Humans At Work

“When he was in prison, and prison was both a physical thing but also a metaphorical thing, because imprisoning you on Robben Island, they were not only trying to physically isolate you but also mentally imprison your mind.  Mr Mandela knew this so he would always say to these fellow prisoners, “Never, ever give the upper hand to your jailers.  Never. 

…This is central to his ability to have managed all that time on Robben Island in a way that enabled him, first of all, to keep his dignity and, secondly, to do so in a principled manner.” 

This episode of the humans at work podcast features a conversation with John Samuel who, prior to his retirement, was one of South Africa’s leading education experts. 

John played a pivotal part in developing the new education system in South Africa after the new epoch heralded by the 1994 elections, and he worked alongside Nelson Mandela in the establishment of the Nelson Mandela Foundation. 

From his experience as a teacher, to learning the skills required for successful executive leadership, John talks us through the lessons he learned from arguably one of the greatest leaders in South African history – Nelson Mandela.  Widely read about the skills and techniques required by leaders and executives, John reflects on the hard-won practices he honed on the job as an organisational leader, in challenging roles and within dramatic environmental contexts.   

During his long career, John was Deputy Director General for the South African government's department of Education, the Senior Programme Director of the WK Kellogg Foundation in the USA, Chief Executive of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, and the CEO of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls. 

John and I talk about: 

Unfortunately, my conversation with John had to be cut slightly short due to load shedding in South Africa – basically… regular, managed power cuts to lessen the drain on the country’s power supplies.  We aim to pick it up again in a few months’ time! 

Resources and Links: 

To learn more about the some of the varied organisations John has been involved in establishing and leading: 

https://rethinkingschools.org/articles/education-in-south-africa-challenging-gutter-education/  

https://www.uj.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/cert-the-learning-post.pdf  

Sign up to humans at work: 

To listen to more podcasts, read the blogs, join the humans at work community, sign up for some 1-1 mentoring…visit https://www.humansatwork.org/  

Follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/humans-at-worknz/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/humansatworknz/  

“We need new ideas, new data, new passion, we need new adrenalin.  How can we create it?  Through conversations like this, and then create the connections, connect the dots…and that will help us build a human connection between us, and also break down the divisions of nations, races, cultures, our languages, to a point where we see the one-ness of our humanity.”

This episode features a conversation with Jay Naidoo, political and environmental activist, elder and grandfather.  Jay has lived almost two lives in one – the first, growing up in apartheid South Africa as a leader and fierce advocate of student and worker rights, and the second as an environmental and humanity-rights influencer focused on young people and governance across Africa.

 Jay eloquently walks us through his ‘non-job’ career history, from student activist to a Minister in the new democratic Government working with President Nelson Mandela.  And reflects on his spiritual journey, reconnecting with Mother Earth and listening with your heart in pursuit of regenerative action against climate change, poverty and discrimination.  Jay also talks about his priorities now – listening and supporting young, black people in Africa through their challenges and lack of trust in conventional institutions and systems.

We’ve split this episode into 2 parts – part 1 focuses on Jay’s reflections through his life and career and where he finds himself focusing now.  Part 2 includes our discussions about democratising creativity and innovation, support for young people, and redefining success.

Jay and I talk about:

Resources and Links:

To learn more about Jay:

Follow him on Instagram: jaynaidoograndpa

Sign up to humans at work:

To listen to more podcasts, read the blogs, join the humans at work community, sign up for some 1-1 mentoring…visit https://www.humansatwork.org/

Follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/humans-at-worknz/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/humansatworknz/

"I tried to be someone that wasn’t me and then at one point I just got tired of it and just accepted the fact that I’m a giant nerd and I should just enjoy the things I enjoy."

This episode of the humans at work podcast features a conversation with Vince Warnock, prolific host of the Challenging the Insights podcast, author, and award-winning Business and Marketing Coach and strategist.

From the Christmas Ninja to not fitting in and refusing to grow up, Vince has turned his ADHD into a super-power that has enabled him to carve out a global business supporting entrepreneurs to market their own uniqueness.  Vince shares insights into his journey from difficult childhood, through Star Wars, comics and corporate life, to NFTs and doing it his own way. 

