Work That’s Worth It with Georgi Enthoven
In this episode Andrea interviews Georgi Enthoven, a distinguished alumna of UC Berkeley and Harvard Business School. Georgi discusses her new book, ‘Work That’s Worth It: The Ambitious Professional’s Guide for a High-Impact, High-Reward Career,’ aimed at helping individuals design careers that are fulfilling both personally and globally. The conversation delves into the challenges and rewards of writing a book, the importance of finding work that aligns with both personal and societal good, and the nuanced understanding of compensation. They also explore the roles of organizational leadership in creating meaningful work environments and discuss strategies to relieve career choice pressures on young adults. Georgie shares insights on the power of experimentation, understanding personal gifts, and the significance of mentorship. The episode concludes with a challenge to listeners to embrace positive conflict as a means to facilitate significant change in the workplace.
00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:49 The Journey of Writing a Book
02:14 Defining ‘Worth It’ in Work
04:40 Understanding Compensation Beyond Money
07:06 Finding Meaning and Contribution in Work
09:19 Navigating Career Choices and Education
11:44 The Importance of Experimentation in Early Career
16:01 Aligning Personal and Organizational Missions
27:47 Thinking Big and Making an Impact
30:46 The Role of Mentorship
35:38 Final Thoughts and Farewell
Mentioned In this Episode:
What It’s Worth Podcast:
Summary
What makes a job feel truly worth our time, energy, and gifts? According to Georgi Enthoven, Harvard MBA, global thinker, and author of Work That’s Worth It, it comes down to two questions: Is this work good for me, and is it good for the world?
In this episode of the Voice of Influence Podcast, we unpack what it means to build a career that aligns personal ambition with meaningful contribution—and how both individuals and organizational leaders can make that vision a reality.
Listen to the full episode for an in-depth conversation on career purpose, compensation, and the future of work.
Rethinking “Worth It” at Work
Enthoven originally titled her book 90,000 Hours for Good, referencing the average time we spend in our careers. That’s 90,000 hours to make a difference—and to feel fulfilled. Her evolved title, Work That’s Worth It, reflects a broader, accessible message: every hour matters.
“Is the job good for you, and is it good for the world? That’s what makes it worth it.”
Leaders and professionals alike must consider what truly energizes them. Georgi challenges us to look beyond traditional definitions of success and instead ask, what gives you the energy to keep showing up?
Compensation is More Than a Paycheck
One of the most compelling themes of the episode is Georgi’s expanded view of compensation. It’s not just about salary—it’s about meaning.
“Compensation is anything that gives you energy to keep going.”
Whether it’s working with inspiring people, solving intellectually stimulating problems, or having flexibility to care for your loved ones, compensation comes in many forms. And when organizations recognize this, they’re more likely to retain the best talent—especially those who want to make a difference.
The Power of Contribution and Perspective
So how do we find work that lets us make a meaningful contribution?
“Most people don’t understand their natural gifts. The work is figuring out where you shine—and then aligning your contribution with your strengths.”
Enthoven highlights the importance of perspective—especially when it comes to leadership. Diversity of thought, lived experience, and personal missions are essential. It’s not enough for a company to have a mission; it must also invite and amplify the individual missions of its employees.
Think Bigger: Scale Your Impact
One of the most inspiring moments in the conversation was Georgi’s encouragement to think audaciously big. She cites Virta Health, whose mission grew from reversing diabetes in 100 million people to a billion.
“It doesn’t take more hours in your day to think bigger—it takes more vision.”
This mindset shift is crucial for anyone who wants to make a lasting impact. Scale doesn’t mean dilution. It means dreaming bigger—and aligning that dream with action.
Final Challenge: Learn Positive Conflict
As a final note, Georgi shares a challenge for all of us shaping the future:
“Learn to have positive conflict. If you want to be a disruptor for good, you will ruffle feathers. But do the work to have the hard conversations so you don’t stay small.”
Ready to design a career that works for you and the world?
Listen to the full episode of the Voice of Influence Podcast featuring Georgi Enthoven and explore how you can make your 90,000 hours count.
#VoiceOfInfluence #LeadershipDevelopment #CareerDesign #PurposeAtWork #FutureOfWork #WorkThatsWorthIt #MeaningfulWork #InclusiveLeadership #ContributionOverPerformance
Give great, effective feedback!
This show is brought to you by the Deep Impact Method free course. Handle problems and present changes with care and influence. Register for the free 30-minute course here.