Like a Boss with Michael Cohen

by Duane Morris

Season 1

Episode 50: The Three "Musts" of the Pre-Interview Process

Far too often, managers and supervisors fail properly and adequately to prepare for interviews they are to conduct. This lack of readiness leads to a myriad of problems, including by way of example, the following: Not asking all of the necessary questions. ❓❓❓ Not asking the right questions. ⚠️ A candidate's belief that the interview is not interested. 😴 A failure to sell your organization. 😶 We MUST pay attention to the pre-interview process. At a minimum, the following three essential steps are absolutes: 1️⃣ Update the job description for the position you seek to fill; ✅ 2️⃣ Prepare and review a uniform list of job related questions; ✅ and 3️⃣ Review all material provided by the candidate. ✅ Please watch this week's video and learn about Larry King, my fear of my mom walking by the office and the importance of "respecting the lie." As always friends, thank you so much for watching. Thank you for commenting. And, thank you for sharing. 🙏 #hr #humanresources #leadership #employmentlaw Duane Morris LLP Duane Morris Institute

S1 · E50

Apr 2, 2026

11:57

Episode 49: Even Though Baseball ⚾ is Back - Ignore the Strike Zone and Maintain Your Humanity

The seemingly daily changes in employment laws have wreaked havoc with many of our workplaces. We live in a state of confusion and consternation 😕 and, at times, we simply do not know what we can and cannot do. Given the complications, prudent organizations are focusing on the safety and well-being of their employees and have doubled down on harassment prevention trainings 👩‍🏫 and other sessions that enhance the employee experience. One subject that ALWAYS comes up during these programs is physical touch.🫂 And, while of course certain contact remains inappropriate, we should not and must not lose our humanity about the workplace. This week's "Like A Boss" episode 📽️ examines the subject and provides a practical approach which I hope you seriously will consider.💡 As leaders, we must embrace our empathy and absolutely have to create and maintain a positive, safe and human-centric workplace culture. As always, thank you for watching, for commenting and for sharing! ❤️🙏🫶 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A quick reminder that my new podcast, Like A Boss, is now available on the following platforms. I'd be truly honored if you would follow! Apple Podcasts Spotify Instagram Youtube Duane Morris LLP Duane Morris Institute

S1 · E49

Mar 30, 2026

9:38

Episode 48: Unicorn + Passion = Success and Fulfillment

I was in my early 30s. I was married to an amazing woman 💘 and we had a wonderful young daughter👼. I was just so happy, personally. Problem was, I hated my job. And that professional dissatisfaction was creeping into my home life. I knew something had to give. Uncomfortable with confrontation, I took a chance and approached my boss. It was the single most important work-related conversation I ever had.‼️ 💡Friends - this week's video is a little bit different. It is in equal parts a sincere and heartfelt thank you to my old boss, james redeker, and a message about the importance of finding your passion. Specifically, I will discuss 5️⃣ crucial steps nearly all of us has to take at some point in our professional career in order to find that fulfillment😌: 1️⃣ Advocate for yourself 2️⃣ Be comfortable being uncomfortable 3️⃣ Fight to find your purpose 4️⃣ One size almost never fits all 5️⃣ Relentlessly and aggressively pursue the opportunities you're given I hope you enjoy this week's video and I truly hope you all find your unicorn🦄, your passion🔥and your joy😂. Please comment. Please share. And go get it! Apple Podcasts Spotify Instagram Youtube Duane Morris LLP Duane Morris Institute

S1 · E48

Mar 26, 2026

13:01

Episode 47: If You Care About Someone And You Got A Little Love💕In Your Heart, There Ain't Nothing You Can't Get Through Together

