ABOUT US
about human experience
Energized by a moment of crisis, inspired by design-thinking principles, together with a profound desire to help people be the best version of themselves, Deb Knupp, HX Collective visionary, has identified humanity- centered design as a next-level method to generate mutually abundant and positive outcomes for people and organizations. In partnership with her daughter Sydney and sister Jenn, Deb aims to build a platform and community of big thinkers with a similar commitment to doing good and doing well.
meet deb
founder
When I reflect on the past 5 decades and counting, I have embraced three inarguable truths: 1) People want to be seen, 2) People want to be heard, and 3) People want to be valued. In my work, I help organizations create environments where the most talented employees "want" to work; where the most profitable clients "want" to buy; and, where the most inspired leaders "want" to serve a bigger purpose in their communities and families. In 2001, I founded a consulting firm that inspires clients to achieve their growth potential through actionable, research-backed strategies to accelerate revenue, improve client loyalty and motivate talent around a shared vision of success. I am privileged to work with a world class team, and collectively, we get to do transformational work with the absolute best clients on the planet.
In my personal life, I am a passionate wife and mom to three daughters – two in college and one high-schooler. My daughters are undoubtedly my best teachers for elevating human flourishing when I consider their “native digital” Gen Z experience to my “native analog” Gen X parenting style. Our family journeys have taken us to the edge of struggle through adolescent mental health issues. At times, it has felt like we are in a dark, Shawshank Redemption-type tunnel with no escape. Despite all my worldly efforts and perfectionism, suffering has ultimately been the best remedy to let go of my perfectionist desires to look like I have it all figured out in favor of authenticity and genuine relationship connection.
Fueled by my faith, I am a community cultivator and crusader for the underserved and have a zealous commitment to help make the world better by helping others become the best version of themselves. I am confident that human flourishing needs a through line of love, and as my mentors have said, that sometimes we need to love people into loveliness. This is HX – the human experience.
meet sydney
title
“Glitterpop”. Quite a nickname to carry for as long as I can remember having a nickname. My first-grade teachers reported that there was an unofficial “betting pool” to see how many days in a row that I would wear at least one “sparkly” thing to school – a shirt, a hair clip, my shoelaces, anything that glitters. Early childhood is best described as my Grammy from Texas always says “Sugar, it’s not done till its overdone!”
Research suggests that there are lot of people who can “feel empathy” but a very small number of people who know how to “do empathy”. The greatest compliment that I receive from friends now is how my “doing empathy” creates safe spaces for people to be as they are and as they are not. It is important for me to demonstrate this strength everywhere I go and make my “empathy in action” my superpower.
I used to think that empathy was not a skill of importance since it doesn’t reflect the expectations of intellectual achievement. I am now confident that empathy in action is both a competence and a character trait. Without empathy, you can easily get swept away by self-interests and self-focus without regard for others. I am deeply committed to elevating human flourishing by bridging authentic relationship connection and genuine understanding among Generations X, Y, and Z.
As a college student now at the University of Iowa majoring in Communication and minoring in Environmental Science, I no longer wearing glitter every day, yet the nickname, “glitterpop” has stuck. Today my shine and sparkle are not about what I reveal on the outside, but rather how the shine and sparkle come from the inside that is rooted in empathy and committed to serving others
What it’s about
“hx is about helping others build authentic relationships and in doing so, create better versions of themselves. the human experience is everything. hx is nirvana.”
– DEB KNUPP
work
dive into checklists, downloadables, and more for improving the human experience for employees
relationships
explore articles and resources to navigate more meaningful relationships with family and friends
self
listen to podcast episodes and peruse articles to improve your relationship with who matters most – yourself
HX COLLECTIVE
get to know vips and allies who offer ways of improving happiness at work and at home