What if fairness at work wasn’t just a value—but a system design challenge? In this episode of The Future of Less Work, host Nirit Cohen sits down with Siri Chilazi, researcher at Harvard Kennedy School and co-author of Make Work Fair, to explore how we move beyond performative DEI and redesign the infrastructure of work for real equity.
From hiring and promotions to flexibility and team culture, Siri shares how behavioral science and process design—not mindset shifts—are the real levers for change. Together, they dive into why many well-intentioned programs fall short, what it means to move from “opt-in” to “opt-out” systems, and how anyone can become a “norm entrepreneur” and drive change from wherever they sit.
If you’re rethinking what makes work truly inclusive—and how to build a future where fairness drives performance, not just policy—this conversation is for you.
Want to dive deeper into this topic? Read Nirit’s Forbes article, “Interview Bias Is Real—Here’s What You Can Do About It“, to explore these ideas further.
Guest Information:
Siri Chilazi is the co-author of MAKE WORK FAIR: Data-Driven Design for Real Results. She is a senior researcher at the Women and Public Policy Program at Harvard Kennedy School whose life’s work is to advance gender equality in the workplace. As a keynote speaker and strategic advisor, Siri collaborates with a wide range of organizations around the world. Her work regularly appears in leading media outlets. Siri has an MBA from Harvard Business School, a Master’s in Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School, and a BA in Chemistry and Physics from Harvard College.
Chapters:
00:00 – Why Fairness Is the Foundation of the Future of Work
01:32 – What Does It Mean to Make Work Fair?
03:22 – Why DEI Efforts Haven’t Delivered Real Change
05:10 – How to Redesign Work for Fairness?
07:17 – Why Bias Training Doesn’t Work (and What Does)
09:58 – What Small Process Changes Can Make Promotions More Equitable
11:38 – Can Managers Spot Talent Without Bias?
13:09 – What the Data Really Says About Remote and Flexible Work
15:16 – Why Managers Struggle with Flexibility (and How to Help Them)
16:58 – What Is a Norm Entrepreneur?
18:31 – What COVID Taught Us About Inclusion and Participation
20:27 – How to Build Inclusion into Everyday Team Norms
22:11 – Why Fairness Is Just Smart Management
