Hello Monday with Jessi Hempel

Latest Episodes:

Building a Purpose-Driven Brand: Neil Blumenthal of Warby Parker on Leadership and Social Impact Oct 21, 2024

Show notes

In this special episode of Hello Monday, recorded live onstage at the Lesbians Who Tech Summit in New York City, Jessi sits down with Neil Blumenthal, co-founder and co-CEO of Warby Parker. As a pioneer of purpose-driven businesses, Neil shares invaluable insights on building a company that doesn’t just stand out in the marketplace but also stands for something meaningful. From Warby Parker’s innovative buy-a-pair-give-a-pair model to cultivating a strong company culture that attracts top talent, Neil reveals the steps to creating a brand with social impact at its core.

Jessi and Neil dive into the early days of Warby Parker, recounting how a group of business school students identified a problem and built a solution that disrupted the eyewear industry. Neil also offers advice for founders on how to integrate purpose into their business strategy, be prepared to stand by their values during tough times, and stand out in today’s startup landscape.

Continue the conversation with us at Hello Monday Office Hours! RSVP here to join us on the LinkedIn News page this Wednesday at 3 PM EST.

What Makes a Good Job? Bruce Feiler on Finding Meaningful Work in a Post-Career World Oct 14, 2024

Show notes

For decades, the American middle-class dream encouraged the idea that work should be a central part of our identity and a source of meaning. But now, people are starting to question that philosophy. Burnout is rampant, wages are stagnating, and job security amidst a rapidly changing job market feels fragile.

This week we’re bringing back the first of three episodes from our June 2023 Good Jobs series: Jessi’s insightful conversation with Bruce Feiler, author of The Search: Finding Meaningful Work in a Post-Career World. Bruce argues that it’s time to break away from traditional narratives around careers and work. In this illuminating conversation, Bruce debunks common lies we tell ourselves about careers and offers practical advice for finding meaning in work.

Tune in to hear Bruce’s fresh perspective on work, life, and the balance between the two, as we explore the future of meaningful employment.

Continue the conversation at Hello Monday Office Hours! RSVP here to join us on the LinkedIn News page this Wednesday at 3 PM EST.

Mellody Hobson on Breaking Free from Financial Anxiety and Teaching Kids About Money Oct 07, 2024

Show notes

Is your money mindset holding you back from achieving your dreams? In this special episode of Hello Monday, Jessi Hempel sits down with Mellody Hobson, Co-CEO and President of Ariel Investments and one of the most influential leaders in finance, recognized by TIME and Fortune for her impact on business and leadership. Together, they explore how beliefs about money—formed early in life—can influence your financial future, and how to develop healthy money habits for long-term success.

Mellody shares insights from her new children's book, Priceless Facts About Money, offering practical tips for teaching kids financial literacy and setting them up for a brighter future. You’ll learn how to break free from financial anxiety, understand the true value of money, and separate your self-worth from your bank account.

This unique episode was filmed live in-studio. For an unfiltered, behind-the-scenes experience, check out the extended video version on LinkedIn Premium. Tune in to learn how to master money mindsets and empower yourself—and the next generation—to achieve financial freedom.

Subscribe to the Hello Monday newsletter to get episodes and insights delivered straight to your inbox every Monday!

More financial resources from Mellody Hobson:

Mellody Hobson for Barron’s: I Learned These Money Lessons Early. What Every Parent—and Kid—Needs to Know
A Random Walk Down Wall Street by Burton G. Malkiel
Buffet: The Making of an American Capitalist by Roger Lowenstein

Demystifying the Economy: Kyla Scanlon on Finance, Human Connection, and Growth Sep 30, 2024

Show notes

Have you ever felt intimidated or overwhelmed by conversations about economics and finance? Well you are certainly not alone! This week, Jessi sits down with economist and viral content creator Kyla Scanlon to demystify the economy and show us how it shapes our lives. Kyla is the founder of the financial education company Bread, and the author of the new book In This Economy? How Money and Markets Really Work.

Kyla explains complex topics like the housing crisis and labor shortages in simple, digestible ways, empowering us to make informed choices in our personal and professional lives. She explains why shifting from a scarcity mindset to one of abundance is key to addressing economic challenges like renewable energy shortages and the housing crisis, creating more sustainable economies. She and Jessi discuss how the economy can even be beautiful: at its core, it’s built on trust, relationships, and human-to-human interactions.

Subscribe to the Hello Monday newsletter to get episodes and insights delivered straight to your inbox every Monday!

The Case for AI Optimism: Neil Lawrence on Humanity’s Edge Over Machines Sep 23, 2024

Show notes

If you're wrestling with the fast-paced rise of AI and what it means for our future, you are not alone. In this episode, Jessi sits down with Neil Lawrence, DeepMind Professor of Machine Learning at the University of Cambridge and author of The Atomic Human: What Makes Us Unique in the Age of AI. Neil shares a refreshing and optimistic perspective on artificial intelligence. While the common narrative is “adapt to AI or get left behind,” Neil challenges that urgency with a more hopeful and thoughtful outlook. He believes that while AI is changing the world rapidly, it will never replace the complexity, creativity, and humanity that make us unique. He explains why we should focus on solving meaningful problems, trusting that technology will evolve to assist us, rather than letting AI advancements dictate our reactions.

We humans are not great at predicting the future, often defaulting to fear in the face of the unknown. But rather than letting our negativity bias take over, Neil suggests we remain open to possibilities and focus on our unique strengths. As AI transforms industries and our daily lives, Neil believes we should pause, take a step back, and look at the bigger picture. He encourages us to think less about the tools themselves and more about the real-world problems we care about solving.

