Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share we got this
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
we got this
we got this episodes
- #66 How To Cost Cut Without Killing The Future with Rana Ersgård
In this episode, Lech Guzowski speaks to Rana Ersgård, co-CEO of Beetroot, who sheds light on navigating company cost cutting while fostering growth. She emphasises the importance of balancing short-term and long-term planning. The conversation explores the challenges and approaches to adapting to change and implementing new practices. Rana also stresses the importance of avoiding being 'dum snål' (stupid cheap) and grounding strategies in reality is emphasised.
Takeaways
- Balancing short-term and long-term planning is essential for navigating challenges and ensuring future readiness.
- The IT industry's focus has shifted from growth at any cost to sustainable operations and profitability.
- Strategic planning needs to balance immediate needs with long-term goals, requiring both top-down decision-making and team involvement.
- Shifting from profit-focused to purpose-driven strategies is key for sustainable growth.
- Avoid short-sighted cost-cutting to preserve team collaboration and development.
- Success depends on grounding strategies in reality and effectively executing visions.
SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE
Episode show notes
Rana’s LinkedIn
Beetroot website
Culture micro-practices
Have a topic or a guest suggestion? Drop me a message at [email protected]
If you want to sponsor the podcast, please visit the podcast page for more details.
Hosted and produced by Lech Guzowski at human culture design
human culture design
Lech's LinkedIn
Get in touch - [email protected]
43 min - #65: Navigating Growth - Strategic Decisions Behind Butter's Growth with Jakob Knutzen
In this episode, host Lech Guzowski sits down with Jakob Knutzen, the CEO of Butter, a groundbreaking collaboration platform designed to make remote work not just efficient, but also delightful. Dive deep into the world of business innovation, team dynamics, and the evolving landscape of workplace culture through the lens of a seasoned entrepreneur. Whether you're navigating the challenges of building a business or curious about the future of work, this conversation offers valuable insights and practical advice.
Key Points:
- Origin and mission of Butter.
- The balance between product development and cultivating team culture.
- Evolution from over-engineered to organic cultural practices.
- Introducing AI co-facilitators to enhance online collaboration.
- Personal challenges and insights from a CEO’s perspective.
Key Takeaways:
- Effective business building extends beyond a great product to include the right mix of strategy, execution, and culture.
- An organic approach to company culture can be more beneficial than over-engineering.
- AI can significantly support, but not replace, human facilitation in online collaboration.
- The unique financial and personal journey of entrepreneurship requires a support system and clear communication.
SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE
Jakob’s LinkedIn
Butter 30% off the first 3 months
Culture micro-practices
Have a topic or a guest suggestion? Drop me a message at [email protected]
If you want to sponsor the podcast, please visit the podcast page for more details.
Hosted and produced by Lech Guzowski at human culture design
human culture design
Lech's LinkedIn
Get in touch - [email protected]
47 min - #64: Transforming Medicare Through Culture: The Chapter Effect with Cobi Blumenfeld-Gantz
Lech Guzowski interviews Cobi Blumenfeld-Gantz, CEO of Chapter, about the unique and exceptional culture at Chapter, a company that is the industry leading Medicare navigation platform. Cobi shares his unique perspective on leadership, the challenges of scaling a business while maintaining a high-quality user experience. This episode is about the principles and practices that make Chapter a remarkable example of corporate culture done right.
SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE
Cobi’s LinkedIn
Chapter’s website
Conversation with Alexis McEvoy
Culture micro-practices
Have a topic or a guest suggestion? Drop me a message at [email protected]
If you want to sponsor the podcast, please visit the podcast page for more details.
Hosted and produced by Lech Guzowski at human culture design
human culture design
Lech's LinkedIn
Get in touch - [email protected]
46 min - #63: Helping HR grow a pair with Mateusz Stasica
In this episode, Lech Guzowski and guest Mateusz Stasica discuss the evolving role of HR in modern businesses. They challenge the perception of HR as a purely people-focused field, highlighting the growing need for HR leaders who are also business-savvy. The conversation covers the importance of integrating HR into strategic planning and how this integration can drive business success by leveraging talent effectively. Mateusz, a founder himself, provides insights on how HR can be more aligned with business goals, stressing the need for better communication between HR and top management. This episode offers valuable perspectives for HR professionals and business leaders on enhancing HR's role in strategic decision-making and organizational growth.
SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE
Episode show notes
Matuesz’s LinkedIn
Mateusz’s website
PLA School webiste
Culture micro-practices
Have a topic or a guest suggestion? Drop me a message at [email protected]
If you want to sponsor the podcast, please visit the podcast page for more details.
