Work For Humans With Dart Lindsley

In a world where company worth is often measured by profits alone, Yancey Strickler sought to create a company where values mattered more than just money. Throughout his career as an author and co-founder of Kickstarter and Metalabel, Yancey continuously advocates for a new view of success, emphasizing the impact companies can make beyond the financial bottom line.

Yancey Strickler is the co-founder and former CEO of Kickstarter and the co-founder and director of Metalabel. He is also the author of This Could Be Our Future and the mind behind the philosophy of Bentoism, a framework that considers community, the present self, and the future self in decision-making.

In this episode, Dart and Yancey discuss:
- Financial maximization culture
- Defining a company’s value beyond profits
- Kickstarter’s bylaws
- The philosophy behind Bentoism
- The impact of financial maximization on company evolution
- The Metalabel startup
- Heterarchy in organizations
- Yancey’s biggest lessons learned
- And other topics…

Yancey Strickler is a writer, entrepreneur, and the co-founder and former CEO of Kickstarter. He is also the co-founder and director of Metalabel, a new space for releasing, selling, and exhibiting creative work. Yancey is the author of This Could Be Our Future and the visionary behind the philosophy of Bentoism, a framework that considers community, the present self, and the future self in decision-making.

Earlier in his career, Yancey established the record label eMusic Selects and co-founded The Creative Independent, an online resource center for artists across disciplines. He has also made significant contributions as a music critic, writing for publications such as Pitchfork, Spin, and The Village Voice.

Resources mentioned:
This Could Be Our Future, by Yancey Strickler: https://www.amazon.com/This-Could-Our-Future-Manifesto/dp/052556084X
Our Band Could Be Your Life, by Michael Azerrad:  https://www.amazon.com/Our-Band-Could-Your-Life/dp/0316787531 
“The Dark Forest Theory of the Internet,” by Yancey Strickler: https://ystrickler.com/2019/05/26/2019-the-dark-forest-theory-of-the-internet-1/
Humanocracy, by Gary Hamel: https://www.amazon.com/Humanocracy-Creating-Organizations-Amazing-People/dp/1633696022

Connect with Yancey:
www.ystrickler.com
www.metalabel.com 

There is a clear divide at work between traditional finance-led companies and innovative, design-focused firms. Creative leaders face unique challenges, from guiding creative teams to addressing ethical dilemmas. As a design expert and creative at heart, Ekaterina Solomeina aims to revolutionize leadership education in this space through the Future London Academy. Here, leaders learn a fresh approach to navigate the complexities of creativity, ethics, and inclusivity in today’s dynamic workplace.

Ekaterina is a creative director, TEDx speaker, and co-founder of Future London Academy, an executive school for entrepreneurs, innovators, designers, and managers. For the past 14 years, Ekaterina has worked with top design companies and clients such as Versace, Microsoft, Walmart, IBM, and Coca-Cola, among others.

In this episode, Dart and Ekaterina discuss:
- What creative leaders need to know to lead today’s workplace
- Challenges faced by creative leaders: from understanding finance to facing ethics
- How to manage creative employees effectively
- The Future London Academy’s faculty and disciplines
- Measures and metrics for creativity and impact
- Embracing neurodiversity as a leader
- And other topics…

Ekaterina Solomeina is a creative director, entrepreneur, TEDx speaker, and co-founder of Future London Academy. For the past 14 years, Ekaterina has worked with top design and innovation companies around the world, including Mind Gym, NB Studio, and Michael Wolff. Her clients include Versace, Microsoft, Walmart, IBM, and Coca-Cola, among others.

Combining her design expertise with her passion for education, Ekaterina helped start Future London Academy, an executive school for creatives that bridges behavioral psychology and design to create better user experiences. Ekaterina’s design mastery has made her a regular speaker for institutions across the globe including TedX, London School of Economics, and Brunel University.

