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

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

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

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

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

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

If you're looking to reinvent your career, reboot your confidence or rethink what's possible, we're going to give you some time, space and strategies to imagine your next move. The past is not a fortune teller. It doesn't dictate your future. The past is, however, an excellent teacher that offers useful lessons, but not limits. So how do we tackle finding our future career path with a minimum of stress and self-doubt?

To talk about this, we're delighted to welcome Andrea Liebross, a results-focused business coach and life-balance architect.

Read the transcript @https://bit.ly/4mcLbHN

Learn more about UC Berkeley Extension @https://bit.ly/4mcLbHN

As AI continues to transform our workplace, it's not just about keeping up with the tech. It's about staying grounded, sharp and curious. We need to cultivate skills that allow us to adapt, recover from setbacks and navigate complexity. In this episode, we dive into why emotional and cognitive resilience are must-haves for the future and how thinking like an innovator and above your pay grade can set you apart in an AI-powered world.

To talk about this important topic, we're delighted to welcome Tara Chklovski, founder and CEO of Technovation.

Read the transcript @https://bit.ly/4lJhD4D.

Learn more about UC Berkeley Extension @https://bit.ly/4lJhD4D

This month, we're exploring one of the biggest shifts in the modern workplace: the move toward project-based work.

Companies are organizing their efforts around short-term, goal-driven initiatives rather than long-term roles. This evolution means that project management is no longer just a specialized function—it's becoming a core skill for everyone. Knowing how to lead a team, manage deadlines and deliver results is essential in today's fast-moving and cross-functional environment.

But equally important is skills agility—the ability to adapt quickly, learn continuously and apply your talents across different teams and challenges. In a project-based world, the most valuable professionals are the ones who can shift gears and thrive in any setting.

To talk about this important topic, we're delighted to welcome instructor Nate Crews.

Read the transcript @https://bit.ly/4jjrQmw

Learn more about UC Berkeley Extension @https://bit.ly/43PdzcI

We continue our conversation about the state of DEI and the heavy influence that AI will have on this important directive. This month, we explore the impact of AI on DEI initiatives—how it can either amplify biases or serve as a tool for equity. We look at how DEI programs play a key role in developing AI that does not cause unintended and disproportionate harms. And we will also get a sneak peek at how AI might be changing our behaviors without us knowing.

So if you're concerned about the intersection of technology and equity—and what it means for the workplaces of tomorrow—you're in the right place.

To talk about this important topic, we're delighted to welcome back Bo Young Lee.

Read the transcript @https://bit.ly/3GE94II

Learn more about UC Berkeley Extension @https://bit.ly/3YMx82i