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Why Fixing Work Fixes Everything
In the Season 10 premiere of Design Nerds Anonymous, host Amanda Schneider kicks off a season built around the ideas inside her upcoming book, Work for What’s Next, with a guest who lives at the intersection of innovation, risk, and human potential: Deb Golden, Deloitte’s US Chief Innovation Officer. Together, they unpack a core tension shaping work right now: companies keep trying to fix a software problem (culture, trust, systems) with hardware (office mandates). The result is a conversation about the trust gap, unlearning outdated rules, and what it takes to design workplaces that become magnets—not mandates.
In this episode:
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Why “return to office” often tries to fix a how problem with a where solution
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The trust gap in hybrid work—and why Gen Z is calling for structural transparency
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Two outdated rules holding organizations back: the “container” mindset and the myth that standardization equals fairness
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How to reimagine the office as a space for collision, spark, and high-value human connection
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Deb’s one-word future-of-work lens—adaptive—and what leaders must learn and unlearn to thrive in permanent flux
Links Mentioned:
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Grab your copy of Work for What's Next.
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Sign up for ThinkLab’s Newsletter to keep up with industry trends.
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Follow Amanda on LinkedIn for more workplace insights.
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Book Amanda for a speaking engagement.
Design Nerds Anonymous is a proud member of the SURROUND Podcast Network. Discover more shows from SURROUND at surroundpodcasts.com. This episode of Design Nerds Anonymous was produced and edited by SANDOW DESIGN GROUP, with music from Blue Dot Sessions. Special thanks to the podcast production team: Hannah Viti, Rob Schulte, and Rachel Senatore.
Special thanks to our podcast season sponsors, THE MART + NeoCon, Mannington Commercial, and The Mav Group – companies doing big things to move the design industry forward.
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Design Nerds Anonymous is the only podcast of its kind – holding an engaged audience of architects, designers, CRE leaders, and end users – and delivering the most insights per minute on the forces shaping the built environment. With over 100K+ downloads, the show features industry powerhouses from brands like Chick-fil-A, Hilton, and StoryBrand, having bold conversations on what’s next in business and design—market shifts, process innovation, and the hidden dynamics driving change.
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