Work and the Future

By Linda Nazareth |Society & Culture

Work and the Future episodes

April 15Episode 146: What Skills Will Workers Need as AI Takes Hold?
On this episode of Work and the Future, Linda Nazareth talks to Gabby Burlacu, Senior Manager at the Upwork Research Instiute about the way that the skills that workers will need is changing in the age of AI. They cover:
How the demand for freelance workers is changing and what that tells us about the broader labour market
What Upwork research tells us about the way that AI skills are increasingly in demand for existing jobs
Why ‘soft skills’ are cited as important, even for freelance workers
How learning and development is changing in a world where freelance workers are more prevalent
Host:
Linda Nazareth is an economist, futurist and expert on the future of work. The author of five books including her most recent Working it Out: Getting Ready for the Redefined World of Work (2023), she is also a regular columnist for the Globe and Mail and the Host of podcast ‘Work and the Future’.
As a sought-after keynote speaker, Linda’s audiences have spanned a range of audiences and have included clients such as The Economist Magazine, LVMH, American Express, and the Bank of Montreal all of whom have benefitted from the way that she can take huge ideas and distill them into information that organizations can use for their own strategic planning purposes.
Guest:
Gabby Burlacu
Senior Manager
Upwork Research Institute
Dr. Gabby Burlacu is Senior Research Manager at Upwork, where she studies how organizations are adjusting their cultures and talent practices to access skilled talent in a rapidly evolving world of work. Her research has been featured in a variety of peer-reviewed studies, articles, book chapters, and media outlets, and has informed strategy and technology development across a range of Fortune 500 companies. Gabby holds a Ph. D. in industrial-organizational psychology from Portland State University.
Book Linda as your Keynote Speaker:
Ready to navigate the future of work at your next event? Linda Nazareth helps organizations understand and prepare for workplace transformation. Visit lindanazareth.com to learn more about booking Linda for your conference or corporate event.
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21 min
April 01Episode 145: How Can AI Tools Help Workers With Dementia?
On this episode of Work and the Future, Linda Nazareth talks to James Fletcher, Assistant Professor at the University of Bath, about the reasons why dementia is a workforce issue and why AI tools can offer support to workers who have received a dementia diagnosis.
Why an aging population means that it is time for a cultural shift in the way that we talk about dementia
The AI tools that can make a big difference to workers struggling with early dementia
Why organizations should be crafting strategies around workers with dementia (and not just to identify and fire them)
The potential role for governments in keeping those with a dementia diagnosis in the workforce
Host:
Linda Nazareth is an economist, futurist and expert on the future of work. The author of five books including her most recent Working it Out: Getting Ready for the Redefined World of Work (2023), she is also a regular columnist for the Globe and Mail and the Host of podcast ‘Work and the Future’.
As a sought-after keynote speaker, Linda’s audiences have spanned a range of audiences and have included clients such as The Economist Magazine, LVMH, American Express, and the Bank of Montreal all of whom have benefitted from the way that she can take huge ideas and distill them into information that organizations can use for their own strategic planning purposes.
Guest:
James Fletcher
Assistant Professor, University of Bath
James has a background in medical sociology and gerontology. He is interested in digital ageing and creative methods, with a focus on cognitive impairment and inclusive data generation.
His research covers several areas of the political economy of ageing and dementia, with an emphasis on using social theory and creative methods to understand later life disability as a political entity. He has published on subjects including informal dementia care networks, mental capacity legislation and its influence on research governance, the anti-ageing technoscience market, anti-stigma and awareness raising campaigns regarding psychiatric disorder, the operationalisation of ethnicity and age in research, the biomarker discovery economy, the curation of dementia-friendly cultural events, dementia prevention public health strategies, environmental effects on cognition in urban settings and the role of fertility technologies in contexts of reproductive ageing. His book won ‘Best Outstanding Output’ at the Research Excellence Awards 2024.
Book Linda as your Keynote Speaker:
Ready to navigate the future of work at your next event? Linda Nazareth helps organizations understand and prepare for workplace transformation. Visit lindanazareth.com to learn more about booking Linda for your conference or corporate event.
The post Episode 145: How Can AI Tools Help Workers With Dementia? appeared first on LINDA NAZARETH.
25 min
March 18Episode 144: What Tools Should we be Using to Improve Workforce Training?
On this episode of Work and the Future, Linda Nazareth talks to Paola Cecci DiMeglio, author of Building a Thriving Future: Navigating the Metaverse and Multiverse (MIT Press, 2025) and advisor on AI and virtual worlds at the United Nations. They cover:
Why the skills of tomorrow have not yet been defined
Why ‘The Forgetting Curve’ needs to be taken into consideration when we think about upskilling workers
How virtual reality is already being used in training and what might come next
The ‘Recipe for Success’ for organizations that want to invest in upskilling their workers
Host:
Linda Nazareth is an economist, futurist and expert on the future of work. The author of five books including her most recent Working it Out: Getting Ready for the Redefined World of Work (2023), she is also a regular columnist for the Globe and Mail and the Host of podcast ‘Work and the Future’.
As a sought-after keynote speaker, Linda’s audiences have spanned a range of audiences and have included clients such as The Economist Magazine, LVMH, American Express, and the Bank of Montreal all of whom have benefitted from the way that she can take huge ideas and distill them into information that organizations can use for their own strategic planning purposes.