Hosted and produced by Lech Guzowski at human culture design
human culture design
Lech's LinkedIn
Get in touch - [email protected]
51 min - #62: Who is responsible for employee’s psychological resilience with Jarosław Świątek
In this episode, Lech Guzowski and Jarosław Świątek discuss ideas around creating a healthy work environment, managing stress, understanding the effects of modern overstimulation on mental health, and ensuring emotional resilience in staff. Jarosław, who is a neuropsychologist and the founder of the School of Emotional Intelligence, provides insightful observations on how both employees and employers can contribute to a healthier, more effective workplace. They also discuss common errors employers make while trying to create a stress-free environment.
Key Takeaways:
- The sometimes overlooked role and responsibility of the employee to manage their own stress levels at the workplace
- Environment vs Culture: How employers need to think beyond bean bags and free coffee when seeking to create a stress-free work environment
- The mechanisms of motivation: how too LITTLE stress leads to productivity loss and how too MUCH stress leads to mistakes and burnout
- The importance of meaning: if an organisations’ leaders lack a meaningful mission themselves, can one be manufactured for the low-level employees?
SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE
[School of Emotional Intelligence](https://sie.edu.pl/)
[Jarosław's LinkedIN](https://pl.linkedin.com/in/jaroslaw-swiatek-92396319)
***
Have a topic or a guest suggestion? Drop me a message at [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
If you want to sponsor the podcast, please visit the [podcast page](http://www.human.pm/sponsorpodcast) for more details.
***
Hosted and produced by Lech Guzowski at *human culture design*
[human culture design](http://www.human.pm)
[Lech's LinkedIn](http://www.linkedin.com/in/lech-guzowski/)
Get in touch - [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
49 min - #61: Making Strides Towards Great Culture with Alexis McEvoy
In this episode, Lech Guzowski talks to Alexis McEvoy, the Chief People Officer at Chapter, a company focused on transforming the retirement experience through technology. Alexis discusses the importance of creating a solid company culture, as well as some practical steps for going about it. She reflects on the need to determine organisational priorities and values, and how they intersect with culture. While emphasising that culture is not solely about perks such as flexible work hours or free coffee, she highlights the importance of leaders embodying the desired values and behaviours.
Key Takeaways:
- The importance of culture within an organisation, the role of leadership, and the value of employee autonomy and ownership.
- Utilising existing organisational language and the importance of adapting to changes within the company and the wider world.
- This episode provides valuable insights into the mechanisms behind building and maintaining a strong, mission-oriented culture in an organisation, stressing the idea that this work is ongoing and dynamic.
- We also address how culture impacts the organisation’s bottom line, performance and employee turnover.
SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE
Chapter Company Website
Alexis LinkedIN
Have a topic or a guest suggestion? Drop me a message at [email protected]
If you want to sponsor the podcast, please visit the podcast page for more details.
Hosted and produced by Lech Guzowski at human culture design
human culture design
Lech's LinkedIn
Get in touch - [email protected]
52 min - #60 When Your Job Becomes Your Identity with Natalia Morgan
Ever wondered if your job is defining who you are? Lech Guzowski talks to Natalia Morgan, Head of Online Marketing at Advance Metrics about the complex relationship between our work and personal identities, exploring how our jobs shape our sense of self and the challenges this can pose. They discuss the emotional impact of job loss, cultural challenges in Zurich, and strategies for enriching life beyond the office.
Key Talking Points:
- Job Loss and Identity: Impact on self-perception and emotional well-being.
- Cultural Integration and Work Identity: Challenges faced by expatriates in Zurich.
- Transitioning Career Paths: Natalia's journey from European studies to online marketing.
- Work-Life Integration: Strategies for maintaining a healthy balance.
- Personal Development: The value of hobbies and activities outside work.
Takeaways:
- Self-Reflection: Recognize when work identity becomes unhealthy and take steps to address it.
- Diverse Interests: Cultivate hobbies and activities that are unrelated to work to discover different facets of your personality.
- Mindful Separation: Create rituals or routines that help differentiate work time from personal time.
- Continual Learning: Embrace new roles and responsibilities at work as opportunities for growth.
- Community Engagement: Participate in activities that connect you with different communities and perspectives.
SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE
Episode show notes
Natalia’s LinkedIn
Advance Metrics website
Culture micro-practices
Have a topic or a guest suggestion? Drop me a message at [email protected]
If you want to sponsor the podcast, please visit the podcast page for more details.
