An Office Antidote

An interview with Gili Yuval

While the pandemic may have reshuffled a few hallmarks of corporate culture, frustrations from lay-offs to petty email etiquette remain. But, through the poetic form, Gili Yuval has tilled her own experiences in business to find truth, empathy, and their cousin—humor. Published originally in Hebrew, her debut collection “Now with Attachment” is now a desk-drawer staple around the world. When we asked what she wants her readers to take away, her advice was characteristically simple and important: “That they are way more than their Job Descriptions. Sometimes we forget this.”

As renowned Austrian psychiatrist Viktor Frankl said, “The attempt to develop a sense of humor and to see things in a humorous light is some kind of a trick learned while mastering the art of living.” Your poetry succeeds at accomplishing exactly that—irony, satire and surrealism are employed to render our feelings visible, especially those experienced in isolation. After all, humor has the power to disarm us and promote reflection. What role has humor played in your own life, and how did you start using it in your poetry?

My poetry revolves around the themes of contemporary work routines, office life, and human behaviour in work-related environments. When I first started writing, my poems were all from the perspective of a non-motivated, bitter, and sarcastic employee. Upon moving to London with high expectations of building a meaningful career, I aspired to lead strategies, be part of an organisation, and make innovative advancements. However, things didn't unfold as I had envisioned.

In the beginning, I found myself working for a company that was starkly different from my previous experiences. On one hand, the environment was highly formal and professional, but on the other hand, it was astonishingly unproductive. Whenever I suggested something out of the ordinary, my peers either ignored me or employed passive-aggressive tactics to discourage change. My daily routine became monotonous, devoid of any professional challenges. I felt out of place, yet I convinced myself to stick with it, partly because I believed that leaving would reflect poorly on my LinkedIn profile—a stupid thought, in retrospect.

Despite my depression, I found amusement in this peculiar setting. There was something inherently comical about the non-productive yet self-important atmosphere. To cope with this paradox, I turned to humour. I began writing short limericks about day-to-day situations and shared them on a Facebook page in Hebrew. I depicted the reality with humour, without exaggeration. For instance, I wore headphones to give the illusion of being busy and avoid being questioned; when leaving a workplace, I wished for a clueless successor; every time I entered a co-working space, I couldn't help but notice plastic succulents; and every time I assisted a man with a presentation, he received all the credit.

Later on, after being fired, I embarked on the arduous task of searching for a new job. This process involved networking and shameless self-promotion. I found solace in laughing about it all. I attended job interviews, faced failures, and turned those experiences into poems. In one particular interview, I was asked illegal questions about having children and my family plans. Instead of responding with "This is not related to the job," I stumbled through my words out of desperation to secure employment. As I left the interview venue, I wrote a satirical poem titled "I should have answered NO," shedding light on the glass ceiling for women. This poem gained tremendous attention on social media, with thousands of comments and shares. It was at that moment I realised the profound impact a humorous poem can have on its readers.

In many ways, you challenge common assumptions of what poetry is—not only with your poignant, funny verses, but also through the untraditional topic at the centre of your rhymes: contemporary corporate life. Yet, your books have found great success among the buzzing start-up scene from Tel Aviv to London, an audience that tends to have fewer touch points with poetry. How have your readers, especially in corporate settings, responded to poetry as an unexpected tool? 

I must confess, the response still surprises me. 

Over the past two years, I have been conducting lectures and leading workshops in hi-tech companies and corporations on the subjects of humour, the future of work, and the poetic aspects of the 21st-century work routine. Every time I prepare to lead a workshop, I find myself wondering, "Why would they listen to me?" or "They must perceive me as trivial." However, as we delve into the heart of the matter, I witness the power of poetry and satire as invaluable tools for conveying complex messages.

When we engage in discussions about the essence of work, navigating management obstacles, the impact of our work routines on our relationships, or the influence of our technological habits on our personalities, it becomes evident that poetry resonates with the audience. These are the moments where poetry truly shines.

For a long time, I believed that being a poet, rather than someone who codes, would alienate me from innovative industries. Surprisingly, it works the opposite way. Innovation thrives in creative environments, and humour fosters creativity. By establishing a lighthearted atmosphere, employees feel less apprehensive and are more inclined to explore new ideas and think outside the box.

Incorporating poetry into discussions about work not only provides unexpected avenues for reflection and healing but also proves effective in team building efforts in corporate settings. It opens up space for shared experiences, sparks meaningful conversations, and encourages individuals to connect on a deeper level. The unconventional nature of using poetry as a tool for corporate discussions breaks down barriers and allows people to approach work-related topics from a fresh perspective.

