In this episode, we sit down with Michelle Floyd, a former rocket scientist turned Chief Technology Officer and part-time ski instructor, to discuss the critical topic of aligning team and company goals to promote human flourishing. Michelle shares his diverse background, experiences in the tech industry, and insights on the importance of connecting employees' career aspirations with the company's mission. He also recounts an embarrassing mistake from his past and offers actionable advice for tech leaders looking to enhance team alignment and productivity. Michelle emphasizes the significance of understanding both personal and organizational 'whys' and reflects on the transformational power of goal alignment, comparing it to the United States' Apollo moon mission. The episode concludes with practical steps for leaders to implement these strategies in their teams.
* Michel Floyd on LinkedIn - http://linkedin.com/in/michelfloyd
* Weapons of Math Destruction by Cathy O'Neil - https://www.amazon.com/Weapons-Math-Destruction-Increases-Inequality-ebook/dp/B019B6VCLO?tag=sommardahl-20
* Online Scrum Master Summit - Free virtual conference, June 17-19, 2025 - Register now at onlinescrummastersummit.com
Timeline:
00:00 Introduction
00:34 Meet Michelle Floyd: Rocket Scientist to CTO
01:49 Aligning Team and Company Goals
02:04 Michelle's Background and Career Journey
04:15 The Importance of Data and Bias in AI
08:05 Confession Time: Embarrassing Mistakes
12:03 Lessons from Rocket Science for Team Alignment
15:25 Promoting Human Flourishing in Teams
37:50 Final Thoughts and Contact Information
