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What’s getting in the way of people harnessing their full potential, creativity, talent and motivation to do great work? The workplace.

The Work Revolution Podcast, hosted by Debra Adey and lisa Schmidt, offers candid conversations with industry experts and everyday people about what’s going on in workplaces today and what needs to change in response to our rapidly changing world.

Listen to our Season 2 trailer

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In season two, Debra joins forces with new co-host lisa Schmidt to challenge the status quo of obsolete workplace practices and ideas about leadership that contribute to inequality and disengagement—and slow the pace of much needed change and innovation.

Listen in as Debra and lisa parlay their extensive experience, critical insights, humour and smart-ass attitudes into showing there IS a better way to work, and live.

42. Employee Terminations
The so-called ‘business decision’ to exit employees from your organization could be a positive experience for ...
00:49:18
May 12, 2023
41. Workplace Predictions 2023
Once again Debra and lisa share what they are reading, hearing and intuiting about the work year ahead. Here ...
00:37:22
January 27, 2023
39. Who are the New Leaders in the C-Su...
Now that working from home and hybrid arrangements have become fixtures in many businesses across the globe, many ...
00:36:11
January 20, 2023
38. The 4-Day Workweek Movement
When Andrew Barnes decided to change his company to a 4-day work week he expected some positive results, but even ...
00:58:15
November 18, 2022
37. Ghosted By The Boss
Who's accountable when a hiring decision goes wrong? As JP illustrates in her compelling personal story, often, th...
00:54:40
November 04, 2022
36. Why Gender Equity Is Good For The E...
For far too long, we've been hearing how much less money women make than men. While progress is being made, there ...
00:51:47
October 07, 2022
35. Ask Us Anything: Dan Price
Dan Price was once the CEO who realized that he was making much more money than his employees. So he decided to pa...
00:34:41
September 13, 2022
34. Guiding Women On Debt, Wealth And E...
When it comes to women, well-being and autonomy are critical. Be it over our healthcare decisions, our freedom of ...
00:53:59
July 21, 2022
33. Levels Of Leadership With Carlos Da...
The Personality Data Assessment is an assessment that can help you find your unique and dominant style. It will he...
00:54:36
June 30, 2022
32. Straight talk On Feminist Leadershi...
Is there a difference between being a woman and being a feminist in the workplace? What about feminist leadership?...
00:33:11
May 20, 2022
31. Ask Us Anything: Hybrid Work
A lot (maybe everything?) has changed due to the COVID pandemic, with one of the biggest impacts being where work ...
00:29:04
April 29, 2022
30. Brain-Based Leadership - Part 3
A true healthy working environment is the one where employees are not afraid to open up and their leaders are hand...
01:05:31
April 15, 2022
29. Brain-Based Leadership - Part 2
We hear a lot about resilience and humility when it comes to leadership, but how do leaders start practising these...
00:51:08
April 01, 2022
28. Brain-Based Leadership - Part 1
If we are complex beings, it is in large part because of our brains. In this first of three conversations with Mic...
01:02:00
March 17, 2022
27. Working Dads With Mark Mccartney
Today’s work environment has been experiencing tons of resignations, burnout, and demands for greater inclusivit...
00:48:11
March 04, 2022
26. Ask Us Anything: Michelle
Women get interrupted more than men and men interrupt women more than they interrupt other men. This is a well-res...
00:24:48
February 18, 2022
25. Workplace Predictions 2022
When it comes to the workplace, has COVID changed everything? If so, what do organizations and employees need to t...
00:54:47
February 03, 2022
24. Bias With Jessica Nordell
Unconscious bias exists all over the world, whether it's in the workplace or just out in the streets. A woman is g...
01:11:40
December 17, 2021
23. Ask Us Anything: Rania
