Let's Fix Work With Laurie Ruettimann

Today, on The Corporate Drinker, Laurie invites you on an extraordinary journey of bravery, resilience, and self-discovery with her guest, Bryan Wempen. With an openness that is at once jarring and inspiring, Bryan translates his personal battles with alcohol addiction into a narrative that brings to light the often unaddressed issue of substance abuse in the corporate world. We dive head-first into the murky waters of his past, tracing the path from his early days of drinking to his arduous journey to recovery, exposing the power of a recovery mindset, self-compassion, and kindness.  Their conversation takes a powerful turn as we dissect the correlation between work culture and alcohol. Through Bryan's eyes, we explore the changing landscape of professional behavior in the age of social media and the increasing visibility of substance abuse. He shares his revelations during recovery meetings and highlights the importance of managing negative emotions and staying committed to the mission for a better, healthi

What if we told you that the corporate world could be playing a significant role in triggering addiction and mental health issues?  It's time to challenge perceptions and spark meaningful dialogues as we welcome Cheryl Brown Merriwether, Vice President and Executive Director at the International Center for Addiction and Recovery Education. With her experience in HR management, adult education, and lived experience of addiction, we uncover unsettling truths about substance misuse in the workplace and discuss the significant part we can all play in fostering recovery. We tread into contentious territory, examining the reclassification of substance use disorders and how our choice of language can shape the fight against addiction stigma. Cheryl provides insight into the various schools of thought and the transformative power of education in bridging these divides. We also explore the tricky area of workplace culture and its impact on employee mental health - how do businesses strike the right balance between pro

Ever wondered how to transform workplace dynamics with a heart-centered approach and a dash of courage?  Join us as we reveal these secrets with Claude Silver, the Chief Heart Officer at Vayner X. Claude takes us on a compelling journey, sharing stories from her early days in advertising, where she defied the norms and chose not to participate in strip club-related client meetings. Her reminiscences underscore the essence of authenticity and the richness each of us contributes to our professional spaces. Focusing on the complex landscape of the corporate world, we grapple with striking the right balance between an inclusive atmosphere and promoting self-leadership. This discussion probes corporate responsibilities towards those who choose not to drink and organizations' pivotal role in setting boundaries while fostering teamwork. We also delve into the power of emotional resilience and adopting a heart-centric approach to resolve issues in the workplace. In our conclusion, we muse on the art of achieving succ

Have you ever wondered how unseen forces of elitism might drive the dynamics of your workplace? Join us as we sit down with the remarkable Leah Goodridge, an attorney and city planning commissioner from Brooklyn, New York, who has some thought-provoking insights to share about this very subject. Leah draws our attention to the often-overlooked intersection of work and alcohol and how it contributes to a culture of exclusivity and perpetuates financial insecurity among young professionals. In our conversation with Leah, we venture into the labyrinth of workplace elitism, unearthing its subtle manifestations in after-work drinks, power lunches, and even the pressure to outperform. Further, we dissect the concept of dysfunction bonding, a complex issue where work becomes an escape from personal problems, leading to unhealthy dynamics. We delve into the delicate balance between sharing insights and gossiping and how it can create a sense of inequity. Leah also brings to light the undue pressure on marginalized gr

Join me as I chat with Carly and Ian Blessing, founders of the alcohol-free brand “All the Bitter.” They share their candid journey from struggling with alcohol use disorder to launching their innovative brand in the cocktail scene. We explore their experiences working at The French Laundry, how they navigated their path to sobriety, and how they channeled their challenge into an opportunity. Carly and Ian give us an inside look into the world of non-alcoholic bitters, from their kitchen experiments to managing a full-blown commercial operation. We discuss how the pandemic served as a catalyst for their venture and the fascinating process behind the creation of their bitters. Tune in to this episode of Corporate Drinker as Carly and Ian emphasize the importance of a supportive community outside work and share their experiences with AA and online communities. You'll also get to hear about the growth of their family business and the recent addition of Ian's stepdad, Ed, to their team. It's a conversation that u

As a host, I’ve had the privilege of discussing many bold and brave stories. Still, this conversation with Jessica Winder, the senior vice president of people at Refine Labs and founder of Hidden Gem Career Coaching, truly resonates deeply. Brace yourselves as Jessica unearths her personal confrontation with alcohol addiction, an unspoken secret in her family tree, and the lifeline she found in her career. We navigate her journey through sobriety and relapse, shedding light on how she used her professional success to mask her struggles. A poignant part of our discussion revolves around Jessica's experiences in the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) program, where she grappled with feelings of isolation and sought solace in others. Her life took a pivotal turn when she received a DUI, a wake-up call that initiated her sober journey. Jessica also shares insights on how corporations can support sobriety and address historical trauma, a topic often overlooked in corporate conversations.  In the final stages of our convers

Ever wondered about the deep-rooted intersection of alcohol science and corporate culture? In this inaugural episode, I welcome Dr. Jared Pelo, a physician, executive, and entrepreneur who takes us on an insightful journey through the uncharted territories of corporate drinking and its impact on health. His experiences, including an acquisition by Microsoft, have honed his perspective on thriving amidst the complexities of corporate culture and alcohol science.  As the conversation continues, we explore the progression of alcohol abuse and its ever-shifting cultural dynamics. From managing social pressure in a comfortable environment to discussing the health implications of increased alcohol consumption, we pull no punches. Add to this the accelerated narrative around suffering and despair intensified by the pandemic, and you're in for a thought-provoking discussion. Finally, we focus on fostering a workplace culture of help and health. How can corporate wellness programs, government incentives, and social me

