The Way Forward

In the sixth episode of The Way Forward podcast, Professor Stephen Friedman sits down with three Schulich BBA students to share their perspectives on the future of work.

Driven by digital innovation, AI, and hybrid work models, this next generation is actively reimagining careers. Linear paths are taking a backseat to flexible ones, fueled by personal passions and daily "micro-purposes." These students break down what truly matters to today's emerging talent, emphasizing continuous learning and the boundaries needed to protect mental health and balance. They rethink productivity, valuing collaboration and meaningful impact over other measures.

They envision leadership as humility, curiosity, and empathy. As automation reshapes organizations, this discussion serves as a powerful reminder that the future of work must remain anchored in authentic human connection.

In this episode of The Way Forward Podcast, Professor Stephen Friedman chats with Dr. Joti Samra, a national expert on psychological health, wellness, and resilience. Their discussion moves through the evolution of mental health in the workplace, to integrating mental well-being into health and safety standards, and then to learning about the effects of cumulative stress on employees. Dr. Samra highlights the role of interpersonal relationships and systemic changes to create a supportive, psychologically safe work environment. Tune in to learn practical approaches for promoting mental well-being and understand the shared responsibilities of organizations, leaders, and employees.

In this episode of The Way Forward Podcast, Stephen sits down with Schulich’s own Martin Waxman, a digital marketing and AI expert, to ask the big question: are the robots coming for our jobs, or just the boring parts? We dive into the hype and the hope of generative AI—how it can knock off the mundane tasks while leaving space for the stuff only humans can do: creativity, empathy, and good judgment. We also get into the tricky business of trust, social skills, and what happens when bots join the team meeting. Finally, Martin makes the case for staying curious, learning continuously, and using AI as a tool to work smarter (not to become a robot yourself).

In this episode of The Way Forward Podcast, Professor Stephen Friedman and renowned HR expert, Naomi Titleman, push for a common-sense way to think about flexible work. Naomi gets at sides of work flexibility debates and addresses remote work – and not remote work - challenges. She illustrates a new way to think about this tenuous discussion, as well as the need for leadership that is grounded in intentionality – not just policy and rules.

In this thought-bending episode of The Way Forward Podcast, host Professor Stephen Friedman welcomes Dr. Tatiana Astray, an expert in negotiations and leadership development. Tatiana shares her insights on the science of trust, and the impact of psychological blocks in creating it in business and IRL. Together, Stephen and Tatiana shatter assumptions about this key negotiation skill to reveal how it is for leadership and for all our relationships.

In the inaugural episode of The Schulich School of Business’ The Way Forward Podcast, host Professor Stephen Friedman sits down with Ben Wise, a 15-year industry veteran currently heading programmatic media at Google, and co-founder of Captivate. Ben shares insights into why persuasion is a terrible idea, and the mission of Captivate. He discusses emotional vs. logical decision-making, and practical tips for persuasion. Ben and Stephen also discuss advice for young professionals and the impact of staying open to “not knowing stuff”.