Work For Humans

American culture has made finding a dream job one of life's ultimate goals. Personal identity and professional roles have merged into one, and this entanglement can cost us our happiness, well-being, and ultimately true career success. Why has work taken such an all-encompassing role in American lives, and why is it such a challenge for us to detach from it? Simone Stolzoff is on a mission to reclaim our lives from a work-obsessed world. As a former journalist and the author of The Good Enough Job, Simone has interviewed Michelin star chefs, Wall Street bankers, overwhelmed teachers, and other workers across the American economy to expose what we lose when we expect work to be more than a job. In this episode, Dart and Simone discuss:- Challenging myths around work and identity- How work-first culture has betrayed many employees- The transactional relationship between employers and employees- Designing a sustainably productive culture at work- Why companies should encourage employees to diversify their identities - The connection between survival, employment, and government assistance in the U.S.- And other topics…Simone Stolzoff is a designer, workplace expert and consultant, and author of The Good Enough Job. His consulting clients include Google, Meta, Microsoft, IDEO, Guild, and the State of California. As a former journalist and design lead at the global innovation firm, IDEO, his work has been featured in The New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, and many other publications. Simone received his bachelor's degree in creative writing from The University of Pennsylvania and his master’s degree in journalism and multimedia storytelling from Stanford University.Resources mentioned:The Good Enough Job, by Simone Stolzoff: https://www.amazon.com/Good-Enough-Job-Reclaiming-Life/dp/059353896X Human Capital, by Thomas Davenport: https://www.amazon.com/Human-Capital-P-Davenport/dp/0470436816 Connect with Simone:www.thegoodenoughjob.com 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.

Having coached CEOs at companies like Dropbox, Qualtrics, and Twitter, Kim Scott knows a thing or two about modern leaders. Her expertise sheds light on how modern leaders often mistakenly resort to authoritarianism – inadvertently transforming themselves into workplace jerks. In this episode, Kim shares how to lead effectively, avoid the pitfalls of being too aggressive or too nice, and create healthier, more productive workplaces. Kim Scott is a New York Times bestselling author, CEO coach for Fortune 500 companies, and the co-founder of Radical Candor – a Silicon Valley company that helps organizations create healthy cultures, build cohesive teams, and achieve collaborative results. In this episode, Dart and Kim discuss:- How to simultaneously care for and challenge your team- The difference between radical leadership and aggressive leadership- How to level power dynamics for effective interpersonal communication- Creating a fairer and more reasonable workplace- Optimizing work for collaboration instead of coercion- The dangers of viewing employees as commodities- Identifying and responding to bullying, bias, and prejudice at work- And other topics…Kim Scott is a New York Times bestselling author, keynote speaker, team leader, and CEO coach for Fortune 500 companies. She has guided CEOs at renowned companies such as Dropbox, Qualtrics, and Twitter. She was previously on the faculty of Apple University and led AdSense, YouTube, and DoubleClick teams at Google. Kim co-founded Radical Candor, a Silicon Valley company that helps organizations create healthy cultures, build cohesive teams, and achieve collaborative results. Her expertise is reflected in two of her latest books, Just Work and Radical Candor.Kim holds an AB in Slavic Literature and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Earlier in her career, she co-founded and led business development at various startups, managed a pediatric clinic in Kosovo, and even started a diamond-cutting factory in Moscow.Resources mentioned:Radical Candor, by Kim Scott: https://www.amazon.com/Radical-Candor-Kick-Ass-Without-Humanity/dp/1250103509 Just Work, by Kim Scott: https://www.amazon.com/Just-Work-Prejudice-Bullying-Inclusivity/dp/1250275709 Burn It Down, by Maureen Ryan: https://www.amazon.com/Burn-Down-Complicity-Change-Hollywood/dp/B0BGMM3NZJ Beyond Measure, by Margaret Heffernan: https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Measure-Impact-Small-Changes/dp/1476784906 The Core Value Equation, by Darius Mirshahzadeh: https://www.amazon.com/Core-Value-Equation-Framework-Limitless/dp/1544506708 Finding Me, by Viola Davis: https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Me-Memoir-Viola-Davis/dp/0063037327 Anna Karenina, by Leo Tolstoy: https://www.amazon.com/Anna-Karenina-Leo-Tolstoy/dp/0143035002 Connect with Kim: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.

