Leadership and Innovation Unlocked

Season 6 kicks off with the stories Nadia and Rob have been bursting to talk about during their hiatus. Allbirds goes from wooly shoes to AI, Deloitte creates a caste system and cuts benefits, DEI survives a major court case, and a federal worker pulls a fast one. Later, Rob rants about CEO pay and Nadia raves about Lego.

Learn more about the topics discussed in the episode today:

•  https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/15/allbirds-bird-...

In this season's finale, Nadia and Rob circle back on their predictions for the what has become the longest year ever. They also check in on a new workplace term to argue over and discuss the jury verdicts against Meta and what they mean for the workplace. Also, they discuss all of the great feedback they are getting on the show and share how you can work with Nadia and Rob!

Find season 5 episode transcripts here: https://dr...

James D. White and Krista White, authors of the bestselling book "Culture Design" stop by to discuss how leaders can build high-performing organizations intentionally, why culture may be more important than strategy. Nadia and Rob also check out the latest survey on Gen Zs attitudes towards gender roles and they check in on all of the signs of weakness in the economy. Later, Nadia rants about the return of bias on airplan...

Dr. Adina Nichols of Uber joins the Inclusive Collective duo to reflect on the positive impact of AI on learning and development, how managers can create space for learning, and shares practical tips on driving behavior change. Nadia and Rob also discuss child care initiatives in Vermont and Accenture's push to monitor AI use as a key factor in granting promotions. All that and rants and raves!

Mentioned in this episode:

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Nadia and Rob welcome Brandon Sammut and Maggie Roque of AI-orchestration platform Zapier to talk about the practical skills learned from DEI (what Zapier calls 'DIBE') that translate to AI transformation, why all transformations are about leaders, talent & culture, and the underrated role consistency plays in building organizational trust. The team also reviews the EEOC's escalation against Nike's DEI efforts a...

Nadia and Rob welcome investor, advisor, and founder Sofia Haq to talk about the responsibilities of speaking out as a leader, building great companies, and how she sustains herself while running several ventures. But first, they check in on Amazon's poor communication in their latest round of layoffs and how Minnesota CEOs responded to the killing of Alex Preeti. Later, Rob rants about a terrible Anthropology department and Na...

This week, Nadia hosts solo while Rob is away, revisiting a powerful interview she and Rob recorded with Paolo Gaudiano. The conversation explores why equity and meritocracy are not opposites, but incomplete views of the same system and how leaders can move beyond ideology to design fair, high-performing organizations. Stick around as Nadia also shares a personal surprise at the end of the episode.

Find season 5 episode transcripts ...

We kick off 2026 with Nadia and Rob's take-it-to-the-bank predictions for workplace culture. See if they can continue their streak of 100% correct predictions as they discuss leadership in 2026, litigious DEI, the seeds of a DEI comeback, AI compliance issues, and private/pubic bipartisan support for child and elder care.

Find season 5 episode transcripts here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1bP3N6QYBG0UkzdRm5GwiFfoQ...

Michele Kawamoto Perry of the Forward Project, joins Nadia and Rob to reflect on the year in leadership that was 2025 and to help us think about what will matter most in 2026. Nadia and Rob also check out an investment analysts' assessment that the federal poverty line should be $140K and discuss the latest McKinsey/Lean In survey on the state of women in the workplace. Later, the rare double rant Nadia rants SHRM's less than model...

Dana Weekes, host of The Rest of Us podcast, joins Nadia and Rob to help us see signs of burnout culture and to share strategies for leaders to help fix it. Nadia and Rob also reflect on a Wall Street Journal story about conservative women opting for kids earlier in their career and a Campbell's soup exec is recorded disparaging the company's customers and products. Later, the rare double rant! Nadia rants about the US Coa...

Employee Experience expert Dr. Nicole Boyko joins Nadia and Rob to share how companies are working to understand belonging now, how she helps leaders see themselves in survey results, and why companies have to listen to employees continuously. Nadia and Rob also break down a Mercer report on how leaders are missing the mark in AI communications and highlight an NBA executive's risky move that ended in disaster. Later, Nadia ran...

Dr. Golnaz Golnaraghi joins Nadia and Rob to talk about why trust is the new ROI, the importance of listening, and why command leadership can't drive innovation. Also, Nadia and Rob break down SHRM's "Listening Across Lines" DEI debate between Van Jones and Robby Starbuck. Plus Rob rants about and Nadia raves about...

Learn more about the topics discussed in the episode today: 

SHRM Conversation: https://www.linkedin.com/events/shrm...

The Inclusive Collective team returns to bring you Season 5: Leadership & Innovation Unlocked! ⁠Dr. Nadia Butt⁠ and ⁠Rob Hadley⁠ are back with fresh takes on what’s shaping the modern workplace.  This week, ⁠Google tightens remote work policies⁠ and ⁠Toyota brings childcare to rural Iowa⁠. They'll also answer listener questions about generational divides at work, navigating uncertainty, and how to assess and drive accountab...

Inclusive Collective Podcast turns 100 as Nadia and Rob reflect on their favorite guests, changes in DEI, what is next for the show, and how to pick the best podcast co-host.

Hosted by Nadia Butt and Rob Hadley.

Produced by Rifelion Media.

Contact us: inclusivecollective@rifelion.com

Find episode transcripts here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1nqh7hCZOp7EQc6SekaYmT2QHqCvjsYdH?usp=sharing

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Paul MacLoughlin, Phd. stops by to break down what leadership is, why it's so hard, and what drives him to help others get better at it. Nadia and Rob also discuss gaps in diversity in clinical trials and some insensitive comments from New York's governor. Finally, Rob raves about a different kind of culture conference and Nadia finds a Supreme Court justice's ethics lacking.

Hosted by Nadia Butt and Rob Hadley.

Produced by Rifelion ...

Dr. Amanda Carroll stops by to talk about the "Island of Training", why a human element in learning and development is vital, and how to integrate DEI with leadership learning. Also, Nadia and Rob discuss Adidas' DEI troubles beyond Kanye and a trio of McKinsey studies on underrepresentation in media. Later, Rob lightly rants about his latest conference observations, and Nadia raves about faculty support for anti-war protesters.

Che...

Grace Yung Foster, Founder and CEO of The Inclusion Initiative, joins Nadia & Rob this week to discuss the barriers transracial adoptees and foster alumni professionals often face and the preliminary findings of a study her organization conducted for this community. Also, Nadia and Rob chat about Major League Soccer's (MLS) latest endeavors to increase diversity and Google's recent firings. Finally, Nadia rants about a Universi...

Lina Cañon of Nur Group joins Nadia and Rob to talk about the lack of lived experience in non-profit leadership, gaps in philanthropy and venture capital systems, and why we all need to get together (in person) in community to solve societal problems. Also, Nadia and Rob discuss Congress shutting down a DEI office and changes to how the US Census collects race data. Later, Rob rants about SHRM endorsing an anti-DEI politician and N...