Work For Humans

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

Rehka Magon excelled as a child because of the mindfulness tools, community service, and travel experiences she received from a young age. When she began to form her own family, she realized that conventional schooling and family settings were more likely to hinder a child's growth rather than contribute to it. Rejecting the status quo, she co-founded Boundless Life – an organization that provides turnkey packages for families to move abroad, grow, and learn together.

Rehka Magon is an ed-tech entrepreneur and avid world traveler. She is the founder of themindfulscholar.com and co-founder and Head of Education of Boundless Life.

In this episode, Dart and Rehka discuss:
- The digital nomad infrastructure that is competing with corporate jobs
- Boundless Life’s turnkey packages for families to move abroad
- The profile of a digitally nomadic family
- How to choose a location for effective relocation
- What it takes to be location-independent from companies
- Transformations experienced by families living abroad
- Whether or not you can feel at home across locations
- And other topics…

Rehka Magon is an ed-tech entrepreneur and avid world traveler. Rehka transitioned from corporate life as a former Senior Auditor at KPMG to become the award-winning founder of www.themindfulscholar.com. After thousands of hours of research into different educational pedagogy, Rehka bridged various frameworks into her own educational structure and action plan, co-founding Boundless Life, an organization that provides turnkey packages for families to move abroad and grow together.

Rehka holds her Bachelor of Accounting and Minor in Human Resources from McGill University, where she co-founded Toonies for Tsunami and raised over $26,000 in two weeks for Thailand relief efforts. She is also the current board member of strategic planning for Family Makeshop, an organization that defends a child’s right to a meaningful education.

Resources mentioned:
Boundless Life site: https://www.boundless.life/
Boundless Life Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boundlesslife/
Boundless Life Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myboundlesslife/

Connect with Rehka:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rekha-magon-28654395/ 

As a young child, Andy Chaleff had to become incredibly sensitive to the emotions of others in an attempt to evade the wrath of his disturbed and abusive father. He found solace in the presence of his mother, but when he was 18, she fell victim to a fatal accident at the hands of a drunk driver. He fled the United States, embarking on a decades-long journey that led him through the business world and eventually into a monk-like existence where he ultimately found his life's purpose – helping people who have experienced trauma to transform through the power of self-love.

Andy Chaleff is an award-winning author, advisor, and the Director of Amsterdam’s Welvaren training center. As a mentor to business leaders around the globe, Andy’s life work helps people connect with themselves and others through vulnerability and self-awareness.

In this episode, Dart and Andy discuss:
- How to build authentic connections at work
- Differentiating between respect and trust
- Breaking cycles of distrust in the workplace
- When expectations can be blindsiding 
- Techniques for turning a negative interaction into a constructive one
- Finding agency within a system
- The importance of intention
- And other topics…

Andy Chaleff is an award-winning author, private mentor, and advisor to business leaders around the globe. He also serves as Director of Amsterdam’s Welvaren training center. Some of his past clients include eMindful, InnerExplorer, SOLE, the Cleveland Municipality School District, and the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. Andy’s life’s work aims to help people connect with themselves and others through vulnerability and self-awareness. This objective is also reflected in his latest books, The Connections Playbook, The Wounded Healer, and The Last Letter.

Resources mentioned:
The Connections Playbook, by Andy Chaleff: https://www.amazon.com/Connection-Playbook-Meaningful-Harmonious-Relationships/dp/B0CGGDS6KT
The Wounded Healer, by Andy Chaleff: https://www.amazon.com/Wounded-Healer-Journey-Radical-Self-Love/dp/B08NWJ3KPX
The Last Letter, by Andy Chaleff: https://www.amazon.com/Last-Letter-Embracing-Create-Meaningful/dp/1633937054
Radical Candor, by Kim Scott: https://www.amazon.com/Radical-Candor-Revised-Kick-Ass-Humanity/dp/1250235375

Connect with Andy:
www.andychaleff.com 

Tackling workplace burnout requires more than surface-level perks like snack boxes or ping-pong tables. As Gen Z becomes a predominant workforce, the companies that invest in employee well-being will be the ones to attract, retain, and evolve with this upcoming generation. Author and international speaker Jennifer Moss recognizes that understanding the employee perspective is multifaceted. She is on a mission to dispel the myths surrounding burnout, happiness, and productivity at work to foster thriving workplaces for both companies and employees.

