Dear Culturati Insider,
What if the most important question leaders could ask isn’t “What’s next?” but “What endures?” In a time of relentless acceleration—where AI drives trillion-dollar valuations, drones reshape industries, and geopolitical shifts test resilience—it’s easy to lose ourselves in the urgent. But during the pandemic, a friend introduced me to ikigai, the Japanese concept of a “reason for being.” This simple yet profound idea changed how I view leadership. It requires aligning what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what sustains you. Without this clarity of purpose, leadership can become disconnected, reactive, and transactional—drifting from what truly matters. As organizations look ahead to 2025, CHROs will navigate AI-driven talent strategies, shifting skills demands, and culture-building across work models, while CEOs balance bold innovation with enduring purpose and human impact.
Finding ikigai lays the groundwork for self-actualization, infusing leadership with meaning. Maslow saw self-actualization as the gateway to peak experiences—those transformative moments of clarity and joy that connect us to our highest potential and fuel human flourishing. For leaders, this alignment translates into action, as illustrated by Loren Eiseley’s Starfish Rule. A boy throwing one starfish back into the ocean doesn’t save them all, but he changes everything for that one. Leadership often hinges on similar, intentional choices: mentoring one employee, reimagining one policy, or prioritizing one decision that aligns with purpose. These seemingly small acts spark ripple effects that shape lasting cultures.
So, as we step into 2025, I invite you to reflect: what is your ikigai? What will endure beyond the milestones, headlines, and administrations? And what small, purposeful choice can you make today to align with that vision? Together, through clarity and intention, we can change the world through the workplace.
In purpose and partnership,
Myste Wylde, COO
2025 Predictions
No Mercy/No Malice By Prof Scott Galloway
Summary: A broad look at 2025 by Professor Scott Galloway marks that the AI revolution has fueled a $8.2 trillion market valuation surge for Big Tech since 2022, with Nvidia and OpenAI emerging as leaders. Meta, leveraging unparalleled data and hardware investments, is poised to lead in AI innovation. Nuclear energy, generating 48% of U.S. clean power, offers the scalability needed for AI’s growing energy demands. Drones, key in Ukraine, are reshaping industries from logistics to agriculture. Emerging markets could attract $910 billion as U.S. equities plateau, while podcasts’ 20% ad revenue growth reflects shifting media dynamics. Fast fashion giant Shein redefines scalability with 7,000 daily product launches, and YouTube dominates streaming, capturing 10% of TV viewership. Societal trends reveal a crisis among young men, influencing elections and cultural shifts. Executives look to align with innovation, energy strategies, and demographic shifts to navigate 2025’s opportunities. |
How to Adapt the Japanese Secret to a Long Happy Life in Your Career
Fast Company By Eileen Smith
Summary: The Japanese concept of ikigai—the harmony of what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what pays—offers leaders a framework to align purpose with impact. Reflect on activities that energize you and draw genuine praise, then identify where these intersect with market demand. Testing these ideas on a small scale, as one coach did by volunteering during a career pivot, can validate new directions. Regularly assess your goals through focused self-reflection to ensure alignment between professional priorities and personal fulfillment. Thoughtful career design, like Japan’s carefully planned landscapes, creates lasting value and purpose-driven success. |
5 Trends That Will Shape HR in 2025
HR Dive By Ryan Golden
Summary: HR in 2025 has the potential to redefine its impact through emerging opportunities. AI could revolutionize talent acquisition, training, and engagement, but success will depend on building robust governance and balancing automation with diversity and ethics. Skills-based frameworks may help organizations adapt to rapid change, emphasizing creativity and emotional intelligence alongside technical expertise. A cooling talent market might lead to increased global hiring for hard-to-fill roles, while evolving economic and cultural pressures could push HR to innovate DEI strategies and deliver personalized benefits. Hybrid work is likely to remain central, with room to refine policies that balance flexibility with team cohesion. The year ahead offers HR leaders a chance to shape their function for lasting strategic value. |
Want to Make a Big Difference by Taking a Really Small Step? Embrace the Starfish Rule
Inc. By Jeff Haden
Summary: When overwhelmed by the scale of challenges, remember the Starfish Rule: even small actions can make a meaningful impact. Inspired by Loren Eiseley’s story of a boy throwing starfish back into the ocean, it’s not about saving them all—it’s about making a difference to the one you can. Leaders can apply this principle by focusing on single, impactful steps: thanking one employee, connecting with one customer, or addressing one task. Each small success builds momentum, proving that consistent, intentional actions—no matter how minor—can create significant change over time. |
H.G. Wells, Maslow, and the Peak-Experience
Psychology Today By Edward Hoffman
Summary: Maslow’s peak-experiences, a cornerstone of humanistic psychology, reveal profound insights into self-actualization and leadership. These moments of intense clarity and joy, described by Maslow as the "Being-realm," are vital for creativity, emotional well-being, and resilience. Inspired by mentors, biographies, and potentially H.G. Wells' vivid depictions of transcendence in works like The Door in the Wall, Maslow argued that leaders who lack these experiences risk stagnation and dissatisfaction. For leaders, fostering environments that encourage self-actualization—whether through meaningful challenges, reflective practices, or opportunities for awe—can unlock innovation, elevate team potential, and provide the emotional clarity needed to navigate complex decisions. Investing in these transformative experiences is not just personal growth; it’s a leadership imperative. |
Conflict is a constant in the workplace, but how we navigate it can determine whether it strengthens or fractures our teams. Join us for a preview session of this exclusive four-part series with Rajkumari Neogy, an epigenetic coach and executive consultant celebrated for her pioneering work at the intersection of neurobiology, empathy, and culture in business.
Rajkumari’s approach combines cutting-edge science with deep emotional insight, honed over two decades working with leaders at Indeed, Google, Facebook, Slack, Salesforce, and more. Her ability to translate complex ideas into actionable strategies has earned her acclaim in boardrooms and beyond.
Want the full newsletter each week in your inbox? Sign up now to save time and stay on top of trends.
LEADERSHIP AND CULTURE
C-SUITE
EMPLOYEES
How HR will change the employee experience in 2025, according to people executives from Hyatt Hotels, Lenovo, and Google Cloud (Fortune)
A.I. AND TECHNOLOGY
CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY
INCLUSION, DIVERSITY, EQUITY, BELONGING
Opmerkingen