My guests on this episode of Punk Rock HR are both from Betterworks: Andrea Couto, head of solutions engineering and sales readiness, and Harini Sridharan, head of product marketing. We discuss the evolution of performance management into performance enablement, how small businesses can experiment with performance enablement and the role of people analytics in performance. To read the full show notes for this episode, visit:  https://laurieruettimann.com/make-performance-management-sticky 

My guest on this episode of Punk Rock HR is Conrad Shaw. He is a writer, filmmaker, co-founder of Comingle.us and a universal basic income (UBI) researcher. Conrad is a font of wisdom about UBI, and we discuss what it is, how it works, his upcoming documentary series “Bootstraps” and more. To read the full show notes for this episode, visit:  https://laurieruettimann.com/showing-the-real-life-stories-of-ubi 

My guest for this episode of Punk Rock HR is my friend Carlos Escobar, who is a seasoned HR, talent development and change management leader. Tune in as we discuss how Carlos uses change management and design thinking to drive meaningful change, what he expects from AI and his personal philosophy about work. To read the full show notes for this episode, visit:  https://laurieruettimann.com/unlocking-peoples-potential-with-carlos-escobar

My guest for this episode of Punk Rock HR is Nicole Roberts, HR leader and founder and president of the People Solutions Group. She is a leader, mentor, mom and friend who's also fighting for her life and career after being laid off and diagnosed with cancer. My friend Jennifer McClure, CEO of Unbridled Talent, and I sat down with Nicole to talk about her diagnosis, how she found support through her community and the financial effects of cancer. To read the full show notes for this episode, visit:  https://laurieruettimann.com/supporting-nicole-roberts-her-fight-for-her-life-and-career 

My guests for this episode of Punk Rock HR are Dustin Clinard, vice president of strategic partnerships at Betterworks, and Mike May, vice president of the UKG tech partner program at UKG. In this conversation, we’re talking about the unique partnership between ‌these HR tech companies, the trends affecting HR tech buyers and the future of performance management. To read the full show notes for this episode, visit:  https://laurieruettimann.com/cooperation-in-competition 

My guest on this episode is Liz Vaccariello, who is the former editor-in-chief of Real Simple, Reader’s Digest and People magazine. Liz and I discuss why she pivoted her career to align with her purpose, the challenges of building trust over Zoom and what it really means to be a writer and editor. To read the full show notes for this episode, visit:  https://laurieruettimann.com/pivoting-to-your-purpose

My guest on this episode of Punk Rock HR is Jeannine K. Brown. She is the CEO of Everyday Lead and the author of the book “Unstuck and Unstoppable.” Jeannine and I discuss the state of the job market, what job seekers should be doing and what to look for in a psychologically safe workplace. We also discuss how her book is helping professionals accelerate their careers. To read the full show notes for this episode, visit:  https://laurieruettimann.com/what-job-seekers-need-to-know

My guest for this episode is a dear friend: Enrique Rubio, founder of Hacking HR. Enrique and I discuss how he got started in HR, why HR shouldn’t overinvest in technology and why a shift in mindset can help HR leaders see themselves as business leaders. To read the full show notes for this episode, visit:  https://laurieruettimann.com/embracing-hr-leaders-as-business-leaders

My guest for this episode is Lexi B. Lexi is a tech veteran, professional speaker, and the founder and community builder of Sista Circle: Black Women in Tech. Lexi and I discuss how she learned to “strategically scream” helped her find her voice, the importance of knowing your worth outside work, her “why” and her LinkedIn Live series. To read the full show notes for this episode, visit:  https://laurieruettimann.com/decoupling-your-purpose-and-worth-from-work 

In this episode, I’m joined by John Schneider and Michelle Gouldsberry of Betterworks. John is chief marketing officer, and Michelle is a senior content marketing manager. In this conversation, we’re talking about Betterworks’ research into the state of performance enablement. John and Michelle share the motivation for this research, the findings they’re most excited about and how HR leaders can make work better with performance management. To read the full show notes for this episode, visit:  https://laurieruettimann.com/creating-a-better-culture-of-performance-enablement   

My guest on this episode is David Glasgow. He is the executive director at the Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging at NYU School of Law and the co-author of “Say the Right Thing: How to Talk About Identity, Diversity, and Justice.” We discuss the fear people have around these conversations, the mistakes they commonly make and how we can recover from them. To read the full show notes for this episode, visit:  https://laurieruettimann.com/moving-the-world-forward-through-conversations 

My guest for this episode is Mary Ann Horton, a transgender activist and the author of “Trailblazer: Lighting the Path for Transgender Equality in Corporate America.” In our conversation, we discuss her amazing career, how she advocated for one of the corporate world’s first transgender equality workplace policies, her book, and her advice to HR leaders looking to be more inclusive.   To read the full show notes for this episode, visit: https://laurieruettimann.com/paving-the-way-for-transgender-equality-in-corporate-america 

My guest for this episode is Karoline Saffi, senior vice president of people and culture at Mission Cloud. Karoline and I discuss how HR can become more transparent, how Mission Cloud is creating tech career growth opportunities, and the importance of being agile and open-minded in HR today.   To read the full show notes for this episode, visit: https://laurieruettimann.com/creating-opportunities-for-tech-career-growth-with-karoline-saffi