Resources mentioned:
Winning on Purpose, by Fred Reichheld: https://www.amazon.com/Winning-Purpose-Unbeatable-Strategy-Customers/dp/1647821789

Connect with Ekaterina:
www.futurelondonacademy.com
Instagram: @futurelondonacademy
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/solomeina 

Today we're joined by Jeff Hunter. Jeff is an award-winning entrepreneur and the Founder of Talentism – a philosophy and organization designed to help business leaders unleash the human potential within their organizations. By shifting their focus to the untapped potential of their employees, companies can unlock innovation and growth, harnessing human talent for lasting success.

Prior to Talentism, Jeff was Head of Recruiting at Bridgewater Associates. Through his leadership roles at Bridgewater, Electronic Arts, and Dolby, Jeff found his purpose in creating and scaling systems to unleash human potential.

In this episode, Dart and Jeff discuss:
- Talentism’s visionary management approach
- How the current system is limiting potential
- Cognitive bias: workplace errors and their roots
- CEO accountability in system shortcomings
- The benefits of prioritizing talent over capital
- The ideal business system
- How Jeff’s experience at Bridgewater shaped his career
- Hiring for values
- And other topics…

Jeff Hunter is an award-winning tech and services entrepreneur, writer, and CEO coach. He is the founder and CEO of Talentism, a company that works with high-growth startups to unleash potential and achieve scale. Prior to Talentism, Jeff was Head of Recruiting at Bridgewater Associates. Through his leadership roles at Bridgewater, EA, and Dolby, Jeff found his purpose in creating and scaling systems to unleash human potential.

Jeff holds a BA in History and Philosophy from Occidental College. He began his career as an early employee at Conner Peripherals, the fastest-growing manufacturing startup in history. He then co-founded DataMain Technologies, where he discovered his passion for enhancing company performance by focusing on company culture and people.

Connect with Jeff:
www.talentism.com 

Work and urban design are continuously evolving, but there’s something to be learned from one of the oldest multi-sided businesses in history – the Grand Bazaar. This intricate market has somehow managed to sustain itself for over 500 years without a single leader at the helm. Dr. Sharon Wohl has spent countless hours analyzing the design of the Grand Bazaar, revealing how such bottom-up hierarchies can produce quality products and processes consistently for hundreds of years.

Dr. Sharon Wohl is a distinguished scholar specializing in complex adaptive systems within urban design. She is the current Associate Dean for the College of Architecture and Environmental Design at Kent State University.

In this episode, Dart and Sharon discuss:
- The emergence and sustainability of the Grand Bazaar
- Complex adaptive systems (CASTs) in decentralized settings
- Whether or not we need an overarching governance at work
- How simple rules can lead to complex results
- An analysis of bottom-up strategies for system design and urbanism
- The less visible flows within a business
- The way designers can enable thriving systems
- And other topics…

Dr.  Sharon Wohl is a distinguished scholar specializing in complex adaptive systems within urban design. With a Ph.D. in Spatial Planning and Strategy from Delft Technical University, Sharon has taught at University of Manitoba and held a tenured position at Iowa State University. She is the current Associate Dean for the College of Architecture and Environmental Design at Kent State University. Prior to completing her doctorate, she practiced with the award-winning Canadian Architectural firm, 5468796 Architecture.

Wohl’s research examines how principles of complex adaptive systems can be operationalized within the built environment. Her expertise in complexity has been recognized through a research fellowship with the Institute for Advanced Studies in Amsterdam, invitations for speaking/guest lecture events, and her academic appointment as an FRK Faculty Fellow at ISU. Her research has been published in a variety of journals, including Planning Theory, Progress in Human Geography, and Space and Culture. 