Jennifer Moss is an award-winning writer and international speaker on future-focused leadership development. Her past clients include Google, Deloitte, and KraftHeinz, among others. Her work has been featured on BBC, Business Insider, CNBC, Fortune, Forbes, CNN, TIME, and The Wall Street Journal.

In this episode, Dart and Jennifer discuss:
- The continuum from happiness to burnout
- Burnout as institutional stress
- The greatest misconceptions about burnout
- Why productivity without happiness is detrimental
- Future workforce shifts and their potential economic effects
- The disconnect between engagement and well-being at work
- Decoding the 6 root causes of burnout
- How the idea of happiness has changed throughout history
- Developing a muscle of gratitude to face crises
- And other topics…

Jennifer Moss is an award-winning writer and international speaker specializing in future-focused leadership development. Her past clients include Google, Deloitte, J.P. Morgan, Citi, Shopify, KraftHeinz, and Oracle, among many other Fortune 500 companies.

Jennifer’s latest book, The Burnout Epidemic, tackles employee burnout and was named one of the 10 Best New Management Books for 2022 by Thinkers50. Her work has been featured on BBC, Business Insider, CNBC, Vox, Fortune, and Forbes. Jennifer is also a regular contributor to Harvard Business Review, CNN, TIME, and The Wall Street Journal.

Resources mentioned:
The Burnout Epidemic, by Jennifer Moss: https://www.amazon.com/Burnout-Epidemic-Rise-Chronic-Stress/dp/B09G8GHXSV
Unlocking Happiness at Work, by Jennifer Moss: https://www.amazon.com/Unlocking-Happiness-Work-Data-driven-Performance/dp/0749478071

Connect with Jennifer:
www.jennifer-moss.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenleighmoss/ 

Within social justice, those most impacted by design often find themselves left out of the design process. After witnessing power struggles between the oppressed and their surroundings, design practitioner Lesley-Ann Noel identified the need for co-designing within a system to create the most productive and equitable outcome.

Lesley-Ann Noel is a university professor at North Carolina State University, author of Design Social Change, and a design practitioner specializing in equity, social justice, and marginalized groups in design research. She has a background in industrial design, an MBA from the University of the West Indies, and a PhD in Design from North Carolina State University.

In this episode, Dart and Lesley-Ann discuss:
- The importance of co-designing with those affected by a system
- 3 levels of awareness inherent to an effective design process
- Finding power in different aspects of one’s identity
- Why designers must recognize their positionality
- Using anger and intense emotions as design tools
- What materials create social change
- The duality of the oppressed and the oppressor
- The essential “recipes” to change the world
- And other topics…

Lesley-Ann Noel is a university professor at North Carolina State University, an author, and a design practitioner with a focus on equity, social justice, and the experiences of marginalized groups in design research. Her work focuses on the realms of social innovation, education, and public health, as showcased in her latest book, Design Social Change.

Before joining North Carolina State University, Lesley-Ann was the Associate Director of Design Thinking for Social Impact at Tulane University. She was also a lecturer at Stanford University and the University of the West Indies. Lesley-Ann holds a BA in Industrial Design from the Universidade Federal do Paraná, an MBA from the University of the West Indies, and a PhD in Design from North Carolina State University. She is co-chair of the Pluriversal Design Special Interest Group of the Design Research Society and a co-editor of “The Black Experience in Design.”

Resources mentioned:
Design Social Change, by Lesley-Ann Noel: https://www.amazon.com/Design-Social-Change-Challenge-Stanford/dp/1984858149

Connect with Lesley-Ann:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesleyannnoel/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lesleyannnoel/
https://dschool.stanford.edu/book-collections/design-social-change 

The number of remote workers more than tripled between 2019 and 2021. While remote work is not at its pandemic peak, it is here to stay. Liam Martin has been an expert on remote work for over two decades – long before it became a household term. He argues that all organizations – new and old – need to adopt remote and hybrid models to remain competitive in the marketplace. His mission is to make remote work accessible for everyone, one employee and company at a time.

