When Work Stops Feeling Right: Psychological Safety with Nogol Madani

What happens when the career you worked so hard to build no longer feels aligned with who you are? For Nogol Madani, leaving engineering wasn’t a setback — it was the beginning of discovering her mission around culture, leadership, and psychological safety.After completing her master’s in engineering at McGill, Nogol spent nearly six years in the field. Early on, she experienced facilitative leadership that energized her. Later, directive leadership environments left her drained and disconnected. That misalignment pushed her into deep self‑reflection and ultimately toward creating Glee Factor in 2017 — long before psychological safety became a mainstream leadership topic.When COVID reshaped workplace culture and removed the serendipity of in‑person connection, leaders became more open to new approaches. Nogol transformed Glee Factor from a research project into a business helping middle managers build psychologically safe teams. In the final third of the episode, she and Mark explore AI, the future of work, and the human skills people will need to thrive.She opens up about:• Facilitative vs. directive leadership• Losing yourself in a misaligned career• Leaving engineering after deep self‑reflection• Glee Factor’s origins as a 2017 research project• Discovering psychological safety early• Why leaders resisted psychological safety pre‑COVID• COVID’s culture gap and new openness• Turning Glee Factor into a business• How AI is reshaping leadership• Why human skills matter more than everEpisode Chapters00:00 Introduction and Background03:24 Iranian and Familial Influences on Early Career Choice06:13 Not Knowing Herself Early; Soul Searching at 3108:37 Cultural and Leadership Influences Leading Her Out of Engineering11:04 Contrasting Leadership Styles in Engineering Roles14:40 Leaving Engineering and Discovering Culture and Engagement19:45 Birth of Glee Factor in 2017; Discovering Psychological Safety22:50 What Psychological Safety Is27:01 Challenges Promoting Psychological Safety in 201932:45 COVID’s Impact on Workplace Culture35:39 Intentional Culture‑Building vs. Pre‑COVID Serendipity37:17 Readiness to Learn Psychological Safety Post‑COVID38:25 Turning Glee Factor into a Viable Business42:42 Iterative Transition from Project to Business44:29 Structural Differences Between Project and Business45:53 Learning the Craft and Business Simultaneously50:06 Supporting Leaders Through AI‑Driven Change56:01 Reskilling and Upskilling for AI57:47 Overcoming Fear of AI01:01:41 Developing Social Skills AI Can’t Replace01:05:37 Advice for Professionals01:07:01 Contact Info and CloseDiscovery OptimizationThis episode explores psychological safety, leadership styles, career misalignment, culture‑building, and the future of work in an AI‑driven world. Ideal for listeners navigating career transitions, leading teams, or building human‑centered workplaces.