We tend to use the word ritual to talk about everyday routines. For instance, we have our ritualistic cup of coffee in the morning. But rituals are much more than just repetitive actions. True rituals carry deep meaning, emotion, and a promise of transformation.As a professional ritual designer, Tiu De Haan has designed rituals in countless forms. She took on the heavy task of designing a ritual to unite families of organ donors with organ recipients. She designed a ritual to help a man reach peace with the death of his twin brother who died at birth. And she's created rituals to help teams bond, think outside the box, and do their best work. Tiu De Haan is a workshop facilitator, inspirational speaker, consultant, curator, and ritual designer. She has created and facilitated experiential workshops for almost two decades, working with clients like Google, Nike, the Ministry of Justice, Bank of America, and BBC.In this episode, Dart and Tiu discuss:- How to design a meaningful ritual - The difference between a habit, routine, and ritual- How rituals can inspire creativity and new ideas- The components of effective rituals- Smaller rituals you can incorporate at work- Team-building rituals- The role of the “keeper of the rituals” at work- And other topics…Tiu De Haan is a workshop facilitator, curator, inspirational speaker, and ritual designer. She has created and facilitated experiential workshops for over 17 years, including her year-long mentorship program called The Path. As a ritual designer and consultant, she has worked with clients like Google, Nike, the Ministry of Justice, L’Oréal, Bank of America, the Centre for Quantum Photonics at Bristol University, and BBC, among others. Connect with Tiu:www.Tiudehaan.com 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.

Claus Raasted and Paul Bulencea discuss the art of transformation through immersive experiences like the College of Extraordinary Experiences. They explore unconventional roles, unique selection criteria for professors, and practical applications in experiential design. The podcast delves into the perception of time, hosting events in unconventional spaces like castles, and creating transformative experiences that challenge attendees to grow.

Higher education is supposed to help students develop skills, explore new possibilities, and design a brighter future. Instead, most students are forced to choose majors without fully understanding themselves or their options. Then, they’re shipped out on a career conveyor belt, ending up in careers they despise – all at a six-figure price tag. Dr. Farouk Dey is on a mission to challenge our restricted and traditional education system. He is leading the charge through his work at the Johns Hopkins’ Imagine Center for Integrative Learning and Life Design, empowering students to design their lives and redefine the purpose of education itself.Dr. Dey has over two decades of experience in higher education and talent development, having served in executive leadership and board roles at Stanford, Carnegie Mellon, and the National Association for Colleges and Employers (NACE), among others. He has been named one of LinkedIn’s Top Ten Voices in Education and is the Vice Provost of the John Hopkins’ Imagine Center.In this episode, Dart and Farouk discuss:- The Imagine Center for Integrative Learning and Life Design- How economic shifts drive national career changes- The growing need to develop minds, not just careers- Changing the outdated career service models of American universities- Balancing competition and curiosity when choosing a career- The importance of experiential learning for life design - How universities can give students a higher return on their investment- Farouk’s advice for companies who want to build a life design center- How to construct your passion, rather than "find it"- And other topics…Dr. Farouk Dey is the Vice Provost for Integrative Learning and Life Design at Johns Hopkins University. With over two decades of experience in higher education and talent development, Dr. Dey leads a newly created division of 15 departments and centers that bridge curricular and experiential learning with professional ambitions for students and alumni across the university’s nine schools.Before Johns Hopkins, Dr. Dey served in executive leadership and board roles at Stanford, Carnegie Mellon, the National Association for Colleges and Employers (NACE), and others. He has also served as a keynote and TEDx speaker, consultant, and professor across the world. Dr. Dey holds a PhD and EdS in Educational Leadership, MBA and MEd in Counseling Psychology, and a BBA in Finance. Resources mentioned:Work For Humans, Ep. 53 – Designing Your Life: How to Use Design Principles to Get What You Want in Work and Life | Bill Burnett: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1949517/13012061Connect with Farouk:Imagine.jhu.eduLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/faroukdey/ Twitter and YouTube: @faroukdeyWork 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.

Rowena Hennigan was working from home in Ireland when her daughter began to develop chronic asthma. As things worsened, she was forced to make a drastic decision; she packed up her family and moved to one of the driest parts of Europe they could find – Zaragoza, Spain. This decision not only changed their lives, perspectives, and health for the better, but it also set the foundation for Rowena’s career as a Remote Work Expert and Consultant. Rowena is a keynote speaker, university lecturer, Global Thought Leader in Remote Work and Digital Nomadism, and the founder of RoRemote, a remote skills training and consultancy company. Having lived and worked in 14 countries, her career spans over two decades of professional industry experience.In this episode, Dart and Rowena discuss:- Rowena’s experience living and working in 14 countries- The personal and professional benefits of nomadic work- Effective and ineffective approaches of countries toward remote work- How digital work changes from one location to another- Safety issues and solutions within international work- The massive skills gap in remote work- How and why companies should support nomadic employees- The mindset and preparation needed for successful nomadism- Traveling meaningfully through "slowmadism"- And other topics…Rowena Hennigan is a keynote speaker, university lecturer, Global Thought Leader in Remote Work and Digital Nomadism, and the founder of RoRemote, a remote skills training and consultancy company. Having lived and worked in 14 countries, her career spans over two decades of professional industry experience.Rowena has been selected as one of LinkedIn News Top 10 Global Voices in Remote Work 2022, a Top 25 Remote Innovator of 2021 and 2022 by Remote.com, and a member of the Board of Advisors for the Digital Nomad Association – Croatia. She is currently a Strategic Advisor for companies like WorkTripp, Camesited, ROORAL, and SafetyWing, among others. Resources Mentioned:Rowena's LinkedIn Learning Courses: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/instructors/rowena-hennigan“How to Become a Digital Nomad,” by Rowena Hennigan: https://hbr.org/2023/02/how-to-become-a-digital-nomad Digital Nomad Association: https://dnacroatia.com/Boundless Life: https://bit.ly/blrowenaDave Cook: https://www.iamdavecook.com/Connect with Rowena:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rowena-hennigan/ 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.

