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How economic shifts drive national career changes- The growing need to develop minds, not just careers- Changing the outdated career service models of American universities- Balancing competition and curiosity when choosing a career- The importance of experiential learning for life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.

Over the last century, the world of work has changed extensively. We’ve experienced growth in the service sector, increased participation of women and minorities, and the rise of automation and technology – yet, oddly enough, many HR practices haven’t evolved much or at all. Melissa Swift, the Transformation Leader for North America at the Mercer consulting firm, believes that it’s time to update HR to finally meet the demands of today’s workplace.Melissa Swift is a recognized authority on humanistic workplace transformation and the author of Work Here Now: Think Like a Human and Build a Powerhouse Workplace. As the Transformation Leader for North America Mercer, she helps C-suite executives and organizations reinvent the employee experience, drive performance, and create a sustainable competitive advantage. In this episode, Dart and Melissa discuss:- Uncovering the dark history and roots of HR practices- The evolution of traditional and agile HR models- Work Here Now, by Melissa Swift- The danger of excessive customer centricity- Mapping customer journeys alongside employee journeys- Research findings on what makes work pleasant or unpleasant - The competing demands and complexities of the CPO role- The impact of unrealistic expectations in the age of technology- Pitfalls of a cost-centered approach to work- And other topics…Melissa Swift is a recognized authority on humanistic workplace transformation and the author of Work Here Now: Think Like a Human and Build a Powerhouse Workplace. She is the Transformation Leader for North America Mercer, an HR and wealth management consultancy that helps C-suite executives and organizations reinvent the employee experience, drive performance, and create a sustainable competitive advantage. Across her diverse career, Melissa has founded a research institute on leadership of the future for Russell Reynolds Associates, launched two ESG practices at Deloitte, and conducted landmark carbon credit trades for Deutsche Bank. Her research has been published in Harvard Business Review and The Wall Street Journal, and her insights have been quoted in Newsweek, The Washington Post, The Economist, and more. She has also been featured as one of Twitter’s “20 Digital Transformation Leaders to Follow” and named a “Top Influencer on the Future of Work” by Onalytica.Resources Mentioned:Work Here Now, by Melissa Swift: https://www.amazon.com/Work-Here-Now-Powerhouse-Workplace/dp/B0BVX6J4V1 The No Asshole Rule, by Robert Sutton: https://www.amazon.com/The-No-Asshole-Rule-audiobook/dp/B000NOKBYS Mapping Experiences, by James Kalbach: https://www.amazon.com/Mapping-Experiences-Complete-Alignment-Blueprints/dp/1492076635 The Anatomy of Genres, by John Truby: https://www.amazon.com/Anatomy-Genres-Story-Forms-Explain/dp/0374539227 Humanocracy, by Gary Hamel: https://www.amazon.com/Humanocracy-Creating-Organizations-Amazing-People/dp/B08F2RZ6VH Connect with Melissa:LinkedIn: 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.

Alain Thys is an experience architect who has positively impacted half a billion customers and over 350,000 employees worldwide. Working with top brands such as Adidas, ING, Mercedes, and Deloitte, Alain and his team have created and implemented innovative work experiences that drive business profits – without sacrificing employee and customer experiences. Alain is the former Managing Partner of Futurelab and founder of Alain Thys & Co. His company implements experiences that improve profitability by engaging teams around a common purpose, enriching customer lives through meaning, and differentiating brands from the competition.In this episode, Dart and Alain discuss:- Turning company vision into experiences for employees and customers- Designing work that motivates good employee behavior - Building custom solutions for customers- Finding and attracting the right employees for your business- The biggest mistakes in customer programs- Anticipating and meeting future customer needs- The challenges of CRMs, and potential AI solutions- Key factors that drive stakeholders and shape their experiences- And other topics…Alain Thys is an experience architect who has impacted over half a billion customers and over 350,000 employees worldwide. With his team, he has created and implemented new work experiences to help drive business profit for clients like Adidas, Audi, Mercedes, Reebok, and Toyota. His book, So You Want To Be Customer-Centric? is an executive action guide that helps businesses focus on customers without sacrificing profitability. In Belgium, Alain served as the Managing Partner of Futurelab and Advisory Board Member of BrightFish, after which he founded Shalima Ventures and Alain Thys & Co. Alain’s company implements experiences that boost revenue by engaging teams around a common purpose, enriching customer lives through meaning, and differentiating brands from the competition.Resources Mentioned:So You Want To Be Customer-Centric? , by Alain Thys: https://www.amazon.com/You-Want-Customer-Centric-Profitable-Relations/dp/1463785143 Connect with Alain:www.alainthys.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alainthys 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.

Seth Godin, author and marketing expert, challenges traditional work paradigms in his book. Topics include significance in work, eliminating drudgery, marketing through small connections, and critiquing work, not workers. He discusses the industrial revolution's impact on work, false proxies in hiring, and creating value in a service-based economy.