Subscribe to the Hello Monday newsletter to get episodes and insights delivered straight to your inbox every Monday!

Mastering Communication, Culture, and Team Effectiveness with Google’s Martin Gonzalez, Author of “The Bonfire Moment” Sep 16, 2024

Show notes

How can effective communication transform your team’s performance and culture? In this episode of Hello Monday, Martin Gonzalez, Principal of Org and Leadership at Google and co-author of The Bonfire Moment, shares actionable strategies for tackling the hardest people problems that startups face. His wisdom reaches far beyond startups, and can help improve conflict resolution, culture, and performance on any team. He sits down with Jessi to discuss how to foster open communication, how to argue better, and how to cultivate a culture of growth and innovation within teams. He highlights the importance of differentiating people skills from tech skills and why cultural innovation in the workplace takes time and patience. Gonzalez also emphasizes that a happy or comfortable team isn’t always an effective one—your goal as a leader should be to cultivate a culture where team members can challenge each other, grow, and add real value.

Subscribe to the Hello Monday newsletter to get episodes and insights delivered straight to your inbox every Monday!

Introducing Let’s Talk Offline: LinkedIn’s New Podcast on Navigating Early Career Challenges Sep 12, 2024

Show notes

Today we’re sharing a very special Thursday bonus episode! Hello Monday is a part of a whole network of podcasts here at LinkedIn–The LinkedIn Podcast Network. This week our team launched a new show in partnership with iHeart Podcasts. It’s called Let’s Talk Offline and it is packed with actionable advice and engaging insight for early career development. This episode in particular feels valuable to anyone at any stage of their career: it’s all about salary negotiation.

More about Let’s Talk Offline: Each week, LinkedIn's Gianna Prudente and Jamé Jackson Gadsden answer your unfiltered questions about work life, from negotiating pay to setting boundaries to navigating office friendships. Gianna – an early career development editor and resident Gen Zer – and Jamé – a community manager, workshop host and millennial – get real about their own career experiences (spoiler: they're still figuring it out, too) and confide in expert guests who've been there, done that. Through it all, you'll learn what it takes to thrive in the early years of your career — without sacrificing your values, sanity or sleep.

Listen HERE!

Dr. Jamil Zaki on Overcoming Cynicism: How Hope and Trust Transform Workplaces and Communities Sep 09, 2024

Show notes

How does cynicism harm our workplaces and our communities? Tune in for this insightful conversation with Dr. Jamil Zaki, professor of psychology at Stanford University, director of the Stanford Social Neuroscience Lab, and author of the new book Hope for Cynics.

Jamil joins Jessi to delve into the dangers of cynicism and the transformative power of hope and trust. He explores how the psychological impacts of cynicism affect individual well-being and organizational culture, and how overcoming cynicism can lead to profoundly positive changes in our workplaces, our communities, and ourselves. Jamil and Jessi discuss the contrast between hyper-competitive, cutthroat environments and collaborative, trusting communities. They examine why hope is not naive but a powerful tool for meaningful activism and collective change.

Listen to gain actionable insights into transforming workplace cultures, building trust in organizations, fostering hopeful skepticism, and driving positive change in our interconnected world throughout our lives and careers.

Subscribe to the Hello Monday newsletter to get episodes and insights delivered straight to your inbox every Monday!

Embracing a Career Pivot: Robin Arzon's Journey From Lawyer to Fitness Icon Sep 02, 2024

Show notes

Thinking about making a change in your career? Today we’re bringing back an episode on the extraordinary career shift of Robin Arzon, Peloton's VP of Fitness Programming. Once a corporate litigator with a prestigious law degree, Robin courageously pivoted to become a leading fitness expert, proving that it's never too late to reinvent yourself. Robin, known for her energizing Peloton workouts, shares her unique journey from the courtroom to the cycling studio. She candidly discusses the challenges and triumphs of leaving a stable legal career to pursue her passion in fitness. Robin reveals how she embraced uncertainty, leveraged her inner strength, and turned setbacks into stepping stones toward success. She sits down with Jessi to discuss the power of self-belief, the role of discomfort in personal development, and the impact of finding true alignment with your career. Whether you’re contemplating a career change yourself or seeking motivation to overcome obstacles, this episode offers valuable insights and actionable strategies to help you navigate your own path.

Subscribe to the Hello Monday newsletter to get episodes and insights delivered straight to your inbox every Monday!

Transforming Perfectionism into Growth: Katherine Morgan Schafler’s Guide Aug 26, 2024

Show notes

What if everything we’ve been taught about perfectionism is wrong? What if instead of fixing it or overcoming it, you could learn to wield it as a superpower? This week we’re bringing back an insightful episode on the unsung advantages of perfectionism with Katherine Morgan Schafler, a distinguished psychotherapist and author ofThe Perfectionist’s Guide to Losing Control. Katherine sheds light on how adaptive perfectionism can offer surprisingly valuable benefits, such as deep self-awareness. Katherine sits down with Jessi to share actionable strategies to transform perfectionistic tendencies into pathways for growth, resilience, and self-compassion. Whether you’re dealing with your own perfectionistic behavior or seeking to understand it in others, this conversation provides essential tools and perspectives for navigating the quest for perfection. Tune in to gain practical insights from Katherine Morgan Schafler on leveraging perfectionism for positive change.

Subscribe to the Hello Monday newsletter to get episodes and insights delivered straight to your inbox every Monday!