The Lever with Drew Fortin Drew Fortin

It's our season finale!! Thank you to everyone who has joined us on this journey so far.

In this episode, you'll explore the groundbreaking concept of portable performance management and its potential to revolutionize the employer-employee dynamic. Traditional career paths are no longer the standard. Employers must now embrace a more agile approach, one that aligns with the unique aspirations and growth trajectories of their workforce. Meg Patel, a seasoned consultant, sheds light on the power of personalized learning and development plans. Discover how tailored strategies, finely tuned to organizational goals, can supercharge growth and unlock hidden potential.

Delve into the dynamic world of technology-driven career transformations with insights from Jeff Cassidy, CFO of Flat Iron School. Uncover how targeted training programs can rapidly elevate earning potential, especially in the tech sector. Whether you're a career innovator, forging your own path, or prefer to ride the wave of business evolution, understanding your role is pivotal. Gain clarity on navigating the shifting tides of industry trends and seize opportunities that align with your long-term vision.

Embrace the gig-centric future with William Tincup, where work is viewed as a series of empowering opportunities. Explore the rise of freelancers and digital natives who approach careers as a mosaic of enriching experiences. Vivek Mehta introduces the game-changing Weeve.ai, an AI companion designed to alleviate burnout and empower employees with personalized career trajectories. Discover how technology is poised to redefine the employer-employee dynamic, giving workers unprecedented agency.

🔑 Key Takeaways

Career Development Revolution: Traditional career paths are evolving. Employers must align with employees' learning and development needs for mutual success.

Personalized Learning: One size doesn't fit all. Meg Patel emphasizes the need for tailored development plans that align with business strategy for optimal growth.

Unlocking Tech Careers: Flat Iron School's Jeff Cassidy reveals how a few months of focused training can skyrocket salaries, especially in tech, opening doors to a world of opportunities.

Navigating Career Trajectories: Whether you're an innovator or a rider, understanding business evolution and your role in it is key to long-term success.

The Rise of the Freelance Economy: William Tincup predicts a gig-centric future, where digital natives pursue diverse opportunities, changing how we view jobs and careers.

Empowering Employees: Vivek Mehta introduces Weeve.ai, an AI assistant that puts career control back in the hands of employees, reducing burnout and increasing fulfillment.

Tech-Enabled Mentorship: Dr. Emily Harburg's PairUp uses tech to connect mentors and mentees, transcending chance encounters for more meaningful professional growth.

The Player Card Concept: Charlie Olson's Pandopooling empowers individuals to pool income and share success, revolutionizing how we perceive and navigate careers.

Career GPS: Visualize a future where you have complete awareness of your career's marketplace value, dynamically adding skills and experiences to your player card.

Transparent Contracts: As demand for clarity in employment contracts grows, companies must adapt to retain top talent or risk losing out to those that do.

🔚 Conclusion:
The Lever empowers you to seize control of your career in an ever-changing landscape. Embrace the shift, ask the right questions, and stay ahead. Follow us for more insights in Season 2!

Host: Drew Fortin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewpfortin)
Executive Producer: Connor Lewis (https://www.linkedin.com/in/connor-lewis)
Presented by: Lever Talent (https://levertalent.com)

Welcome back to The Lever, your guide to understanding how technology is reshaping the dynamics of the modern workplace. In this enlightening episode, your host Drew Fortin delves deep into the ever-evolving world of performance measurement and standards in the context of the future of work.

Here are some of the major themes this episode:
1. Rethinking Traditional Resumes:
In a world increasingly dominated by technology, we're bidding farewell to the age-old practice of evaluating employees based on traditional resumes. We explore how major innovations in AI, blockchain, and Web3 are fundamentally altering the way we assess the value of a worker. No more relying solely on a list of past experiences—guests like Charlie Olson, a Forbes 30 under 30 and CEO of Pando Pooling, envision a future where attributes and proven skills take center stage. Imagine presenting a concise, data-backed portrayal of your capabilities rather than a chronological job history.

2. Moneyball for Business:
Drawing inspiration from the renowned approach in baseball, the episode introduces the concept of "Moneyball for Business." Just as the Oakland Athletics used data-driven metrics to build a winning team, businesses are exploring how to apply similar principles to evaluating employees. Discover how statistics like on-base percentage and slugging percentage revolutionized baseball, and explore the potential for similar data-driven approaches in the corporate world.

