Hello Monday with Jessi Hempel

What skill is most critical in a world defined by constant change? Leadership coach and author Liz Tran believes it’s AQ, or agility quotient.

In this episode of Hello Monday, host Jessi Hempel sits down with Liz to explore why traditional measures of intelligence like IQ and even EQ may matter less in today’s AI-powered, rapidly evolving workplace. Instead, Liz argues that what really predicts success is our ability to adapt, navigate uncertainty, and respond to change.

Liz’s new book is AQ: A New Kind of Intelligence for a World That's Always Changing. Drawing from her work with executives, founders, and professionals across industries, she explains how AQ works—and why it’s a skill anyone can develop.

Together, Jessi and Liz unpack how strengthening your agility quotient can help you navigate career transitions, unexpected challenges at work, and a future where skills evolve faster than ever.

Liz and Jessi discuss:


What AQ (agility quotient) is—and why it may matter more than IQ or EQ in the modern workplace


Why AI and automation are leveling traditional intelligence advantages


The four AQ archetypes—Astronaut, Novelist, Firefighter, and Neurosurgeon—and how each handles change


How understanding your archetype can guide career decisions, leadership style, and personal growth


How to build resilience and adaptability in a world where careers span multiple industries and roles

Follow Liz Tran and Jessi Hempel on LinkedIn. 

We will be launching the Hello Monday book club soon. If you’re interested in joining, send us an email at [email protected] and let us know!

Hot flashes. Brain fog. Sleepless nights. For too long, we’ve mislabeled midlife women’s health as burnout, anxiety, or a loss of ambition. But what if the real issue isn’t performance — it’s hormones?

In this episode of Hello Monday, Jessi Hempel talks with Joanna Strober, founder and CEO of Midi Health, about menopause, perimenopause, hormone therapy, and power at work. Together, they unpack how gaps in women’s healthcare during midlife are quietly pushing talented leaders out of the workforce at the exact moment they should be accelerating.

After struggling to get proper treatment for her own perimenopause symptoms, Joanna built Midi Health to deliver insurance-covered, expert virtual care focused on women in midlife. This conversation goes beyond hot flashes — it’s about workplace equity, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), ageism, health misdiagnoses, and why normalizing menopause could unlock a generation of leadership. Because menopause isn’t a road bump, with the right care, it can be a power surge.

Jessi and Joanna discuss:


The difference between perimenopause and menopause, and why the distinction matters for women’s health at work


Why 1 in 5 women in their 40s are prescribed SSRIs — and how hormonal shifts are often overlooked


Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and non-hormonal menopause treatments


The workplace impact of untreated menopause symptoms, including research showing women may lose authority during visible symptoms like hot flashes


How employers can support midlife women through better insurance coverage 


Ageism in the workplace — and why women in their 50s may be primed for peak performance


How normalizing menopause conversations can help women reclaim power

Follow Joanna Strober and Jessi Hempel on LinkedIn.

We will be launching the Hello Monday book club soon. If you’re interested in joining, send us an email at [email protected] and let us know! 

Watch on YouTube: https://bit.ly/hellomonday-LI-video-youtube 

Watch/Listen on Spotify: https://bit.ly/hellomonday-LI-video-spotify⁠

Listen on Apple: https://bit.ly/hellomonday-LI-video-apple⁠

Be yourself. That’s the advice we give graduates, job seekers, and leaders. But what if it’s wrong?

In this episode of Hello Monday, Jessi Hempel sits down with organizational psychologist and author Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic to interrogate one of the most popular ideas in modern career advice: authenticity at work.

Tomas is the Chief Talent Scientist at ManpowerGroup, a professor of business psychology, and the author of Don't Be Yourself. His research explores personality, leadership, workplace performance, and the science of success. In this conversation, he challenges the notion that “just be yourself” is the key to career growth—especially in a rapidly changing job market shaped by AI, shifting power dynamics, and rising inequality.

Together, Jessi and Tomas unpack how authenticity functions as both a personal value and a professional strategy—and why it can be a privilege reserved for those already in the “in-group.” They also examine what young professionals, underemployed graduates, and leaders navigating AI disruption need to understand about perception, communication skills, and the future of work.

Jessi and Tomas discuss:

• Why authenticity at work is often misunderstood—and how perception matters more than self-expression

• The hidden privilege behind “bring your whole self to work”

• In-group vs. out-group dynamics in workplace culture

• AI and the future of work: entry-level jobs, automation, and the changing career ladder

• Why curiosity—not authenticity—may be a critical skill for 2026

• Balancing personal values with organizational expectations

• The psychology of influence, impression management, and professional success

If you’ve ever felt frustrated by workplace politics, confused about how much of yourself to reveal at work, or anxious about how AI is reshaping career paths, this episode is for you.

We will be launching the Hello Monday book club soon. If you’re interested in joining, send us an email at [email protected] and let us know!  

Watch on YouTube: https://bit.ly/hellomonday-LI-video-youtube 

Watch/Listen on Spotify: https://bit.ly/hellomonday-LI-video-spotify⁠

Listen on Apple: https://bit.ly/hellomonday-LI-video-apple⁠

Rest is essential. It’s like food or water; without it, we die. As today’s guest points out though, it’s also a sacred practice.

In today’s rerun conversation, originally held live on Hello Monday’s Office Hours, Octavia Raheem joins Jessi Hempel to talk about, and to practice, rest. Octavia Raheem is a rest coach, yoga and meditation teacher, and author. Her latest book is called Rest is Sacred: Reclaiming Our Brilliance Through the Practice of Stillness.

She and Jessi discuss:

How rest sparks creativity and connection

Rethinking productivity through rest

How to build micro-rest practices into your days

The power of rest for self-reflection, personal growth, and clarity

Then, Octavia leads us in a transformative guided rest practice that combines mindfulness, relaxation, and breathing techniques.

Follow Octavia Raheem and Jessi Hempel on LinkedIn.

AI didn’t decide to reshape work. People did. And that distinction matters more than we like to admit. Dr. Rumman Chowdhury says the real story isn’t about machines replacing humans. It’s about the choices people in power are making—and the agency the rest of us still have. In today’s episode, Jessi Hempel and Rumman unpack what responsible AI really means, why fear is the wrong default reaction, and how workers, leaders, and everyday users can shape a better technological future.

Rumman Chowdhury is a leading expert in responsible artificial intelligence and algorithmic accountability. She previously led responsible AI efforts at Accenture, served on Twitter’s product team before it became X, and advised governments in the U.S. and U.K. She is the co-founder of Humane Intelligence, an organization focused on independent AI auditing and public participation in technology oversight.

Rumman and Jessi discuss:


Why AI isn’t “happening to us”—and how leadership decisions shape its impact


What responsible AI looks like inside real companies and products


The rise and fall of trust in Big Tech and Silicon Valley


Algorithmic bias, content moderation, and the limits of internal oversight


The root of why we fear AI


The difference between techno-optimism and techno-solutionism


How individuals can reclaim agency by understanding and engaging with AI

If you want to hear more from Dr. Rumman Chowdhury listen to her recent Ted Talk here. 

Follow Dr. Rumman Chowdhury on LinkedIn

Follow Jessi Hempel on LinkedIn

Watch on YouTube: https://bit.ly/hellomonday-LI-video-youtube 

Watch/Listen on Spotify: https://bit.ly/hellomonday-LI-video-spotify

Listen on Apple: https://bit.ly/hellomonday-LI-video-apple⁠