Workplace Visionaries

#6 - Mika Cross - The Connection Crisis: How to Lead Fractured Teams to 100% Engagement

In this episode of Workplace Visionaries, Jane Young sits down with Mika Cross—workplace transformation strategist, federal human capital expert, US Army veteran, and sought-after voice on the future of work who's testified as an expert witness for the US Senate. Mika brings a perspective you won't hear anywhere else, shaped by her experience in the US intelligence community, the Department of Labor, and working with some of the most complex bureaucracies in the world—including achieving 100% employee engagement scores in large government organizations. We dive deep into what Mika identifies as the number one workplace problem in 2026: connection. With teams fractured by layoffs, restructuring, rapid AI adoption, and the lingering effects of the pandemic, disconnection is driving burnout, quiet quitting, and change resistance across organizations of all sizes. This conversation goes beyond surface-level workplace advice. We explore why 70% of change initiatives fail and what successful organizations do differently, how to build genuine psychological safety (not the corporate buzzword version), why attendance data alone won't solve your hybrid work challenges, and what Gen Z actually needs to thrive in remote and hybrid environments. Mika shares real stories from the trenches: structuring telework in the intelligence community with top-secret clearance 20+ years ago, leading teams through government shutdowns and crisis, teaching Army leaders about the science of humor and connection, and designing well-being programs that go far beyond gym memberships. Whether you're wrestling with hybrid policies, rebuilding trust after layoffs, or trying to support your team through relentless change, this episode offers practical wisdom grounded in decades of experience transforming workplaces from the inside out. Connect with Mika Cross on LinkedIn (Work Life Champion of the Universe), visit mikacross.com, or check out her company at strategyworkatwork.us

#5 - Mark Ma - RTO Mandates Cause Brain Drain: The Data on Who Really Quits

Return-to-office mandates increase turnover—but it's your senior employees, skilled workers, and women who are leaving at the highest rates. Mark Ma, research professor at the University of Pittsburgh, breaks down what the data actually shows about RTO mandates, brain drain, and the future of work. His research has been featured in the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Fortune, BBC, and more. This conversation goes deep on the disconnect between workplace policies and what actually drives performance: • Why RTO as a "cheap layoff" backfires spectacularly • The management training crisis: why leaders don't know how to lead hybrid teams • Why we're measuring productivity completely wrong (and how to fix it) • AI's impact on jobs and the case for 3-day work weeks • How flexible work affects mental health, families, and birth rates • Social mobility decline and why younger workers are opting out of career advancement • Why amenities and coffee badging miss the point entirely Mark brings rigorous research, honest takes on what's broken, and a genuinely optimistic long-term vision—even while acknowledging the rocky road ahead. BONUS: Mark offers to help organizations run free pilot experiments on hybrid work policies. If you're willing to test your assumptions instead of defending them, reach out. From tactical workplace insights to big-picture questions about meaning, policy, and the future we're building—this conversation will change how you think about work.📚 CONNECT WITH MARK MA:• LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-ma-b34912139/ ]• University of Pittsburgh [https://business.pitt.edu/professors/mark-ma/]

#4 - Brian Elliott - Why RTO Mandates Fail: Trust, Data & the Future of Hybrid Work

RTO mandates are up 77%. Actual attendance? Up just 2%. So what's really working in hybrid work—and what's just expensive performance theater? Brian Elliott (former VP at Slack, Executive Leader of Future Forum, and author of "How the Future Works") joins Jane Young to cut through the noise with data, not opinions. We dig into: • Why employee monitoring destroys performance • The real cost of proximity bias in your organization • What separates high-performing hybrid teams from struggling ones • Why "just trust people" fails without the right systems • Flexibility schedules: the breakthrough nobody's talking about • How executive visibility bias drives terrible workplace decisions Brian brings years of research scaling distributed teams through Slack's hypergrowth, plus refreshingly blunt takes on what leaders are getting wrong about the future of work. If you're questioning your RTO policy, trying to build high-performing distributed teams, or wondering why your hybrid strategy isn't working - this conversation is packed with practical, data-backed answers. 📚 Brian's book: "How the Future Works" 🔗 Future Forum research: futureforumresearch.com

#3 - Tanisha Krishnan - Why 75% of Leaders Are Wrong About Office Usage

Tanisha Krishnan reveals the shocking disconnect between what leaders think is happening in their offices and reality - and why treating employees like customers is the key to hybrid work success. The Head of Workplace UK at BNP Paribas shares how her unique background in architecture and design thinking helps organizations solve their biggest workplace challenges through data-driven, user-centric approaches. Learn about the 75% vs 19% reality gap, why employees should be treated as "customers on the inside," and how to prepare for a 74% millennial/Gen Z workforce by 2030. Essential listening for anyone navigating the complexity of hybrid work. Hosted by Jane Young | Produced by HubStar [https://hubstar.com/]

#2 - Bex Moorhouse - Why Sunday Night Feelings Reveal Everything About Your Culture

Bex Moorhouse reveals the simple test that exposes toxic workplace culture - and why being called "a machine" at work is actually a red flag. The founder of Invigorate Spaces, who's transformed workplaces for Nike, Facebook, Disney, and 20th Century Fox, shares her journey from burnout to creating workplaces that actually care about humans. Discover the Sunday Night Test that reveals your true culture, why "high performance" shouldn't mean constant performance, and how leaders can be umbrellas instead of pressure funnels. This conversation will give you fresh hope that even one person can transform workplace culture. Hosted by Jane Young & Joe Harris | Produced by HubStar [https://hubstar.com/]