Resources mentioned:
“The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul,” by Sharon Wohl: https://dr.lib.iastate.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/f478ee3b-4098-4630-996b-024d6eefca01/content
How Buildings Learn, by Stewart Brand: https://www.amazon.com/How-Buildings-Learn-Happens-Theyre/dp/0140139966

Connect with Sharon:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-wohl-4168177
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=mGa84LoAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao 

According to Gartner Research, work friction costs employees 1.9 extra hours of work per day on routine tasks. For a company with 10,000 employees, that translates to a staggering loss of $78.4M annually. From excessive meetings to inefficient workplace processes, Christophe Martel is actively investigating the underlying causes of employee dissatisfaction. Armed with data-driven strategies, he's determined to implement lasting solutions.

Christophe Martel is a seasoned business leader with over three decades of experience. He is the co-founder and CEO of FOUNT Global, Inc., a company that assists organizations worldwide to identify and mitigate work friction, fostering improved outcomes for employees and companies alike.

In this episode, Dart and Christophe discuss:
- How Christophe’s career led him to co-found FOUNT
- The types of work friction and their company impact
- The difference between work friction and organizational friction
- Who is responsible for the sites of friction
- The data-driven model behind FOUNT
- Using first-person experiences to solve large-scale business problems
- And other topics…

Christophe Martel is the co-founder and CEO of FOUNT Global, Inc., a SaaS company that helps global organizations reduce work friction and improve employee experiences. With over three decades of experience as a business leader, Christophe has spent his career exploring the employee experience across four continents. Through FOUNT, he helps companies identify the root causes of employee dissatisfaction and prioritize solutions within company environments.

Prior to founding FOUNT, Christophe was president and co-founder of TI People, a company dedicated to human-centered design backed by data-driven methodologies. He is also the former chief HR Officer of CEB, a global research and advisory company acquired by Gartner in 2017. Currently, Christophe serves as a Board Member for Executive Networks, where he continues to share his expertise in organizational leadership and development.

Resources mentioned:
www.getfount.com

Connect with Christophe:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cxpmartel/ 

When Alice Katter moved from Europe to the U.S., she was startled by the prevalent 9-to-5 culture dominating her colleagues' lives. Witnessing many Americans trapped in this work-centric routine until retirement, Alice sought an alternative. Exploring the different approaches to work, she set out on a mission to help others discover connection, inspiration, and regenerative practices in the workplace.

Alice Katter is a Work Culture & Community Designer and Consultant and the founder of Out of Office Network, a pioneering research and design lab and hub. With over a decade of expertise in operations, programs, and strategy, Alice has collaborated with renowned organizations such as Dropbox Design, Red Bull, NOBL, and Creative Mornings.

In this episode, Dart and Alice discuss:
- The alternatives to a U.S. work-dominated culture
- Alice’s exploration of 6 rhythms of work
- How to create a regenerative work and lifestyle
- Insights from mushrooms on problem-solving
- Tools for human connectedness in remote corporations
- Fostering play in the workplace
- Defining joy in and outside of work
- And other topics…

Alice Katter is a Work Culture & Community Designer and Consultant on a mission to craft a future where creativity, joy, and well-being are at the heart of workplaces and everyday life. With over a decade of expertise in operations, programs, and strategy, Alice has collaborated with renowned organizations such as Dropbox Design, Red Bull, NOBL, and Creative Mornings.

As the founder of Out of Office Network, a pioneering research and design lab and hub, Alice is at the forefront of reimagining the way we work in a modern world. Leveraging her background in psychology, Alice enhanced her skill set through the Executive Program in Social Innovation Design, Design Thinking, and Life-Design at the University of Pennsylvania. Her impact spans across organizations from New York to London.

Resources mentioned:
Reimagining the Nature of Work booklet, by Alice Katter: https://www.getoutofoffice.network/shop/p/reimagining-the-nature-of-work
“Making Work More Than Just Agendas,” by Alice Katter: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/making-work-more-than-just-schedules-strategies-amplify-alice-katter%3FtrackingId=
Flourishing In and Out of Office interview with Alice Katter: https://zeusjones.com/athena/articles/flourishing-in-and-out-of-office
Corporate Tarot Connection Cards: https://dropbox.design/resource/corporate-tarot-connection-cards
Spirit of Joy Planner: https://dropbox.design/resource/spirit-of-joy-planner

Connect with Alice:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicekatter 
Out of Office newsletter: https://www.getoutofoffice.network/

It's been several years since the onset of our current pandemic labor market, yet large organizations still face challenges in recruiting and retaining top-tier talent. In response to this challenge, some organizations are leveraging new tools to source the skills they need from the talent they already have.