Liam Martin is the co-founder of Time Doctor and Staff.com, co-organizer of Running Remote – the world’s largest conference on remote work, and the author of Running Remote and various publications on distributed work. His expertise has helped thousands of companies around the world adopt a remote working model.

In this episode, Dart and Liam discuss:
- The evolution of remote work and where it’s headed
- The Running Remote annual conference
- Starting a remote company vs. transitioning to remote work
- A manager’s role in a remote/hybrid model
- The importance of Employers of Records (EORs) for remote work
- How to build a culture of asynchronous work
- Effective process documentation
- The 4 epochs of remote work
- And other topics…

Liam Martin is a remote work expert with over twenty years of experience in the field. He has worked with thousands of companies, helping organizations worldwide to adopt a remote working model. Liam co-founded Time Doctor and Staff.com, one of the most popular productivity software platforms today. He is also the co-organizer of the world’s largest conference on distributed work – the annual Running Remote Conference.

Liam’s latest book, Running Remote, guides for organizations that want to unlock remote work to achieve more autonomy for business owners and employees. Liam’s work has also been published in Forbes, Wired, and The Wall Street Journal, among others. His mission is to empower workers to work wherever they want, whenever they want; Liam lives this out in his own life by traveling six months of the year with his family while working remotely.

Resources mentioned:
Running Remote, by Liam Martin and Rob Rawson: https://www.amazon.com/Running-Remote-Successful-Remote-Work-Pioneers/dp/1400232147
Deep Work, by Cal Newport: https://www.amazon.com/Deep-Work-Cal-Newport-audiobook/dp/B0189PVAWY/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=deep+work&s=books&sr=1-1

Connect with Liam:
www.RunningRemote.com
Running Remote YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/RunningRemote 

In the shadows of ancient Rome, a constant battle brewed between power and humanity. While slave management may sound like a thing of the past, more than 27 million people still toil under oppressive conditions today, and millions more are tied to jobs due to debts or other obligations. Although there is no comparison between slavery and a contemporary office, there is plenty to learn from history to help us forge a more just and equitable future. This episode examines the stark contrast between ancient slavery and the modern workplace, navigating the complexities of leadership, empathy, and progress.

Dr. Jerry Toner is the Director of Studies in Classics at the Churchill College at Cambridge and author of The Roman Guide to Slave Management. His literary works around Roman cultural history have been translated into 15 languages and garnered a global readership.

In this episode, Dart and Jerry discuss:
- How slaves were framed in ancient Rome
- Capitalist slavery in the U.S. versus domestic slavery in Rome
- The language around slavery
- The economic factors leading to large slave populations
- Good management practices
- Matching a person to the right type of work
- The perceived character of slaves
- The line between respect and admiration when it comes to cruel management
- And other topics…

Dr. Jerry Toner is the Director of Studies in Classics, a Fellow, and an Affiliated Lecturer at the Churchill College at Cambridge. His scholarly investigations and writing look at Roman cultural history with a focus on history “from below.” Jerry’s books have been translated into 15 languages; one of his best-sellers, The Roman Guide to Slave Management, has been called “an ingenious device" by The New Yorker.

After completing his Ph.D. in Classics at Cambridge, Jerry spent 10 years as a fund manager in London, where he managed $15 billion in global bond, currency, and asset allocation funds before returning to the ancient world. 

Resources mentioned:
The Roman Guide to Slave Management, by Jerry Toner: https://www.amazon.com/Roman-Guide-Slave-Management-Treatise-ebook/dp/B07MWBGSL9
Seeing Like a State, by James Scott: https://www.amazon.com/Seeing-like-State-Certain-Condition/dp/0300078153
“The Messy Link Between Slave Owners and Modern Management,” by Caitlin C. Rosenthal: https://hbr.org/2013/09/plantations-practiced-modern-management
Psychology and Industrial Efficiency, by Hugo Münsterberg: https://www.amazon.com/Psychology-Industrial-Efficiency-Hugo-M%C3%BCnsterberg/dp/160450899X 

In this replay episode from the podcast Space Construction, organizational architect and workspace strategist Alon Schwartz interviews Dart Lindsley to discuss the management philosophy behind Work for Humans. Join them as they discuss why employees are customers, the origin of Work for Humans, AI’s role in work design, and other topics.

