The New Rules of Work

Stronger teams.

Lower turnover.

Better results.

A three-session leadership and workplace design program for organizations navigating today's workforce challenges.


The workplace has changed. Expectations have changed. The workforce has changed.

Yet many organizations are still operating with workplace structures, policies, and assumptions designed for a different era.

As employee expectations evolve and workforce challenges grow more complex, organizations are facing increasing pressure to retain talent, reduce burnout, and build workplaces where people can thrive.

The New Rules of Work is a facilitated leadership and workplace design program that helps organizations rethink outdated assumptions, understand emerging workforce realities, and develop practical strategies for building stronger, more sustainable workplaces.

Designed for executives, HR leaders, managers, and organizational decision-makers.

The Challenge


Workforce Challenges Aren't Just HR Challenges

Organizations across every sector are struggling with:

  • Employee turnover and retention

  • Burnout and disengagement

  • Caregiving and work-life pressures

  • Recruitment difficulties

  • Leadership fatigue

  • Changing employee expectations

Many of these challenges are often treated as individual performance issues when they are actually symptoms of larger workplace systems.

The organizations best positioned for the future are not simply asking how to hire more people. They are asking how to create workplaces people want to stay in.

What is the New Rules of Work?


A Leadership and Workplace Design Lab

The New Rules of Work is a three-session facilitated learning experience that helps leaders examine the assumptions embedded in workplace culture and explore new approaches to workforce sustainability.

Participants will:

  • Examine how historical workplace norms continue to shape organizational culture

  • Explore how caregiving, flexibility, equity, and belonging influence retention

  • Analyze emerging workforce trends and future scenarios

  • Identify opportunities to improve employee experience and organizational effectiveness

  • Develop practical strategies for workplace redesign

What you’ll learn

Session One: How We Built Work

Explore the historical and cultural forces that shaped modern workplace expectations, including assumptions about productivity, leadership, caregiving, professionalism, and success.

Participants will:

  • Examine workplace norms often taken for granted

  • Understand how historical systems continue to shape modern organizations

  • Identify opportunities for change within their own workplace

Session Two: The Future of Work

Explore emerging workforce trends and future scenarios that are reshaping organizations across Vermont and beyond.

Participants will:

  • Review current workforce realities

  • Analyze changing employee expectations

  • Consider future workforce scenarios and organizational implications

  • Identify risks and opportunities for their organization

Session Three: Designing What's Next

Translate insights into action through practical workplace design strategies.

Participants will:

  • Identify organizational priorities

  • Develop actionable workplace improvements

  • Build a roadmap for implementation

  • Strengthen alignment between organizational values and workplace practices

Most Workplace Trainings Focus on Behavior. We Focus on Systems.

Traditional workplace trainings often focus on individual actions, communication styles, or management techniques.

While those skills matter, many workforce challenges are rooted in larger organizational systems, including:

  • Workplace expectations

  • Performance measurement

  • Leadership structures

  • Flexibility policies

  • Caregiving assumptions

  • Definitions of professionalism and productivity

Why this program is different

This is not compliance training. This is not a one-time workshop. It is an opportunity for leaders to think strategically about the future of work and their role in shaping it.




Who should participate?

The New Rules of Work is designed for:

  • Executive Directors

  • CEOs and Presidents

  • Human Resources Leaders

  • Senior Managers

  • Department Directors

  • Operations Leaders

  • Board Leaders

  • Organizational Change Teams

Ideal for nonprofits, mission-driven businesses, educational institutions, public agencies, healthcare organizations, and employers seeking long-term workforce sustainability.


Grounded in research

The New Rules of Work draws on current workforce research, leadership practice, and organizational change theory, including:

  • Workforce participation and retention trends

  • Caregiving and employee wellbeing research

  • Gender equity and workplace culture studies

  • Vermont workforce and economic data

  • Organizational development and systems-change frameworks

The program combines research with practical tools leaders can apply immediately.


About the facilitators

Sultana Khan

Executive Director of YWCA Vermont and organizational strategist with extensive experience in nonprofit leadership, community engagement, systems change, and workforce development.

Olivia Harris

Facilitator, educator, and organizational development practitioner with expertise in leadership development, group process, organizational culture, and transformational learning.

Together, they bring decades of experience helping leaders navigate complexity, build stronger organizations, and create meaningful change.

Ready to reimagine work?

The future of work is already here.

Organizations that adapt will be better positioned to retain talent, support employees, and thrive in a rapidly changing world.

Join us in exploring what comes next.

Reserve Your Spot Today

If you're interested in attending, fill out this form for more information about upcoming events.