Heather Yurko is a seasoned talent strategist who has implemented talent marketplaces in two Fortune 50 companies, providing them with platforms to source internal talent to solve business problems as they arise.

In this episode, Heather and Dart discuss the benefits of implementing an internal talent or opportunity marketplace, how these marketplaces improve employee satisfaction and retention, workplace sustainability in a post-pandemic world, and much more.

Topics Include:
- Skills-Based Management
- Using talent marketplaces to facilitate employee career growth
- Hiring for adaptability rather than credentials
- The biggest hurdles to implementing a talent marketplace
- The reliability of skill assessments in employee hiring
- How skills-based hiring can support DEIA initiatives
- Specialization versus generalization in the modern workforce
- And other topics...

Heather Yurko holds an M.A. in organizational development from Columbia University-Teachers College, and has been building people, processes, and organizations for more than 20 years. She has implemented talent marketplaces for two Fortune 50 companies including Cisco Systems. Heather was the Director of Global Channels Engagement at Facebook before transitioning into her current role as VP of Digital Talent for Mastercard.

Resources Mentioned:
The Cold Start Problem by Andrew Chen: https://www.amazon.com/The-Cold-Start-Problem/dp/B08MKNHSWC/

When Joan Ryan stepped into the locker room to conduct her first post-game interview as a sports journalist, she was all but kicked out by the players. Feeling both unwelcome and undeterred, she made a firm decision to stick around and make a name for herself as one of the first female sports columnists in the country.

Using over four decades of experience on the field and in the conference room, Joan is now exploring the concept of team chemistry. Her latest book, Intangibles, shares what team chemistry really is, how to identify it, and how to use it to elevate the performance of any entity, from sports to businesses and beyond.

Joan Ryan is an award-winning journalist, speaker, author, and media consultant with the San Francisco Giants. Her work has been featured on Oprah, 60 Minutes, the Today Show, People magazine, the New Yorker, the New York Times, and Time Magazine.

In this episode, Dart and Joan discuss:
- Whether or not team chemistry exists
- How team chemistry elevates performance
- The neurophysiology of human connection
- The essential archetypes within team chemistry
- Connecting over emotions vs. connecting over a shared task
- How chemistry and skills affect the likelihood of team success
- Using an intangible concept to create tangible results
- And other topics…

Joan Ryan is an award-winning journalist, speaker, author, and media consultant with the San Francisco Giants. She pioneered sports journalism as one of the first female sports columnists in the country; her work has earned 13 Associated Press Sports Editors Awards, the Women’s Sports Foundation’s Journalism Aware, and the Edgar A. Poe Award from the White House Correspondents Association, among others.

As an author, Joan has been featured on Oprah, 60 Minutes, the Today Show, People magazine, the New Yorker, the New York Times, and Time Magazine. Her expansive career inspired her latest book, Intangibles: Unlocking the Science and Soul of Team Chemistry, which draws from hundreds of interviews to understand the phenomenon known as team chemistry.

Resources mentioned:
Intangibles, by Joan Ryan: https://www.amazon.com/Intangibles-Unlocking-Science-Soul-Chemistry/dp/B086KJFGBW
Organizing Genius, by Warren Bennis and Patricia Ward Biederman: https://www.amazon.com/Organizing-Genius-Secrets-Creative-Collaboration/dp/0201339897

Connect with Joan:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joan-ryan-intangibles/ 

Ray Dalio has long been hailed a hedge-fund titan, but investigative reporter Rob Copeland discovered there was more to the story than meets the eye. In his latest book, The Fund: Ray Dalio, Bridgewater Associates and the Unraveling of a Wall Street Legend, Copeland unfolds Ray Dalio’s principles as a grand display of pride that fosters a toxic work culture full of things like paranoia and backstabbing. Copeland’s exploration dives into the complexities of Dalio’s leadership and the consequences it brings to the workplace.

