What skill is most critical in a world defined by constant change? Leadership coach and author Liz Tran believes it’s AQ, or agility quotient.

In this episode of Hello Monday, host Jessi Hempel sits down with Liz to explore why traditional measures of intelligence like IQ and even EQ may matter less in today’s AI-powered, rapidly evolving workplace. Instead, Liz argues that what really predicts success is our ability to adapt, navigate uncertainty, and respond to change.

Liz’s new book is AQ: A New Kind of Intelligence for a World That's Always Changing. Drawing from her work with executives, founders, and professionals across industries, she explains how AQ works—and why it’s a skill anyone can develop.

Together, Jessi and Liz unpack how strengthening your agility quotient can help you navigate career transitions, unexpected challenges at work, and a future where skills evolve faster than ever.

Liz and Jessi discuss:

• What AQ (agility quotient) is—and why it may matter more than IQ or EQ in the modern workplace

• Why AI and automation are leveling traditional intelligence advantages

• The four AQ archetypes—Astronaut, Novelist, Firefighter, and Neurosurgeon—and how each handles change

• How understanding your archetype can guide career decisions, leadership style, and personal growth

• How to build resilience and adaptability in a world where careers span multiple industries and roles

Follow Liz Tran and Jessi Hempel on LinkedIn. 

We will be launching the Hello Monday book club soon. If you’re interested in joining, send us an email at [email protected] and let us know!  

Hot flashes. Brain fog. Sleepless nights. For too long, we’ve mislabeled midlife women’s health as burnout, anxiety, or a loss of ambition. But what if the real issue isn’t performance — it’s hormones?

In this episode of Hello Monday, Jessi Hempel talks with Joanna Strober, founder and CEO of Midi Health, about menopause, perimenopause, hormone therapy, and power at work. Together, they unpack how gaps in women’s healthcare during midlife are quietly pushing talented leaders out of the workforce at the exact moment they should be accelerating.

After struggling to get proper treatment for her own perimenopause symptoms, Joanna built Midi Health to deliver insurance-covered, expert virtual care focused on women in midlife. This conversation goes beyond hot flashes — it’s about workplace equity, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), ageism, health misdiagnoses, and why normalizing menopause could unlock a generation of leadership. Because menopause isn’t a road bump, with the right care, it can be a power surge.

Jessi and Joanna discuss:

• The difference between perimenopause and menopause, and why the distinction matters for women’s health at work

• Why 1 in 5 women in their 40s are prescribed SSRIs — and how hormonal shifts are often overlooked

• Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and non-hormonal menopause treatments

• The workplace impact of untreated menopause symptoms, including research showing women may lose authority during visible symptoms like hot flashes

• How employers can support midlife women through better insurance coverage 

• Ageism in the workplace — and why women in their 50s may be primed for peak performance

• How normalizing menopause conversations can help women reclaim power

Follow Joanna Strober and Jessi Hempel on LinkedIn.

We will be launching the Hello Monday book club soon. If you’re interested in joining, send us an email at [email protected] and let us know! 

Watch on YouTube: https://bit.ly/hellomonday-LI-video-youtube 

Watch/Listen on Spotify: https://bit.ly/hellomonday-LI-video-spotify⁠

Listen on Apple: https://bit.ly/hellomonday-LI-video-apple⁠ 

Be yourself. That’s the advice we give graduates, job seekers, and leaders. But what if it’s wrong?

In this episode of Hello Monday, Jessi Hempel sits down with organizational psychologist and author Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic to interrogate one of the most popular ideas in modern career advice: authenticity at work.

Tomas is the Chief Talent Scientist at ManpowerGroup, a professor of business psychology, and the author of Don't Be Yourself. His research explores personality, leadership, workplace performance, and the science of success. In this conversation, he challenges the notion that “just be yourself” is the key to career growth—especially in a rapidly changing job market shaped by AI, shifting power dynamics, and rising inequality.

Together, Jessi and Tomas unpack how authenticity functions as both a personal value and a professional strategy—and why it can be a privilege reserved for those already in the “in-group.” They also examine what young professionals, underemployed graduates, and leaders navigating AI disruption need to understand about perception, communication skills, and the future of work.

Jessi and Tomas discuss:

• Why authenticity at work is often misunderstood—and how perception matters more than self-expression

• The hidden privilege behind “bring your whole self to work”

• In-group vs. out-group dynamics in workplace culture

• AI and the future of work: entry-level jobs, automation, and the changing career ladder

• Why curiosity—not authenticity—may be a critical skill for 2026

• Balancing personal values with organizational expectations

• The psychology of influence, impression management, and professional success

If you’ve ever felt frustrated by workplace politics, confused about how much of yourself to reveal at work, or anxious about how AI is reshaping career paths, this episode is for you.

We will be launching the Hello Monday book club soon. If you’re interested in joining, send us an email at [email protected] and let us know!  