Those are the words of world-renown philosopher, deep-thinker and awesome sneaker-owner👟, Theodore "Ted" Lasso. Although the quote comes from a fictional coach of a made-up European football ⚽team, the sentiment could not be more real and more true. Ted understands and appreciates the importance of our taking care of each other.🫂 As leaders, the responsibility to be present (physically, intellectually and emotionally) for our people is of paramount importance. This week's "Like A Boss" episode discusses tangible steps we ALL can and should consider to enhance the well-being of those we manage. Thank you so much for watching, for commenting and for sharing! ❤️🙏🫶 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A quick reminder that my new podcast, Like A Boss, is now available on the following platforms. I'd be truly honored if you would follow! Apple https://lnkd.in/ewRXU2tD Spotify https://lnkd.in/eMHGBWg8 YouTube https://lnkd.in/eMiQZPWd Instagram https://lnkd.in/exSAbzVB Thanks and have a great week! Duane Morris LLP Duane Morris Institute #tedlasso #mentalhealth #leadership

S1 · E47

Mar 23, 2026

8:44

Episode 46: My Meeting with A Former Player and the Importance of Failure

Last week I had coffee ☕ with one of my former players 🥎, now a freshman at a local university. A first generation college student, this young woman is doing phenomenally well and I'm indescribably proud of her (can you feel my smile?).🥹 While our conversation was meandering at times (but always fun), she wanted to make sure to emphasize to me how, in the face of various first-year mistakes, she learned, she grew and she continued to get up one more time than she fell down. She expressed gratitude 🙌 for my and other coaches' allowing her to be imperfect, encouraging her to improve and facilitating meaningful transformation. As leaders, we absolutely MUST appreciate the importance of failure and, yes, the real benefits that can come from someone's not getting it right the first time. In this leadership week's video, I discuss 3️⃣ of those workplace benefits: ☑️ Building resilience 💪 ☑️ Enhancing creativity 💡 ☑️ Fostering collaboration and teamwork 🤝 Stay until the end for some sage advice from Ted Lasso and the leaders of AFC Richmond! As always, thank you so much for watching, for commenting and for sharing. ❤️🙏🫶 Duane Morris LLP Duane Morris Institute #leadership #softball #mentor

S1 · E46

Mar 19, 2026

12:02

Episode 45: March Madness Mindset: Leadership Lessons from the Big Dance 🏀🏀🏀

MARCH MADNESS is upon us! Starting this week, 68 men's and 68 women's college basketball teams will compete for NCAA immortality. Each team has one goal - to win it all!🏆 Each player will be looking for that One Shining Moment. 🌟 But to get the big dub, talent simply is not enough. The winners on both the women's and men's side will be the teams that combine talent and two additional and equally important ingredients - culture and chemistry.💡 This week's "Like A Boss" episode examines how a leader best can facilitate success by creating an environment built on the talents of individual contributors. Whether it's on the hardwood, on the factory floor, or in the office, the strongest leaders evaluate the skills and personalities of their team and build a system that fits those attributes. Failure often is borne of adherence to a scheme that just does not match the team's collective abilities. 🙈🙉🙊 The University of Michigan men's basketball team is one of the favorites to win the Big Dance. Why? Because second-year head coach, Dusty May, has not tried to fit square pegs into round holes. Instead, he learned his players' strengths and established a winning culture and a reflective system built on those observations and skills. Thank you so much for watching, for commenting and for sharing and GO BLUE! ❤️🙏🫶 A quick reminder that my new podcast, Like A Boss, is now available on the following platforms. I'd be truly honored if you would follow! Apple https://lnkd.in/ewRXU2tD Spotify https://lnkd.in/eMHGBWg8 Youtube https://lnkd.in/eMiQZPWd Instagram https://lnkd.in/exSAbzVB Thanks and have a great week! Duane Morris LLP Duane Morris Institute #MarchMadness #LikeABoss #leadership #umich

S1 · E45

Mar 16, 2026

10:11

Episode 44: A Discriminatory Policy, A Teacher Who Said No and the Importance of a Leader's Advocacy