Guest:
Paola Cecchi-DimeglioHarvard expert on AI and Big Data, Behavioral Science, and Future of Work
She holds dual appointments at Harvard Law School and the Kennedy School of Government, where she chairs the ELRWMA initiative. She co-chairs the Global Initiative on AI and Virtual Worlds and leads Sustainability for AI, Big Data, and Metaverse regulation at the UN’s ITU. She is the CEO of People Culture Data Consulting Group and inventor of I.D.E.A, and the author of Diversity Dividend (MIT Press).
Book Linda as your Keynote Speaker:
Ready to navigate the future of work at your next event? Linda Nazareth helps organizations understand and prepare for workplace transformation. Visit lindanazareth.com to learn more about booking Linda for your conference or corporate event.
The post Episode 144: What Tools Should we be Using to Improve Workforce Training? appeared first on LINDA NAZARETH.
19 min
March 05Episode 143: How Will AI Change Verbal Communications?
On this episode of Work and the Future, Linda Nazareth talks to Nick Dalley, President of Intentional Communications, about how Artificial Intelligence is changing the ways that we communicate with each other. Amongst the topics they cover are:
Why Nick thinks AI is not threatening jobs in broadcasting – yet
How to be and sound authentic in the age of AI
Why practicing your communications skills matters, especially if you are leading a team
Why doing your homework and crafting answers still matters in the world of job-searching
Host:
Linda Nazareth is an economist, futurist and expert on the future of work. The author of five books including her most recent Working it Out: Getting Ready for the Redefined World of Work (2023), she is also a regular columnist for the Globe and Mail and the Host of podcast ‘Work and the Future’.
As a sought-after keynote speaker, Linda’s audiences have spanned a range of audiences and have included clients such as The Economist Magazine, LVMH, American Express, and the Bank of Montreal all of whom have benefitted from the way that she can take huge ideas and distill them into information that organizations can use for their own strategic planning purposes.
Guest:
Nick Dalley
President, Intentional Communications
Nick Dalley, President of Intentional Communication, Inc., helps professional communicators with the give and take of the storyteller’s craft. Nick has been in the business of presentation skills development for over 25 years. Prior to establishing ICI, he worked for nine years with a large, Dallas-based broadcast coaching company where his title was Senior Talent Coach and Vice President of Executive Development. He has also served as an adjunct professor for the Business Leadership Center at SMU’s Cox School of Business, and as an executive coach at The University of Texas Executive MBA Program.
Book Linda as your Keynote Speaker:
Ready to navigate the future of work at your next event? Linda Nazareth helps organizations understand and prepare for workplace transformation. Visit lindanazareth.com to learn more about booking Linda for your conference or corporate event.
The post Episode 143: How Will AI Change Verbal Communications? appeared first on LINDA NAZARETH.
22 min
February 18Episode 142: How Should you Lead When Workers are Worried about Job Security?
In this episode, Linda Nazareth talks to Dina Denham Smith, lead author of of Emotionally Charged: How to Lead in the New World of Work about the way to lead when workers are worried about job security. Amongst the topics they cover are:
Why it is important for leaders to acknowledge the fears that workers are feeling
How leaders can use ‘Clarity Buckets’ to reduce uncertainty for their team
The value of asking your team for input
How leaders can help themselves in a stressful environment
Host:
Linda Nazareth is an economist, futurist and expert on the future of work. The author of five books including her most recent Working it Out: Getting Ready for the Redefined World of Work (2023), she is also a regular columnist for the Globe and Mail and the Host of podcast ‘Work and the Future’.
As a sought-after keynote speaker, Linda’s audiences have spanned a range of audiences and have included clients such as The Economist Magazine, LVMH, American Express, and the Bank of Montreal all of whom have benefitted from the way that she can take huge ideas and distill them into information that organizations can use for their own strategic planning purposes.
Guest:
Dina Denham Smith
Dina Denham Smith is an executive coach to senior leaders and teams at top global companies such as Adobe, Netflix, PwC, Dropbox, Goldman Sachs, Stripe, and numerous high-growth startups. A former business executive, she is the lead author of the bestselling book Emotionally Charged: How to Lead in the New World of Work. Connect with her on LinkedIn or at dinadsmith.com, and subscribe to her newsletter for proven strategies to accelerate your success.
The post Episode 142: How Should you Lead When Workers are Worried about Job Security? appeared first on LINDA NAZARETH.
20 min
February 04Episode 141: Is AI-Generated Workslop Making Workers Less Productive?
In this episode, Linda Nazareth talks to Kristina Rapuano, Research Scientist at Better Up Labs about the ways that AI Workslop is makng workers less productive. They cover topics including:
Why using Generative AI can take the work burden off some workers and then create work for others
The costs to workers and organizations when workslop is created
Why some people are ‘Pilots’ who use AI more effectively than the average worker
What leaders can do to increase productivity while using Generative AI
Host:
Linda Nazareth is an economist, futurist and expert on the future of work. The author of five books including her most recent Working it Out: Getting Ready for the Redefined World of Work (2023), she is also a regular columnist for the Globe and Mail and the Host of podcast ‘Work and the Future’.
As a sought-after keynote speaker, Linda’s audiences have spanned a range of audiences and have included clients such as The Economist Magazine, LVMH, American Express, and the Bank of Montreal all of whom have benefitted from the way that she can take huge ideas and distill them into information that organizations can use for their own strategic planning purposes.
Guest:

