The Dignity of Work

E183: You Belong Here: Building Pathways to Belonging- Unpacking Leadership Norms That Exclude

In the second episode of You Belong Here: Building Pathways to Belonging, Cami Eakins, CEO of Career Path Services; Lisa Grund, Strategic Communication and Relationship Partner for Career Path Services; and Dr. Anna Valiavska, organizational researcher and professor, examine the often-unspoken standards that shape who is recognized, trusted, and rewarded as a leader. Through candid personal stories and workplace examples, they explore how expectations surrounding professionalism, executive presence, emotional expression, appearance, communication style, and access to professional networks can privilege certain ways of showing up while creating barriers for others. The conversation also offers practical ways organizations can move beyond trying to "fix" individual leaders and instead examine their systems through more inclusive evaluation practices, belonging-centered manager training, and greater equity in delegation and decision-making authority.

E182: You Belong Here: Building Pathways to Belonging: Belonging Embedded Across Leadership

In this episode of The Dignity of Work, Cami Eakins, CEO of Career Path Services, Lisa Grund, Strategic Communication and Relationship Partner for Career Path Services, and Dr. Anna Valiavska, organizational researcher and professor, explore what it truly means to build a culture of belonging in the workplace. Together, they discuss why belonging is more than a policy, training, or initiative, examining the difference between technical fixes and adaptive leadership, the challenges of treating belonging as someone else's responsibility, and the subtle ways organizations can unintentionally silence important voices. Through personal reflections, leadership lessons, and practical examples, the conversation offers thoughtful guidance for leaders seeking to create workplaces where people feel valued, heard, and empowered to thrive.

E181: More Than a Label — Reinvention and Resilience

What happens when life forces you to start over? In this episode of More Than a Label, Nicole shares how losing a job became the beginning of an unexpected new chapter as she launched her own pet sitting business with support from Career Path Services and the WIOA Dislocated Worker program. Joined by workforce professional Elizabeth Neal, the conversation explores career pivots, resilience, and the emotional realities of rebuilding after hardship. Together, they discuss what people truly need when navigating uncertainty—not just employment support, but encouragement, dignity, and the belief that a setback does not define a person's future.

E180: My Whole Story: More Than a Label – From Surviving to Showing Up

In this episode of My Whole Story: More Than a Label, Duncan Taylor, CEO of the Washington Bankers Association and President of CareerWork$, shares a powerful and deeply personal story that challenges assumptions about success, struggle, and what people carry beneath the surface. Growing up in poverty and an abusive home, Duncan faced significant trauma and instability, but through mentorship, self awareness, and a pivotal shift in mindset, he began to see his life not as defined by what happened to him, but by what he could choose moving forward. With honesty and insight, he reflects on the role of effort, support, and the belief that transformation begins with a simple idea, "because I can." This conversation is a reminder that we are all more than our past, and that the path forward is shaped by the meaning we choose to make of it.

E179: Good at Work: The Career Playbook for Leaders and Teams-Same Team, Same Page – Building Sustainable Work Practices Through Feedback

From the Best of The Dignity of Work: In this episode of the Good at Work series, Cami Eakins (CEO of Career Path Services), Lisa Grund (Organizational Development Partner for Career Path Services), and Dr. Anna Valiavska (organizational researcher and professor) continue their conversation about building sustainable work practices through effective feedback systems. The panel explores how workplace communication tools, knowledge management practices, and structured feedback processes contribute to creating positive work environments. They discuss strategies for overcoming discomfort with feedback, the importance of approaching feedback as an opportunity for growth rather than criticism, and practical tactics for both giving and receiving feedback effectively. Discover how successful workplace communication requires intentional systems, consistent practices, and a foundation of trust between employees and leaders.