DNA Of Purpose Rebecca Maklad

Today, I am thrilled to welcome back the remarkable Paul Zak. Paul is a Professor at Claremont Graduate University and is ranked among the top 0.3% of most cited scientists, with over 200 published papers and more than 20,000 citations to his research.

Paul was one of the pioneering scientists to integrate neuroscience and economics into the groundbreaking field of neuroeconomics. Along the way, he has also helped establish interdisciplinary fields such as neuromanagement and neuromarketing. He has authored three popular books and is a regular TED speaker.

In this episode, we will dive into Paul's latest book: Immersion: The Science of the Extraordinary and Source of Happiness. This book uncovers the neurological foundations of extraordinary experiences, using insights from 50,000 brain measurements to guide readers on creating high-impact marketing, entertainment, training, customer, and employee experiences. It demonstrates how extraordinary experiences not only boost customer lifetime value but also provide the neurological basis for increased individual happiness.

Why is this crucial? In an era defined by disruptive trends—exponential technological progress, a fundamental shift in work dynamics, and an urgent need to address climate change—it has never been more important for purpose-driven leaders to create deeply moving and extraordinary human experiences. 

Today, we will discover how to achieve this.


In this episode, we discuss the importance of creating extraordinary experiences in the experience economy and how it can boost customer lifetime value and individual happiness. 
We unlock the concept of immersion and how it can be measured using brain signals from the peripheral nervous system. 
We discuss the power of storytelling, the significance of the first minute in capturing audience attention, and the role of tension in inspiring action. 
We touch on the differences in immersion experiences based on personality traits and the potential of superfans in marketing. 
The conversation explores the intersection of AI and immersion, the unique qualities of human memory and learning processes, and the importance of adaptability in the face of technological shifts. 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Paul Zak and the Importance of Extraordinary Experiences

05:11 Defining Immersion and its Relevance Today

08:45 The Experience Economy and the Power of Social Layer

25:29 Creating Tension for Action and Cognitive Dissonance

31:53 Differences in Immersion Experiences and the Role of Superfans

37:25 The Role of AI in Automation and Innovation

40:26 Adaptability in Remote Work

45:03 Finding Purpose through Energy and Connection

57:32 The Power of Love in Immersive Experiences
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Welcome back to the DNA of Purpose podcast! After a brief hiatus, we are thrilled to return for Season 6, bringing you the stories and insights of the world's most purpose-driven leaders. I'm especially excited about today's episode because we have the incredible Jessica Hickman with us.

As the founder and director of Bullyology and an advocate of The Upstander Movement, Jess is a global speaker and TEDx presenter who equips schools, workplaces, and community groups with the tools and strategies to create thriving, respectful environments free of bullying, harassment, and violence. The Upstander Movement is all about empowering individuals to speak out and take action against injustice and harm in their communities. 

Jessica is the acclaimed author of "The Bullyologist: Breaking the Silence on Bullying" and "The Upstander Leader: How to Develop a Speak-Up Culture," which has received prestigious awards, including the RDA - Australian Career Book Awards 2023, the UK 2023 Business Book Awards, and the Australian Business Book Awards for HR & Management.

Living in regional NSW, Jessica is passionate about regional and remote education. She serves as a mentor for Regional Development Australia, is a board member for Business Orange, and co-founder of Central West Inspired Women.

Today, we'll dive into Jessica's personal journey, the challenges she faced, and how she's turning bystanders and upstanders. We’ll explore the neuroscience behind bystanding, practical strategies for creating a culture of speaking up, and Jessica’s vision for the Upstander Movement. We'll also touch on her upcoming projects and talks, including addressing bystanding in business and the emergence of the Upstander Economy. 

