As part of our exclusive Transform 2024 Thought Leader Interview Series, we're thrilled to feature Jasmine Francis, a visionary People Leader shaping the future of employee experience. With 15 years of experience spanning corporate giants and cutting-edge startups, Jasmine brings a unique perspective to the challenges and opportunities facing today's organizations.

Most recently serving as the Head of People and DEIB at Pliancy, Jasmine is renowned for her human-first approach to fostering inclusive, values-driven cultures. Her impressive career includes pivotal roles at The Carlyle Group, BNY Mellon, and Goldman Sachs.

Jasmine's academic background, including a B.A. in French, an MSc. in Organizational Development, and a Diversity and Inclusion Certification from Cornell University, underpins her holistic approach to people leadership.

In this thought-provoking interview, Jasmine shares invaluable insights on navigating the complexities of modern workplaces. Join us as we explore the future of work through the lens of a leading industry thinker.

Q: The workplace seems to be at an inflection point. The rise of AI and remote/hybrid work are fundamentally changing the ways in which we communicate and interact. In your opinion, what are the three biggest challenges facing organizations today in terms of fostering a positive culture and employee experience?

Jasmine: The workplace landscape has drastically changed, and I believe it will continue to do so as there is now an openness in understanding that things don't have to be just one way; however, with that comes challenges. Aside from the points mentioned, the three biggest challenges in my opinion are:

• Org Growth + Scaling: Specifically in the startup world, many companies are now pivoting and buckling down on business objectives and finances. That often comes with significant impacts to promotions/raises, benefits/perks, social activities and productivity expectations, which can at times present a challenge in fostering a positive culture.
• Wellbeing + Burnout: At times when employees feel more pressure to produce and perform, burnout undoubtedly enters the conversation. When a company's greatest assets start to feel exhausted and chronically stressed, especially in an unsupportive environment, the downstream impact is an increase in absenteeism, disengagement, and below par work quality (and that's excluding the personal consequences!).
• Company Culture: An organization's culture sets the overall tone and foundation of its ways of working, and when that culture doesn't embrace flexibility, adaptability, or innovation, it makes finding new ways of doing things difficult. Circumstances that impact an organization will always arise, so being nimble and knowing how to shift towards new approaches is pivotal in continuing to foster a great culture + experience.

Q: As a DEIB leader, what has been your experience with communities in the workplace? Can you share your thoughts on why communities are receiving more and more attention within organizations?

Jasmine: I really love the idea of communities within a company because it's a more agile approach to bringing people together with shared interests regardless of what those may be. Whether it's sharing the same passion towards how they identify, their love of learning, or even a go-to favorite vacation spot, communities provide a sense of comfortability and belonging for people. I've done a lot of work on more formal DEIB community structures such as ERGs, which are wonderful; however, I've found that there are a plethora of shared experiences that people also want to connect on. Providing that space and opportunity to do so can create so much empowerment, motivation, and collaboration.

Q: Feeling connected to others and having a sense of belonging is often overlooked, yet it is vital for our overall wellbeing. From your perspective, why is fostering human connection and a sense of belonging so valuable in the workplace?

Jasmine: Connection and belonging is so integral to who we are as humans; we absolutely crave it and need it as part of our existence. When we think about a professional setting in the workplace, it really comes to the forefront because no one shows up to their job to keep their head down and simply work. What kind of experience would that be?! It's the other factors such as connectivity, belonging, community, recognition and purpose that can make us truly enjoy where we work, and therefore, give our best.

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