Work For Humans

R. Edward Freeman, Darden professor and originator of stakeholder theory, reframes business as networks of relationships. He explores how organizational systems create ethical outcomes. Short takes cover legitimacy and managerial responsibility. He contrasts ethics and strategy, explains stakeholder mapping, and urges moral imagination over trade-offs.

Alder Yarrow, an experience designer and founder of Hydrant, dives deep into why experience shapes brand perception. He shares insights on experience design versus user experience and the importance of considering employees as internal customers. Alder emphasizes the value of in-context studies over surveys and discusses how trauma-aware management can foster trust. Their conversation also highlights the critical role managers play in shaping employee experiences and how understanding the 'say-do gap' can enhance organizational growth.

In this engaging discussion, Aaron Horwath, Director of AI Operations at Creative Force, shares insights from his transformative work in AI-driven design. He emphasizes how prioritizing people over tools leads to successful AI adoption. Topics include the innovative approach of treating work as a product, using bubble charts to identify and eliminate drudgery, and empowering non-technical teams to generate real software. Aaron also highlights the importance of soft skills in an AI-enhanced future and fosters a culture of risk-taking and creativity.

Jan Golembiewski, an architectural researcher specializing in the psychology of built environments, joins the hosts for an enlightening discussion. He explains salutogenic design, emphasizing how spaces can foster health and resilience. Jan critiques conventional architecture that prioritizes profit over livability and discusses how thoughtful design can improve lives in various settings, from workplaces to dementia care. He shares insights on creating environments that nourish while providing meaningful choices, demonstrating the profound impact of design on human well-being.

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.

Daniel M. Cable, a London Business School professor and author of Alive at Work, studies why people thrive at work. He talks about the brain’s seeking system and dopamine. He covers experimentation and play, personalized purpose, strengths-based onboarding, leadership that fosters learning, and how performance management can stifle curiosity.

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.