Takeaways: 


The power of one voice: Even in a world that is silent, one voice can be powerful in creating change and ending unnecessary human suffering.
The bystander effect: People often choose to look the other way or diffuse responsibility when faced with uncomfortable or difficult situations, contributing to the perpetuation of harmful behaviours.
Tall poppy syndrome: Australia has a cultural phenomenon where people tend to chop down those who excel or speak up, hindering progress and growth.
The importance of upstanding: It is crucial to challenge the bystander effect and choose to be an upstander, speaking up against injustice and supporting those who are suffering.
Addressing gender equality and domestic violence: These issues require awareness, prevention, and support systems to create a safer and more equitable society. Recognize the importance of shifting from being a bystander to an upstander
Understand the four zones of the bystander model: unconscious, uncomfortable, avoidance, and upstander
Explore the concept of the upstander economy and the bystander matrix
Embrace qualities crucial for leaders in the upstander economy: empathy, ethics, equality, and humility
Realise the power of one voice to change the world

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and the Power of One Voice

03:48 Personal Story: Workplace Bullying and Harassment

10:07 Tall Poppy Syndrome and Workplace Culture

14:32 Understanding the Bystander Effect

26:18 Advocating for Gender Equality and Addressing Domestic Violence

30:50 Inspiring Upstanders and Building Awareness

41:57 The Bystander Matrix: Ethical, Cultural, Social, Environmental

52:31 The Three E's of Leadership: Empathy, Ethics, Equality

55:46 Love and Compassion in the Workplace
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If you're a returning listener, you'll recall our conversation with Andrew Leitch, the co-founder of Brave Spaces. Today, we're privileged to introduce the other visionary behind this venture – Jacinta McDonnell.

Jacinta's journey is nothing short of extraordinary. As one of Australia’s foremost entrepreneurs, she has carved her path with unparalleled success. Yet, what truly distinguishes Jacinta is her remarkable ability to delve deep within herself, employing a repertoire of mindset tools to create brave spaces that empower individuals, cultures, and communities.

Her entrepreneurial acumen came to the fore in 2008 when she pioneered the launch of Anytime Fitness in the Australian market alongside her brother, Justin. Under their stewardship, Anytime Fitness burgeoned into Australia's premier health club chain, boasting over 500 clubs nationwide. But Jacinta's pursuits extend beyond business – she is a purpose-driven visionary committed to leveraging commerce for the greater good. From 2015 to 2020, she helmed The Human Kind Project, a non-profit foundation catalysing life-altering initiatives in Africa and India.

Continuing her quest to redefine business, purpose, and leadership, Jacinta now channels her wisdom through keynote speaking engagements, coaching endeavours with A Founder’s Path, and her latest venture, Brave Spaces. This innovative platform offers transformative programs and experiences designed to empower individuals to lead purposeful, authentic lives.

In today's conversation, Jacinta and I delve into the essence of self-awareness, a cornerstone of effective leadership and personal growth. Together, we unravel the intricacies of courage, self-regulation, connection, and purpose, illuminating pathways for integrating pivotal moments into a life of fulfilment and meaning.

Ultimately, this conversation embodies the essence of Jacinta's ethos – a rare blend of achievement and humility, of success and service. It's a testament to her unwavering dedication to igniting human progress and fostering a more beautiful world for us all.

Takeaways


Self-awareness is crucial for leadership and personal growth.
Being curious and open-minded is key to cultivating self-awareness.
We need to ask ourselves honest questions about how we show up and make decisions.
Developing self-awareness requires reflection, mindfulness, and a willingness to challenge our own beliefs and behaviours.
By breaking down our ego and developing self-awareness, we can level up as leaders in all aspects of life. Bravery involves being honest with oneself and having vulnerable conversations.
Integration is crucial for transformation and involves grounding experiences in the body.
The goal is to empower individuals to step into their potential and take the next step.
The vision for Brave Spaces is to impact as many people as possible by training facilitators.
The ultimate message is to be brave and step in.