Dr. Kristina Rapuano, PhD
Dr. Kristina Rapuano is a cognitive neuroscientist with an interest in mechanisms of risk and resilience. Her research on the neurobiological underpinnings of health-risk behaviors and outcomes has been published in leading journals such as the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Nature Neuroscience, Journal of Neuroscience, Cerebral Cortex, and NeuroImage. Currently, Kristina is a Research Scientist on BetterUp’s Labs team, where she explores the psychology at the intersection of technological innovation and personal development.
Book Linda as your Keynote Speaker:
Ready to navigate the future of work at your next event? Linda Nazareth helps organizations understand and prepare for workplace transformation. Visit lindanazareth.com to learn more about booking Linda for your conference or corporate event.
The post Episode 141: Is AI-Generated Workslop Making Workers Less Productive? appeared first on LINDA NAZARETH.
18 min
January 21 Episode 140: What Should Office Spaces Look Like in Future?
As return to work mandates multiply, office spaces are being pushed to evolve with the policy shifts. Planning for the right mix of desks and meeting areas is difficult, as is even getting workers to want to come back to a physical office. Good design could help but getting things is not an easy task.In this episode, Linda Nazareth talks to Valerie Jardon, Managing Director of Strategy at IA Interior Architects about how the future of work is changing the future of offices. Amongst the topics they cover are:
How Valerie determines how to craft the best workspaces for clients