Rob is an award-winning investigative reporter for The New York Times. Prior to The Times, he wrote for The Wall Street Journal for nearly a decade, covering front-page stories in New York, San Francisco, and Austin, Texas. 

In this episode, Dart and Rob discuss:
- Management principles at Bridgewater Associates
- The adverse effects of Dalio’s feedback system
- Challenges associated with radical transparency in the workplace
- The mental models influencing Dalio’s management practices
- Dalio’s definition of a strong manager
- Whether performative cruelty improves hedge fund success
- And other topics…

Rob Copeland is an award-winning investigative reporter for The New York Times and author of the bestselling book, The Fund: Ray Dalio, Bridgewater Associates and the Unraveling of a Wall Street Legend. In this compelling work, Copeland dissects the famous principles of hedge-fund giant Ray Dalio and their adverse effects in the workplace.

Prior to The New York Times, Rob was a reporter for The Wall Street Journal for nearly a decade after graduating from Duke University. His investigative work spanned across Texas and San Francisco, the latter where he covered Silicon Valley with a particular focus on Google. His time at the Journal marked notable achievements, including recognition as an award-winning hedge-fund beat reporter.

Resourced mentioned:
The Fund, by Rob Copeland:  https://www.amazon.com/Fund-Bridgewater-Associates-Unraveling-Street/dp/1250276934

Connect with Rob:
The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/by/rob-copeland
https://www.bridgewaterbook.com/ 

Juan Luis Betancourt, a seasoned business executive and human capital management expert, understood the vital role of meaningful connections from early in his career. Recognizing that a lack of authentic connections negatively impacts productivity and retention at organizations globally, Juan founded Humantelligence – a company that leverages analytics and AI to humanize and optimize work across sectors and countries.

Juan is a thought leader, speaker, and business executive in human capital management with 25+ years of experience. At Humantelligence, he has helped clients like Visa, Coca-Cola, and Honda to enhance productivity, boost motivation, and reduce turnover in the workplace.

In this episode, Dart and Juan discuss:
- Humanizing work through technology
- The significance of workplace connections
- Adapting leadership to diverse learning styles
- Humantelligence’s innovative services and their development
- Juan’s global experience in 8 countries
- What work culture is and its evolution alongside company growth
- Dispelling work culture myths
- And other topics…

Juan Betancourt is the CEO of Humantelligence, a company dedicated to leveraging analytics and AI to align organizational culture and strategy. At Humantelligence, Juan has helped clients like Visa, Coca-Cola, and Honda to enhance productivity, boost motivation, and reduce turnover in the workplace.

Prior to Humantelligence, Juan developed his experience in human capital advising as a partner at Korn/Ferry International and Heidrick & Struggles. With a global career spanning 25+ years and encompassing eight different countries, Juan has garnered senior-level experience at prominent organizations such as Siebel Systems (now Oracle), Puma, Reebok, Decathlon, and Proctor & Gamble. During his tenure at Puma, Juan notably played a key role in the company's successful rebranding, contributing to one of the most significant consumer brand turnarounds in the past two decades.

Juan received his M.B.A. from The Wharton School, his M.A. in International Management from the University of Pennsylvania, and his B.A. from Harvard University. He serves as a board member of the Miami Theatre Center and maintains affiliations with the Wharton and Harvard Alumni Associations in South Florida.

Resources mentioned:
www.humantelligence.com
Don Sull: https://mitsloan.mit.edu/faculty/directory/donald-sull

Connect with Juan:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juanluisbetancourt/
www.humantelligence.com