Alon Schwartz is an organizational and strategic consultant in high-tech, commercial businesses, the public sector, and associations, among other sectors. As a professional workplace strategist with over a decade of experience, he uses advanced tools to analyze, diagnose, and innovate workspaces to improve productivity and collaboration.

In this episode, Dart and Alon discuss:
- The role of a business architect
- The data that showed Dart employees as customers
- Exchanging value versus money
- The origin of Work for Humans
- A 1-sided manager versus a 2-sided manager
- How to discover the work your employees want
- Scaling the right kind of work
- AI’s role in work design
- And other topics…

Alon Schwartz is an organizational and strategic consultant in high-tech, commercial businesses, the public sector, and associations, among other sectors. As a professional workplace strategist with over a decade of experience, he uses advanced tools to analyze, diagnose, and innovate workspaces to improve productivity and collaboration. Alon holds a Master’s degree in sociology from the University of Haifa and currently resides in Israel.

Resources mentioned:
Original interview episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/638CS3epejTGa35fooFznR?si=FZ8mAiYGRF27g63rXF5HdQ&nd=1
The Experience Economy, by Joe Pine II: https://www.amazon.com/Experience-Economy-Updated-Joseph-Pine/dp/1422161978

Connect with Alon:
Alon’s show Space Construction: https://open.spotify.com/show/6WyNVJRQ19vx1Cn9SMtQML
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alon-schwartz-vphr/ 

Whether it's disagreements with your partner or clashes within your team, one thing is clear – conflict is a part of life. Dr. Nate Regier understands that conflict is unavoidable, but he believes it can be turned into something positive. With his framework Compassionate Accountability, Dr. Regier has helped many groups use conflict as a catalyst for growth and positive change.

Dr. Nate Regier is an author and keynote speaker. He's the founder and CEO of Next Element, a global leadership consulting and training firm. He has helped clients like Healthcare Corporation of America (HCA), Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Roche for over a decade, increasing profitability through reduced turnover while significantly enhancing teamwork and work relationships.

In this episode, Dart and Nate discuss:
- How to de-dramatize an organization
- The definition of conflict and how to address it productively
- The three roles in every drama and how to pinpoint them at work
- The myths that these roles believe
- Universal principles we can use when designing work
- How to hold yourself accountable
- Having a compassion mindset
- The 3 narratives of struggle that can get management into trouble
- And other topics…

Dr. Nate Regier is an author, keynote speaker, and the founder and CEO of Next Element, a global leadership consulting and training firm that works to bring Compassionate Accountability to the workplace. As a former practicing psychologist and expert in social-emotional intelligence, Nate has helped clients like Healthcare Corporation of America (HCA), Ascension Health, Blue Cross Blue Shield, CarFax, and Roche save thousands in turnover and dramatically increase and improve teamwork and work relationships.

Nate received his Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Kansas. He is recognized as a Top 100 keynote speaker, a Process Communication Model® Certifying Master Trainer, and the author of four books on interpersonal communications. He has served as an adjunct professor for Conflict Resolution at Pepperdine University for over a decade and is also a founding member of the Changing Work Collective.

Resources mentioned:
Compassionate Accountability, by Nate Regier: https://www.amazon.com/Compassionate-Accountability-Leaders-Connection-Results/dp/1523004533
Conflict Without Casualties, by Nate Regier: https://www.amazon.com/Conflict-without-Casualties-Compassionate-Accountability/dp/1523082607

Connect with Nate:
www.Next-element.com

The philosophy behind HR and our way of working predates most of the tools we use. While companies focus on sales and productivity, most neglect to measure one of the largest sources of value within the organization – the employee experience. Jessica Zwaan has made it her mission to teach executives and their companies how to transform the employee experience using product management principles, maximizing value for all stakeholders involved.

