Work For Humans

Howard Behar barely graduated high school and spent just two years in community college. Yet, he became a key leader at Starbucks soon after joining the company. From the start, he saw that Starbucks was not just about coffee but about people. With no formal business degree or global experience, he relied on persistence and a deep belief in servant leadership to guide him. He rose to president of Starbucks International and helped transform the brand from a small regional chain into a global powerhouse while ensuring its people-first culture remained at its core.Howard Behar is a longtime advocate of values-driven leadership. His book, It’s Not About the Coffee, explores the principles that helped build Starbucks into a people-first company. He is also a sought-after speaker and mentor, helping leaders develop cultures of trust, integrity, and purpose.In this episode, Dart and Howard discuss:- How Starbucks scaled while staying true to its values- Servant leadership in action- Why leaders must listen to employees at every level- Persistence over credentials in leadership- Hardest lessons from leading an international brand- Why Howard rejects the word "customers"- The business case for dignity and respect- What companies get wrong about inclusion- And other topics…Howard Behar is a leadership expert, former Starbucks president, and a champion of servant leadership. Serving as president of Starbucks North America and Starbucks International, he played a key role in expanding Starbucks beyond the U.S., leading its first global expansion into Japan and later into Europe and Asia. His leadership was rooted in a deep belief that business is about serving people first. He wrote It’s Not About the Coffee to share his insights on leadership, culture, and values-driven business. After retiring, he has dedicated his time to mentoring, public speaking, and serving on nonprofit and corporate boards.Resources Mentioned:It’s Not About the Coffee, by Howard Behar: https://www.amazon.com/Its-Not-About-Coffee-Starbucks/dp/1591842727The Magic Cup, by Howard Behar: https://www.amazon.com/Magic-Cup-Business-Parable-Putting/dp/1455538973Servant Leadership, by Robert Greenleaf: https://www.amazon.com/Servant-Leadership-Legitimate-Greatness-Anniversary/dp/0809105543Good to Great, by Jim Collins: https://www.amazon.com/Good-Great-Some-Companies-Others/dp/0066620996The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey: https://www.amazon.com/Habits-Highly-Effective-People-Powerful/dp/0743269519Built to Last by Jim Collins: https://www.amazon.com/Built-Last-Successful-Visionary-Essentials/dp/0060516402The Experience Economy by Joseph Pine and James GilmoreLeading Through by Kim Clark, Jonathan Clark, and Erin ClarkConnect with Howard:Phone: 206-972-7776Email: hb@howardbehar.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.

Cameron Kober, a Senior Manager at the Partnership for Public Service and former middle school teacher, discusses the often-overlooked impact of federal employees. He highlights how mission-driven work enhances engagement, despite challenges like leadership turnover and political transitions. Kober underscores the significance of initiatives like the Best Places to Work rankings to foster better workplace cultures. He also shares insights on building trust, recognizing public service contributions, and the essential role of effective leadership in government.

Sam Schlimper, Managing Director at Randstad and a talent acquisition expert with over two decades of experience, shares insights on transforming workplaces. She challenges the zero-sum mindset in leadership, advocating for a system where all stakeholders thrive. Topics include the need for purpose-driven work, the importance of neurodiversity, and leveraging AI in talent acquisition. Schlimper emphasizes understanding employees' intrinsic motivations and designing roles that foster joy and engagement, encouraging a holistic approach to work.

As co-founder of The Design Gym consultancy, Andy Hagerman has spent over a decade tackling the challenge of aligning employee needs with business strategy—an issue that can make or break organizational success. Working with clients like Marriott, Cisco, HP, and Kellogg’s, he has honed his craft by addressing complex organizational needs. In this episode, Andy unpacks a large case study with a major retailer, revealing how understanding the employee experience can create new opportunities for both business growth and workforce engagement.Andy Hagerman is the co-founder and managing partner of The Design Gym, a consultancy dedicated to work experience design and organizational transformation. The Design Gym has trained over 20k individuals and partnered with over 300 organizations, including Marriott, Kellogg’s, Cisco, and HP. In this episode, Dart and Andy discuss:- Designing work experiences with The Design Gym - Andy’s latest case study  - Exploring alternatives to product managers- Tools and principles for employee design research - Connecting employee life and work dynamics- Actionable insights from research and journey mapping- How retail experts drive business success- And other topics…Andy Hagerman is the co-founder and managing partner of The Design Gym, a consultancy dedicated to work experience design and organizational transformation. With a focus on co-creation, employee research, and delivering actionable insights, Andy helps organizations align employee experiences with the organization's strategic objectives. Over the past decade, his consultancy has trained over 20,000 individuals and partnered with over 300 organizations, including global leaders such as Marriott, Kellogg’s, Cisco, and HP. Before founding The Design Gym, Andy served as a business and innovation strategist at Jump Associates, where he honed his expertise in developing forward-thinking strategies for complex challenges. Andy is also a former guest lecturer for NYU, Columbia University and Parsons, and has led breakout workshops at both TED and TEDMED conferences.Connect with Andy: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewhagerman/ www.thedesigngym.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.

