Workplace Weirdness™

From Homeless in NYC to Entrepreneur with Amin Hasani | Workplace Weirdness S2 E18

In this episode of Workplace Weirdness™, host Maya Kadar Kovalsky speaks with Amin Hasani, founder of Hasani Studio, about his journey as an industrial designer and the importance of accessibility and the impact of AI in product design. They also discuss the challenges faced by immigrants in the workplace, particularly regarding work visas, and share insights on navigating cultural differences.  The episode also features listener questions about career advice and workplace dynamics, providing valuable perspectives on the evolving nature of work. In this episode, they discuss: * Amin Hasani's immigrant journey and career development * Innovative accessibility solutions like the Curvd Accessibility Mug * Workplace culture and managing expectations in the US * The impact of AI on product design and fundamentals * Challenges faced by H1B visa holders in tech and design [00:00] Introduction to Workplace Weirdness™ [01:09] Amin's Journey and Design Philosophy [05:55] The Importance of Accessibility in Design [11:59] Navigating Cultural Differences in the Workplace [18:08] The Immigrant Experience and Work Visa Challenges [24:01] Dealing with Negative Coworkers and Reading Between the Lines [28:03] Conclusion and Final Thoughts Resources and Links: Amin Hasani · Website: https://hasanistudio.com/ [https://hasanistudio.com/] · LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aminhasani [https://www.linkedin.com/in/aminhasani] · Instagram: @aminhasani [https://www.instagram.com/aminhasani] @hasanistudio [https://www.instagram.com/hasanistudio/] @thecurvd [https://www.instagram.com/thecurvd/] Maya Kadar Kovalsky · LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayakadar/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayakadar/] Workplace Weirdness™ · Email: info@workplace-weirdness.com · Website: workplace-weirdness.com [www.workplace-weirdness.com] · Instagram: @workplaceweirdpod [https://www.instagram.com/workplaceweirdpod/]   Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is intended for entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as professional, legal, or workplace-specific advice. Listeners are encouraged to seek guidance from qualified professionals for their individual situations.

Are Your Actions Reflecting Your LinkedIn Brand? | Workplace Weirdness S2E17

In this episode of Workplace Weirdness™, Maya talks to former journalist turned marketing consultant, Nicole Ramirez to talk about what’s really going on in the current workforce. From parental leave bias and return-to-office whiplash to burnout that nobody wants to admit out loud.  Nicole gets into why dads still get side-eyed for taking leave, how RTO can feel like a corporate plot twist, what burnout actually looks like inside a team (hint: it’s not just being tired), and how to build a personal brand that doesn’t read like a boring white paper—or an oversharing diary. They also dig into the Beyoncé boss controversy, ice-cold layoffs, workplace loyalty (is it real?), and why your reputation matters more than your resume. If you’re thinking about career growth, boundaries, leadership, remote work, or just trying to survive modern work culture with your sanity intact—this episode’s got you covered. In this episode: · Why LinkedIn remains a top platform for reaching decision-makers · Common misconceptions about personal branding and why most posts read like either “white paper” or a “diary entry” · How Nicole transformed a Forbes layoff into a successful personal brand and business · Why return-to-office mandates can feel like a bait-and-switch · What leaders should consider before attributing burnout to a lack of motivation · Why equal parental leave policies matter for both mothers and fathers · How to handle a manager who pressures you to shorten your parental leave · The consequences when a brand’s public image diverges from its internal    ethics · Why your reputation is critical when you, yourself are the brand · How to establish work boundaries proactively before the job starts defining them for you  Resources and Links: Nicole Ramirez · Website: nrdigitalconsulting.com [https://nrdigitalconsulting.com/] · LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nicolerayeramirez [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolerayeramirez]   Maya Kadar Kovalsky · LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mayakadar [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayakadar]   Workplace Weirdness · Email: info@workplace-weirdness.com · Website: workplace-weirdness.com [https://workplace-weirdness.com] · Instagram: @workplaceweirdpod   Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is intended for entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as professional, legal, or workplace-specific advice. Listeners are encouraged to seek guidance from qualified professionals for their individual situations .