A great way to start working in an organization is to learn how to connect with the people on your team. It starts...
00:29:11
December 10, 2021
22. Women In Trades: A Reality Check Wi...
Being a woman in any male-dominated industry is tough. Particularly for women in trades, there are certain realiti...
01:04:53
December 03, 2021
21. The Great Resignation
In many Western economies, workers of all stripes and sorts are punching out, seeking meaning and purpose outside ...
00:46:54
November 18, 2021
20. Ask Us Anything: Steve
Steve is starting a new consulting gig as he kicks off the next chapter in his career, having just left a large fi...
00:24:04
November 05, 2021
19. How To Be Politically Savvy With Mi...
Most of us have tripped over workplace politics at some point in our career. Many think they can take the high roa...
00:50:09
October 21, 2021
18. What Can Business Learn From Deanna...
In spite of plenty of evidence that employees come to work with both their brains AND their hearts, emotions and e...
00:37:06
September 30, 2021
Season 2 Trailer: Join The Work Revolut...
Imagine a workplace where employees are committed, engaged, productive—and safe to express their talents and ful...
00:11:54
September 16, 2021
17. Family Unfriendly: Women in Law –...
In part 2 of my conversation with Jane Scholes we discuss gender inequality in compensation for lawyers and how ch...
00:39:26
March 23, 2021
16. Family Unfriendly: Women in Law –...
Prompted by a recent Twitter storm of activity about whether parental leave should be effectively mandated for mal...
00:30:37
March 20, 2021
15. Men at Work
Jake Stika of Next Gen Men talks about how patriarchy and the masculine script of competition and domination perpe...
00:52:49
March 05, 2021
14. Managing with Grace
How can we reduce bias and workplace conflict while increasing focus, productivity, authentic communication, and d...
00:58:38
February 19, 2021
13. Women’$ Worth
Kristine Beese, founder of Untangle Money speaks with me about the wage gap, the wealth gap and the power gap. Kri...
00:50:10
February 05, 2021
12. Be Brave
Sustainability and CSR expert Lindsay Colley talks about the evolving role of businesses in our society and what t...
00:56:56
January 15, 2021
11. Change Like a Glacier
While companies push for ‘change agility’ from their people and in their business operations, they have made g...
00:40:16
January 08, 2021
10. Pots of Gold
If you are feeling confused by the growing list of characters in LGBTQIA2S+ and not sure you’re ready to announc...
00:52:33
December 18, 2020
9. The Psychology of Job Loss
Neuromanagement expert Dr. Carlos Davidovich and I talk about why job loss can be one of life’s most traumatic e...
00:42:02
December 11, 2020
8. Do the Right Thing
Professor and Psychologist Marie-Helene Budworth talks about race, gender and sex at work both as a researcher and...
00:50:51
December 04, 2020
7. White Privilege. Male Privilege.
Lisa and I boldly go there; we share our thinking and some personal experiences related to the concepts of white s...
01:02:39
November 14, 2020
6. The Boss' Dilemma
Moving up in an organization usually means taking on people management responsibilities, whether you like it or no...
00:50:14
November 06, 2020
5. Tough Enough?
Engineer Kathryn Petroff talks about how she learned to be a tough-minded, straight shooter to fit in during the e...
01:08:27
October 30, 2020
4. At Least I'm not Vegetarian
What's scarier, telling your friends, family and work colleagues that you're gay or doing Improv in front of a liv...
00:43:30
October 23, 2020
3. The Problem with Confidence
I love nothing more than a robust, thoughtful conversation with my colleague Lisa Schmidt about work, leadership a...
01:04:25
October 16, 2020
2. Women, Culture and Engagement
Do pool tables and parties make a great corporate culture? Are happy employees more productive? Why aren't more wo...
01:02:35
October 09, 2020
Episode 1: Why do we need a Work Revolu...
20 years in the talent industry as a career coach and consultant has taught me that the workplace has become dysfu...
00:14:41
October 01, 2020

