What if better productivity, happier employees, and more satisfied customers were not a trade-off, but the same design problem? Thomas Bertels says most organizations still get work design wrong—and the hidden cost shows up in burnout, bureaucracy, and AI projects that speed up individual tasks but not the whole business.Tatiana Koval sits down with Thomas Bertels, a transformation expert, work design specialist, and host of the Work Matters podcast, to explore how leaders can redesign jobs and operating models. Hence, people actually want to do the work. Drawing on his experience with startups and Fortune 500 companies, as well as Hackman and Oldham's research, Thomas explains why meaningful work, autonomy, and feedback matter more than ever. If your team is dealing with too much bureaucracy, too many handoffs, or an AI rollout that feels more like task elimination than meaningful transformation, this conversation offers a practical way forward. Essential listening for HR leaders, middle managers, and executives who want work that performs better because it feels better to do.Connect with Thomas Bertels:• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasbertels/• Substack: https://purposeworks.substack.com• Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@WorkMatterspodcastTimecodes: 00:00 — Introduction: workplace design and the future of work01:18 — How AI can reshape jobs—for better or worse03:58 — The foundations of motivating work: meaning, autonomy, and feedback07:52 — How to assess the current state of work design10:39 — Why employee experience and efficiency are not a trade-off12:19 — Giving employees real influence over process improvement15:54 — Common work-design problems and practical ways to spot them20:08 — Rethinking workflows when adopting AI24:33 — Lessons from the Work Matters podcast27:28 — Building the right team to lead workplace redesign30:14 — What triggers organizations to redesign work31:53 — How to measure whether work-design changes are succeeding32:57 — Helping people embrace organizational change35:11 — Three key takeaways for leadersSubscribe to Happy@Work for more insights on modern leadership, organizational performance, and human-centric workplace culture.#WorkplaceCulture #WorkplaceMentalHealth #WorkplaceWellbeing #Happiness #TalentAcquisition #JobDesign #FutureOfWork #Leadership #HappyAtWork

Why do organizational changes fail, and how can we design work that fuels us? In this episode, Ashley Jablow shares how intentional human-centric design elevates Workplace Mental Health, transforms Workplace culture, and boosts overall workplace well-being.We often blame employees or company culture when transitions fall flat. But the truth is much simpler: change doesn't fail—we design it poorly. Today on Happy@Work, I am sitting down with Ashley Jablow — founder of Wayfinders Collective and Life Design School, author, former Presidential Innovation Fellow at the White House, and ex-IDEO leader. Ashley brings her deep background in innovation, creativity, and practical change to show leaders how to guide their teams through complex transitions with clarity, courage, and care. We dive into how designing clear career strategies drives Happiness, strengthens talent acquisition, and builds resilient, adaptive organizations. Whether you are an executive leading a major corporate transition, an HR strategist looking to elevate employee retention, or a professional redesigning your career, Ashley's actionable strategies will help you navigate what's next. Connect with Ashley Jablow:• Website: https://www.wayfinderscollective.com/• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyjablow/Timecodes: 00:00 Welcome to Happy at Work00:31 Ashley’s path into design thinking02:25 Empathy as the foundation of people-centered design03:02 Bringing empathy into hiring, leadership, and organizational change04:49 The business impact: retention and employee advocacy07:06 Designing for diverse, global teams10:38 Questions leaders can ask to better understand their people14:11 Staying open when employee feedback challenges assumptions18:43 Common mistakes in workplace design thinking20:26 “Go slow to go fast” in leadership22:22 Leading as a whole person24:28 Closing thoughts and thank youSubscribe to Happy@Work for more episodes on modern leadership, organizational performance, and human-centric workplace culture.#WorkplaceMentalHealth #WorkplaceCulture #WorkplaceWellbeing #Happiness #TalentAcquisition #LeaderSkills #Leadership #EmployeeRetention #EmployeeEngagement #HappyAtWork

How do you move inclusion from a checkbox exercise to a core business strategy? In this episode, Gamiel Yafai shares how designing for equity transforms Workplace culture, elevates Workplace Mental Health, and drives overall employee Happiness.For too long, organizations have treated diversity and inclusion as ad-hoc initiatives rather than fundamental architecture. Today on Happy@Work, we are sitting down with Gamiel Yafai—author, award-winning diversity strategist, and founder of Diversity Inclusion.Gamiel breaks down his actionable blueprint for "Inclusion by Design." We explore how leaders can build sustainable, long-term impact by aligning leadership behaviors with hard metrics, embedding inclusive practices across the entire employee journey, and using an authentic culture to strengthen talent acquisition and workplace wellbeing.Whether you are an HR leader refining HR best practices, an executive driving talent attraction strategies, or a founder building an inclusive Workplace culture, Gamiel’s practical and strategic insights offer a masterclass in modern Leadership.Connect with Gamiel Yafai:• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linkedingamielyafai/Timecodes:00:00 — intro01:16 — Meet Gamel: diversity and inclusion strategist03:31 — What diversity and inclusion means in business07:11 — Common misconceptions and implementation mistakes12:29 — The business case for inclusion17:01 — Inclusive leadership and overcoming bias21:59 — Challenges: measuring progress and establishing a baseline26:03 — Turning diversity into innovation and business growth32:24 — Three practical actions for leadersSubscribe to Happy@Work for more insights on modern leadership, organizational performance, and human-centric workplace culture.#WorkplaceCulture #WorkplaceMentalHealth #WorkplaceWellbeing #Happiness #TalentAcquisition #InclusionByDesign #DiversityAndInclusion #Leadership #HappyAtWork