The Truth About AI and Career Survival in the Zero Body Fat Era | Workplace Weirdness S2E16

In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, Maya Kadar Kovalsky sits down with Laura Close, Co-founder of AI workforce data platform, Included,  to unpack how AI is changing hiring, career strategy, and what it really means to stay ready for what’s next. They also dig into what work looks like when middle management is shrinking, promotions keep going to external hires, and employees are stuck navigating misleading job descriptions and ethical pressure from leadership. Laura shares her blunt take on the modern labor market, why the employer loyalty contract is dead, and why more workers need to think strategically about leaving rather than waiting around for a company to suddenly do right by them. The conversation also explores how senior leaders can position themselves in an AI-driven job market, what to do when your role turns out to be completely different from what was promised, and how to handle workplace situations that cross an ethical line. This episode is a brutally honest look at promotions, workplace power, AI, and career survival when the rules of work are changing fast. In this episode: [00:00:10] Introduction to Workplace Weirdness: Host Maya Kawalski introduces the show's focus on office drama and "weird" situations. [00:00:45] Guest Introduction: Maya introduces Laura Close, an entrepreneur, executive advisor, and co-founder of the AI platform Included. [00:01:25] The Origin of Included: Laura explains how she used AI to solve "precision data questions" and eliminate reporting bottlenecks for HR leaders. [00:02:15] The "Zero Body Fat" Era: Laura describes the current labor market as a lean, athletic, and agile era where candidates must be self-reliant. [00:02:40] Extended Job Search Timelines: Laura notes that senior leader searches have shifted from 4 months in 2015 to roughly 12 to 18 months today. [00:03:15] Marketing Yourself Now: Advice on revamping resumes to focus on "owning and building systems" rather than general leadership or "soft" metrics. [00:04:45] AI Literacy and Certifications: A discussion on why no one is "AI native" yet and how to select certifications based on brand recognition and price. [00:08:50] The Weirdest Workplace Moment: Laura shares a story about a manager who loved pranking others but failed to acknowledge her own birthday, highlighting the "taker" vs. "giver" dynamic. [00:11:00] The Week in Work: Shrinking Middle Management: Analysis of companies cutting middle managers in favor of AI and efficiency, and advice for those affected to consider starting their own businesses. [00:14:40] Question 1: The External Hire Loop: A listener asks what to do when their company promotes external candidates over qualified internal ones. Laura’s blunt advice: "You have to leave the company". [00:18:15] Question 2: The "Strategic" Admin Job: A listener is stuck doing admin work despite a high-level job title. Laura suggests networking with peers and using tools like Codex to automate tasks and build a new skillset. [00:22:35] Question 3: Ethical Dilemmas in Sales: A listener is asked to lie to clients to hit targets. Laura advises never compromising ethics and suggests using diplomacy rather than internal reporting channels, which she views as "fragile". [00:26:30] Final Thoughts and Contact Info: Laura shares her website (closecohen.com) and Maya wraps up the episode Resources and Links:   Laura Close · Website: closecohen.com [http://closecohen.com] · LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/closelaura/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/closelaura/] Maya Kadar Kovalsky ·     LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayakadar/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayakadar/] Workplace Weirdness ·         Email: info@workplace-weirdness.com ·         Website: workplace-weirdness.com ·         Instagram: @workplaceweirdpod   Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is intended for entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as professional, legal, or workplace-specific advice. Listeners are encouraged to seek guidance from qualified professionals for their individual situations.