As founder of Work Revolution, I am an outspoken advocate for humanizing the workplace, focused on developing conscientious leadership, and supporting professional careers grounded in purpose. Does this sound airyfairy to you? I can assure it’s not. There is a growing body of peer-reviewed behavioral and neuroscience research that shows we can do better. Much, much better! My academic and professional credentials include a business degree and post-graduate certifications in Human Resources Management, and Adult Learning and Development. Amongst my peers and clients, I am known as a principled, straight shooter with a great sense of humour, dedicated to helping people and organizations do their best work. Speaking of humour, one of my passions is Improv; I completed the program at Second City, in addition to many other courses, and I perform occasionally, or at least I used to prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The principles of Improv are fantastic for improving listening and collaboration, building trust and practicing non-judgment of self and others. I am always looking for ways to incorporate this into my facilitation and coaching work. On a personal note, I live in Toronto with my husband, two sons and our dog. I love traveling, spending time with family and friends, lake swims, skiing, ice cream cones and inventing new cocktails. Although I sometimes swear like a trucker, I balance it out with Pilates, meditation and gratitude.
As founder of Work Revolution, I am an outspoken advocate for humanizing the workplace, focused on developing conscientious leadership, and supporting professional careers grounded in purpose. Does this sound airyfairy to you? I can assure it’s not. There is a growing body of peer-reviewed behavioral and neuroscience research that shows we can do better. Much, much better! My academic and professional credentials include a business degree and post-graduate certifications in Human Resources Management, and Adult Learning and Development. Amongst my peers and clients, I am known as a principled, straight shooter with a great sense of humour, dedicated to helping people and organizations do their best work. Speaking of humour, one of my passions is Improv; I completed the program at Second City, in addition to many other courses, and I perform occasionally, or at least I used to prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The principles of Improv are fantastic for improving listening and collaboration, building trust and practicing non-judgment of self and others. I am always looking for ways to incorporate this into my facilitation and coaching work. On a personal note, I live in Toronto with my husband, two sons and our dog. I love traveling, spending time with family and friends, lake swims, skiing, ice cream cones and inventing new cocktails. Although I sometimes swear like a trucker, I balance it out with Pilates, meditation and gratitude.
Far more than a consultant, I am a thoughtful and pragmatic facilitator who goes to the heart of things, and taps into decades of coaching and supporting leaders at all levels in iconic Canadian organizations such as the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, the CBC, the Hospital for Sick Children—and internationally with the Mastercard Foundation. I do my best work helping senior leaders get out of the business of managing people, and into catalyzing belonging, innovation, purpose and impact. My core philosophy about development is this: before you can do you, you must be you, which many of us struggle with, having contorted ourselves to fit into workplaces that ask us to bring our best work, but block any thinking or behaviour that threatens the status quo. My focus is on helping leaders get clear on who they are, and want to become—and from there, figuring out what they want to do. My formal education includes a BSC in Human Nutrition and Biochemistry, a Masters of Education in Organizational Change and a professional coach certification. Aside from that, I’m a former speechwriter credited with writing "the Million Dollar speech" for a hospital fundraising campaign, the recipient of Canadian Council literary funding, a contributor to Forbes on leadership and coaching, an occasional essayist on Medium, and a co-host for the first two seasons of the Different People Podcast. I am currently writing both a non-fiction book on how to address organizational dysfunction once and for all, and a novel set in 1980s Montreal. I love travel (and miss it terribly, given pandemic constraints), paddleboarding at sunrise, Scandinavian noir fiction and mucking about in the garden.
Far more than a consultant, I am a thoughtful and pragmatic facilitator who goes to the heart of things, and taps into decades of coaching and supporting leaders at all levels in iconic Canadian organizations such as the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, the CBC, the Hospital for Sick Children—and internationally with the Mastercard Foundation. I do my best work helping senior leaders get out of the business of managing people, and into catalyzing belonging, innovation, purpose and impact. My core philosophy about development is this: before you can do you, you must be you, which many of us struggle with, having contorted ourselves to fit into workplaces that ask us to bring our best work, but block any thinking or behaviour that threatens the status quo. My focus is on helping leaders get clear on who they are, and want to become—and from there, figuring out what they want to do. My formal education includes a BSC in Human Nutrition and Biochemistry, a Masters of Education in Organizational Change and a professional coach certification. Aside from that, I’m a former speechwriter credited with writing "the Million Dollar speech" for a hospital fundraising campaign, the recipient of Canadian Council literary funding, a contributor to Forbes on leadership and coaching, an occasional essayist on Medium, and a co-host for the first two seasons of the Different People Podcast. I am currently writing both a non-fiction book on how to address organizational dysfunction once and for all, and a novel set in 1980s Montreal. I love travel (and miss it terribly, given pandemic constraints), paddleboarding at sunrise, Scandinavian noir fiction and mucking about in the garden.