podcast 001: the ROI of being human at work with dean carter
In this episode, Deb sits down with Dean Carter, longtime HR executive and HX Collective ally, to explore how elevating the human experience at work isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s the most effective way to drive sustainable business outcomes.
“You can squeeze productivity out of people—but only for so long. If you want to build something that lasts, build it on flourishing.”
From Patagonia to the boardroom, Dean shares stories that challenge conventional corporate thinking and offers a masterclass in tying human flourishing to productivity, profit, and purpose. Whether he’s reimagining workplace design with community captains or advocating for four-day workweeks grounded in well-being, Dean proves that better humans build better companies.
This episode is a must-listen for founders, people leaders, and culture-shapers who are ready to back up their values with measurable, meaningful action.
Key Highlights
Why “soft” human-centered initiatives are actually hard business strategies
What we miss when we fail to connect employee well-being to bottom-line outcomes
Real-world examples: community captains, four-day workweeks, and workplace experiments that worked
How to persuade boards and C-suites by tying flourishing to financial performance
Why human connection must remain central in an AI-driven world
About Our Guest
Dean Carter is a transformative HR leader with over 25 years of experience guiding culture and people strategy at iconic brands like Patagonia, Fossil, and Sears. Known for fusing business performance with bold, human-centered leadership, Dean is a passionate advocate for tying employee experience to measurable outcomes. A community-builder at heart, he’s also a dedicated father, husband, mentor, and champion of inclusive progress in and outside of the workplace.
About The HX Collective:
The HX Collective exists to elevate the human experience—at work, in relationships, and with ourselves. Through thought-provoking conversations and actionable insight, we help leaders embrace the full spectrum of what it means to be human. Because flourishing isn’t the absence of struggle—it’s what happens when we move through it with intention.
