Work for What's Next | Amanda Schneider, Podcast Host, Author, Founder – Think Lab

The Summer of Possibilities | Alexandra Tseffos, The Design POP

As excitement builds for Design Days, Doug sits down with Alexandra Tseffos - founder of Design Pop and champion of the design community. It's a conversation that goes all over the board. They talk about the future of learning in the commercial interiors industry, aura readings, loving what you do and what makes our industry's designers unique.

Work for What's Next | Amanda Schneider, Podcast Host, Author, Founder – Think Lab

Amanda Schneider, founder of ThinkLab and author of Work for What’s Next, explores how work is changing across generations, industries, and the built environment. Amanda shares how her research on Gen Z, hybrid work, and “boundaryless work” uncovered a larger shift: we are operating in a digital-speed world with analog-era rules. The conversation dives into burnout, middle management pressure, loyalty, communication gaps, and the urgent need to redesign workplace norms before they become barriers to relevance.

Future Self & Future Work | Valerie Jardon, Managing Director – Strategy, IA

IA Managing Director, Valerie Jardon, weighs in on personal growth and the future of work. She shares her inspiring journey from a difficult upbringing and early self-doubt to leadership and shaping workplace strategy. The conversation explores everything from humanoid robots and techno-optimism to impostor syndrome, future selves, and the assumptions we make about work, identity, and change. Valerie also reflects on the emotional impact of receiving a major leadership honor, the role her family played in her success, and her belief that the spaces and systems we create ultimately echo back to us. The conversation is thoughtful, funny and deeply human.

Instinct Over Ego: Leading Through Change | Christian Giordano, President of Mancini Duffy

In this episode of Love What You Do, Doug Shapiro sits down with Christian Giordano, CEO of Mancini Duffy, to explore leadership, culture, and the evolving role of AI in design. Christian shares his “word of the year”, replacement, covering both the opportunities AI creates and the deeper concerns around human purpose and early career pathways. The conversation dives into how strong cultures are built through instinct, humility, and a shared commitment to client service. Christian also reflects on the power of lofty goals, organized thinking, and creating space for others to step up as a company grows.

The Power of Perseverance | Joanna Jablonski

On this episode of the LWYD podcast, Doug sits down with Joanna Jablonski to explore how perseverance shaped her journey from immigrating to the United States to becoming a design leader at Henrickson.