What if one of the hardest moments of your career turned out to be the thing that shaped your life’s work?

In this episode, host Joy Fajardo sits down with Dr. Mary Hayes, Research Director for People and Performance at ADP, for an honest, deeply human conversation about work, leadership, and what it really means to help people thrive.

Dr. Hayes shares the personal turning point that set her on her path and how that moment sparked a lifelong commitment to understanding how people experience work, stress, growth, and belonging.

From her journey through educational psychology to leading global research on employee engagement and AI sentiment, Mary brings a rare blend of data-driven insight and real-world empathy.

Mary also shares what she’s seeing next in the world of work, from wellbeing and financial stress to the responsibility leaders have to communicate honestly, even when they don’t have all the answers.

This episode is a must-listen for leaders, Internal Comms professionals, HR teams, and anyone who cares about building workplaces where people feel seen, heard, and valued.