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The Shift Show with Rachel Bourne

The Shift Show with Rachel Bourne

By: WRKdefined Podcast Network
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 Work is changing fast—don’t get left behind. The Shift Show gives you insider strategies, AI hacks, and career playbooks to thrive in the future of work. Hosted by Rachel Bourne, it’s your shortcut to staying relevant, resilient, and ready for what’s next.All rights reserved by WRKdefined Career Success Economics Personal Development Personal Success
Episodes
  • Is the Workplace Broken or Just Badly Designed?

    Is the Workplace Broken or Just Badly Designed?
    Apr 7 2026
    Why does work feel broken right now, and why does burnout feel so normal? In this episode of The Shift Show, Rachel Bourne sits down with workplace strategists and WORK then PLACE co-authors Corinne Murray and Sara Escobar to unpack why work was never truly designed for humans in the first place. Together, they explore the real reasons behind return-to-office mandates, why “behavior before buildings” is a more useful lens for leaders, and how work design now has to account for physical, digital, and experiential environments. They also break down how knowledge work has changed, why AI is compressing and intensifying work, and what everyday professionals can do to create better ways of working without waiting for permission from the top. If you are trying to make sense of hybrid work, burnout, AI pressure, workplace trust, or how to create a more human-centered way of working, this conversation gives you a practical starting point. Sara Escobar utilizes knowledge built over her 20-year career leading Workplace for global companies, including CBRE, Riot Games, Netflix, Honey, and Hulu. She is the founder of Wielding Workplace, a consultancy that supports companies in using Workplace to attract and retain top talent. Her clients have included top companies in tech, media, hospitality, utility services, and finance. Corrine Murray is a workplace strategist, advisor, and writer with 15 years of experience in organizational change, employee experience, and workplace transformation. She has spearheaded transformation initiatives for companies including WeWork, American Express, RXR, Gensler, and CBRE. Key Takeaways Work feels broken because it was never intentionally designed around human behavior Return-to-office decisions are often driven by factors beyond collaboration Small, team-level changes can meaningfully improve how work actually gets done Chapter Markers 00:00 — Why did Sara and Corrine write WORK then PLACE? 02:08 — What does “behavior before buildings” really mean? 06:18 — What are the real reasons behind return-to-office mandates? 12:02 — How can leaders make RTO less damaging? 14:09 — Can perks really “earn the commute”? 17:19 — Is work really built on relationships? 22:08 — Are broken workplaces caused by bad behavior or bad design? 24:00 — Is collaboration actually better in person? 27:06 — What changed about knowledge work? 31:34 — Is AI making work more intense? 34:23 — What can individuals do if work feels broken? 37:34 — How should teams measure better ways of working? 41:08 — What is the one takeaway listeners should act on now? Find answers to the most frequent audience questions: Why does work feel so hard now? Why are companies making people come back to the office? Is hybrid work actually effective? Is AI making work worse? What can I do if I am not in charge? Keywords/themes why work feels broken, why burnout feels normal, human centered work design, return to office strategy, why companies want employees back in office, hybrid work problems, future of work podcast, knowledge work design, AI and burnout at work, workplace trust and flexibility, work design for hybrid teams, how to improve meetings at work, behavior before buildings, work then place, human centered workplace
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    44 mins
  • What’s the Leadership Shift Nobody Talks About?

    What’s the Leadership Shift Nobody Talks About?
    Mar 3 2026
    What’s the leadership shift nobody talks about — especially for women in leadership? Debbie McGee made every leadership shift the hard way. From bulldozer to builder. From control to trust. From protecting her image to radical transparency. After decades in Big Four accounting, global HR leadership across 30 countries, and navigating male-dominated industries, a corporate reorganization forced her to rebuild how she leads from the ground up. In this episode, we unpack the real leadership shifts most executives never say out loud: the tension between authority and vulnerability, achievement and purpose, head and heart. We also explore a topic often left out of workplace conversations: values and faith. While 55% of Americans say religion is important to them (Pew), most corporate cultures avoid discussing it entirely. Debbie shares how she integrates values openly without imposing belief — modeling servant leadership in a modern corporate world. If you’re a director, VP, or emerging female executive navigating AI, burnout, or executive presence, this conversation will challenge your leadership assumptions. Debbie's book, The Leadership Attitude, can be purchased on Amazon, or at Barnes & Noble and Target. 3 Key Takeaways: The shift from control to trust is harder than it sounds. Vulnerability requires credibility — especially for women leaders. Purpose-driven leadership is not weakness. It’s strength. THE SHIFTS The Old Way - The Shift - the New Way From Bulldozer to Builder to Empowerment From Head Only to Head & Heart to Empowerment From Control Everything to Trust Team to Shared Ownership From Protect from Failure to Allow Failure to Growth Culture From Chase Achievement to Lead with Purpose to Sustainable Impact From Keep Values Private to Integrate Values to Authentic Leadership From Protect Image to Radical Transparency to Psychological Safety From Western-only Model to Cross-Cultural Adaptability to Global Leadership From Take Credit to Develop Others to Multiplying Leaders From "Be as aggressive as hell" to Servant Leadership to Influence Without Domination Chapter Markers (Question-Framed) 00:00 — What’s the leadership shift nobody talks about? 01:55 — Why wasn’t the old leadership playbook built for women? 03:40 — What happens when success suddenly stops working? 06:20 — Bulldozer vs builder: what’s the difference? 13:50 — Can women lead with heart and authority? 18:30 — Why do we avoid talking about faith at work? 24:00 — What does radical transparency actually look like? 31:00 — When does vulnerability build trust — and when doesn’t it? 36:20 — Why is failure essential to leadership growth? 39:45 — What shift should leaders make next? Keywords (Women + Leadership + Cultural Relevance) women in leadership, female executive leadership, servant leadership in corporate America, vulnerability in leadership women, executive presence for women, authentic leadership, purpose-driven leadership, cross-cultural leadership women, psychological safety leadership, faith in the workplace, women CEOs, leadership mindset shift, growth mindset leaders, women leading change, modern leadership styles
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    43 mins
  • Human Judgment & Domain Expertise: Put AI to Use Responsibly

