Episode #137
Work Transformation Expert: We Must Reimagine Work! The Current Model is Broken | Cali Williams Yost
Cali Williams Yost is the Founder and CEO of Flex+Strategy Group (FSG) , a futurist, and was called "one of the most sophisticated thinkers" on the transformation of work by The New York Times. In the 90s, Cali graduated from Columbia Business School and began working in banking, at a think tank, and after seeing a large gap in the market, she launched her own consulting practice in 1998. For nearly three decades, FSG has helped organizations define the optimal operating architecture that drives high performance across places, technology, and time. Cali and her team engage all levels, from the C-Suite to the frontline, to build on what's working, reimagine what's possible, and then make that vision a reality guided by a proven, evidence-based framework. She has worked with and is trusted by organizations like BDO USA, The Gates Foundation, Columbia University, Stanford University, ConEdison, Memorial Sloan Kettering, and the Singapore Government. At a moment when many organizations feel they must make consequential decisions about AI and talent reactively, Cali is truly that leader that is looking at the data and helping leaders transform work deliberately. You can find her commentary regularly in the Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, CNBC, NPR, and NBC Nightly News. Cali is the author of two books on work transformation, “ Work+Life; Finding the Fit That’s Right For You ” and “ Tweak It; Make What Matters to You Happen Every Day ”, and is a sought-after keynote speaker for audiences worldwide. Connect with Cali Williams Yost LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/caliwilliamsyost Website → https://flexstrategygroup.com/ Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/caliwilliamsyost/ FSG Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/flexstrategygroup/ Connect with Naomi Haile: Website → https://www.naomihaile.com/ Sign up to my Newsletter → https://powerofwhy.kit.com/57ca5180df Purchase the Purpose Canvas to ensure your dreams have an action plan → https://naomiahaile.gumroad.com/l/purposecanvas LOOKING FOR A SPECIFIC GEM? 00:00 Welcome and introduce Cali Williams Yost and Flex Strategy Group 04:39 Growing up with a single mom whose work model didn't fit her life 07:31 The bank CEO's "stone cold businessman" line, the moment Cali decided to quit 15:03 Starting with the work, not the tool 18:04 The return-to-office mistake companies are now repeating with AI 21:37 The foundational conditions an organization needs before change will stick 24:02 Nobody trains managers — and why that's become unsustainable 25:22 The labor demographic shortage nobody's talking about 27:37 Reactive layoffs today, a talent cliff in three to four years 27:55 Why letting older workers retire wastes irreplaceable domain expertise 30:59 Why global companies aren't worried about the labor shortage 32:55 The "light bulb" moment that became the concept of work-life fit 32:35 Why "balance" puts unfair pressure on young people 37:22 The Oprah and Emma Grede moment that proves the point 39:13 Resetting the business when her daughter got sick 42:44 Redefining success instead of chasing an all-or-nothing standard 44:59 Her advice to young people: there's no fixed 50-50 split 46:33 Where to start with AI if you don't have a massive budget 49:26 Her book got scraped by AI 51:32 Making space for fun in the middle of all this change
