In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin unpacks what employee engagement really looks like in today’s world with Dr. Angela Jackson, founder of Future Forward Strategies. Forget the ping pong tables and perk-loaded culture decks. This is about centering worker voice, listening with intention, and designing workplaces that actually work, for everyone.

Whether you’re leading a team, managing up, or trying to make your 9–5 feel more like a “want to,” this conversation delivers bold, strategic insights for building motivated, mission-aligned teams in the modern workplace.

Inside This Episode:

• Why real engagement starts with ownership, not office snacks
• The overlooked ROI of actually asking your people what they care about
• How data and feedback loops can drive meaningful culture change
• Post-pandemic playbooks: what’s working now (and what’s not)
• How to bring contractors and non-traditional workers into the mission

Who This Episode Is For:

People leaders. Culture builders. Curious employees. Anyone who’s ready to leave behind surface-level engagement and create work that feels worth showing up for.

Listen in and then share it with your team. Let’s turn every workday into a playdate.

Feeling stretched thin but still trying to “stay positive”? Grab our free Positivity Without Pretending Toolkit. It’s a quick, honest reset for people leaders who want to show up without faking it. In five minutes or less, you’ll reframe, refuel, and lead with heart (even when you're running on fumes). Download it now and take the pressure off.

 

No, You Hang Up First (Let’s Keep Connecting)

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Connect with Dr. Angela Jackson

• Dr. Angela’s company website
• Dr. Angela’s personal website
• Dr. Anglela’s LinkedIn

Connect with Erin Diehl x improve it!

• Erin’s website
• Erin’s Instagram
• Erin’s TikTok
• Erin’s LinkedIn
• improve it!’s website
• improve it!’s Instagram