    Human Judgment & Domain Expertise: Put AI to Use Responsibly
    Feb 18 2026
    In this episode of The Shift Show, we’re joined by ⁠⁠Jelena Marjanovic, PhD⁠⁠, a leader in responsible AI adoption and human-AI collaboration. Dive into what AI use really looks like in the workplace-beyond buzzwords and superficial stats, and focus on how humans can work with AI in ways that enhance judgment, trust, sustainable outcomes. This episode matters now because AI isn’t just a tool anymore. It’s shaping how we think, how we work, and how organizations operate. Whether you’re leading a team, integrating AI into your workflow, or simply trying to understand how humans and AI can collaborate effectively, this conversation will give you clarity, frameworks, and real-world insights. Jelena Marjanovic, PhD helps leaders, teams, and business owners navigate the rapidly shifting world of work accelerated by AI. She blends coaching psychology, adult learning science, and practical AI enablement to help professionals work smarter, lead with clarity, and adapt intelligently. ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠JelenaMarjanovic.com⁠⁠⁠ “What sets Jelena apart is her blend of practicality, emotional intelligence, and deep business experience. I love that she can shift seamlessly between coach and consultant depending on what’s needed.” — Sian Bennett, Head of Content Marketing and Communication & Small Business Owner “Her hands-on method helped our law firm rethink how we work. She turned a complex AI topic into a clear, practical path to higher efficiency.” — Nenad Cvjetićanin, Managing Partner, C&P Law TOPICS in this Episode: What true AI adoption looks like vs. common misconceptions How data and knowledge structures enable AI effectiveness Importance of critical thinking as the foundation for AI use Developing habits and questions that verify AI output Stages of AI adoption from hesitation to over-reliance to balanced use How teams and leaders navigate different comfort levels with AI Shadow AI use and organizational impacts 10 Takeaways Real organizational AI adoption is less than most industry stats suggest. Meaningful use is still emerging. Using simple AI tools (like transcription) doesn’t equal strategic AI adoption. Effective AI use starts with understanding your tasks, workflows, and desired outcomes. Human judgment still matters — AI cannot yet fully replace nuanced reasoning or ethics. Critical thinking is the most foundational skill for working with AI. Good AI use involves repeating patterns of evaluation and verification. Teams adopt AI at different rates, and leadership must recognize and support that. Shadow AI use is widespread, and employees will use AI even without formal training. Domain expertise, AI literacy, and discernment create the most effective human–AI integrators. Chapters 00:00 – Intro: Human + AI Collaboration in 2026 01:31 – Reality of AI Adoption 04:00 – True AI Adoption vs. Simple Tools 06:18 – Practical Next Steps for AI Integration 08:22 – Future Data & Knowledge Structures 11:08 – Spectrum of Human–AI Interaction 14:38 – Critical Thinking in AI Workflows 17:48 – Training and Habits for Evaluating AI 24:04 – AI Adoption Curve Explained 27:16 – Balanced Collaboration with AI 30:12 – AI Adoption Across Teams 34:05 – Shadow AI Use in Workplaces 37:27 – Social Stigma and AI Use 40:16 – Work Displacement and Skill Redesign 41:27 – Human-AI Integrator Framework 46:56 – Workforce and Apprenticeship in the AI Era 49:27 – Academia, Regulation, and AI Adoption Keywords collaboration, adoption, AI, leadership, maturity curve, critical thinking, literacy for professionals, human-in-the-loop, balanced AI use, overreliance, pitfalls, integration framework, human decision-making, automation, metacognitive cues, management spectrum, teams, shadow AI use, future of work, domain expertise, AI literacy, knowledge management, readiness, governance
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    55 mins
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