April Fool’s Special: Turning the Tables on Maya With Guest HOST Dorie Clark

This is a special one-of-a-kind Turn the Tables episode of Workplace Weirdness. For the first time, Maya Kadar Kovalsky is in the hot seat. And stepping in as the guest host is Marketing Strategist and TOP 50 Business Thinker In The World, Dorie Clark. Maya opens up about her own weird workplace moments and lets us know the person behind the mic, how she thinks about work culture, and what shaped the voice of Workplace Weirdness. Maya also answers listeners' questions about everything from the reality behind “unlimited PTO” to the awkward rise of AI-assisted interviews. Dorie adds her unique perspective on leadership, career, and friendship.   This episode flips the format and goes deeper than usual. For the first time, you get a closer look at Maya, her background, leadership style, and personal take on workplace culture.  In this episode: * Dorie Clark hosts, and Maya takes the hot seat  * Why unlimited PTO sounds great, but doesn’t always work * How to manage the stress of an AI-assisted interview * What to do when you’re accused of leaking confidential company info * How to handle awkward workplace situations when a holiday gift goes wrong * The time when Maya was mentioned negatively in a Glassdoor post.   Chapters: * [00:00:00] – Introduction: Dorie Clark introduces the special April Fools episode where she takes over as host, putting the usual host, Maya, in the "hot seat". * [00:01:25] – Quickfire Warm-up: Dorie leads Maya through a series of rapid-fire questions covering personal preferences, such as being a morning person versus a night owl and interests in K-dramas versus romance. * [00:02:40] – Management Style Questions: The warm-up shifts to workplace preferences, including the use of "talking sticks" in meetings and whether performance reviews should be conducted via emojis. * [00:03:15] – Maya’s Weirdest Moment: Maya shares a story about a technical failure where she realized an hour into an interview that she had forgotten to press the record button. * [00:05:15] – The "Champagne Incident": Maya discusses a "youthful mistake" where she sent champagne to employees during COVID-19, which resulted in an employee getting visibly intoxicated on camera during a mandatory training session. * [00:11:58] – The Alumni Sweatshirt: Maya describes a tradition she invented—giving "alumnus" sweatshirts to departing employees, though they were withheld if the person left under "unsavory circumstances". * [00:07:05] – The Unlimited PTO Trap: A listener asks for advice after receiving a warning email from HR for taking time off to care for a sick parent, despite the company's "unlimited PTO" policy. * [00:13:37] – AI Over-reliance in Interviews: A job applicant worries about an upcoming in-person interview after relying heavily on AI to assist with nerves during the initial remote screening. * [00:19:40] – The Confidential Leak Accusation: An employee seeks advice on how to defend themselves after being unfairly suspected of leaking internal documents simply because they were the only one not on vacation. * [00:16:55] – Overheard Moments: Maya reflects on the sting of discovering a mean Glassdoor post about herself and how she eventually learned to let go of the non-useful feedback. * [00:22:10] – The Counter-Offer Regret: Maya shares a story about a time she disagreed with a management decision to give a pay raise to an inadequate employee who had threatened to resign. * [00:24:50] – Sign-off and Credits: Dorie and Maya wrap up the show with a "virtual cheers," and Maya provides the final production credits. Resources and Links:   Dorie Clark · Website: https://dorieclark.com/ [https://dorieclark.com/] · LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doriec/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/doriec/] Maya Kadar Kovalsky ·     LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayakadar/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayakadar/] Workplace Weirdness ·         Email: info@workplace-weirdness.com ·         Website: workplace-weirdness.com ·         Instagram: @workplaceweirdpod   Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is intended for entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as professional, legal, or workplace-specific advice. Listeners are encouraged to seek guidance from qualified professionals for their individual situations.

Why Leaders Ignore HR and How to Disrupt It | Former HR Director for The BBC Lucy Adams

In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, Maya sits down with Lucy Adams, former Head of HR at the BBC and CEO of Disruptive HR, to unpack why so much of modern HR still feels stuck in compliance, process, and risk management instead of influence, credibility, and real business impact. Lucy shares what she learned from leading HR at The BBC, one of the world’s most scrutinized institutions, why annual performance reviews have had their day, how employers are gaming salary transparency, and what employees should actually do when they are stalled on promotions, hit with surprise HR meetings, or dealing with a boss who keeps taking credit for their work. In this episode: [00:00:00] Intro to Workplace Weirdness + Lucy Adams introduction [00:01:00] Lucy Adams on her BBC roots and what it was really like leading HR there [00:03:00] Lucy’s third book and why HR leaders often struggle to be heard [00:05:00] Why Lucy launched Disruptive HR and where traditional HR goes wrong [00:07:00] The HR practice Lucy thinks should disappear: annual performance reviews [00:08:00] Lucy’s weirdest workplace moment begins [00:09:00] Traveling to dangerous reporting zones and hostile-environment training at the BBC [00:10:00] The terrifying mock gunman scenario and what it revealed about HR’s reputation [00:11:00] “Week in Work”: salary transparency laws and employers gaming pay ranges [00:12:00] Why vague salary ranges damage trust and candidate experience [00:13:00] BBC salary transparency: publishing top leaders’ exact pay [00:14:00] The downside of pay transparency and why Lucy still thinks it was worth it [00:15:00] Listener question: “I’ve been promised a promotion for years. What now?” [00:16:00] Lucy’s advice on asking for clarity without sounding threatening [00:17:00] Why managers need to feel there’s some jeopardy if they keep stalling [00:18:00] Maya’s take on visibility, ambition, and making your goals known [00:19:00] Listener question: surprise HR meeting with no explanation [00:20:00] How to respond to vague HR invites without spiraling [00:21:00] Why HR should give context before scheduling scary-sounding check-ins [00:22:00] Listener question: my boss keeps taking credit for my work [00:23:00] Lucy on why escalating too fast can backfire [00:24:00] Start with the direct conversation before going to HR or leadership [00:25:00] Closing thoughts, Lucy’s resources, and final wrap-up [00:26:00] End credits and subscribe reminder Resources and Links:   Lucy Adams ·     Website: https://disruptivehr.com/ Maya Kadar Kovalsky ·     LinkedIn: Maya Kadar Kovalsky Workplace Weirdness ·         Email: info@workplace-weirdness.com ·         Website: workplace-weirdness.com ·         Instagram: @workplaceweirdpod   Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is intended for entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as professional, legal, or workplace-specific advice. Listeners are encouraged to seek guidance from qualified professionals for their individual situations.