Although I often describe myself as a sociologist, my academic foundation began with psychology—I completed a dual major in psychology and sociology. One of the courses that most shaped my early thinking was Industrial/Organizational Psychology. At the time, I struggled with what felt like a top‑down, management‑centric approach. I even recall asking the professor whether the field existed mainly to validate decisions leaders already wanted to make. If he’s listening now, I offer a sincere apology for my younger, overly blunt critique.

My career ultimately led me to workplace ethnography through a sociological lens, focusing on organizational structures, systems, cultures, and group dynamics—including critical themes like diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. In essence, I study how to build stronger workplace communities across in‑person, remote, and hybrid environments. Work remains one of the most powerful forces shaping identity, social perception, and life opportunities. One of the first questions we ask one another is still: “What do you do for a living?” Work undeniably defines us—and the systems around it matter.

That’s why I was particularly excited to welcome today’s guest: Dr. Benjamin Granger, Chief Workplace Psychologist at Qualtrics. It’s a title that signals both responsibility and influence. In this role, Dr. Granger helps organizations worldwide elevate employee experience and adopt leadership practices that create more human‑centered, high‑performing cultures. His new book, A Leader Worth Following, distills these insights into actionable strategies for leaders seeking to build trust, connection, and long‑term organizational health.

In our conversation, we explore Dr. Granger’s journey into I/O Psychology and how his desire for real‑world impact led him toward applied professional practice rather than a purely academic path. We examine the rising imperative for human‑centered leadership—especially in an era defined by uncertainty, rapid change, and heightened expectations around wellbeing and psychological safety.

Dr. Granger also draws on evolutionary psychology to explain why certain leadership traits resonate more strongly today, and how leaders can better align their behaviors with how people naturally build trust, assess credibility, and form meaningful connections. Ultimately, he encourages leaders to take ownership of the experiences they create, understand the perceptions they shape, challenge outdated leadership norms, and cultivate environments where people feel connected, supported, and empowered to thrive.

Along the way, we bridge longstanding gaps between psychological and sociological approaches to understanding work—revealing how the integration of both disciplines offers a more holistic perspective on leadership, culture, and employee experience.

Dr. Benjamin Granger: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-granger-7147991b/

“A Leader Worth Following: https://benjamingranger.com/

If you’re a sports fan, a winter fan, or an Olympics fan, this is a great time of year. I’ve been watching the Olympics—especially the Nordic skiing events, since cross‑country skiing is one of the activities I really enjoy. The United States has had some impressive results, including Ben Ogden winning a silver medal, Jessie Diggins earning a bronze, and several other standout performances. It’s inspiring to see everything come together for athletes who have spent years working toward their goals.

But talk about pressure. So much comes down to one day, one event, one performance. That’s a tremendous amount of stress. It’s not just a physical challenge but a mental one as well, especially for those favored to win or in contention for a medal. I just watched Jessie Diggins earn her medal while skiing with bruised ribs and collapsing at the finish—as she often does. Commentators described her ability to “tune out” distractions, “channel” pain, and “focus” on exactly what she needs to do. All of this highlights the mental side of performance.

Today on Experience by Design, we welcome a guest who specializes in that mental side—specifically, the electrical impulses and brain states we experience during different types of activities. In his new book, Life Explained: Chasing 10 Hertz, Dr. Izzy Justice explores neurohacks that reduce brain frequency, enhance sensory input, and create more mindful experiences. Izzy discusses his research on brainwave frequencies, especially the “magic” 10 Hz state in which sensory input is amplified and cognitive function peaks.

Dr. Justice explains how trauma and panic can impact athletes during competition, particularly in sports where unexpected challenges can arise. But these principles extend far beyond athletics—we also explore how they apply to creativity in business, focus in education, learning, and everyday tasks.

We also talk about the importance of translating academic findings for public audiences. Izzy emphasizes the need for actionable language and accessible frameworks for managing brain states, and why greater education is essential for helping us regulate our own brain activity, reduce the noise around us, and reach that 10 Hz state to create more mindful experiences.

One of the challenges of getting older—especially for men—is meeting people and forming new friendships. Social connection is a fundamental human need, yet the demands of work, responsibilities, and constant distractions make it difficult to create the time and space for meaningful relationships. A recent Pew study found that men and women report loneliness at similar rates. However, women are more likely to lean on their social networks for support, while men often struggle in silence.

A Gallup poll further reveals that young men in the U.S. are lonelier than their counterparts in other parts of the world. According to the report, “U.S. men stand out, not only in terms of absolute rates of loneliness but also in how much more likely they are to feel lonely compared with younger women and others in their own country. This is a rare pattern across wealthy countries, none of which exhibit a starker divide between young men and the rest of the nation’s residents.”

There is a clear need for men—and for people more broadly—to have opportunities to gather, meet, and genuinely connect.

Enter WeRoad, a travel experience company designed to bring people together through shared journeys. Fabio Bin, Co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer of WeRoad, helped create the company with the loneliness epidemic in mind. He joins me on Experience by Design to discuss WeRoad’s origins and its mission to foster human connection, not just tourism. While the trip is the product, the true experience comes from the people who share it with you.

From the thoughtful screening and training of travel coordinators, to pre-trip events that help groups bond, to post-trip virtual communities, every aspect of WeRoad is designed around building relationships and cultivating a sense of belonging.

We talk about WeRoad’s growth across Europe and its efforts to expand into the United States—something that survey data suggests is sorely needed. We explore how WeRoad helps people break out of their social bubbles and form new communities through shared adventures. Fabio also describes how travelers are building an identity as “WeRoaders”—some even getting WeRoad tattoos—and shares the company’s new initiative, WeRoadX, which empowers travel leaders to design their own trips based on their passions through a participatory design approach.

Fabio Bin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fabiobin
WeRoad: https://www.weroad.com/