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Our third episode recorded at SXSW in Austin, Texas that we produced in partnership with Remote, the Global HR Platform.
Featuring:
1/ Donald Knight, Chief People Officer, Greenhouse Software
2/ Jeanne Ahn, Director of Partnerships, Remote
3/ Bryetta Calloway, VP, Global Marketing & Comms MassChallenge
4/ Chris Appleton, Founder, Art Pharmacy
5/ Bobbie Racette, Founder & CEO, Virtual Gurus
6/ Robbie Cabral, Inventor, CEO, and Founder, Benjilock
In the first interview of episode 3 at SXSW, Donald Knight, the Chief People Officer at Greenhouse Software, delves into various crucial topics shaping the contemporary workplace.
Discussing the impact of AI, Donald emphasises the necessity for companies to establish clear AI policies to integrate these technologies effectively. He underscores the importance of employees becoming adept at AI tools to enhance productivity, drawing parallels to past technological transitions. He shares his own experience leveraging AI to manage overwhelming email volumes, showcasing its potential to streamline tasks and boost efficiency.
Transitioning to the future of work, Donald advocates for leaders to display empathy while acknowledging the reality of a multigenerational workforce. He predicts a shift towards on-site becoming the new off-site, where meaningful collaboration occurs irrespective of physical locations.
Reflecting on the influence of Gen Z and Gen Alpha, Knight highlights the necessity for companies to adapt to the evolving expectations and realities of future generations to remain competitive. Expanding on the topic of advancing corporate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I), he stresses the importance of fostering inclusive cultures rooted in diversity of thought and allyship.
Finally, he outlines Greenhouse Software’s mission to democratise access to job opportunities and equip recruiters with tools to mitigate bias and ensure fair hiring practices. Knight’s insights offer valuable guidance for navigating the complexities of today’s workforce dynamics and driving organisational success.
Graham speaks with Jeanne Ahn, the Head of Partnerships at Remote, to explore her journey to her current role and the exciting developments within Remote’s partnership initiatives.
Jeanne’s journey to Remote began three years ago when she was drawn to the company’s mission of revolutionising remote work and global hiring. Coming from a background at Checkr, where she focused on eliminating bias in the hiring process, Jeanne was inspired by Remote’s vision of tapping into diverse talent pools worldwide. Her personal connection to Remote’s mission was solidified when she discovered that a colleague from Kyrgyzstan had been seamlessly integrated into Remote’s workforce, reinforcing the company’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.
As Head of Partnerships, Jeanne embarked on a dynamic journey to build and execute partner programs that aligned with Remote’s mission. She shares her experiences of shaping the partner strategy, engaging with potential partners, and receiving valuable feedback from investors. Through strategic planning and collaboration, Jeanne successfully launched a robust API partner program, culminating in a groundbreaking partnership with Gusto to facilitate global hiring for small and medium businesses.
Looking ahead, Jeanne reveals ambitious plans for Remote’s partnership program, aiming to onboard thousands of affiliates, expand VC partnerships, and enhance technology integrations. With a distributed team spanning multiple continents, Remote fosters a unique culture characterised by inclusivity and team bonding. Jeanne highlights the importance of periodic in-person gatherings and virtual social events in nurturing a strong sense of camaraderie among team members.
As Remote continues to pave the way for global remote work, Jeanne’s leadership in forging strategic partnerships underscores the company’s commitment to innovation and inclusivity. Her insights offer a glimpse into the future of remote work and the transformative power of collaborative partnerships in shaping the workforce of tomorrow.
The next guest on the episode is Bryetta Calloway, the VP of Global Marketing and Communications at MassChallenge, shedding light on issues of equity and inclusivity in the corporate landscape.
Bryetta’s recent talk on equity and inclusivity serves as a catalyst for their discussion, delving into the concept of the “invisible pathway to promotion.” This concept, from Bryetta’s research, highlights the need for greater transparency in career advancement opportunities, particularly for black and brown individuals in corporate America. By demystifying the steps required for career growth, Bryetta emphasises the importance of equitable access to information, advocating for a shift from goodwill efforts to sustainable, scalable practices.
Throughout the conversation, Bryetta tells personal stories, such as that of Rachel, a young Bipoc worker navigating the complexities of corporate culture. Rachel’s journey highlights the subtle yet profound impact of bias and barriers on career progression, prompting reflection on interventions to support marginalised individuals in their professional development.
Addressing the pressing question of actionable measures, Bryetta emphasises the dimensionalisation of DEI work, outlining core tenets for career advancement, including skill development, mentorship, and visibility. Drawing from her own experience implementing targeted interventions, Bryetta shares promising results and underscores the importance of fostering a meritocratic environment free from tokenism.
