The questions shaping the future of work aren't really about work.
They're about people.
Behind every conversation about performance, engagement, leadership, and culture is a deeper question:
What are people experiencing that we don’t fully see?
Jess Norris, PhD, helps organizations understand workplace experience, uncover hidden friction, and build workplaces where more people can succeed.
What question is your organization trying to answer?
What if performance isn't telling the whole story?
Workplace experience often reveals more than performance metrics.
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Why are talented people working harder than they need to?
Hidden effort may be costing more than organizations realize.
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What happens when workplace expectations stop matching workforce reality?
Tomorrow’s workforce is already reshaping today’s workplace.
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Understanding People, Designing Better Work
What if performance isn't telling the whole story?
Organizations often evaluate what people produce without understanding what it costs them to produce it. Behind conversations about performance, engagement, communication, and retention are workplace experiences that leaders don’t always see. This keynote explores how understanding those experiences can reveal hidden friction, strengthen trust, and help organizations build systems where more people can succeed.
Audience will:
- Recognize signs of hidden workplace friction
- Understand why performance metrics rarely tell the whole story
- Identify opportunities to create more sustainable workplace systems
Ideal for: Leadership, HR, L&D, Conferences
The Work Gets Done. Then What?
Why are talented people working harder than they need to?
The work gets done. That doesn’t always mean the system works. Many employees spend significant energy navigating unclear expectations, adapting communication styles, managing ambiguity, and compensating for organizational friction. This keynote explores the hidden effort behind visible performance and what organizations can do to reduce unnecessary burden while improving outcomes.
Audience will:
- Understand the concept of hidden effort
- Recognize common sources of organizational friction
- Learn how leaders can create more sustainable conditions for success
Ideal for: Leadership, HR, Employee Experience, ERGs
The Future Workforce Is Already Here
What happens when workplace expectations stop matching workforce reality?
The next generation of workers is entering organizations with different experiences, expectations, and assumptions about work. At the same time, organizations are navigating rapid change, increasing complexity, and evolving workforce needs. This keynote explores what these shifts reveal about the future of work and how organizations can prepare for what comes next.
Audience will:
- Understand emerging workforce trends
- Explore changing expectations around communication, flexibility, and support
- Identify practical strategies for future workforce readiness
Ideal for: Leadership, HR, L&D, Workforce Development, Conferences
About Jess
Speaker • Scientist • Workplace Systems Thinker
Jess Norris, PhD is a speaker, scientist, and workplace systems thinker who helps organizations understand the human experiences shaping today’s workplace.
Drawing on her background in research, workplace systems, and communication, Jess translates complex topics into practical insights that audiences can immediately apply. Her work explores workplace experience, hidden effort, communication, trust, organizational friction, and the future workforce.
Jess has spoken for leadership teams, employee resource groups, professional associations, and organizations across the United States and internationally. Known for combining research, storytelling, and actionable strategies, she helps audiences see familiar workplace challenges through a new lens—and leave with a clearer understanding of what to do next.
Speaking audiences include:
• National Conferences • International Conferences • Corporate Events • Leadership Teams
• Employee Resource Groups • Learning & Development Programs
Not sure which conversation is right for your audience?
Every organization is asking different questions.
Whether you’re planning a conference, leadership event, ERG program, or professional development session, we’ll work together to identify the conversation that will have the greatest impact on your audience.