From the kitchen table to self-driving cars, everything in our lives was designed by someone who wanted to solve a problem. If we can design everything from technology to living spaces, award-winning Silicon Valley designer Bill Burnett believes we can also design and build careers to create fulfillment and joy at work. By using curiosity, reframing, collaboration, and other tools, Bill teaches others how to build the right mindset to enjoy the present while designing an even greater future.Bill Burnett is an award-winning designer, New York Times best-selling author, adjunct professor, and the Executive Director of the Life Design Lab at Stanford University. Throughout his career, Bill has designed everything from the first slate computer to Hasbro Star Wars action figures, assisting and advising Fortune 100 companies and start-ups alike. In this episode, Dart and Bill discuss:- The design mindset you need to build the life you want- The problem with hyper-focusing on one goal - How to reframe problems to discover new solutions- Avoiding the sunk-cost fallacy - Enjoying what you have while building a brighter future- Management advice for interviewing and hiring adaptable employees- An antidote for the work-life balance problem - And other topics…Bill Burnett is an award-winning Silicon Valley designer and New York Times best-selling author. He currently serves as the Adjunct Professor and Executive Director of the Life Design Lab at Stanford University, and over 350 universities now use his curriculum on how to design your life. Throughout his career, he has designed everything from the first slate computer to Hasbro Star Wars action figures in the toy industry, assisting and advising Fortune 100 companies and start-ups alike. Bill is the co-author of the best-selling book Designing Your Life and recently published Designing Your New Work Life, both of which have garnered significant acclaim. His impact on design, education, and professional development continues to shape industries and inspire aspiring designers worldwide.Resources Mentioned:Designing Your New Work Life, by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans: https://www.amazon.com/Designing-Your-Work-Life-Happiness/dp/0593467450 Designing Your Life, by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans: https://www.amazon.com/Designing-Your-Life-Well-Lived-Joyful/dp/1101875321 Connect with Bill:www.DesigningYour.Life 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.

Dr. Christina Maslach is on a mission to redefine how we tackle burnout at work. For over 35 years, Dr. Maslach has researched the far reaching costs of burnout on society. Her commitment to this work led the World Health Organization to recognize burnout as an occupational phenomenon in 2019, raising the stakes for organizations worldwide. Today, Dr. Maslach is paving the way for meaningful workplace interventions that help people avoid burnout and be their best at work.Dr. Christina Maslach is the pioneer of research on the definition, predictors, and measurement of job burnout. She is a researcher, author, former administrator, and distinguished professor emerita of psychology at UC Berkeley. Dr. Maslach is also the creator of the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the leading measure of burnout in the workplace validated by over three decades of research. In this episode, Dart and Christina discuss:- Dr. Maslach’s latest book, The Burnout Challenge- The impact of employee burnout on business success- Chronic job stressors and what to do about them- The effect of burnout on employee engagement and retention- Compassion fatigue at work- Components of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI)- The six causes of burnout - And other topics…Dr. Christina Maslach is a researcher, author, former administrator, and distinguished professor emerita of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley. She is the creator of the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the leading measure of burnout in the workplace validated by over 35 years of research. She is also the author of numerous award-winning articles and books, including The Cost of Caring, The Truth About Burnout, and The Burnout Challenge. Christian received her B.A. from Harvard University and her Ph.D. from Stanford University. She was named by Business Insider as one of the top 100 people transforming business in 2021. With over three decades of experience, she is the pioneer of research on the definition, predictors, and measurement of job burnout. Dr. Maslach’s expertise led the World Health Organization to recognize burnout as an occupational phenomenon in 2019. Resources Mentioned:The Burnout Challenge, by Christina Maslach and Michael Leiter: https://www.amazon.com/Burnout-Challenge-Managing-Peoples-Relationships/dp/B0BLXX1T1W The Cost of Caring, by Christina Maslach: https://www.amazon.com/Burnout-Cost-Caring-Christina-Maslach/dp/1883536359 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.