In 1970, there was a school district in Chesterfield County, Virginia that employed a mandatory maternity leave policy. A high school 🏫 history teacher (who would become very close to me) in that district became pregnant 🤰 and was told that, due to this policy, she had to stop teaching at the end of her first trimester. 📅 That teacher said no, took a stand, and fought against this policy all the way up to the Unites States Supreme Court. In 1974, the Supreme Court 👩‍⚖️ held the policy was unconstitutional. That teacher forever changed the workplace and the world in a what was widely hailed as "victory for working women." In speaking with that teacher, it was clear that her willingness to advocate was crucial. Specifically, as a leader, the teacher understood that she had to use her voice on behalf of: 1️⃣ Those who did not have a voice (her students) 2️⃣ The greater good (pregnant women then and in the future) 3️⃣ Herself (something she was never comfortable doing) Leaders everywhere - take heed! Your willingness to advocate for your people is critical. But, just as important is your encouraging those very people to find their own voice and to use it! By the way - please make sure you watch the video to learn who this badass teacher is! 💪 (HINT: Her case was captioned Cohen v. School Board Chesterfield County, Virginia) Thanks for commenting and thanks for sharing! Duane Morris LLP Duane Morris Institute

S1 · E44

Mar 12, 2026

9:56

Episode 43: We All Hurt, But The Strongest Leaders Give Themselves Grace

Last summer☀️, I posted a video about my own mental health concerns and the fact that there are two kinds of people in the world: those who struggle and liars.💡(link to that video: https://lnkd.in/e_jujWSr). So many of you reached out to express kindness💕and to let me know that I was not alone. The reality is that so many of us, as leaders and as humans, endure periods of hurt. The reality is that many of us ignore our own needs. The reality is that there are steps we can take to help ourselves.This week's video addresses some of the reasons we actively ignore our own needs and discusses tangible actions we all (every one of us) can take to give ourselves the grace 🤲 and the aid we all need. Thank you so much for watching, for commenting and for sharing. ❤️🙏🫶 Duane Morris LLP Duane Morris Institute

S1 · E43

Mar 9, 2026

10:01

Episode 42: Accessibility is the Best Ability - A Leadership Superpower🦸‍♀️

During and following speaking engagements, I frequently am asked what are the most important abilities of effective leadership. Intelligence? Drive? Creativity? All certainly crucial. However, I think 1️⃣ ability stands above all else, and that is ACCESSIBILITY. The best and most effective leaders are able to establish trust and to enhance relationships with colleagues and with those who report to them. This is accomplished by the leader's making absolutely clear that they are available and that, fundamentally, they are there to help. They are, in a word, accessible. This week's Leadership episode 📽️ focuses on why accessibility is so critical and on actions which leaders and HR professionals can engage in to establish this necessary ability. As always, thank you for watching, for commenting and for sharing! 🫶❤️🙏 Duane Morris LLPDuane Morris Institute #leadership #HR

S1 · E42

Mar 5, 2026

11:23

Episode 41: U.S. Women's Hockey Player Laila Edwards May Have Shattered Stereotypes During Black History Month, But There Is A LOT Of Work Left To Do!

What a weekend! Both the Women's and Men's U.S. Hockey 🏒 teams won GOLD!🥇And, while there were so many compelling stories, perhaps none was more transformative than Laila Edwards' becoming the first African-American women to play for and to score a goal 🥅 for the U.S. Women's team. As Edwards shared, "I take a lot of pride in [being the first black woman to play for Team USA], and I'm just going to embrace it, because representation matters." ❤️🤍💙 Edwards' presence and success have been pivotal in challenging stereotypes in an historically white sport. As this Black History Month draws to a close, leaders (and all humans) must‼️take steps to help eradicate race-based stereotypes and to mitigate against implicit bias! 💡This week's episode provides a crucial and necessary discussion about how racial bias and this destructive way of thinking can and does infect our workplaces. It also examines actions we can take to mitigate against implicit bias.💡 As always, thank you so much for watching, for commenting and for sharing! ❤️🫶🙏 Duane Morris LLP Duane Morris Institute

S1 · E41

Mar 5, 2026

13:10

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