Dr. Shonna Waters on What Employees Need Most to Feel Safe and Supported at Work

Workplace angst is rising, even among high achievers, and Dr. Shonna Waters is here to explain why so many people feel unsafe, unseen or stuck in their growth. You’ll hear how security, significance and growth shape our wellbeing at work and why leaders must design cultures that support those needs. Together, we explore the risks of altitude sickness in leadership, how power can pull leaders away from the truth, and what it takes to stay connected with compassion and clarity. You also get a grounded look at AI and why people need a hopeful vision to move through this moment with confidence.

This episode invites you to rethink how you lead, how you support your team and how you create a workplace where people feel valued and able to thrive.

Key Takeaways:

1. Why Workplace Angst Is Rising – See what causes discomfort at work even for people who appear to be thriving.
2. The Three Needs Every Employee Shares – Get a clear look at how security, significance and growth shape energy and engagement.
3. How Leaders Lose Perspective – Spot the signs of altitude sickness and what happens when leaders drift away from real insight.
4. Building Psychological Ergonomics – Discover how small shifts in systems and habits create healthier, calmer workplaces.
5. Leading Through AI Without Fear – Explore ways to guide teams through change with clarity and a hopeful message.
6. Creating Cultures That Support Humans – See how connection, trust and simple daily practices help people feel respected and valued.

About the Guest:

An award-winning organizational psychologist and executive, Shonna is a recognized thought leader in HR, psychology, and business with over 100 articles, technical reports, book chapters, and books and over 100 conference talks, keynotes, and panels. With a background in consulting and executive leadership roles, Shonna has advised organizations on people strategy and transformation across various sectors. At BetterUp, she stood up and led teams in behavioral science, strategic partnerships and alliances, and executive advisory, driving research-backed insights to enhance organizational performance.

1. https://www.drshonnawaters.com/
2. https://www.linkedin.com/in/shonna-waters/

About Amy:

Amy Lynn Durham, known by her clients as the Corporate Mystic, is the founder of the Executive Coaching Firm, Create Magic At Work®, where they help leaders build workplaces rooted in creativity, collaboration, and fulfillment. A former corporate executive turned Executive Coach, Amy blends practical leadership strategies with spiritual intelligence to unlock human potential at work.

She’s a certified Executive Coach through UC Berkeley & the International Coaching Federation (ICF) In addition, Amy holds coaching certifications in Spiritual Intelligence (SQ21), the Edgewalker Profile, and the Archetypes of Change . In addition to being the host of the Create Magic At Work® podcast, Amy is the author of Create Magic At Work®, Creating Career Magic: A Daily Prompt Journal and the founder of Magic Thread Media™. Through her work, she inspires intentional leadership for thriving workplaces and lives where “magic” becomes reality.

Connect with Amy:

1. https://createmagicatwork.net/
2. https://www.linkedin.com/company/create-magic-at-work
3. https://www.facebook.com/112951637095427