Live at Transform 2026: The Science of Connection — How Optimistic Thinking Fights Burnout at Work with Daria Maneche
Live from the Transform 2026 conference floor in Las Vegas, Lori sat down with Daria Maneche, founder of The Working Optimist, for a candid, neuroscience-backed conversation about what it actually takes to build human connection at work, and why the stakes for getting this right have never been higher.
Daria brings a deeply personal why to her work: after years of her own struggles and many forms of support that fell short, it was understanding the neuroscience of the brain that finally changed how she walks through the world. That shift became the foundation of the Working Optimist Mindset Method, and now she is bringing it to teams and leaders across the globe.
In this episode, you will hear:
Why high-quality connections (HQC) at work are not a "nice to have" but a core performance and retention strategy
How a raging amygdala physically blocks access to the prefrontal cortex, and why this matters for every decision your team makes under pressure
The hidden burnout accelerator: working in a remote or hybrid environment without intentional space for human connection
Why globalizing a workforce without cultural consideration is a recipe for disconnection and disengagement
What the Working Optimist Mindset Method is, and how metacognition can help individuals and teams change the way they think about thinking
Guest Bio
Daria Maneche is the founder of The Working Optimist, where she brings neuroscience-backed tools rooted in positive psychology into workplace settings to help individuals and teams connect, think more clearly, and perform with greater resilience. She is also an executive and transformational coach.
Timestamps
[00:00] — Welcome from Transform 2026, Las Vegas
[01:30] — Daria introduces the Working Optimist Mindset Method
[03:00] — What leaders can be optimistic about: EQ, connection, and the age of digital transformation
[05:30] — The HQC gap: what we are not investing in and why it matters
[07:30] — Burnout is accelerating, and disengagement is part of it
[08:30] — The amygdala, the prefrontal cortex, and why stress blocks problem-solving
[10:00] — Daria's personal why: how neuroscience changed everything for her
[12:00] — Where to find Daria and The Working Optimist
Find Daria Maneche at: workingoptimist.com | and linkedin.com/in/daria-maneche-87331418
Subscribe, leave a review at https://www.aworldofdifferencepodcast.com/reviews/new/, and share this episode.
Visit https://www.aworldofdifferencepodcast.com for more resources.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Follow the podcast at:
- https://www.youtube.com/@aworldofdifference
- https://www.aworldofdifferencepodcast.com
- https://www.linkedin.com/company/aworldofdifference/
- https://www.instagram.com/aworldof.difference/
Join our Difference Maker membership community for a ton of exclusive content for as little as $5/month. (The price of your a latte at your local coffee shop to enjoy a whole month of content.) Lori's Travel Tips are included as well as exclusive minisodes with our guests not available anywhere else. Join for deeper conversations and a little fun today at https://www.patreon.com/aworldofdifference
Keep making a difference wherever you are!
Lori Adams-Brown, Host & Executive Producer
A World of Difference Podcast