Companies have long treated employees like children, micromanaging their tasks and monitoring every move, hoping to boost productivity. The problem is that this approach undermines trust and stifles innovation, parenting employees instead of supporting them. Sammy Burt, author of What Is a Grown-Up Anyway, is working to shift this mindset. She helps organizations embrace a “grown-up” approach that fosters autonomy, confidence, and more empowered, innovative workplaces— treating employees as the adults they are.Sammy Burt is a professional facilitator, systems coach, and leadership consultant at Farleigh Performance. Her upcoming book, What Is a Grown-Up Anyway, explores the complexities of adulthood and personal growth through insightful storytelling and practical guidance.In this episode, Dart and Sammy discuss:- How companies “parent” employees- Treating employees as adults at work- Distinctions between adults and grown-ups- Joy, grieving, and empathy in the workplace- The link between child-like behavior and innovation- Transactional analysis in the workplace- Adult development theory- And other topics…Sammy Burt is a professional facilitator, systems coach, and leadership consultant at Farleigh Performance. With a background in psychology and extensive experience in both corporate and creative industries, she specializes in empowering clients to build resilience, develop leadership skills, and navigate change with confidence. Sammy is also the author of the upcoming book What Is a Grown-Up Anyway, where she explores the complexities of adulthood and personal growth through insightful storytelling and practical guidance.Resources mentioned:What Is a Grown-Up Anyway, by Sammy Burt: https://www.yourbackpack.co.uk/whatisagrownupanyway Design for Belonging, by Susie Wise: https://www.amazon.com/Design-Belonging-Inclusion-Collaboration-Communities/dp/1984858033 Useful Not True, by Derek Sivers: https://www.amazon.com/Useful-Not-True-Derek-Sivers-ebook/dp/B0D86K4XF5 Connect with Sammy: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sammyburt www.farleighperformance.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.

In this conversation with award-winning executive Robert Glazer, the founder of Acceleration Partners, listeners dive into a new approach to sustainable growth in the workplace. Glazer emphasizes the importance of engaging employees during the growth journey and fostering an empathetic leadership style. He tackles how core values shape company culture and explores strategies for overcoming learned helplessness. Plus, he discusses innovative methods for managing employee transitions and the vital role of resilience in today’s evolving work dynamics.

Product managers are often used to setting goals and going after them with a single-minded focus, achieving success by pushing for results. If they approach the job like a mechanic—fixing, controlling, and managing tasks—they risk stifling innovation and limiting their team’s potential. Without realizing it, managers can create an environment that suppresses growth. John Cutler, a seasoned product manager and researcher, believes that by adopting a service-oriented mindset, managers can instead empower their teams, foster growth, and ultimately drive better results for both the product and the people.John Cutler is the Head of Product at Dotwork, a strategic alignment platform that integrates metrics, insights, and workflows to drive better decision-making for businesses.In this episode, Dart and John discuss:- Balancing variety, complexity, and focus in design- Horizontal vs. vertical products- A service design mindset for managers- The traits of a great product manager- 3 major challenges that product managers face in software- Empathy and agency in management- And other topics…John Cutler is a seasoned product manager and user experience researcher. He excels at tackling complex problems and uncovering the "why" through qualitative and quantitative insights. Currently, John serves as the Head of Product at Dotwork, a strategic alignment platform that integrates metrics, insights, and workflows to drive better decision-making for businesses. Before joining Dotwork, he held pivotal roles, including Senior Director of Product Enablement at Toast and Head of Product Education at Amplitude, where he honed his expertise in product strategy and education.Resources mentioned:“How Capable Leaders Navigate Uncertainty and Ambiguity,” by John Cutler: https://cutlefish.substack.com/p/tbm-274-how-capable-leaders-navigateConnect with John:Substack: https://cutlefish.substack.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnpcutler/ 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.

