The Humanico Way: Unleashing Human Potential, Fostering Shared Purpose, and Cultivating Mattering in the Workplace, with Paul Rush and Fiona Vale

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So, as leaders, how do we dismantle outdated hierarchies to ensure that every individual's unique and shared potential is realised?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

Takeaways

• The power of communities and positive psychology can create a sense of belonging and contagious enthusiasm within organisations.

• Data-driven decision making and intelligent intuition are essential for making informed decisions.

• Diversity, inclusion, and belonging are crucial for building successful teams and organisations.

• Recognizing and embracing diversity of thought can lead to innovative solutions and better outcomes.

• Playing to strengths and building trust can improve individual and team performance.

• AI can amplify the human experience when used ethically and with a focus on value.

• Understanding individual purpose and meaning in the workplace is essential for employee engagement and fulfilment.

• Seamless integration of mergers and acquisitions can be achieved by understanding and valuing the human asset.

• Female co-founders face unique challenges in the startup ecosystem, and there is a need for greater support and investment in female-led ventures.

• Timing is crucial for driving change and addressing the evolving needs of the workforce.

• Embracing individual identity and encouraging individuals to define who they are can lead to greater fulfilment and success.

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 CliftonStrengths 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