Why clients are asking for a ‘life raft’ in terms of design

Why it is important to balance the ratio of workspaces and meeting spaces

How creating purpose can be the driver that brings people back to work

What you should think about if you are setting up a home office
Host:
Linda Nazareth is an economist, futurist and expert on the future of work. The author of five books including her most recent Working it Out: Getting Ready for the Redefined World of Work (2023), she is also a regular columnist for the Globe and Mail and the Host of podcast ‘Work and the Future’.As a sought-after keynote speaker, Linda’s audiences have spanned a range of audiences and have included clients such as The Economist Magazine, LVMH, American Express, and the Bank of Montreal all of whom have benefitted from the way that she can take huge ideas and distill them into information that organizations can use for their own strategic planning purposes.Guest:Valerie JardonManaging Director of Strategy at IA interior Architects

Book Linda as your Keynote Speaker:

Ready to navigate the future of work at your next event? Linda Nazareth helps organizations understand and prepare for workplace transformation. Visit lindanazareth.com to learn more about booking Linda for your conference or corporate event.

The post Episode 140: What Should Office Spaces Look Like in Future? appeared first on LINDA NAZARETH.
28 min
January 07Episode 139: What Can Firefighters Teach Corporate Leaders?
In this episode, Linda Nazareth talks to Melissa Swift, Founder and CEO of Anthrome Insight LLC about Melissa’s recent article talking about the things that firefighters could teach corporate leaders. Amongst the things they cover in the episode:
Why scenario planning is so important for firefighters and why it needs to be more important in the corporate world
Why firefighters have defined roles, and why that makes a difference in a time of crisis
Why firefighters are well trained with their tools in a way that corporate leaders are not
What leaders can learn about communications from firefighters
Host:
Linda Nazareth is an economist, futurist and expert on the future of work. The author of five books including her most recent Working it Out: Getting Ready for the Redefined World of Work (2023), she is also a regular columnist for the Globe and Mail and the Host of podcast ‘Work and the Future’.
As a sought-after keynote speaker, Linda’s audiences have spanned a range of audiences and have included clients such as The Economist Magazine, LVMH, American Express, and the Bank of Montreal all of whom have benefitted from the way that she can take huge ideas and distill them into information that organizations can use for their own strategic planning purposes.
Guest:
Melissa Swift is the founder and CEO of organizational consulting firm Anthrome Insight. She is also the author of Work Here Now: Think Like a Human and Build a Powerhouse Workplace (Wiley, 2023).
Book Linda as your Keynote Speaker:
Ready to navigate the future of work at your next event? Linda Nazareth helps organizations understand and prepare for workplace transformation. Visit lindanazareth.com to learn more about booking Linda for your conference or corporate event.
The post Episode 139: What Can Firefighters Teach Corporate Leaders? appeared first on LINDA NAZARETH.
21 min
November 19, 2025Episode 138: How Do We Upskill Workers to Make the Most of AI?
There is no stopping the oncoming train of artificial intelligence, with all that that means for the workplace. At the very least, it will mean training workers with new AI skills but it also means continuously retraining them to keep up with changes in technology. It will be a mammoth task.
In this episode of Work and the Future, economist and keynote speaker Linda Nazareth talks to Tricia Williams, Director of research, evaluation and knowledge mobilization at the Future Skills Centre about training and AI. They discuss:
The issues around whether AI will ultimately be good for workers
Why workplace training is not happening as quickly as might be ideal
What governments and educational institutions can do to help workers adjust to AI
Why mental stress could be a major issue for workers as the AI transition takes place
Host:
Linda Nazareth is an economist, futurist and expert on the future of work. The author of five books including her most recent Working it Out: Getting Ready for the Redefined World of Work (2023), she is also a regular columnist for the Globe and Mail and the Host of podcast ‘Work and the Future’.
