Who We Are

Companies don’t create value - people do.

Traditional Employee Engagement Strategies Are Failing - Right When We Need Them Most

75% of people are planning to look for a new job this year. The reasons people quit (or “quiet quit”) are as diverse as they are, and a one-size-fits-all approach to retention is failing. Identifying issues and bringing them to your manager’s attention can be challenging, causing some employees to leave rather than ask for what they need

The founder of WhyWork, Leah (Phifer) Buck, is no stranger to this dilemma. She’s accumulated 15+ years’ experience in human resources, education, and crisis management. She loves public service, but in late 2021, she was among the millions of Americans reevaluating priorities.

“I’ve interviewed suspected terrorists and managed emergency intake sites on the border. I’m assertive and have great confidence in my work,” said Buck.

However, after the sudden passing of her father and an intense period at work, she found herself hesitant to ask for what she needed to be successful and reengaged at work. While agonizing over how to craft the request, Buck received a workplace survey soliciting feedback on everything from culture to customers.

“It was 53 open-ended questions,” she said. “I tried to finish it, but emails and calls kept pulling me away. It was just too long.” She realized many employers want to solicit feedback and employees want to give it, but neither know how to do so effectively.

Drawing on her extensive experience in HR and crisis management, Buck formulated a four-step process to mitigate the largest HR crisis in decades. The WhyWork process cuts through the barriers to effective communication at work, starting with a fundamental principle: we can't improve what we can't define. Through customized research methodologies—including surveys designed for busy people, facilitated focus groups, and one-on-one engagement interviews—Leah helps you identify the unique drivers of engagement in your workforce.

The world of work has fundamentally changed—from the widespread adoption of remote and hybrid models to the increasing inclusion of AI "coworkers", it can feel like the ground is shifting quickly beneath both employees and leadership. Employees instinctively know what energizes them and what leads to burnout. Organizations are genuinely committed to supporting their teams. But without the right data-driven tools and transparent processes, these good intentions inevitably get lost in translation.

WhyWork bridges that gap, creating the space for honest conversations about the future of work—including how AI will reshape roles, what meaningful work looks like, and how to design jobs people love. The customized process helps organizations navigate change and transformation by getting leadership and employees on the same page—one person, one team, one strategic action at a time.

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“Several external factors converged upon the American workforce the past few years, causing many to reevaluate how work fits into their lives. There is no going back, but we can have more meaningful conversations about what we need moving forward.”

- Leah Buck, Founder of WhyWork

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WCCO (Dec 2022)

A large conference room filled with attendees sitting at round tables, listening to a speaker at the front. Two large screens display a diagram with the words 'Job', 'Career', and 'Purpose'.

MN Governor’s Homeland Security & Emergency Management Conference (Apr 2023)

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Pohlad Companies Women’s Summit (June 2024)

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About the Founder

Leah spent 15 years in crisis management and human resources with the federal government before launching WhyWork in 2021 to address the largest HR crisis in decades - plummeting engagement and retention levels in the U.S. workforce.

As a former instructor of Statistical Methodology & Research Design at Augsburg University, Leah implements unique communication and research methodologies – including Lego® Serious Play® - to improve engagement and mitigate burnout for individuals, teams and organizations.

Fluent in Spanish, Leah holds a Masters degree in Public Policy from the University of Minnesota and lives in Minneapolis with her husband, their two dogs and a rotating cast of foster cats.