Human In The Loop

Mark Easterbrook is an independent Creative Director and Copywriter who works on brand and marketing projects for creative agencies and direct clients. He also dabbles in education, running occasional writing workshops and teaching part time at AUT; and volunteers with a couple of arts and social charities.He's also a lifelong tech dabbler, teaching himself to use a range of different software tools since his teens. Over the last couple of years, he's been exploring the ways automation and generative AI can help—or hinder—a creative in their work.Due to his broad client base and multiple hats, Mark has an eye on many different sectors and industries at any one time. And across all of them, he's seen that evolving technologies are throwing up new challenges, opportunities and questions at a dizzyingly fast pace.We discuss:· How copywriting has been affected (positively and negatively) by GenAI· The tools, automations and AI workflows which make freelance life so much easier· What the future might look like for assessing creative studentsWebsite: https://www.easterbrook.co.nz/Mark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-easterbrook-89212691/Follow us on Instagram: @humaninthelooppodcastFind us on LinkedIn:Alaina: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alaina-luxmoore/Hamish: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hafriedlander/Danu: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danuabey/Sign up to The RUSH newsletter: http://eepurl.com/hmARzL

Join us as we Loop Back to clarify comments and claims from last week's episode, as well as chat about any new news from the world of tech and AI.3blue1brown https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjZofJX0v4MPlease Subscribe! We would love that very much.Follow us on Instagram: @humaninthelooppodcastFind us on LinkedIn:Alaina: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alaina-luxmoore/Hamish: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hafriedlander/Danu: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danuabey/Sign up to The RUSH newsletter: http://eepurl.com/hmARzL

Andrea Scown is the Chief Executive Officer of Mitre 10, recognised as the first female and first internal appointment to lead the iconic Kiwi home improvement retailer. With decades of experience across retail, private equity, and customer experience, Andrea has guided Mitre 10 through an ambitious transformation focused on digital innovation, operational excellence, and empowering its people.An advocate of collaborative leadership and customer-centricity, Andrea draws on her background in managing teams at well-known companies such as EziBuy, Bendon, and Speciality Fashion Group. She is passionate about using technology to drive meaningful change in customer experience and is committed to advancing diversity in leadership roles in traditionally male-dominated industries.A Chartered Accountant and Chartered Director, Andrea’s journey from rural sharemilker to CEO underscores her drive and vision for helping New Zealanders "love where they live, work and play". Known for her practical approach and ability to mobilise teams, Andrea’s insights make her a highly influential voice on business transformation and the future of retail.We discuss:· The role of digital innovation in meeting changing consumer expectations· Lessons in building resilience and agility as you move from legacy systems to innovation· Using artificial intelligence and robotics to empower teams and improve CX· Real-time data for empowering frontline teams and improving customer interactionsMitre10: https://www.mitre10.co.nz/Andrea on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-scown-001b3338/Follow us on Instagram: @humaninthelooppodcastFind us on LinkedIn:Alaina: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alaina-luxmoore/Hamish: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hafriedlander/Danu: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danuabey/Sign up to The RUSH newsletter: http://eepurl.com/hmARzL

Vindhya Joseph specialises in developing scalable technology solutions for large organisations, drawing on her academic foundation in information systems and technology management from Oregon State University.Currently an enterprise architect at Foodstuffs, she brings a wealth of experience to engineering leadership drawing from time at JumpCloud, Unibuddy and Microsoft.We discuss:- architecting future-ready systems within enterprise- where to start with AI in a large organisation- the need for everyone to look out for coming generationsVindhya on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vindhyaj/Follow us on Instagram: @humaninthelooppodcastFind us on LinkedIn:Alaina: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alaina-luxmoore/Hamish: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hafriedlander/Danu: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danuabey/Sign up to The RUSH newsletter: http://eepurl.com/hmARzL

This Loop Back is a special episode where we focus (lol) on neurodivergence, in particular ADHD as October is ADHD Awareness month.Fellow RUSH teamies Tej, Patricia and Sam share their experiences living with - or working alongside - ADHD brains.For more info and resources check out:ADHD NZ: https://www.adhd.org.nz/Access Advisors: https://accessadvisors.nz/Neurofusion: https://www.neurofusion.co.nz/Ani Moller Coaching: https://www.animoller.com/Follow us on Instagram: @humaninthelooppodcastFind us on LinkedIn:Alaina: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alaina-luxmoore/Hamish: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hafriedlander/Danu: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danuabey/Sign up to The RUSH newsletter: http://eepurl.com/hmARzL

Camelia Petrus is an Organisational Psychologist and Ethical Workplace specialist, known for delivering science-backed keynotes on ethical leadership, Emotional Intelligence, and human behaviour. With a Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology and certifications in coaching, Emotional Intelligence, Nonviolent Communication, and Positive Psychology, she equips executives and professionals with practical strategies for resilience and workplace transformation. Camelia has spoken at major conferences and forums, including CAANZ, the New Zealand Psychological Society, and corporate leadership events, where she empowers leaders and teams to navigate complexity and lead with integrity, empathy, and purpose.We discuss:- how to make ethical leadership decisions in the AI age- why defining your values is critical- the importance of staying curious Camelia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/camelia-petrus-pgdip-io-psychology-9010394/Core Purpose Leadership Development: https://www.corepurpose.co.nz/Resources, sources and corrections:GROK Cards: https://www.corepurpose.co.nz/resources-core-purpose-valuesNeal Stephenson: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neal_StephensonThings Will Work Out: https://www.peopleiveloved.com/products/things-will-work-out-printFollow us on Instagram: @humaninthelooppodcastFind us on LinkedIn:Alaina: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alaina-luxmoore/Hamish: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hafriedlander/Danu: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danuabey/Sign up to The RUSH newsletter: http://eepurl.com/hmARzL

Join us as we Loop Back to clarify comments and claims from last week's episode, as well as chat about any new news from the world of tech and AI.Hidden AI Text: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jul/14/scientists-reportedly-hiding-ai-text-prompts-in-academic-papers-to-receive-positive-peer-reviewsOura Ring CEO addresses backlash: https://techcrunch.com/2025/09/09/smart-ring-maker-ouras-ceo-addresses-recent-backlash-says-future-is-a-cloud-of-wearables/Burger King Drive Through Assistant: https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360714143/burger-king-has-new-drive-thru-assistant-except-its-not-humanFollow us on Instagram: @humaninthelooppodcastFind us on LinkedIn:Alaina: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alaina-luxmoore/Hamish: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hafriedlander/Danu: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danuabey/Sign up to The RUSH newsletter: http://eepurl.com/hmARzL

Bindi Norwell is a highly accomplished New Zealand business leader, currently serving as the Group Chief Executive of ProCare, a major healthcare provider in New Zealand, and JV Health Accelerator co-chair. With over 25 years of experience across sectors such as health, property, professional services, and telecommunications, she is known for her commitment to health equity, technology-driven transformation in healthcare, and empowering teams.In recent years, Bindi has been driving the adoption of AI and machine learning into primary care to improve efficiencies, relieve some of the administrative burden on GPs and nurses, improve patient experience, and help achieve more equitable health outcomes for the people of Aotearoa.We discuss:- how AI is an enabler for tech- the opportunities and hurdles in the healthtech prodcurement process- what the future for primary care could look likeProCare: www.procare.co.nzHealth Accelerator: www.healthaccelerator.co.nzBindi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bindi-norwell/Follow us on Instagram: @humaninthelooppodcastFind us on LinkedIn:Alaina: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alaina-luxmoore/Hamish: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hafriedlander/Danu: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danuabey/Sign up to The RUSH newsletter: http://eepurl.com/hmARzL