Chapters: 


00:00 The Importance of Self-Awareness in Leadership and Personal Growth
34:21 Asking Ourselves Honest Questions: How Do We Show Up?
43:56 Connection: Accepting and Loving Ourselves
57:47 Integration: Embodying Experiences and Feeling Grounded

https://www.bravespaces.com.au/

https://www.jacintamcdonell.com.au/
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In today's fast-paced world, the urgency of transitioning towards renewable energies is more apparent than ever. The latest report from the International Energy Agency reveals a staggering surge in renewable electricity capacity with solar leading the charge. This data underscores the imperative driving this global shift—a necessity rooted in hard data and undeniable momentum.

But amidst these groundbreaking advancements, one question remains: How can we make these innovations accessible and affordable for all? Today, we'll explore a solution that not only addresses this challenge but also offers a compelling path towards a sustainable future.

Our guest today, Dean Spaccavento, co-founder of Reposit Power, has pioneered a solution that proves it's cheaper to save the world than to ruin it. Reposit Power's innovative approach integrates solar power, batteries, and a shared network of energy, providing sustainable and cost-effective solutions to power up homes and communities.

In my conversation with Dean, we unlock his determination to shed light on the urgency of addressing climate change. We delve into the historical evolution of electricity and the remarkable progress made in embracing renewable energy sources. Dean explains how Reposit Power's groundbreaking technology moves electricity efficiently across time and space, meeting consumer needs while transforming communities on a global scale.

But we don't stop there. Dean shares insights on the role of renewable energy in underprivileged areas, the challenges and opportunities of solar energy adoption, and the transformative potential of skipping centralised infrastructure. We also explore the changing sentiments towards the climate crisis, entrepreneurship's vital space between and social impact, the future of electric cars, and venture into the cutting edge of emerging technologies shaping the energy industry's future.


Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Purpose

03:30 Personal Journey and Purpose

09:19 Historical Evolution of Electricity

16:10 Progress in Embracing Renewable Energy

24:30 Technical Aspects and Benefits of Reposit Power

27:10 Shared Network and Community Power

28:48 Global Potential of Reposit Power

29:08 Access to Power in Underprivileged Areas

30:19 The Inconvenience of Solar Energy

31:13 Opportunity to Skip Centralized Infrastructure

32:11 The Role of Technology in Helping Economies Catch Up

33:18 Changing Sentiments in Relation to the Climate Crisis

34:19 The Need for Leadership and Incentives to Address Climate Change

35:50 Finding the Space In Between in Entrepreneurship

38:37 The Role of Reposit Power in EV Charging Infrastructure

42:46 Collaboration Between Reposit Power and Car Manufacturers

44:52 Emerging Technologies and Trends in the Energy Industry

47:45 Reposit Power's Goals and Milestones

51:54 The Importance of Recognizing New Technology

53:43Creating Certainty in Energy Solutions
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Today, we're delving into a vital question: What does it truly take to cultivate a purpose-driven, human-centric workplace where every individual's potential is not just acknowledged, but actively nurtured and celebrated?

While it may seem obvious that organisations would prioritise a human-first approach, the reality often falls short, with investment in employee development typically reserved for executives, leaders, and high potentials, leaving many behind. 

So, as leaders, how do we dismantle outdated hierarchies to ensure that every individual's unique and shared potential is realised? 

How do we embrace a more inclusive, purposeful, egalitarian view of our colleagues and co-workers? 

And how can technology empower us to ignite all of the above? 

To shed light on these questions, we're thrilled to welcome Fiona Vale and Paul Rush, the co-founders of Humanico, who are revolutionising how organisations cultivate their most valuable asset—their employees. Over the last year, Paul and Fi have navigated the unpredictable waves of startup life, gearing up for expansion after a series of successes. They secured nearly $1 million in Seed funding last year and were honoured with the Burning Heroes Award for Global Reach in November. This year, they're poised to expand Humancio's mission globally. 

So Humanico's solution is a Human Map - which stands as the world's first digital interactive map of employees. This cloud-based platform visualises employee capabilities and engagement levels in a dashboard, providing data-driven insights that empower executives to optimise their workforce effectively.

With disengaged employees costing organisations trillions of dollars in lost productivity annually and workplaces struggling to keep pace with evolving trends, Humanico's AI-powered talent management platform offers a promising solution to enhance employee engagement and retention in today's competitive talent landscape.

