Workplace Cultures: Practical Ways to Engage with Jo Wong Dan Szuc
Fri Jun 20 2025
UX consultants Dan Szuc and Jo Wong observe peer-to-peer connection sorely missing in workplace culture and discuss how a lack of empathy and poor conduct in business settings contribute to high disengagement rates. From a UX consultancy perspective, they point out the importance of collective responsibility, empathy, and human soft skills that are harder to master. Drawing parallels between workplace dynamics and their experiences in theater and education, their view offers a different way of seeing workplace culture and the need for a cultural shift toward intentional, meaningful interactions. Their books, 'Make Meaningful Work' and 'Make Meaningful Culture,' offer practical insights for fostering a healthier work environment.
The summary below was AI-generated using Descript.
00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
00:21 Discussing Workplace Culture and Disengagement
01:18 Dan and Joe's Journey in UX
02:42 The Importance of Empathy in the Workplace
05:15 Dan's Story: From Drama to Business Culture
06:54 Fundamentals of Successful Culture
12:13 Challenges in Modern Workplaces
19:39 The Role of Education in Shaping Culture
22:25 AI and the Future of Work
27:05 The Problem with Short-Termism and Attention Spans
28:01 Practical Approaches to Education
28:35 The Importance of Curiosity in Learning
30:08 Engagement and Responsibility in Schools
32:57 Avoidance and Responsibility in Workplaces
33:49 The Role of Process in Work Culture
35:16 Introducing the SPARKLE Framework
44:17 The Impact of Early Life Experiences
49:10 Promoting Meaningful Work and Culture
50:21 Final Thoughts and Resources
Find them here:
Subscribe to their newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/make-meaningful-work-7327884648296972288
Find them here: https://www.makemeaningfulwork.com/
https://www.apogeehk.com/
https://www.makemeaningfulwork.com/books
https://www.amazon.com/dp/173792823X?ref_=pe_93986420_774957520
https://www.makemeaningfulwork.com/about
Host Dawna Jones has been podcasting since 2008. She specializes in providing insights that make sense of everyday life and provides skills, and practices for visionary resilience and adaptive thinking. www.DawnaJones.com
The Inspirational Insights podcast is on the Feedspot list for most inspirational podcasts.
https://podcast.feedspot.com/inspirational_podcasts/
https://podcast.feedspot.com/canadian_inspirational_podcasts/
Please like and subscribe if this discussion inspires you to shift your perspective on a complex topic.
Substack and YouTube subscribers get advanced publication.
Subcribe to Substack here: https://dawnajones.substack.com/
And the podcast YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/live/8kU4Sd4b21c?si=uSPnyIMJJhRL07dy (links to this episode on live stream).
Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/insight-to-action-inspirational-insights-podcast.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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UX consultants Dan Szuc and Jo Wong observe peer-to-peer connection sorely missing in workplace culture and discuss how a lack of empathy and poor conduct in business settings contribute to high disengagement rates. From a UX consultancy perspective, they point out the importance of collective responsibility, empathy, and human soft skills that are harder to master. Drawing parallels between workplace dynamics and their experiences in theater and education, their view offers a different way of seeing workplace culture and the need for a cultural shift toward intentional, meaningful interactions. Their books, 'Make Meaningful Work' and 'Make Meaningful Culture,' offer practical insights for fostering a healthier work environment. The summary below was AI-generated using Descript. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction 00:21 Discussing Workplace Culture and Disengagement 01:18 Dan and Joe's Journey in UX 02:42 The Importance of Empathy in the Workplace 05:15 Dan's Story: From Drama to Business Culture 06:54 Fundamentals of Successful Culture 12:13 Challenges in Modern Workplaces 19:39 The Role of Education in Shaping Culture 22:25 AI and the Future of Work 27:05 The Problem with Short-Termism and Attention Spans 28:01 Practical Approaches to Education 28:35 The Importance of Curiosity in Learning 30:08 Engagement and Responsibility in Schools 32:57 Avoidance and Responsibility in Workplaces 33:49 The Role of Process in Work Culture 35:16 Introducing the SPARKLE Framework 44:17 The Impact of Early Life Experiences 49:10 Promoting Meaningful Work and Culture 50:21 Final Thoughts and Resources Find them here: Subscribe to their newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/make-meaningful-work-7327884648296972288 Find them here: https://www.makemeaningfulwork.com/ https://www.apogeehk.com/ https://www.makemeaningfulwork.com/books https://www.amazon.com/dp/173792823X?ref_=pe_93986420_774957520 https://www.makemeaningfulwork.com/about Host Dawna Jones has been podcasting since 2008. She specializes in providing insights that make sense of everyday life and provides skills, and practices for visionary resilience and adaptive thinking. www.DawnaJones.com The Inspirational Insights podcast is on the Feedspot list for most inspirational podcasts. https://podcast.feedspot.com/inspirational_podcasts/ https://podcast.feedspot.com/canadian_inspirational_podcasts/ Please like and subscribe if this discussion inspires you to shift your perspective on a complex topic. Substack and YouTube subscribers get advanced publication. Subcribe to Substack here: https://dawnajones.substack.com/ And the podcast YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/live/8kU4Sd4b21c?si=uSPnyIMJJhRL07dy (links to this episode on live stream). Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/insight-to-action-inspirational-insights-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.