An estimated 1 billion people switch jobs every year, and the war for talent continues. Leaders and HR teams keep using the same hiring strategies as the average employee tenure decreases year after year. Companies aren’t addressing the root issue: employees crave meaningful work, supportive colleagues, and growth opportunities. Unless companies transform their approach to employee satisfaction, they’ll keep losing their best people—something Ethan Bernstein and Michael Horn believe we can prevent. Ethan and Michael are co-authors of Job Moves, a book that uses the Jobs to Be Done theory to approach job selection as hiring a role to fulfill personal and professional goals, encouraging a more holistic perspective on career choices.In this episode, Dart, Ethan, and Michael discuss:- Major pushes and pulls driving job changes- Jobs to Be Done theory applied to work and career transitions- 4 Quests of job changes: why employees leave their jobs- Progress vs. progression at work- Experiences vs. features in job selection- 9 activities that companies can do to ensure strong employee fit- How to prototype and test potential career changes- And other topics…Ethan Bernstein and Michael Horn are co-authors of Job Moves, a book that uses the Jobs to Be Done theory to approach job selection as hiring a role to fulfill personal and professional goals, encouraging a more holistic perspective on career choices.Ethan Bernstein is the Edward W. Conard Associate Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School. He specializes in the Organizational Behavior unit and focuses his research on the dynamics of workplace transparency, how organizational design impacts performance, and managing human capital. His work has been published in various academic journals and covered by The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Forbes, and Bloomberg, among others. Michael Horn is an influential author, speaker, and lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He is the co-founder and a distinguished fellow at the Clayton Christensen Institute for Disruptive Innovation, a non-profit think tank. His work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Harvard Business Review, and NBC.Resources mentioned:“Why Employees Quit,” by Ethan Bernstein, Michael Horn, & Bob Moesta: https://hbr.org/2024/11/why-employees-quitJob Moves, by Ethan Bernstein, Michael Horn, and Bob Moesta: https://www.amazon.com/Job-Moves-Making-Progress-Career/dp/0063283581 Choosing College, by Michael Horn: https://www.amazon.com/Choosing-College-Learning-Decisions-Throughout/dp/1119570115 Connect with Ethan & Michael: www.jobmoves.comEthan’s Google Scholar https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=jt4uBuUAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=sraEthan’s email - e@hbs.eduwww.michaelbhorn.com Michael’s Substack: https://michaelbhorn.substack.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.

Moments before presenting at a large conference in Sydney, Gareth Flynn was confident in sharing his expertise on skills strategy. Suddenly, his friend Dart Lindsley tapped him on the shoulder and made a bold claim: skills strategies don’t work. Faced with the unsettling possibility that his expertise might be flawed, Gareth began a research journey to uncover the truth. By engaging with both critics and advocates, he gained a fresh perspective on when and how skills should (or shouldn’t) be prioritized in the workplace.Gareth Flynn is a writer, speaker, and talent and workforce expert with 25+ years of experience focused on strategy, skills, and leadership. He is the founder and CEO of TQSolutions, Australia’s leading talent and workforce strategy and solutions business. In this episode, Dart and Gareth discuss:- How companies approach skills — and when they fall short- Company motivation for investing in skills strategies - Insights from the critics of skills strategy- The difference between skills and capabilities- The taxonomy of skills- How AI is grouping people into social classes- Career drivers vs. life drivers- And other topics…Gareth Flynn is a writer, speaker, and talent and workforce expert with 25+ years of experience focused on strategy, skills, and leadership. As the founder and CEO of TQSolutions, Australia’s leading talent and workforce strategy and solutions business, Gareth and his team have advised companies like GE, Philips, Australia Post, and Westpac, among others. Prior to founding TQSolutions, Gareth co-founded The Career Conversation, an early careers experience and engagement business whose client list includes companies like Bank of America and Deloitte. Resources mentioned:“Is the Juice Worth the Squeeze?” by Marc Effron: https://talentstrategygroup.com/is-the-juice-worth-the-squeeze/ Connect with Gareth: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garethflynn 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.

Kim Clark, an esteemed management professor and former Harvard dean, teams up with his sons Jonathan, a management researcher, and Erin, a consulting director at Deloitte. They explore the pitfalls of traditional 'power-over' management and advocate for a more human-centered approach called 'leading through.' Discussing morality in business, they highlight the necessity of flat hierarchies for better productivity. Together, they redefine leadership to emphasize emotional intelligence and collective empowerment, aiming to transform organizational culture and employee wellbeing.