Jennifer Moss on Why Are We Here?: Creating a Work Culture Everyone Wants

Why do we work—and how can we make work better? As industries evolve, remote work debates intensify, and employee satisfaction wanes, Jennifer Moss joins the conversation with Rotman’s Julie McCarthy. In presenting her new book, she explores these questions and shares insights on how leaders can shape cultures that foster engagement, fulfillment, and success.

About the Book:
A deeply human exploration of how our relationship with work has evolved—and a guide for leaders who aim to make things right—from the author of The Burnout Epidemic.

Work has recently undergone profound changes, not all for the better.
AI’s acceleration has led to worker fears and uncertainties around job security. DEI initiatives are underfunded or canceled. The debate over remote, hybrid, and in-person work is growing more heated. And study after study confirms a widespread sense of employee unhappiness in the workplace.

Workers are left to reexamine their relationship with work, asking themselves, Why are we here?

Workplace expert Jennifer Moss, author of The Burnout Epidemic, takes readers to the front lines of this historic shift. Through extensive interviews, she uncovers why work has changed and highlights the leaders and organizations who have managed to build cultures that everyone really wants. Learn more about the book.

About the Author:
Jennifer Moss is the author of Why Are We Here?: Creating a Work Culture Everyone Wants (Harvard Business Review Press; January 2025). Moss specializes in future-focused leadership development, expertly balancing employee well-being with performance. As an award-winning writer and internationally acclaimed keynote speaker, she specializes in transforming workplace culture using data-driven leadership strategies. Her book The Burnout Epidemic tackled employee burnout and was among Thinkers50’s “10 Best New Management Books for 2022.”

Moderator:
Julie McCarthy is a Professor of Organizational Behaviour and HR Management at the University of Toronto Scarborough and Rotman. Her research focuses on building resilience, reducing stress, and achieving success in the workplace. She is the Associate Chair of External Relations and Strategic Initiatives at UTSC and serves on editorial boards for several psychology journals. Julie’s work is widely published and recognized, with features in media outlets like Harvard Business Review, Wall Street Journal, and CBC.