Hosted and produced by Lech Guzowski at human culture design
human culture design
Lech's LinkedIn
Get in touch - [email protected]
47 min - #59 Speaking Up: What’s All the Fuss About? with Stephen Shedletzky
In this episode of We Got This, Lech Guzowski interviews Stephen ‘Shed’ Shedletzky, an expert on leadership, communication, and business strategy. They discuss Shed’s recently published book "Speak Up Culture: When Leaders Truly Listen," where he explores the concept of 'speak up culture' in a corporate setting. Shed discusses the role of effective communication, psychological safety, and leaders truly listening to their teams in creating successful businesses.
Key Takeaways:
- a genuine 'Speak Up Culture' is not about encouraging noise or endless opinions but promoting constructed dialogues that inspire growth.
- What it really means to “fail forward” and how to make sure your organisation’s mistakes are productive ones
- The importance of aligning jobs with people's strengths and directing your team’s energies towards their strengths
- How to manage feedback, including anonymous feedback. Why it is better to have SOME feedback instead of NO feedback
SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE
Episode show notes
Stephen’s LinkedIn
Stephen’s Book Speak-Up Culture
Stephen’s Personal Website
Culture micro-practices
Have a topic or a guest suggestion? Drop me a message at [email protected]
If you want to sponsor the podcast, please visit the podcast page for more details.
Hosted and produced by Lech Guzowski at human culture design
human culture design
Lech's LinkedIn
Get in touch - [email protected]
46 min - #58 Inside B Corp: Shaping Business for Good with Claudio Vandi
In this episode of we got this, host Lech Guzowski is joined by Claudio Vandi, co-founder and Chief Product Officer at NUMA, to unravel the essence and impact of B Corp certification on businesses and workplace culture. As NUMA has recently achieved this coveted status, Claudio shares the meticulous process, the changes it has spurred within their company, and how it’s more than just a badge—it's a commitment to a stakeholder-driven business model. Tune in for an in-depth exploration of the B Corp ethos and its transformative effect on NUMA's operations, culture, and future directions.
Key Talking Points:
- Understanding B Corp certification and its importance in today's corporate landscape.
- NUMA’s transformative journey through the B Corp certification process.
- The influence of B Corp values on NUMA’s operational and cultural decisions.
- The role of transparency, employee engagement, and remote-first policies in B Corp practices.
- How B Corp aligns with NUMA’s mission and influences its learning programs.
- The tangible impacts of B Corp certification on customer relations and business ethics.
Takeaways:
- B Corp certification stands as a beacon for companies prioritising impactful social and environmental practices.
- NUMA’s certification journey showcases the potential for significant internal culture shifts towards greater flexibility and transparency.
- A B Corp status not only bolsters a company's reputation but also guides its strategic and operational choices for long-term sustainability.
- Embracing B Corp principles can lead to innovative product development, such as NUMA’s focus on inclusive leadership and climate transition management.
SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE
Episode show notes
Claudio’s LinkedIn
NUMA website
Culture micro-practices
Have a topic or a guest suggestion? Drop me a message at [email protected]
If you want to sponsor the podcast, please visit the podcast page for more details.
Hosted and produced by Lech Guzowski at human culture design
human culture design
Lech's LinkedIn
Get in touch - [email protected]
47 min - The Hidden Benefits and Pitfalls of the Push to Automation with Ashley Chain
In this podcast episode, Lech Guzowski interviews Ashley Chain Director of People & Operations at Process Street. They discuss the topic of automation and assess the benefits and pitfalls of the push to automation.
Key Takeaways:
- It’s important to assess what tasks see the most benefit from automation. Repetitive unskilled tasks are the obvious ones, but also tasks that you don’t do very often that you may forget how to do.
- Some tasks should probably never be automated. Faking interactions with people and automating tasks that benefit from interaction between people are obvious examples.
- Automation can get in the way of human interaction, but it can also free up people to spend more time with each other leading to deeper, authentic, connections.
- The technologies available now that may be tempting to use but may cause problems for organisations
SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE
Episode show notes
Ashley’s LinkedIn
Process Street website
Culture micro-practices
Have a topic or a guest suggestion? Drop me a message at [email protected]
If you want to sponsor the podcast, please visit the podcast page for more details.
Hosted and produced by Lech Guzowski at human culture design
human culture design
Lech's LinkedIn
Get in touch - [email protected]
43 min
About we got this
From the publisher's feed
Showcasing individuals and organisations that create people-focused workplace cultures to help it become the norm rather than the exception.
A mix of interviews, case studies and solo episodes. Inforamtive and practical to help companies reach new heights by focusing on their people instead of just the sales numbers.