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Nature of Work podcast with Shimrit Janes and Paul Miller
Episode 6: Roots to regeneration at Walt Disney Animation Studios and Lucasfilm
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“The way in which we're able to tell our stories is really shifted. And then the folks that we are partnering with to tell those stories has also really expanded.” - Danielle O’Hare, Director of Talent Development, Lucasfilm and ILM
May the force and the latest episode of Nature of Work podcast be with you! In this episode, we are excited to be joined by guests from two iconic creative organizations: Danielle O’Hare, Director of Talent Development, Lucasfilm and ILM, and Tracy Campbell, Director, Production Training & Development, Walt Disney Animation Studios.
Many childhoods have been shaped by the stories and characters in movies such as The Lion King from Walt Disney Animation Studios and Lucasfilm’s Star Wars. Driving forces behind these legendary films have been the strong roots of these organizations, the culture of innovation within them, and the spirit of rebellion to push boundaries, do the impossible and create something no one has seen before.
In this powerful and inspiring conversation, Danielle and Tracy share a narrative of roots to regeneration, testifying to the strong roots, identities and legacies of their respective organizations. And yet, these companies are also continually regenerating and reinventing through the blending of art and science, creativity and technology. Both guests speak to the power of knowledge sharing and connection as ways to inform the magical and fantastical worlds created.
Stories reflect real life, but they also have the power to create new realities. Both Danielle and Tracy reflect on the importance of bringing ever more diverse voices into the room, explaining their companies’ focus on diversity, inclusion and belonging. Representation matters for their employees, their audiences and the world.
As the nature of work creates a new story of work, listen to be inspired by how the art of storytelling is ever-present at Lucasfilm and Walt Disney Animation Studios – and how they are owning the impact of these stories on the next generation, helping to shape new views.
Show notes, links, and resources for this episode:
Book: Nature of Work: A new story of work for a living age
Nature of Work Live: Nature of Work Live
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Episode 14: Nature of Work – a year of insights
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Episode 13: Imagining and realizing a more beautiful world of work
49:25|What are the possibilities for a better and more beautiful world of work, if regenerative and life-centred approaches become an embedded part of how we work? In this Nature of Work podcast, authors and co-hosts, DWG’s CEO Paul Miller and Shimrit Janes, Director of Knowledge, are joined by Dr Lauren ‘L’ Vargas, a ‘digital dragon wrangler’ who assists organizations with their community and communication strategies. Together, they unpack the fundamentals of regenerative practices, including big ideas such as the opportunity to step beyond being human-centred and becoming truly life-centred at work. Within this, every single action we each take can feed or regress regenerative practice. Humans are not the only thing in the ecosystem to be impacted by our actions – and indeed, does nature come first? In this passionate discussion, L takes us on a tour of her ‘Take ‘CARE’ to be ‘CALM’’ framework – a collaborative, anticipatory, leaderful and mindful approach she uses to guide digital transformation in a regenerative way. From using play and science fiction to unlock conformed realities, through to sharing how individuals can approach introspective work, L draws on her academic and real-life corporate experiences to explain how regenerative practices can really show up. Listen now for more about the potential to imagine and realize a more beautiful world of work. (Show notes, links and transcript for this episode.) Guest speaker: Dr Lauren 'L' Vargas, digital dragon wrangler
Episode 12: How nature and living systems can inspire meaningful change
50:08|Change doesn’t really exist in nature because nature is change. So what lessons can we learn to take a more regenerative approach to evolution within our organizations and in response to the world around us? For this Nature of Work podcast, authors and co-hosts Paul Miller, DWG CEO, and Shimrit Janes, DWG Director of Knowledge, are joined by thought leader, trusted advisor and author of Leading from the Roots, Dr Kathleen Allen. Together, they explore the concept of the organization as an organism, with Kathleen sharing how nature and its patterns have influenced her own leadership practices. Being adaptive is a human capacity and the three discuss whether a more ‘growthful’ approach to change could shift dynamics. Indeed, if organizations are considered as living systems, how can their interdependencies and connections be used to help cultivate future direction? And what is the importance of leadership emotional intelligence in helping people to adapt through such change. Follow the conversation, which offers new ways to view change through a nature-inspired lens. (Show notes, links and transcript for this episode.) Guest speaker: Dr Kathleen Allen, thought leader, author and trusted advisor
Episode 11: Dare to un-lead: The art of relational leadership