As a sought-after keynote speaker, Linda’s audiences have spanned a range of audiences and have included clients such as The Economist Magazine, LVMH, American Express, and the Bank of Montreal all of whom have benefitted from the way that she can take huge ideas and distill them into information that organizations can use for their own strategic planning purposes.
Guest:
Tricia Williams, PhD, is Director of Research, Evaluation & Knowledge Mobilization at the Future Skills Centre, where she leads a portfolio of applied research and innovation projects focused on building a more inclusive and adaptable workforce in Canada. With over two decades of experience spanning academia, government, and the non-profit sector, she has developed deep expertise in skills development, labour market policy, and the future of work.
Book Linda as your Keynote Speaker:
Ready to navigate the future of work at your next event? Linda Nazareth helps organizations understand and prepare for workplace transformation. Visit lindanazareth.com to learn more about booking Linda for your conference or corporate event.
The post Episode 138: How Do We Upskill Workers to Make the Most of AI? appeared first on LINDA NAZARETH.
20 min
November 05, 2025Episode 137: Can AI Make Us Better Communicators and Leaders?
Who can resist the temptation? If you need to write anything these days, the easiest (and some think the best) thing to do is to start with letting AI technologies draft it for you. In doing that, however, it is easy to lose your own voice and create content that is cookie-cutter at best. If used properly, however, then AI technology can be a huge help in helping leaders communicate well.
In this episode of Work and the Future, economist and keynote speaker Linda Nazareth talks to Allison Shapira, Founder and CEO of Global Public Speaking LLC. They discuss:
Why AI is being used enthusiastically but not necessarily well to create content
How leaders can use AI as a tool while not losing their own voices
Why return to office mandates are changing the way that we communicate
Why continuous education will be crucial for leaders as the world is changed by AI
Guest:
Allison Shapira
Founder and CEO, Global Public Speaking LLC
Allison Shapira is an opera singer turned entrepreneur. She is the Founder/CEO of Global Public Speaking LLC, a communication training firm that works with emerging and established leaders to help them speak clearly, concisely, and confidently. She teaches public speaking at the Harvard Kennedy School and has spent over 15 years working with Fortune 50 companies, government agencies, and non-profit organizations around the world. She holds a master’s degree in public administration from the Harvard Kennedy School and is the author of the best-selling book Speak with Impact: How to Command the Room and Influence Others (HarperCollins Leadership). Her new book, “AI for the Authentic Leader: How GenAI Can Make Us More Human” is coming Fall 2025. She was a finalist for Woman Business Owner of the Year by the National Association of Women Business Owners, San Diego chapter, and she lives in Washington, DC.
Linda’s Take:
It was great to talk through the challenges of AI as it relates to communication with Allison. Of course there are ways to use it efficiently, but at this point we are early in the process of learning. how to best employ it and that is resulting in some bad decisions. Allison works directly with leaders and she talks to them about how to use AI to perhaps do a first draft of a speech, but then make sure that their own values – their own voice – is in the text. As she puts it, her goal is to find the boundaries of where it is helpful and where it is just creating cookie-cutter content.
One of the things Allison and I talked about is the pace of change, and how difficult it is to see one year in the future let alone five. With things changing so quickly, leaders will need to continuously learn new skills if they are going to be able to lead their teams into the future.
Book Linda as your Keynote Speaker:
Ready to navigate the future of work at your next event? Linda Nazareth helps organizations understand and prepare for workplace transformation. Visit lindanazareth.com to learn more about booking Linda for your conference or corporate event.
The post Episode 137: Can AI Make Us Better Communicators and Leaders? appeared first on LINDA NAZARETH.
18 min