3. The Promise of Web3:
Web3 technologies, blockchain, and decentralized credentials are on the horizon, promising complete ownership and portability of your career-related data. Guests like Cory Hymel, CEO of Gigster & Web3 consultant, share their insights into building workplace credentialing that can be securely anchored on the blockchain. This innovation could be a game-changer in a world where job fluidity is on the rise.

4. Standardizing Performance Metrics:
Standardization is a key theme. With technology reshaping work rapidly, the need for standardized performance metrics is more pressing than ever. From the validation of skills in the interview process to fair evaluations for all workers, we explore how standardization can level the playing field and address issues of bias and diversity.

5. Balancing Subjectivity and Objectivity:
The age-old debate between subjectivity and objectivity in performance evaluation comes to the forefront. The episode examines how technology can help strike a delicate balance, considering that not all aspects of human performance can be quantified. We hear from experts like Charlie Olson and Shuo Chen about the challenges and opportunities in this regard.

6. The Future of Work:
In a world where the nature of work is evolving rapidly, the episode offers insights into how technology will empower future employees to take charge of their career development. Discover the exciting possibilities for portfolio careers and how the workforce of tomorrow might differ from today's.

7. Finding Meaningful Work:
Throughout the episode, there's a resounding call for meaningful work. The discussion revolves around how aligning your career with your skills and passions can lead to a more successful, fulfilling, and impactful professional journey.

Join us on this enlightening journey through the future of work as we explore the dynamic shifts in performance measurement and the standards that will shape your career. Your career is your greatest asset, and understanding these emerging trends is crucial for staying ahead in the ever-changing world of work. Don't miss the insights that could define your future career path. Share your thoughts and predictions in the comments and stay tuned for our next episode!

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In this episode of "The Lever," we tackle an existential question: What is the value of a human in a world driven by AI?

Cory Hymel, VP of Product at Gigster & Web3 Consultant, joins us and delves into the profound depths of this question. The value of a human, he believes, is a philosophical enigma. As automation, AI, and robotics integrate into our lives, our relationship with work and self transforms.

But why this focus on human value? The answer lies in the essence of collaboration and management. HR tools are on the rise, aiming to optimize hiring and management success. As individuals, our careers represent our greatest assets, and our pursuit of increasing worth and value is a lifelong endeavor.

Avi Goldfarb, an AI expert, emphasizes the intrinsic role of human judgment. While AI excels at prediction, judgment—knowing which predictions to make and what to do with them—is uniquely human. The unpredictable nature of human judgment defies easy replication.

Leadership stands as a cornerstone of human value. Bledi Taska, Chief Economist at Lightcast, highlights how a single individual can amplify the output of an entire team, showcasing the multiplier effect of exceptional management.

Network effect is another invaluable asset. Lori Costew, former Chief Diversity Officer at Ford Motor Company, underscores the innate human need for connection. Building relationships internally and externally is vital, as shown by research revealing the correlation between a work best friend and employee retention.

Strategic thinking is heralded as a premium skill. Avi Goldfarb's analogy of ATMs expanding the role of bank tellers to higher-value tasks demonstrates how technology can elevate human potential. Strategic thinkers will shine as businesses pivot and adapt in a rapidly changing landscape.

Creativity, a quintessential human trait, emerges as a decisive factor. While AI excels at routine tasks, creative thinking remains a uniquely human realm. Humans are the cradle of creativity in problem-solving, innovation, or emotional intelligence.

This episode reveals how hard skills are being displaced, replaced by personal values, neuro-based leadership, networks, creativity, and strategic thinking. The positive perspective prevails, suggesting that technology's ascent will catalyze human potential, augmenting our collective ability to address the world's complexities.

So, what is the future of work's value equation? Tune in next time as we unravel the history of baseball analytics to explore the evolution of performance management.

Join the conversation by reaching out to us in the comments below. Stay empowered and envision the future with us!

Host: Drew Fortin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewpfortin)
Executive Producer: Connor Lewis (https://www.linkedin.com/in/connor-lewis)
Presented by: Lever Talent (https://levertalent.com)

In this episode, we're trying to break out of traditional discussions about the future of work. We uncover the transformative potential of AI, robotics, automation, and Web3, and how they will intricately shape the roles and responsibilities of humans in the workplace.

Drawing insights from 20+ eminent minds in economics, investing, academia, and business, we unravel the driving forces behind this monumental shift. Journey with us through thought-provoking topics, including the true value of human labor, the quest for meaningful work, the evolution of performance measurement, and the emergence of novel representations of talent.