Having Paul and Fi join me in the studio was an absolute joy as we explored a range of topics, from unlocking human potential to driving organisational transformation with a people-first approach. Our conversation spanned purpose, diversity, and inclusion, as well as the transformative potential of community building. 

We also examined the surprising ways in which AI and technology can amplify human connection and experience. Throughout our discussion, Fi and Paul shared invaluable insights and highlights from their remarkable entrepreneurial journey. I'm confident you'll find this conversation as enlightening as I did. Welcome to another episode of the podcast.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Purpose

04:03 Fiona Vale's Journey to Humanico

08:27 Paul Rush's Journey to Humanico

13:57 Challenges in Human Asset Management

23:17 Embracing Mindset Shifts in a Changing Workplace

28:17 Leveraging Agile Frameworks for Human Performance

37:22 Building Internal Communities and Tribes

40:25 The Power of Communities and Positive Psychology

42:06 Data-Driven Decision Making and Intelligent Intuition

42:32 Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging

45:48 Recognizing Diversity of Thought

47:43 Understanding Thought Process through Clifton Strengths Assessment

49:28 Playing to Strengths and Building Trust

53:13 Amplifying the Human Experience with AI

58:17 The Nature of Human Purpose and Meaning in the Workplace

01:03:46 Seamless Integration of Mergers and Acquisitions

01:11:05 Navigating the Challenges of Being a Female Co-founder

01:19:03 The Importance of Timing and Embracing Individual Identity
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Today's guest is Mange Kumarasamy and he is the co-founder of Climate Team. Climate Team is a platform that brings together businesses, freelancers, investors and enthusiasts who are committed to reversing climate change. They provide a way for startups and scale-ups to connect with qualified freelancers and motivated investors, and provide opportunities for all of these people to be the change our planet needs. 

Today Mange and I explore the full spectrum of how you can become the solution, how you can join a community or incredible solution maker and we look at the levers igniting a solutions economy where the brands that will win, will be the brands that care about creating a greener future. 

Takeaways: 


Individual action is crucial in addressing climate change.
Maintaining community engagement requires cross-collaboration and empowering community members.
Social capitalism, where serving a greater social purpose benefits everyone, is feasible with the right alignment of factors.
Leaders should balance business operations with a reduction in their environmental footprint and embrace a mindset shift towards business expansion. Climate Team aims to connect and empower individuals and organisations working on climate solutions.
Partnerships and purpose-driven work are essential for entrepreneurs entering the startup space.
Individuals can transition into the climate space and use their existing skillsets to make a positive impact.
Having open conversations about climate change with children and emphasising purposeful action is important.
Innovative solutions and services, such as using coconut shells and banana tree stems, are emerging in the climate space.
Leaders play a crucial role in bridging the gap between scientific awareness and public discourse.
Embracing inconvenience for the planet is necessary to reduce our impact and create sustainable solutions.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Purpose

03:16 Asking Powerful Questions

05:29 Transition to Climate Advocacy

06:16 Climate Education and Emotional Connection

09:31 Individual Action in Climate Change

11:36 Maintaining Community Engagement

19:00 Balancing Business and Environmental Footprint

23:53 Mindset Shift and Business Expansion

25:01 Slowing Down Growth and Building Better

31:51 Origin Story of Climate Team

33:12 Introduction to Climate Team

34:08 Advice for Entrepreneurs

36:49 Transitioning to the Climate Space

39:14 Using Existing Skillsets in the Climate Space

40:13 Empowering People to Own Their Voice

41:12 Supporting Startups and Freelancers in the Climate Space

43:29 Parenting and Preparing Children for the Future

44:09 Innovative Solutions and Services in the Climate Space

52:23 Bridging the Gap Between Scientific Awareness and Public Discourse

55:59 Embracing Inconvenience for the Planet

58:22 Finding Climate Team and More Information

01:00:15 Appreciation for Community Building
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