Tracy Brower

Tracy Brower , PhD, is back for our guest-led series of Careers newsletters this week. Brower, a sociologist, is the author of the new book “ Critical Connections .”

This week’s Careers newsletter features advice on how to design your workday like a CEO, Forbes’ New Ivies list for 2026, what workers want more than a pay raise & more.

Nature connects us in significant ways. You may already know that nature is beneficial for individual wellbeing, but nature also has significant positive impacts on social wellbeing.

Your company is likely using AI, but true success for organizations and people depends on processes that effectively bring people into the loop.

Purpose drives wellbeing, performance and connection. A sense of purpose delivers tremendous benefits to individuals, teams and organizations.

Tracy Brower , PhD, is back for our guest-led series of Careers newsletters this week. Brower, a sociologist, is the author of the new book “ Critical Connections .”

This week’s Careers newsletter covers how to manage stress from technology as AI use in the workplace grows, communication mistakes to avoid and more.

These small mindset shifts can help reduce exhaustion and improve wellbeing.

Four strategies to get your career moving.

Many employees feel their skills are underutilized, posing a significant challenge for both individuals and organizations. A survey indicates 59% feel their talents aren't fully leveraged, with 77% reporting stalled careers due to limited opportunities. This underutilization fuels disengagement, mental health issues, and high turnover, as 72% would seek new jobs if their skills remain untapped. To address this, organizations must align employee skills with job roles, a reality for only 29%. Providing challenging work, currently experienced by just 13%, is crucial for engagement and creativity. Additionally, recognizing employee contributions, which 36% feel is insufficient, and actively noticing and acting on underutilization are vital. Leaders must focus on employee strengths and design fulfilling work to enhance engagement, performance, and retention.