Workplace Insights by Adrie van der Luijt
Careers aren’t really ladders, they’re more like messy scribbles with occasional moments of clarity. I’ve spent decades watching talented people waste years chasing what they thought they should want rather than what actually suited them.
The posts in this section reflect what I wish someone had told me thirty years ago: that the most successful careers are built on knowing your strengths, acknowledging your limitations and having the courage to navigate workplace politics without becoming what you despise.
Whether you’re just starting out or questioning decades of choices, you’ll find honest reflections on creating a career that works for you rather than burning yourself out for an organisation that sees you as replaceable.
A brutally honest account of navigating unplanned career break challenges to care for an elderly parent, revealing the stark reality gap between claimed digital accessibility and actual user experiences.
Explore the powerful impact of meaningful content through personal reflections on trauma-informed design and local heritage research. Learn how one piece of feedback can shape the purpose and value of your work.
We’re witnessing the end of the traditional mid-tier knowledge worker career. It’s an opportunity to redefine professional value in more uniquely human terms.
The expertise vacuum created by AI poses risks that go far beyond job losses. It threatens to undermine the very foundations of reasoned decision-making within organisations and society more broadly.
Relationships are at the heart of our work as management support professionals, yet engagement has become so bastardised in corporate environments that it’s nearly lost all meaning.
Imposter syndrome can be a real issue for management assistants in situations where you’re representing someone important, and failure simply isn’t an option.
True content strategy works at a higher level from that of most self-proclaimed strategists who merely make existing content perform incrementally better.
Despite decades of digital transformation promises, human customer service interactions have grown by 2% annually. Discover why customer service AI consistently fails to replace human connection and the ethical questions this raises.
AI detectors are increasingly used by employers to filter out candidates who have used AI tools to write their CV or cover letter. Here’s what Management Assistants involved in recruitment processes need to know about them.
Explore the ethical complexities of AI grief support tools from a trauma-informed design perspective. Learn why technology might bridge gaps in care while recognising the irreplaceable value of human connection in healing from loss.
Managing client expectations has become more challenging for freelance content designers and strategists in the AI era. Learn how content professionals can navigate pricing pressures and communicate their value when clients think AI can replace expertise. Discover strategies for sustainable content design in a rapidly evolving industry.
AI hasn’t created new forms of contractor mistreatment; it’s simply intensified existing patterns. Discover how the excuses change but the bullying stays the same, and learn practical strategies to maintain your professional dignity in the AI era.
Google’s Super Bowl ad for its Gemini AI was meant to impress. Instead, it became a cautionary tale. The ad showcased Gemini identifying objects, including Dutch Gouda cheese—but it got key details wrong. It took cheese enthusiasts just hours to spot the inaccuracies, forcing Google to edit the ad post-launch.
Authencity is key for Executive Assistants in an AI-driven world. Executives don’t want a flawless automaton. They want someone who understands the unspoken context, who can read the room, who knows when to push back and when to step in. They want someone real.
Learn how cultural fluidity becomes a professional superpower in navigating workplace transitions. Discover strategies for transforming imposter syndrome into unique insight across diverse professional environments.
Analyse the contradictions in the WEF Future of Jobs report where employers simultaneously predict AI transformation whilst expecting humans to show more creativity and resilience – all for less pay and recognition.