Meaning at Work vs Meaning in Work (Mike Ross, former CHRO at Simons, and Kahina Ouerdane, CPO at Workleap)

What does it really mean to find meaning at work? And who’s responsible for it — you, your boss, or does it fall somewhere in between?

In this episode, Kahina Ouerdane, Chief People Officer at Workleap, sits down with Mike Ross — former CHRO at Simons, partner at Juniper, and PhD researcher on the psychology of work — for a conversation about what truly makes work matter. From purpose-driven Gen Z to the misunderstood power of rituals, Mike and Kahina breaks down the difference between meaning in work vs. meaning at work, why culture is more than a buzzword, and how leaders can stop systematizing empathy and start showing up like actual humans. It’s an invitation to listen, reflect, and tap into the power of collective intelligence — because meaning at work isn’t something we find alone.