Join us March 25 for “What Do Workers Want?” — a thought-provoking keynote featuring Daniel Zhao, Glassdoor chief economist and 2026 Kenan Institute Distinguished Fellow.
This talk advances the 2026 Kenan Institute Grand Challenge, Renegotiating Work: Balancing Workplace Demands in Uncertain Times, and is part of the Dean’s Speaker Series.
When & Where: 12:30 to 1:30 PM, Bell Hall – Callinicos Room, with lunch provided at 12 PM.
Over the past six years, workers have faced dramatic swings — from the pandemic and the “great resignation” to today’s sluggish job market. Now, with artificial intelligence disruption, rising layoffs and return-to-office mandates adding new pressure, uncertainty remains high and employer–employee relationships continue to shift. Zhao will draw on Glassdoor’s unique employee sentiment and workplace review data to examine how workers are feeling, what they’re prioritizing, which workplace changes are here to stay and which are most likely to fade fast.
Admission is complimentary, but registration is required.
Register here to save your spot.
Daniel Zhao is chief economist at Glassdoor, the worldwide leader on career insights about jobs and companies. He leads the Economic Research team, conducting research using Glassdoor’s unique data on a range of topics in labor market trends and employer-employee relations.
Zhao’s work covers drivers of employee engagement and sentiment and has produced new data products like the Glassdoor Employee Confidence Index. His research has also touched on other topics like pay transparency, employee retention, layoffs and leadership communication styles.
His work has been cited in publications like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Harvard Business Review and more. His team’s work can be found on the Glassdoor Economic Research blog.
Prior to joining the Glassdoor Economic Research team in 2018, he worked as a data scientist, analyzing big data for marketplaces like Glassdoor and Wayfair.
The Dean’s Speaker Series is hosted by the Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise in partnership with UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School. The series brings preeminent private and public sector leaders to UNC Kenan-Flagler to offer students and the broader community insightful perspectives on a range of timely issues. These events are free and open to the public thanks to the generous support of the Archie K. Davis Endowment.
Contact:
Tya Smith, Events Manager [email protected]