We'll start by dispelling common fears surrounding AI's influence, focusing on the elevating potential of humans within a tech-driven world. Noted tech journalist John Markoff humorously challenges the pace of robotics and AI progress, highlighting that innovation takes time.

Shift your perspective with Shuo Chen, General Partner at IOVC and UC Berkeley faculty, as he outlines four pivotal pillars shaping the future of work. Discover how digital transformation, work automation, hybridized workplaces, and a diversified workforce will revolutionize industries.

Embark on a deep dive into the concept of optimization, where experts like Joyce Sidopolous, Co-Founder of MassRobotics, reveal how humans collaborate with robots to enhance processes. Explore how Cory Hymel envisions AI's role in liberating human potential, allowing us to focus on complex tasks, while AI handles repetitive ones.

Meghan Keaney Anderson, CMO at Jasper.ai, presents the power of AI in content creation, removing barriers to idea conveyance and fostering originality. Vivek Mehta, CEO of Weeve, introduces AI's role in bridging employee-leader gaps, addressing burnout, and scaling meaningful relationships.

Discover the concept of Web3 through insights from John Markoff and Shermin Voshmgir. Understand how decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) and blockchain technology could shape the future of business structures. Gain a glimpse into the potential of a knowledge economy that transcends conventional capitalist and communist paradigms.

Join us on this eye-opening journey into the world of work, as we unravel the intricate tapestry of AI, automation, and Web3 innovations. Prepare to embrace the paradigm shift and the forthcoming era where humans leverage their unique skills, creativity, and emotional intelligence, while technology handles the rest.

For more transformative insights and to stay updated on the future of work, subscribe to "The Lever" and join us in envisioning a future where humans and technology harmonize to create a new era of work.

Host: Drew Fortin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewpfortin)
Executive Producer: Connor Lewis (https://www.linkedin.com/in/connor-lewis)
Presented by: Lever Talent (https://levertalent.com)

In this episode, we dive deep into the transformative power of technology, specifically AI, robotics, automation, and Web3, and how they are revolutionizing the landscape of work. Tune in as we debunk common misconceptions, focusing on the positive impacts of these advancements on human roles and the workplace.

Join us as we hear insights from experts like Avi Goldfarb, who sheds light on how AI can enhance products, missions, and workflows, ushering in a system-level change that benefits both companies and employees. Discover the truth about robotics as Fady Saad clarifies Hollywood's portrayal and emphasizes the natural evolution of technology throughout history.

We explore the vital role of humans in supervising, debugging, and anticipating needs in a world filled with robots and automation. Uncover the collaborative relationship between humans and AI, where AI streamlines processes, leaving humans to excel in judgment, ethics, empathy, and creativity.

This episode underscores the inevitability of AI's role in our future and encourages us to embrace its potential while celebrating the distinctive strengths that make us human. Don't miss this enlightening discussion that paints a balanced picture of the technological revolution and its impact on the way we work and relate to the world around us.

Join Drew Fortin on this illuminating journey into the future of work, and stay tuned for our next episode, where we delve into how AI is shaping the business landscape and explore the concept of the democratization of work.

Presented by Lever Talent: levertalent.com

Forget traditional HR podcasts; we're diving into the realm of AI, robotics, automation, and Web3 and seeing how it may reshape work over the next 10-20 years.
Welcome to episode 1 of The Lever, where we explore how technology is giving the average worker an advantage.
We've gathered insights from 23 experts in economics, investing, academia, and business to uncover the forces driving this monumental shift. Join our host, Drew Fortin, as we explore fascinating topics like the true value of a human worker, the pursuit of work's purpose, the future of human performance measurement, and the potential for talent to be represented like baseball cards.
Take a journey through time and witness the rapid technological changes that have transformed the worker's role. From assembly lines to the knowledge economy, the internet age to the mobility age, each leap has been exponential.

The pandemic accelerated the rise of flexible and hybrid work, but there's more beneath the surface. The employer-employee relationship is evolving.
Businesses are recognizing the fragmented career journeys of their employees. As the market evolves, workers are embracing freelance and fractional work to gain diverse skills. The employee-employer relationship is becoming more dynamic, reflecting a give-and-get exchange.
Throughout the show, we explore how this social shift aligns with technological advancements. AI will transform job roles rapidly, and businesses will adapt faster to meet the moment.
Join us in this eye-opening journey, challenging us to embrace change and seize opportunities. 
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