10. Hard at Work in Practice | Mentorship, Management, and Making Change with Mo Cotton Kelly

In this episode of Hard at Work, Ellen sits down with powerhouse leader, mentor, and friend Montique “Mo” Cotton Kelly, Chief People and Culture Officer at the UConn Foundation. With decades of experience leading teams in higher education and advancement, Mo brings a refreshingly honest perspective to what it really takes to lead well in today’s workplace.
Mo shares the lessons she learned as a first-time manager, what keeps her up at night in her current executive role, and how she's actively reshaping workplace culture in the wake of widespread burnout, turnover, and disconnection. With warmth, clarity, and humor, Mo challenges outdated norms about professionalism, vulnerability, and leadership—and offers practical tools for anyone navigating work from the middle or the top.
Whether you’re a new manager, seasoned leader, or just trying to survive a dysfunctional team, Mo’s perspective will make you feel seen, supported, and inspired to lead a little differently.
What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

• Why first-time managers often struggle—and how organizations can do better
• The power of vulnerability in leadership (and how to build it over time)
• Mo’s “Gumby Principle” for navigating change with flexibility and care
• What it looks like to operationalize core values beyond motivational posters
• Practical tips for giving and receiving feedback—even when it’s uncomfortable
• Why some people just aren’t meant to be managers (and that’s okay!)
• How to find allies at work when the system doesn’t support you
• What’s really keeping today’s people leaders up at night