Podcast Blog

Hear how anthropology can send your business zooming to the top

I love to read the Financial Times. It provides a very different perspective of the world from our US papers. As I was browsing recently, I came upon a story about Gillian Tett, FT's US Managing Editor, and her new book, Anthro-Vision. Curious as I am, my question was, What is a journalist doing writing a book about anthropology, and promoting AI (Anthropology Intelligence)? My joyful discovery was that Gillian is an anthropologist who became a journalist, a bit by chance and then by design. Her book is about the power of observation. Whether in Tajikistan as an aspiring anthropologist studying marriage rituals or reporting on a major conference before the financial crisis of 2008, she mastered the art of listening to the stories being told, the resistance to change that people demonstrate, and the wisdom an anthropologist can offer—if only others are willing to listen. As a fellow anthropologist, I am fascinated and I know you will be too. Enjoy.

Hear how anthropology can help your staff return to the workplace

What an amazing podcast we have today. Listen in as three anthropologists talk about what the nature of work will be in the near future. With the disruptions brought by the pandemic, we must explore what remote work is being done, what cultures are emerging, and what tools and processes will be needed when we return to the workplace. The three great business anthropologists are Chris Diming, Lisa Galarneau and Racine Marcus Brown, who have each been working on the future of work from a number of perspectives. As you may know, I also am a business anthropologist, and one of the things we do is help you envision what the future of your workplace will become. The future is coming fast, so you better start getting ready for it now.

Hear why anthropology should be part of your business plan!

It was an honor to speak with Simon Roberts on our On the Brink with Andi Simon podcast. Simon is a highly regarded business anthropologist with his firm Stripe Partners, serving clients across the globe with effective, innovative ethnographic and anthropological research. I am also a business (or corporate) anthropologist, and as we talked about both of our journeys, we realized how important it is for organizations of all sizes to understand how to step back and see themselves through a fresh lens — an anthropological one. Need a fresh insight? Do listen in.

Hear how anthropology is transforming the world of business!

As a corporate anthropologist, I love bringing to our listeners other great anthropologists who can help them see the application of anthropology in action. Think about your own challenges as you hear about Rita Denny and her journey of discovery. In my work with clients, I often refer to her book, “Handbook of Anthropology in Business,” co-edited with Patricia Sunderland, in which they discuss dozens of ways that the theory, method and tools of anthropology can be innovatively applied in business settings across the globe. We can all benefit from what Rita has to tell us!

Hear how anthropologists can transform your business!

How amazing it was to meet and have the opportunity to interview Matt Artz, another business anthropologist like myself. This was a delightful podcast, focusing on the growing importance of anthropology in business and corporate settings. Matt shares with you his own experiences applying the methods and tools of anthropology to help companies better understand customer needs, build better cultures and capture designs to create exceptional user experiences. You will enjoy hearing about his journey, learning what anthropologists do and understanding why they have become so valuable to businesses today. Do listen in!

Hear how to reinvent your future in the midst of crisis

At the height (or depth) of the COVID-19 crisis, we thought it might be valuable to have an anthropologist share with you his perspective on how we might imagine the changes that are going to follow this major economic disruption, especially since we too are anthropologists. We had Adam Gamwell on our podcast back in September 2017 which you can listen to here, and it was natural to want him back now. As you listen, you'll hear how anthropologists are very good at stepping back and observing the changes and adaptations people are making to the crisis. You will enjoy this podcast, as insightful as it is timely. Listen and learn!

Learn how a nomadic mindset helps you see where you are going!

I was introduced to Anthony Willoughby by Diana Wu David after our podcast interview. She said, “You just must meet Anthony. He will take you on his adventures around the world where people learn to build their trust and their abilities to work together.” So I  did! As you will hear, Anthony grew up in Africa, wandered the world, and  much like an anthropologist, learned how to observe, listen and learn from different cultures, particularly nomadic tribe s. This led him to found the Nomadic School of Business, whose c oncept of a nomadic mindset helps leaders and their teams achieve clarity, purpose and agility. There's so much to apply to your own teams...enjoy.

Hear how anthropology is bringing you better design!

This was a wonderful interview with a fellow anthropologist. Amy Santee is a design research and strategy consultant working in product development, innovation and business strategy. Trained as an anthropologist, Amy incorporates a human-centered lens to help teams build products, services and brands through an understanding of people, context and experience. What does that mean for you? Listen to our fascinating conversation and you'll find out. Learn and share!

Listen now as Oscar Barrera teaches us to "see reality" as anthropologists do!

Oscar Barerra has a great story to share and a lot of lessons for all of us to learn. As with many of us, Oscar was not really sure what type of career he wanted to pursue. He did know that he had a knack for seeing things with fresh eyes and turning his ideas into insights for business executives. From rural Mexican highlands to urban shopping malls, Oscar has worked in a variety of industries, all the while helping business leaders better adapt to new technologies. Listen in!

At SAMC, we're thrilled that lots (and lots) of people have downloaded our blogs and podcasts about why so many companies are hiring anthropologists. People want to find out more about how anthropologists can help companies see, feel, and think in new ways so they can evolve and adapt to changing times. So that's what I delve into today, sharing my experiences in corporate anthropology and even offering advice to anthro majors. I invite you to listen, learn and share!