Furthermore, Bryetta offers insights into equitable recruitment practices, advocating for language de-gendering and bias decoding to mitigate unconscious biases in hiring processes. By fostering transparency and clarity around success metrics, Bryetta envisions a future where individuals can advocate for their career growth with confidence and autonomy.
Through her compelling narrative and pragmatic approach, Bryetta offers a roadmap for organisations striving to create meaningful change and cultivate diverse, inclusive workplaces.
Chris Appleton, the visionary founder of Art Pharmacy, was next to be interviewed as he speaks about the concept of social prescribing and its transformative impact on mental health care.
Chris explains the concept of social prescribing, a practice where health care providers prescribe non-clinical interventions such as participation in arts and culture activities to enhance mental well-being. At Art Pharmacy, this innovative approach enables doctors to prescribe arts and culture experiences as part of their patients’ mental health care plans.
The conversation delves into the profound positive impacts witnessed by Art Pharmacy, including heightened patient engagement and adherence to treatment regimens. With a focus on driving clinical outcomes and reducing healthcare costs, Art Pharmacy has emerged as a pioneer in revolutionizing mental health care delivery.
Chris highlights the company’s distinctive attributes and its pivotal role in spearheading the adoption of social prescribing in the United States.
Reflecting on the company’s growth, Chris underscores the importance of attracting talent driven by a passion for solving complex healthcare challenges. With an emphasis on values such as trust, impact, and collaboration, Art Pharmacy remains committed to recruiting individuals dedicated to meaningful change in the healthcare landscape.
Chris’s personal connection to mental health and his profound belief in the healing power of the arts infuse the discussion with authenticity and resonance.
Chris expresses optimism about Art Pharmacy’s future growth and the possibility of expanding its reach beyond the United States.
In an inspiring conversation at SXSW, Russ speaks with Bobbie Racette, the Founder and CEO of Virtual Gurus, to delve into her entrepreneurial journey, leadership style, and commitment to empowering marginalised communities.
Fresh off a thought-provoking session on female entrepreneurship, Bobbie shares insights on how women CEOs are forging ahead and discusses strategies for further scaling businesses. Despite initial challenges, Bobbie’s authentic and vulnerable leadership style has fostered a culture of inclusivity and resilience at Virtual Gurus.
Reflecting on her entrepreneurial journey, Bobbie recounts the perseverance required to secure funding, highlighting her resilience in the face of 170 investor rejections. Undeterred by setbacks, Bobbie’s determination fuels her ambition to drive growth and innovation at Virtual Gurus.
Virtual Gurus’ mission is the creation of a supportive community for underserved individuals, providing meaningful work-from-home opportunities to those facing systemic barriers. Through her role as chairwoman of the Indigenous Prosperity Foundation, Bobbie extends her advocacy, championing indigenous entrepreneurship and fostering economic empowerment.
As Bobbie’s leadership journey unfolds, her dedication to social impact and inclusivity remains strong, offering hope and inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs and marginalised communities alike.
In the final conversation at South by Southwest, Graham sits down with Robbie Cabral, the CEO and founder of Benjilock, to explore the inception of his innovative fingerprint lock technology and the journey of building a successful brand from startup to scale up.
Robbie shares the fascinating origin story of Benjilock, inspired by a simple yet pivotal moment at the gym when he witnessed someone struggling with a traditional lock. Motivated by the need for a more secure and convenient solution, Robbie embarked on a journey to create a lock that could be opened with both a key and a fingerprint, resulting in the Benjilock idea.
Transitioning from idea to brand requires more than just innovation; it demands strategic execution and legal protection. Robbie highlights the importance of assembling the right team and obtaining patents and trademarks to safeguard intellectual property, essential steps in bringing Benjilock to market.
Acknowledging the challenges in any startup journey, Robbie reflects on the perseverance required to overcome rejection and secure partnerships. He credits platforms like South by Southwest and CES for providing opportunities to showcase Benjilock and connect with potential collaborators and investors.
Robbie recounts his experience on Shark Tank, where he secured a partnership with renowned investor Kevin O’Leary. Robbie’s authentic presentation and compelling story resonated with the sharks, highlighting the power of personal connection in entrepreneurship.
Recognising the importance of team building, Robbie explains the value of trade shows and personal interactions in attracting talent to Benjilock. Despite the digital age, the significance of face-to-face interactions in creating meaningful relationships and driving business growth.
Looking ahead, Robbie shares his excitement for Benjilock’s relaunch with a new line of stainless steel products and highlights his commitment to privacy and personal experience in an increasingly AI-driven world.