episode of The Future of Work® Podcast, Frank Cottle speaks with Angela R. Howard, Founder of Call for Culture, about the deeper cultural changes influencing today’s workplace. Drawing from her background in organizational psychology, people-centered culture strategy, and workplace change, Angela explores why generational conversations often repeat throughout history and why leaders must focus on dignity, respect, fair pay, belonging, and human-centered leadership. The conversation also examines AI’s role in management, the future of leadership, the connection between education and workforce development, and how organizations can build cultures that support both people and performance.