Work For Humans

Ideas don’t grow on their own. Something has to amplify them. Universities amplify what they teach, consultants amplify what they recommend, and money amplifies the ideas it chooses to back. If we want to understand how work changes at scale, we have to look at how capital shapes which ideas take root. Virginie Raphaël is redesigning that amplifier. In this episode, Dart and Virginie discuss how venture capital amplifies ideas, how trust networks shape who gets funded, and why rethinking the incentives behind early-stage investing may be key to building a more equitable future of work.Virginie Raphaël is the Founder and Managing Partner of FullCircle, a perpetual pre-seed venture fund. She invests in founders building a more equitable, sustainable, and prosperous workforce.In this episode, Dart and Virginie discuss:- How money amplifies ideas and shapes systems at scale- Why traditional venture funds push short-term returns- How a perpetual fund changes founder–investor alignment- Why trust networks shape who gets funded- The danger of capital crowding into the same ideas- What pre-seed investing really means for founder risk- Why geography still matters in early-stage innovation- How AI hype is distorting investment decisions- What she looks for in founders who want to change work- Why impact and market returns don’t have to conflict- And other topics…Virginie Raphaël is the Founder and Managing Partner of FullCircle, a perpetual pre-seed fund focused on building a more equitable and sustainable workforce. Before founding the firm, she was a Managing Director at Tusk Ventures and previously worked in banking at Lehman Brothers and Barclays. She has spent her career supporting early-stage founders in complex and highly regulated sectors.Resources Mentioned:FullCircle: https://www.fullcirclefund.io/Connect with Virginie:Twitter: https://x.com/VirginieRaphaelLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/virginie-raphael-7197271/ Work with Dart:Dart is the CEO and co-founder of the work design firm 11fold. Build work that makes employees feel alive, connected to their work, and focused on what’s most important to the business. Book a call at 11fold.com.

Dan Cable was doing his job and getting compensated for it, but there was a problem: he was going through the motions with no growth, learning, or sense of excitement. He knew he needed to make a change to excel. By exploring the neuroscience behind thriving at work, Dan has since used his experience to help companies like Coca-Cola and Twitter (now X) optimize employee conditions. In this revisited episode, Dart and Dan discuss the neuroscience of enthusiastic employees, the practices that shut people down, and what we can do to set them free.Dan Cable is a researcher, author, and Professor of Organizational Behavior at the London Business School. He is the author of Alive at Work and uses his expertise to assist clients like Coca-Cola, Twitter, McDonald’s, and Prudential. In this episode, Dart and Dan discuss:- Dan’s book, Alive at Work - The biology behind enthusiastic employees- How Dan helped reduce a company’s turnover by 30%- Why experimentation and play at work are essential- Creating conditions for experimentation without risking company goals- What stifles employee energy- Playing to the strengths of your team- The type of leadership that creates thriving employees- How managers can create personalized work- And other topics…Daniel M. Cable is a researcher, author, and Professor of Organizational Behavior at London Business School. He uses his expertise to assist clients like Coca-Cola, Twitter, McDonald’s, and Prudential, among others. He has won the London Business School’s Excellence in Teaching Award and was selected for the 2018 Thinkers50 Radar List.Dan holds a BA from Penn State University and an MS Ph.D. from Cornell. He has published three books – Change to Strange, Alive at Work, and Exceptional – as well as more than 50 articles in top scientific journals. His work has been featured in The Economist, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and CNBC.Resources Mentioned:Alive at Work, by Daniel Cable: https://www.amazon.com/Alive-Work-Neuroscience-Helping-People/dp/1633697665Design for Belonging, by Susie Wise: https://www.amazon.com/Design-Belonging-Inclusion-Collaboration-Communities-ebook/dp/B0998BMN9HConnect with Dan:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-cable-a0b581a0/ Twitter: @dancable1Website: www.dan-cable.comWork with Dart:Dart is the CEO and co-founder of the work design firm 11fold. Build work that makes employees feel alive, connected to their work, and focused on what’s most important to the business. Book a call at 11fold.com.

In this insightful discussion, Mat Duerden, Department Chair of Experience Design at BYU, shares his expertise on crafting memorable and transformative experiences. He emphasizes the importance of orchestrating experiences rather than merely staging them, drawing parallels between leisure and work design to enhance engagement. Mat explains how hardship can strengthen connections and offers insights on the role of reflection in making memories meaningful. He also discusses how to create experience playbooks that align brand identity and culture for maximum impact.

Farouk Dey, a higher-education leader and life-design advocate, talks about transforming student experiences at universities. He emphasizes the need for curiosity-driven exploration over rigid career paths. Farouk shares insights on the Imagine Center, which fosters integrated learning, and explains how economic shifts demand a rethink of career services. He advocates for experiential learning and making life design a priority, urging institutions to focus on developing minds rather than just careers, ultimately helping students construct their own passions.

Stephanie Denino, Head of Advisory at FOUNT Global and Managing Director at TI People, discusses the nuances of workflow friction. She highlights how everyday tasks are impacted by poorly designed processes and shares surprising examples, like call-center workers delaying restroom breaks. By redefining how we view workflows, she emphasizes the role of HR in workflow design, the importance of language in shaping perceptions, and the challenges AI introduces in optimizing work. Tune in for insights on creating smoother, more efficient work experiences!

In this engaging conversation, Bill Burnett, an award-winning designer and director at Stanford's Life Design Lab, shares insights on using design principles for a fulfilling career. He discusses the importance of curiosity, reframing problems, and avoiding the sunk-cost fallacy. Bill emphasizes the need for a design mindset rather than rigid planning, advocating for small wins and enjoying the present. He also offers management advice on hiring adaptable employees and suggests rethinking work-life balance with a holistic dashboard approach.

Melanie Rosenwasser, Chief People Officer at Dropbox, discusses the company's revolutionary Virtual First model. She reveals how Dropbox combined design thinking with HR to enhance remote work. Topics include redefining productivity, the significance of treating employees as customers, and the role of intentional gatherings. Melanie also shares insights on building trust through clear goals and performance systems, along with how to embrace iteration in workplace practices. She emphasizes the need for empathy and adaptability in a rapidly changing work environment.

Stacy Barton, an experienced immersive experience designer with over 37 years in the industry, shares her insights on creativity under pressure and the transformative power of storytelling. She discusses how constraints can ignite innovation and the importance of the audience as the centerpiece of design. Barton's unique strategies for engaging customers and fostering team dynamics highlight the role of appreciation and emotional connection in the workplace. Tune in for her valuable tips on crafting immersive experiences that resonate in both business and entertainment.

Elizabeth Tippett, an employment law scholar from the University of Oregon, delves into the lingering impact of the Master Servant Doctrine on today’s work environment. They dissect how feudal ideas of control and obligation persist, influencing at-will employment and HR policies. Elizabeth highlights the historical roots of these concepts, the moral legacy intertwined with labor law, and how employer-provided benefits create dependency. They also discuss the necessity for a modern social contract to reshape labor relations for the better.

Dave Norton, founder of Stone Mantel, shares his insights on the evolution of experience design. He emphasizes that effective design focuses on how people spend their time, revealing that context trumps personality in shaping experiences. Norton discusses his work with Royal Caribbean, illustrating how design can create meaningful moments. He introduces the concept of 'time value' and how AI might scale transformational designs. Plus, he highlights the need for discomfort in transformation and the power of modularity in supporting user agency.