Eric Anicich was a USC professor with 18 consecutive journal article rejections on his desk. Not knowing where to turn to professionally, he decided to do something completely different. He signed up as a Postmates driver in the gig economy. As he completed hundreds of rides, Eric went from rejection to research, crafting an investigative project on work, identity, and the highs and lows of the gig economy. Dr. Anicich is an associate professor of management and organization at USC’s Marshall School of Business. His research on the forms and functions of social hierarchy within groups and work has been published in several prestigious outlets, such as the Harvard Business Review, the New York Times, and leading academic journals like the Academy of Management Review and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.In this episode, Dart and Eric discuss:- Eric’s research on the gig economy - The negative effects of the gig economy on employees and their life narratives- What a holding environment is and why every job needs one- Shaping personal identity through work- Algorithmic management vs. human management- When a hierarchy helps at work and when it hurts- Exploring the possibility of multiple company cultures within one organization- The challenges, opportunities, and hidden power of middle management- And other topics…Dr. Eric Anicich is an associate professor of management and organization at USC’s Marshall School of Business. His research on the forms and functions of social hierarchy within groups has appeared in Forbes, CNN, the New York Times, TIME, The Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, and others. He has also been published in leading academic journals, including the Academy of Management Review, Organization Science, Psychological Science, and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Eric received his Ph.D. from Columbia Business School, MSc from the University of Oxford, and BA from Northwestern University. He was recognized as Poets & Quant’s “Top 50 Undergraduate Business Professors” in 2021.Resources Mentioned:“Dehumanization Is a Feature of Gig Work, not a Bug,” by Eric Anicich: https://hbr.org/2022/06/dehumanization-is-a-feature-of-gig-work-not-a-bug The Anatomy of Genres, by John Truby: https://www.amazon.com/Anatomy-Genres-Story-Forms-Explain/dp/0374539227Working, by Studs Terkel: https://www.amazon.com/Working-People-Talk-About-What/dp/1565843428“The myth of the flat start-up,” by Saerom (Ronnie) Lee: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/smj.3333Connect with Eric:USC Marshall School of Business: https://www.marshall.usc.edu/personnel/eric-anicich LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-anicich-4340a918/ Harvard Business Review: https://hbr.org/search?term=eric%20m.%20anicich 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.

Matt Higgins was a struggling teen, working at McDonald’s for $3.75/hr to put food on the table for his ailing mother. When he saw the pay increase offered to college students, he decided to do something unorthodox; he dropped out of high school, got his GED, and enrolled in college. Adults tried to talk him out of it, but Matt knew this was the right choice for him.This was Matt's first "burn the boats" moment, but it wasn't his last. In fact, Matt believes this burn-the-boats mindset has defined his career, and has led him to places like Shark Tank, Harvard Business School, and beyond. Today, he joins us on Work For Humans to discuss the Burn the Boats philosophy. Matt is the co-founder and CEO of RSE Ventures, a private equity firm that incubates and invests in enterprises like the International Champions Cup, RESY, and the Drone Racing League. He is the recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, a current executive fellow at Harvard Business School, and the author of Burn the Boats.In this episode, Dart and Matt discuss:- How backup plans subvert our potential- Emotional intelligence and intuition in decision-making- Using anxiety to drive us- Assessing opportunity costs- Extracting value from negative situations- Acting early and taking risks for greater results- Elon Musk and Twitter- And other topics…Matt Higgins is an operator, investor, business builder, and co-founder and CEO of RSE Ventures. Matt Began his career as the youngest press secretary in New York City, later becoming an executive for the New York Jets and the Miami Dolphins. As CEO of RSE Ventures, Matt and co-founder Stephen Ross have helped establish enterprises like the International Champions Cup, RESY, and the Drone Racing League. Matt received his bachelor’s degree from Queens College and his JD from Fordham University. He was a guest shark on ABC’s Shark Tank and is an executive fellow at Harvard Business School. In 2019, Matt received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor for making it his mission to share his wealth of knowledge with those less fortunate. Matt recently published his first book, Burn the Boats, to continue to inspire others to toss Plan B overboard and go all in on Plan A.Resources Mentioned:Burn the Boats, by Matt Higgins: https://www.amazon.com/Burn-Boats-Overboard-Unleash-Potential/dp/006308886X  Connect with Matt:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-higgins-rse/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mhiggins/?hl=en www.BurntheBoatsBook.coWork 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.