Exploring Workplace PTSD and Trauma-informed Leadership with Dr. Nicole DeKay

In this insightful episode of 'Empathy Unbound, Embrace Your Superpower,' host Andrew Phipps interviews Dr. Nicole DeKay, a multidisciplinary data scientist and expert in industrial organizational psychology. Dr. Nicole DeKay is the founder and principal consultant of Humanalysts, a consulting firm dedicated to helping small and medium-sized companies grow in ways that are safe and secure for employees, by using valid data and assessments. Humanalysts provides digital support for businesses to build in ethical human and environmental practices in the early stages of workplace development. She has her PhD in Industrial Organizational Psychology where she specializes in psychometrics (the quantification of human emotions). She is an advocate for employee rights and has been involved in work aimed at passing laws in the US that protect employees from psychological harm. After a career in aerospace marketing and sales analytics where she led the launch of a multi-billion-dollar new business development program, she went back to get her doctorate to study adversity and trauma in the workplace. Since then she has worked as a management consultant and HR strategy analyst. In her spare time, she takes care of her two young boys, runs a free pantry in Seattle, enjoys spending time with her husband, and spends most of her limited free time gardening.The episode delves into Dr. DeKay's unique career journey, starting from her work in mental health to her experiences in corporate settings. Diagnosed with PTSD triggered by workplace conditions, Dr. DeKay's story sheds light on the toxic dynamics often present in competitive work environments. The conversation explores the importance of empathy, the impact of organizational behavior on mental health, and the evolving nature of workplaces in the age of AI. Dr. DeKay also shares her passion project focused on democratizing employee experience data to improve workplace wellness. This episode offers valuable perspectives on balancing profit, people, and planet within corporate strategies and emphasizes the critical role of empathy and soft skills in leadership. 00:00 Introduction 00:16 Exploring Toxic Workplaces and Industrial Organizational Psychology 01:16 Guest Introduction: Dr. Nicole Decay 02:21 Dr. Decay's Career Journey and Early Challenges 03:37 Transition to Industrial Organizational Psychology 04:03 Experiences at Boeing and Learning Corporate Behavior 07:00 Impact of Toxic Work Environments on Mental Health 09:01 Pursuing a PhD and the Influence of COVID 11:38 Defining Empathy and Its Importance in the Workplace 14:18 Understanding and Addressing Toxic Workplaces 16:16 The Role of Leadership and Environment in Workplace Behavior 19:50 Adversarial Politics and Its Impact on Workplace Culture 27:36 The Validity of Myers-Briggs 28:00 The Role of Managers 30:28 AI and the Future of Work 36:38 The Importance of Self-Care 43:57 The Future of Workplaces 46:26 The Unique Responsibility of Aerospace 50:29 Nicole's Next Steps 53:39 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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