Watch on YouTube: https://bit.ly/hellomonday-LI-video-youtube 

Watch/Listen on Spotify: https://bit.ly/hellomonday-LI-video-spotify⁠

Listen on Apple: https://bit.ly/hellomonday-LI-video-apple⁠ 

Rest is essential. It’s like food or water; without it, we die. As today’s guest points out though, it’s also a sacred practice.

In today’s rerun conversation, originally held live on Hello Monday’s Office Hours, Octavia Raheem joins Jessi Hempel to talk about, and to practice, rest. Octavia Raheem is a rest coach, yoga and meditation teacher, and author. Her latest book is called Rest is Sacred: Reclaiming Our Brilliance Through the Practice of Stillness.

She and Jessi discuss:

• How rest sparks creativity and connection
• Rethinking productivity through rest
• How to build micro-rest practices into your days
• The power of rest for self-reflection, personal growth, and clarity

Then, Octavia leads us in a transformative guided rest practice that combines mindfulness, relaxation, and breathing techniques.

Follow Octavia Raheem and Jessi Hempel on LinkedIn.

AI didn’t decide to reshape work. People did. And that distinction matters more than we like to admit. Dr. Rumman Chowdhury says the real story isn’t about machines replacing humans. It’s about the choices people in power are making—and the agency the rest of us still have. In today’s episode, Jessi Hempel and Rumman unpack what responsible AI really means, why fear is the wrong default reaction, and how workers, leaders, and everyday users can shape a better technological future.

Rumman Chowdhury is a leading expert in responsible artificial intelligence and algorithmic accountability. She previously led responsible AI efforts at Accenture, served on Twitter’s product team before it became X, and advised governments in the U.S. and U.K. She is the co-founder of Humane Intelligence, an organization focused on independent AI auditing and public participation in technology oversight.

Rumman and Jessi discuss:

• Why AI isn’t “happening to us”—and how leadership decisions shape its impact

• What responsible AI looks like inside real companies and products

• The rise and fall of trust in Big Tech and Silicon Valley

• Algorithmic bias, content moderation, and the limits of internal oversight

• The root of why we fear AI

• The difference between techno-optimism and techno-solutionism

• How individuals can reclaim agency by understanding and engaging with AI

If you want to hear more from Dr. Rumman Chowdhury listen to her recent Ted Talk here. 

Follow Dr. Rumman Chowdhury on LinkedIn

Follow Jessi Hempel on LinkedIn

Watch on YouTube: https://bit.ly/hellomonday-LI-video-youtube 

Watch/Listen on Spotify: https://bit.ly/hellomonday-LI-video-spotify

Listen on Apple: https://bit.ly/hellomonday-LI-video-apple⁠ 

Every day is filled with negotiations. Here’s how to start winning them. Any conversation that has a want or a need is a negotiation. It's critical to approach even the low stakes negotiations with the same tools that will win high stakes conversations. But what if the key to better outcomes isn’t pushing harder, but listening better?

In today’s episode of Hello Monday, Jessi Hempel sits down with Jonathan Smith, negotiation instructor and co-author of Fight Less, Win More, to break down why negotiation is really about empathy, trust, and disciplined listening. Drawing on The Black Swan Group’s negotiation framework—made famous by Never Split the Difference—Jonathan shares practical tools for navigating conflict, building influence, and getting what you need without damaging relationships.

Jonathan is a business strategist and negotiation expert who has spent years teaching leaders, managers, and teams how to communicate in moments that matter most. His work focuses on tactical empathy, emotional intelligence, and the everyday negotiations that shape our careers and lives.

Jonathan and Jessi discuss:

• Why every difficult conversation is a negotiation

• Tactical empathy and how to help people feel truly heard

• The “core four” negotiation skills: labels, mirrors, dynamic silence, and summaries

• How low-stakes practice builds confidence for high-stakes conversations

• Managing tone, emotion, and self-regulation 

• Why listening is a discipline—and how it improves trust and influence

• Using AI as a preparation tool without losing human connection

If you want to go deeper on these tools listen to our episode from September, 2025 with The Black Swan Group's founder and CEO, Chris Voss. 

• Watch on YouTube: https://bit.ly/chrisvoss-hm-youtube 
• Listen on Apple: https://bit.ly/chrisvoss-hm-apple 
• Watch/Listen on Spotify: https://bit.ly/chrisvoss-hm-spotify

We will be launching the Hello Monday Book Club soon. If you’re interested in joining, send us an email at [email protected] and let us know!

Want an easy framework for winning any pitch? We’re pitching all the time—at work, at home, and everywhere in between. But most of us are doing it wrong. We lead with logic, credentials, and data, when what people actually need first is connection.

In today’s episode of Hello Monday, Jessi Hempel sits down with Danny Fontaine to unpack what makes a truly great pitch—and how to persuade with emotion, not just information. Drawing on decades of experience in experiential sales and storytelling, Danny shares a framework for captivating any audience by helping them feel seen, understood, and invested before you ever make your case.

