Suggestions
Sophie Wade
Work Futurist, LinkedIn Top Voice, Author, Authority on Future of Work, Gen Z, Empathy : Keynotes, Skills, Courses, Workshops | Top 10% ‘Transforming Work’ podcast | 600K LinkedIn Learning learners
Sophie Wade is a renowned expert in the field of the future of work, known for her work as a futurist, international keynote speaker, and author. Here are some key points about her:
Background and Education
- Sophie Wade holds a BA from Oxford University and an MBA from INSEAD, a leading international business school.3
Professional Experience
- She has held senior management, strategy, and finance roles globally, working in industries such as media, technology, and venture capital for companies including IMG and Yahoo.3
Current Roles and Expertise
- Wade is the founder and Workforce Innovation Specialist at Flexcel Network, where she advises executives and managers on adapting to evolving business conditions, particularly in the context of a digitized and decentralized work environment.13
- She is a LinkedIn Instructor with SHRM-certified video courses, covering topics such as Future of Work skills, Generation Z, and Empathy, which have been taken by over 550,000 individuals and translated into six languages.3
Author and Speaker
- Sophie Wade is the author of two books: "Embracing Progress: Next Steps for the Future of Work," which was used as a textbook in Executive MBA programs, and her latest book, "Empathy Works: The Key to Competitive Advantage in the New Era of Work," released in May 2022. This latest book emphasizes the critical role of empathy in improving engagement, productivity, and achieving sustained growth in the modern workplace.134
Public Engagement
- She hosts a popular podcast called "Transforming Work with Sophie Wade," where she discusses current business conditions and explores ways to navigate workplace disruptions and transitions.13
- Wade has been featured in various podcasts and interviews, including the "Winning Teams Podcast" and the "Zoë Routh Leadership Podcast," where she discusses topics such as empathy, work flexibility, and managing multigenerational teams.23
Leadership and Community Involvement
- She served as the President of the NYC chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) from 2015-2017 and was on NAWBO National's Presidents' Assembly Steering Committee from 2016-2019. Wade also serves on the NY Advisory Board of Common Sense Media.3
Overall, Sophie Wade is a highly respected authority on future-of-work issues, known for her insightful and practical advice on how to leverage empathy and other human-centric approaches to drive business success.
Highlights
Find out why and how your business can benefit from nurturing more empathetic leaders in my latest Work In Progress newsletter.
Flexibility is essential to compete in a tech-driven marketplace.
Flexibility enables adaptability and pivoting for customers’ demands.
Flexibility allows you to update offerings to match competitors’.
Flexible operating and work options fit business and employee needs.
Flexible does not mean fluid or free-for-all.
Flexibility has different features and functions.
Workplace flexibility options/frameworks for your company include:
- flexi-time – e.g. flexible hours with alternative windows for arriving/leaving
- flexi-place - encompassing fully remote and hybrid models
- four-day workweek – offering same pay, fewer hours, better results
- part-time jobs
- job sharing
Can a range of options can be offered? Yes.
Can flexibility at scale work? Yes.
Are there examples proving workplace flexibility’s success over decades? Yes.
Singapore is a 6 million person, 60-year-old, nation taking a tech and data-driven approach to building sustainable competitive advantage. Their goal is to be a ‘Smart Nation’ in 2025 based on having a digital economy, digital government, and digital society. Workplace flexibility is an important component of the strategy to have the top talent they need.
December 1, 2024, Singapore’s new mandatory Guidelines on Flexible Work Arrangements (FWAs) take effect.
These Guidelines mirror elements of the UK’s “Right to Request Flexibility” law enacted and expanded between 2004 and 2024.
Singapore’s Guidelines are “aimed to make it easier for employees to request FWAs while acknowledging that employers continue to have the prerogative to decide on work arrangements. The Public Service [Singapore’s government] will continue to champion FWAs and adopt the principles outlined in the Guidelines.” Ministry of Manpower, Singapore, April 2024.
If your company has implemented hybrid working and is looking to decide the appropriate features and functions for your business and workforce, read case studies from the 1970’s, 1980’s, and 1990’s helping Singapore businesses devise and refine what FWAs work for them.
#hybrid #remoteworking #futureofwork #workplaceflexibility #flexibility #flexiblework #fwa #flexibleworkarrangements #retention #hiring #employeeexperience
I uplevel executives and managers with empathy-centered leadership skills to manage and grow thriving multigenerational distributed teams.
