The Devil Emails at Midnight, featuring Mita Mallick

Bestselling author and workplace culture advocate Mita Mallick joins Michelle Johnston to unpack why loyalty is dead in today’s workforce, what younger generations expect from employers, and how leaders must adapt to shifting cultural norms. Drawing from her new book The Devil Emails at Midnight, Mita shares powerful stories and practical advice on modern leadership, grief, working motherhood, and the importance of human connection in corporate settings. This honest and inspiring conversation highlights how good leaders are made—not born—and how self-care and vulnerability play essential roles in the workplace of the future. This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating leadership in a post-pandemic, digitally-driven, emotionally exhausted world.

00:00 Welcome + Introducing Mita Mallick
01:17 Why Loyalty Is Dead in the Workplace
03:30 Gen Z vs Employer Expectations
05:50 Generational Disconnect and Work-Life Shifts
06:36 How to Earn Flexibility as a Young Professional
08:14 Why Managing Output Matters More Than Hours
10:23 The Origin of “The Devil Emails at Midnight”
14:20 Mita’s Personal Story of Grief and Burnout
18:09 How Grief Inspired Her First Book
18:59 Building Inclusive Workplaces for Working Parents
21:08 Equal Parental Leave and Support Systems
23:49 On Being Named Working Mother of the Year
25:32 Vision for a Healthier, Human-Centered Workplace
29:35 Alternatives to Midnight Emails
32:28 Reimagining Workplace Communication
33:24 Closing Words + Where to Find Mita

Special thanks to our friend Brian Wayy for the theme music this season!
Track Title: My Heart's On Fire

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What is The Seismic Shift with Michelle K. Johnston?

Welcome to Seismic Shift - a leadership podcast that focuses on connection. I’m your host, Michelle K. Johnston: management professor, executive coach, and leadership expert. I believe that today’s leaders need more than power and control to get the best from their teams; they need connection. Through interviews with some of today’s top business leaders, we are going to explore how leaders' ability to connect with themselves, their teams, and their organizations defines their ultimate success or failure. This podcast runs in close parallel to my new book, The Seismic Shift in Leadership, where you can find even more insights from me and the brilliant leaders I interviewed this season. So let's set our sights on connection and get ready to take on the daunting, yet exciting, challenge of this Seismic Shift.