Jessica Zwaan is the author of Built for People, the current Chief Operating Officer of Whereby, and a former COO advisor for clients like Soundcloud, Talentful, and Bolt, among others.

In this episode, Dart and Jessica discuss:
- The 3 things every company sells
- Distinctions between people operations and human operations
- Viewing work as a product and determining its value
- Tracking the cost versus value of employees
- The 3 aspects employees want out of their work
- Value vs. volume when it comes to employees
-  2 maxims of product management applicable to HR
- And other topics…

Jessica Zwaan is an author, speaker, and early-stage start-up executive. She is the current Chief Operating Officer of Whereby and a former COO advisor for clients like Soundcloud, Talentful, and Bolt, among others. Her latest book, Built for People, helps teach organizations and leadership how to transform the employee experience using product management principles.

With a background in operations, people, and talent, Jessica’s work has spanned across three continents. Jessica holds a First-Class Honours law degree from the University of Law in London. She is an international panelist and speaker and also hosts the podcast “There's This Thing at Work.”

Resources mentioned:
Built for People, by Jessica Zwaan: https://www.amazon.com/Built-People-Experience-Management-Principles/dp/1398608025
The Book of the Courtier, by Baldesar Castiglione: https://www.amazon.com/Book-Courtier-Baldesar-Castiglione/dp/1519086954
The Experience Economy, by Joseph Pine: https://www.amazon.com/Experience-Economy-New-Preface-Authors/dp/1633697975
The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, by Thomas Kuhn: https://www.amazon.com/Structure-Scientific-Revolutions-50th-Anniversary/dp/0226458121
The Good Enough Job, by Simone Stolzoff: https://www.amazon.com/Good-Enough-Job-Reclaiming-Life/dp/059353896X

Connect with Jessica:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicamayzwaan/
www.jessicamayzwaan.com 

Many products are made by people but often don't consider human needs. The chair you're sitting on might not fit you well or suit your work habits and office setup. The same issue applies to how we approach work.

Can a manager act as an experience designer to improve productivity, satisfaction, and well-being in the workplace? Is it practical and possible? Abraham Burickson, a design expert with over 20 years of experience, thinks so. He wants to change the way we think about design to create new possibilities in the workplace and beyond.

Abraham Burickson is an author, speaker, and design expert with more than two decades of experience in exploring experience design. He is the co-founder and Artistic Director of Odyssey Works, where he plans immersive artistic experiences involving up to 100 artists in various locations across the U.S.

In this episode, Dart and Abraham discuss:
- How to create a transformative experience for a single individual
- Whether or not managers can be experience designers
- Why experience is not designable
- How to implement experience design at work
- Baking experiences within static products
- Companies as a platform for the co-creation of experience
- The origin story and myths of organizations
- And other topics…

Abraham Burickson has spent over two decades exploring experience design. As the co-founder and Artistic Director of Odyssey Works, he directs up to 100 artists at a time while designing experiences for one-person audiences across the U.S. With a background in architecture from Cornell University, he has also studied the transformative power of designed experience with the Whirling Dervishes of Turkey, the Shuar of the Ecuadorian Amazon, and with countless artists, designers, and students over the years.

Abraham is the winner of the 2018 Mary Sawyers Baker Prize, and his work has been profiled in the New York Times, Vulture, the Stanford Storytelling Project, the SF Bay Guardian, and other publications. He has lectured at the Brooklyn Museum, Cornell University, Fordham University, The GoGame, and Southern Exposure Gallery. He is also a current Lead Experience Design faculty member at the Maryland Institute College of Art.

Resources mentioned:
Experience Design, by Abraham Burickson: https://www.amazon.com/Experience-Design-Participatory-Abraham-Burickson/dp/0300269471
Odyssey Works, by Abraham Burickson: https://www.amazon.com/Odyssey-Works-Transformative-Experiences-Audience/dp/1616895152
The Anatomy of Genres, by John Truby: https://www.amazon.com/Anatomy-Genres-Story-Forms-Explain/dp/0374539227

Connect with Abraham:
www.OWprograms.com
www.AbrahamBurickson.com