Vince and I talk about the world of work:

Resources and Links:

To learn more about Vince:

Visit https://chasingtheinsights.com/

You can listen to the Chasing the Insights podcast on all major players, and via https://chasingtheinsights.com/podcast/

Follow Vince on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/vdub01/ 

Sign up to humans at work:

To listen to more podcasts, read the blogs, join the humans at work community, sign up for some 1-1 mentoring…visit https://www.humansatwork.org/

Follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/humans-at-worknz/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/humansatworknz/

“There was not even a second thought that the fact that I had to go back to South Africa because history was happening and couldn’t miss out on that.”  The first chance to vote as an equal citizen, why would you not want to go back?"

This episode of the humans at work podcast features a conversation with Enver Samuel, international award-winning producer and director, and head of his own production company EMS Productions in South Africa.

From his first experience of picking up some video and sound equipment to work out how to use it, to multi-award-winning directing and producing – Enver has always been fascinated by what motivates people, the psychology behind the public façade and the truth behind the gloss.  Enver shares his experiences about working on reality television shows like Survivor and Great South African Bake Off, and what drives him to make documentaries about the unsung people who have made South Africa the country it is today. 

Enver and I talk about:

Resources and Links:

To learn more about Enver:

Visit EMS Productions at https://emsproductions.co.za/  

Go to https://murderinparis.com/home for more information about the assassination of Dulcie September and Enver’s documentary Murder In Paris

To sign the petition to re-open Dulcie’s case, go to https://awethu.amandla.mobi/petitions/justice-for-dulcie-1 

You can view the trailer for the documentary, Murder in Paris at https://youtu.be/yC9o3RFSpkI

Sign up to humans at work:

To listen to more podcasts, read the blogs, join the humans at work community, sign up for some 1-1 mentoring…visit https://www.humansatwork.org/

Follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/humans-at-worknz/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/humansatworknz/

"It’s one thing when an HR person says, “We need to humanise the workforce,” or, “Let’s talk about being human centric.”  It’s another thing when the top five platform businesses in the world are saying, “We’re gonna humanise our offerings.”

This episode of the humans at work podcast features a conversation with Jeff Mike, Head of Insights and Impact at FlexTrack, a global company providing an extended workforce solution that aims to support organisations to acquire, engage, and manage their contingent workforce.

From Martial Arts to teaching to researching and focusing on levelling the workplace experience through technology for gig workers – what connects the dots is a focus on developing and sharing knowledge.  Jeff shares his reflections on the threads from his childhood, setting up a Martial Arts school while at university, working in HR, teaching, and now focusing on research as a critical support for organisations to become more human-centred. 

Jeff and I talk about the world of work:

Resources and Links:

To learn more about Jeff:

Visit Flextrack at https://www.flextrack.com/

You can read Jeff’s blogs at https://www.flextrack.com/author/jeffadmin/

Follow Jeff on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-mike/

To dive into the concept of slow-motion multitasking:

https://timharford.com/2019/01/my-ted-talk-on-the-power-of-slow-motion-multitasking/

https://timharford.com/2015/09/multi-tasking-how-to-survive-in-the-21st-century/

Sign up to humans at work:

To listen to more podcasts, read the blogs, join the humans at work community, sign up for some 1-1 mentoring…visit https://www.humansatwork.org/

Follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/humans-at-worknz/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/humansatworknz/

"I think people are very uncomfortable about talking about power and that especially we talk about it in different ways, we talk about it in terms of gender, or we talk about it in terms of culture or race.  But it all comes down to power and until you name it and find space to talk about it comfortably, it can loom over organisations and people and society."

This episode of the humans at work podcast features a conversation with Diane White, Director – Strategy and Transactions, at EY, Melbourne Australia.

From baking and bookshops, to carefully understanding and wielding your personal power, Diane reflects on her journey from small town New Zealand to glamourous Melbourne.  Diane shares her fierce intellect and wide-ranging reflections about what it means to have clear boundaries at work, and how finding your niche and enjoying your work can be just as meaningful as working for a cause. 

Diane and I talk about:

Resources and Links:

To learn more about Diane:

Find Diane on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diane-white-8039b249/

And to find out more about the services EY Australia provides, check out: https://www.ey.com/en_au

Sign up to humans at work:

To listen to more podcasts, read the blogs, join the humans at work community, sign up for some 1-1 mentoring…visit https://www.humansatwork.org/

Follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/humans-at-worknz/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/humansatworknz/