48:10|In this Nature of Work podcast, award-winning French entrepreneur, Céline Schillinger, talks with hosts, Paul Miller and Shimrit Janes, about her upcoming book Dare to Un-Lead: The art of relational leadership in a fragmented world. Proposing that there is an entirely different way to lead today’s organizations, the group together uncover how connections, living systems and the spaces in between, can create fresh opportunities for more collective and transformational leadership. Is developing a collective capacity to lead the natural next step, and what part do emotional competencies play in this? How can we challenge the traditional aspects of leadership and the leader as a saviour? And what’s possible through new and unusual conversations grounded in liberty, equality and fraternity? The paradox and nature of daring to un-lead is brought to life, with Céline offering her own practical advice for those wanting to start such conversations today.(Show notes, links and transcript for this episode.) Dare to Un-Lead. The Art of Relational Leadership in a Fragmented World.Processes of Emergence with Jack Manning Bancroft, Tyson Yunkaporta and Fritjof Capra Thich Nhat Hanh Myron Rogers Stowe Boyd Gilles Deleuze Félix Guattari Margaret Wheatley
Episode 10: Nature of Work in practice – with Intuit’s Priya Thummalapalli
46:45|Are we really experiencing the great resignation or is it a great migration? What does the idea of biodiversity mean for diversity and inclusion in organizations? And what is the habitat of hybrid working? It’s a year since the book Nature of Work was published. Since then, the ground-breaking ideas shared within it have provoked conversations internationally, on the power of new ways to describe and think about work as a living system. In this latest Nature of Work podcast episode, the book’s co-authors, Paul Miller and Shimrit Janes, are joined in conversation by Priya Thummalapalli, Director of People Experience Solutions at software company Intuit. The discussion brings to life Priya’s own reflections on some of the 12 elements in practice. She highlights the language of fear often used today and how this can shape everyday experiences, preferring instead to engage with alternative descriptions, a listening culture and approaches to growth and leadership that are reflected in nature. This wide-ranging conversation sees the group delve into areas relevant to leaders everywhere. What, for instance, does the concept of anti-fragility (first introduced by Nassim Nicholas Taleb) mean for us and how should we approach our organizational roles as ancestors of future generations? This episode gives useful insights on reframing the world of work during constant change. (Show notes, links and transcript for this episode.)Book: Nature of Work: A new story of work for a living age
Episode 9: Nature of Work – Reflections one year on
52:19|As we mark the first anniversary of the launch of the ground-breaking book, Nature of Work, the co-authors, Paul and Shimrit, are joined in the podcast studio by Lucy Colclough and Mark Catchlove. Lucy, Founder of bio-inspired consultancy, workWILD, and Mark, Director of MillerKnoll’s Global Insight Group, are both passionate about improving how and where we work. In this episode, Lucy and Mark share their first impressions of the book when it was published last January, offer their reflections on the 12 elements, and outline their visions of where this new ‘movement’ could take us over the next few years. To celebrate the first anniversary, you can receive a 30% when you buy the book via natureofwork.com – use BIRTHDAY1 at the checkout. Show notes, links and resources for this episode: workWILD MillerKnoll
Episode 8: Germans have the perfect word for how work should feel: 'Arbeitswelt'
45:28|“There is a new university in Istanbul, designed with lots of open, outdoor spaces and indoor spaces with glass walls. So, you have this feeling that you are sitting in nature. And I think this shift is becoming more and more a reality.” - Christine Kohlert The past two years have sharpened our focus on topics such as empathy within the workplace, and helped to accelerate others, such as the physical and mental health of ourselves as well as our colleagues around us. Much has already changed, so what will the next generation of workspaces look like? In this episode, Paul and Shimrit are joined by the formidable Christine Kohlert – author, architect and professor. Christine shares her insights from her extensive research and experience, and offers us a glimpse of a more beautiful way to work. Aligning with the ‘Habitats’ element from the book Nature of Work, their conversation covers everything from the beauty and power of biophilic design to the functional and clever furniture that can enhance our working lives. This bright and optimistic discussion will leave you dreaming up your ideal workspace. Shownotes, links and resources for this episode: Space for Creative Thinking: Design principles for work and learning environments, by Christine Kohlert and Scott Cooper Digital Workplace Impact episode 19: How and why physical workplaces change the way wework (with guests Christine Kohlert and Sally Augustin)
Episode 7: Tackling the laziness lie with Dr Devon Price
44:12|“The people who we call lazy, who we admonish for not committing themselves hard enough to some task, are almost always the people facing the biggest barriers, overcoming the greatest challenges and juggling the most responsibilities of all.” -Dr Devon PriceWhen you look to nature, do you see lazy trees or lazy animals? No, they simply rest. But turn the lens on to humans and laziness is widely recognized and, in most cases, reviled through prejudices such as fatphobia, ableism and classism.Dr Devon Price challenges the concept and even the existence of laziness in their new book, Laziness does not exist: A defense of the exhausted, exploited, and overworked. At the core is the ‘laziness lie’, which falsely tells us we are not working or learning hard enough. Dr Price joins Paul and Shimrit, and together they begin to unpack the term, the stigma and the damage caused when we insist on measuring our self-worth in terms of our productivity.This conversation is a powerful wake-up call to slow down and rethink what we value in life, to shake off workplace guilt and, most importantly, to trust in our colleagues.Show notes, links, and resources for this episode: lazy - Dictionary Definition : Vocabulary.comLaziness does not exist: A defense of the exhausted, exploited, and overworked, by Dr Devon Price