Today we're thrilled to welcome Richard Sheridan, CEO and co-founder of Menlo Innovations, bestselling author of "Joy, Inc." and "Chief Joy Officer," and a pioneer in building intentionally joyful workplace cultures.

For 24 years, Richard has been proving that putting joy at the center of business isn't just feel-good philosophy—it's a practical approach to creating software people love while building teams that thrive.

In this conversation, Richard shares the journey from his heartbreaking disillusionment with the tech industry to founding a company with the audacious mission of ending human suffering in the workplace.

Key Topics Covered:
• The origin of "The Menlo Way" and why Richard centered his company around joy
• How a childhood bookshelf project revealed the true meaning of joy and service to others
• Why software professionals will work for free if they can consistently delight users
• The transformation from Vice President to founder and designing a radically different way to work
• What makes Menlo's culture unique: open workspaces, pair programming, and transparency
• Ann Arbor's entrepreneurial ecosystem and the power of community in building success
• Richard's nuanced take on AI, the future of software, and why technology will make us more human
• Practical advice for leaders: "Get out of the house" and build serendipitous relationships
• How to create intentional cultures that unlock creativity, innovation, and imagination

Links:
Subscribe to our newsletter to get weekly updates: https://www.maximize.media/the-ryan-morrison-show
Menlo Innovations: https://www.menloinnovations.com
Connect with Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/menloprez/