You’ve been named "the poet of 21st century office life" in Israel, your home country. Looking at your career, it seems to be marked by a remarkable duality of working, living, and writing between cultures and countries. As you navigate these complexities, how has poetry helped you to find your own voice, build confidence, and transcend challenges? How have your corporate life and artistic practice informed each other in that process?

Poetry acts as a mediator in my journey of navigating the complexities of working, living, and writing between different countries. The Israeli working environment differs starkly from their European or British counterparts characterised by intensity, directness, and a "work hard, play hard" ethos. Work-life balance is a rarity in Israel. When I moved to London, I had to learn how to respect boundaries, learn how to navigate nuances, and think before reacting. It was a significant cultural shift, and I needed a tool to help bridge the gap. Poetry became my means of expressing complex ideas and emotions in a simple yet creative manner.

It all began intuitively. Whenever I entered an office or witnessed something in a conference room, my immediate reaction was to view the situation as a satirical scene or consider it as material for a poem. I recall receiving a negative comment criticising my unavailability between 5:30 pm and 8 pm due to my baby daughter. At that moment, I found myself unable to respond, though I had much to say. Instead, I channelled my thoughts into a poem. Sharing it with my community, I discovered that this poem gave a voice to numerous working parents who resonated with the experience.

Satirical poetry allowed me to infuse creativity into technology-driven industries, and vice versa. What I find most gratifying is merging quantitative methodologies with poetry. Many of my readers were convinced that I worked as a tech developer in one of the GAMFA companies, when, in truth, I faced rejection every time I applied for jobs there.

The interplay between my corporate life and artistic practice has been enriching. My experiences in the corporate world provide ample inspiration for my poetry, as I observe the nuances of office dynamics and human behaviour. In turn, my artistic practice has influenced how I approach corporate challenges. Poetry has given me the confidence to express myself, even in the face of adversity or cultural differences. It has allowed me to find my own voice, build resilience, and transcend the obstacles I've encountered.

Shaking up people’s expectations and luring them out of their comfort zones is at the heart of your poetic work. What message do you hope to share with your readers going forward?

That they are way more than their Job Descriptions. Sometimes we forget this.

In your experience, why is the poetic form such an effective vessel through which to reach people? How has poetry helped both you and your audiences to create a sense of belonging?

We live in an era inundated with content, where the "creator economy" has morphed into the noisy realm of the "influencer economy." Amidst this cacophony, good poetry stands as a powerful vessel to access people's hearts and minds. When one encounters a well-crafted poem, the noise subsides and focus is sharpened. It becomes a moment of clarity where a message resonates deeply.

Through my poetry about work, I strive to provide my audience with a respite in the midst of their hectic days. Many readers keep my books tucked away in a drawer under their desks or within meeting rooms. In moments of difficulty or stress, they reach for these hidden treasures, opening a page to discover a poem that brings a smile to their faces. Sometimes they incorporate my poems into their feedback sessions or presentations, using them as an uplifting opening quote. It is a privilege to know that some poems I wrote have become a part of another’s work routines, providing solace, connection, and a sense of belonging.

Speaking of belonging, you’ve navigated a corporate and social life across cultures, thoughtfully reflecting on misunderstandings, potential taboos, and feelings of isolation. Your poetry seems to be a place where differences can be dissected and embraced in a constructive manner—the use of humour in particular suggests the possibility for togetherness. How do you see poetry contributing to mutual understanding and visibility moving forward? 

It is always nice to joke about feedback sessions, framework, and trash-talk in Start-ups. However, I aspire to expand the scope of my humoristic poetry lens to shed light on essential topics prevalent in modern-day work life. The aim is to raise awareness about the challenges that the 21st century work environment presents, ranging from burn-outs and stress to the ramifications of the gig economy, the perils of fake news, and the grip of social media addiction.

In recent times, the workforce has witnessed a wave of layoffs, with thousands of individuals abruptly receiving a generic message instructing them to check their calendars for an email from HR. In a matter of moments, they transitioned from being valued employees, part of a supposed "big family," to losing access to their own email accounts. These experiences are often left unshared, obscured behind the carefully curated success stories that dominate platforms like LinkedIn and Instagram.

My mission as a writer is to facilitate and promote dialogue around these intricate and challenging workplace moments. When I released my first book, "Now With Attachment" in 2021, I harboured concerns about potential criticism, with fears of being accused of focusing solely on first-world problems. Yet, it remains crucial to address these issues head-on, just as the MeToo movement demanded for example. Someone needs to stand up and give voice to these experiences.