Danny Fontaine leads an experiential selling team at IBM and has closed millions of dollars in deals across industries. He is the author of Pitch: How to Captivate and Convince Any Audience on the Planet and hosts a UK-based podcast called “Pitch Masters” on modern selling, persuasion, and communication at work.

Danny and Jessi discuss:

• Why pitching is really about connection, not performance
• How emotional storytelling builds trust and influence
• The “backfire effect” and why logic alone doesn’t persuade
• How to determine which opportunities are worth pitching—and which aren’t
• Why the audience, not the seller, should be the hero of every pitch
• Introverts, ambiverts, and why confidence isn’t what makes a great salesperson
• How AI can help you prepare without losing authenticity

We will be launching the Hello Monday Book Club soon. If you’re interested in joining, send us an email at [email protected] and let us know!

Ambition. Is it a dirty word? Do you love the term, or hate it? In this Hello Monday episode from the archives, Jessi Hempel sits down with two incredible colleagues at LinkedIn, Hayley Saltzman and Ahyiana Angel, to explore how our understanding of ambition evolves, and what it means to chase personal growth rather than external validation.

Hayley Saltzman is an Editor at Large at LinkedIn, focusing on vertical video strategy. Ahyiana Angel was the Podcast Ad Ops Producer at LinkedIn and the host of her own podcast called Switch, Pivot, or Quit. Together, they reflect on how ambition is often shaped by external expectations and how true fulfillment comes when we start living for ourselves.

In this episode, Jessi, Ahyiana, and Hayley discuss:

• The tension between extrinsic and intrinsic ambition
• Our gendered notions of ambition, and how society’s definition of ambition is often limiting for women
• What happens when you quit a dream job to pursue something more aligned with personal growth
• The relationship between fear and ambition
• Practical tips for reconnecting with your own ambitions and self-worth

If you've ever questioned what success and ambition truly mean for you, this episode is for you. Whether you're navigating career transitions or redefining what ambition looks like in your life, we hope this conversation will inspire you to live and work authentically.

What if the very habits that made you successful are now the ones holding you back?

In this episode of Hello Monday, host Jessi Hempel is joined by executive coach and leadership expert Muriel Wilkins to explore the hidden beliefs that quietly shape how we lead and make decisions. These “blocking beliefs”—like I need it done now, if I can do it, so can you—often begin as strengths. But over time, they can fuel burnout, micromanagement, and disengaged teams.

Drawing from her new book, Leadership Unblocked, Muriel offers a practical framework for identifying the beliefs that no longer serve us and replacing them with more flexible, sustainable ways of leading—without losing ambition, standards, or control. Together, Jessi and Muriel unpack how leaders can expand their range, lead with greater ease, and grow their organizations by first growing themselves.

In this conversation, you’ll learn:

• What “blocking beliefs” are and how they develop over the course of a career

• A three-step process for uncovering, unpacking, and unblocking limiting beliefs

• Why urgency and perfectionism often undermine leadership effectiveness

• How the belief “I need it done now” contributes to burnout and unclear priorities

• How the truth of our external environment can be reframed in the narrative we tell ourselves

• How to stop micromanaging without sacrificing accountability

We are no longer hosting weekly Office Hours but are thrilled to launch the Hello Monday Book Club. If you’re interested in joining, send us an email at [email protected] and let us know!

What is your dream job? What will your life look like in ten years? Kick off the New Year with a favorite Hello Monday activity: the Dream Job Exercise. 

In this episode, host Jessi Hempel kicks off the new year with a powerful ritual she returns to every January: the Dream Job Exercise. It’s not about chasing a title or predicting the future—it’s about reclaiming imagination, agency, and hope in a moment when many professionals feel stuck or anxious about what comes next.

Jessi explains why imagination may be the most essential career skill of the next decade—and how a simple writing exercise can help you clarify what you really want from your work and your life.

Jessi walks listeners step by step through the Dream Job Exercise, sharing why looking 10 years ahead creates space to stop editing yourself and start dreaming again. Along the way, she reflects on how this practice helped her land a version of her own dream role—and why it can work as a decision-making filter in an era of constant change.

In this episode, Jessi explores:

• The role of hope and personal agency in navigating career change
• Why imagination is a critical future-of-work skill
• How the Dream Job Exercise helps clarify what you actually want
• Why looking 10 years ahead unlocks bolder career thinking
• How this exercise can guide better career decisions year after year

Whether you’re questioning your next move, feeling unsettled in a job you once loved, or simply craving more clarity as the year begins, this episode offers a grounding reset—and a practical tool to help you move forward with intention.

This week, a show about work brings you an episode about time away from work, and why we all need it. We hope you enjoy this classic holiday rerun from Hello Monday's very first year of production featuring some favorite vacation stories, and we’ll see you in the new year!