Anthropology in Business with Matt Artz

In this episode of the Anthropology in Business podcast, Chris Diming speaks with Matt Artz about his career as a business anthropologist. The conversation covers his journey into anthropology through political science, his interest in design anthropology and UX, and his current work as a workplace anthropologist. About Chris Diming Chris Diming is a design anthropologist with a passion for the built environment. A Virginia native, his initial education and experience were in political science and activism. In 2017, he obtained a Ph.D. in Social Anthropology from Durham University in the United Kingdom. Focusing on public space and urban anthropology, his doctoral research explored how people form, negotiate and mobilize inter-personal relationships in Kosovo. After graduating, he held an applied research role with a property technology start-up aiming to build trust between neighbors in cities. Having recently returned to the United States, he applies anthropological methods to reimagining workplaces. Recommended Links Chris Diming on LinkedIn Watch the Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyafBUdu3A8 Episode Transcript Please note this transcript is an automated transcription and may have some errors. Matt Artz: [00:00:00] Welcome to the Anthropology in Business podcast where you'll learn about the many ways anthropology is applied in business and why business anthropology is one of the most effective lenses for making sense of organizations and consumers through conversations with leading anthropologists, working in advertising, marketing, consumer behavior. [00:00:22] Organizational culture, user experience, and many other roles you'll learn firsthand what it means to do business anthropology and how the work differs from academic edge apology. We will discuss issues like the pace and depth of research in business, our visibility and influence as practitioners in what we can do to build our brand. [00:00:44] We will also focus on the value impact of our research and business so that we can help businesses. As leaders understand why they should be hiring anthropologists. I'm your host, Matt. Artz a business anthropologist, specializing in design anthropology, and working at the intersection of product management, user experience and business strategy. [00:01:05] Let's get started. All right. Hi everyone. Welcome back. And, um, today I'm with Chris dimming, a design anthropologist and workplace strategists. So, uh, Chris, thanks for joining and, uh, to jump right into it, your mind, maybe telling us a little bit about, you know, your career or really your education through anthropology and into your current career and you know, what, what it means to be a workplace strategist. [00:01:28] Chris Diming: [00:01:28] Sure. So, um, I'm originally from the Richmond, Virginia area. Um, thanks a lot for your time, Matt. I really appreciate it. So I'll just go through, uh, where I started and then, uh, into anthropology and done what I'm. During right now. So I'm set I'm from the Richmond, Virginia area originally, but I actually ended up going to Durham university in the UK for a masters, then a, uh, a PhD, the PhD being an anthropology. [00:01:59] So when I started out, I'd say I was very interested in grassroots, um, social relationships and also just grassroots politics due to my, having been a community organizer. And. It's a little more organized here before I went to Durham. So after graduation from CNU and I did a degree in political science for about a year into 2012, I worked for a couple of political campaigns and done an environmental organization and the climate action area, um, that got me very interested in social relationships and how p...

In this episode of the Anthropology in Business podcast, Oscar Barrera speaks with Matt Artz about his career as a business anthropologist. The conversation covers Oscar's journey into anthropology through eco-tourism, his pivot to business anthropology, the founding of Antropología Corporativa Consulting, and how he positions the business within the context of the business landscape of Mexico. About Oscar Barrera Oscar Barrera, PhD is a Corporate Anthropologist and CEO of Antropología Corporativa Consulting. He is devoted to helping companies to innovate and grow by using techniques, methods and theories from anthropology. He is also a keynote speaker and entrepreneur leading other kinds of businesses. Oscar is based in the city of Veracruz in Eastern Mexico. He received his PhD in Sociocultural Anthropology from the University of Washington. He has international experience by working and living in 21 countries in Europe, Africa and North and Central America. About Antropología Corporativa Consulting Antropología Corporativa Consulting helps companies achieve the transformations they require to grow their business. Whether it is a change in the culture of "how things are done" within the organization or to improve a product or service, Antropología Corporativa Consulting uses anthropological tools to influence human behavior. Recommended Links Antropología Corporativa Antropología Corporativa on Facebook Antropología Corporativa on YouTube Oscar Barrera on Facebook Oscar Barrera on LinkedIn Watch the Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Db7YHGk5IwI Episode Transcript Please note this transcript is an automated transcription and may have some errors. Matt Artz: All right. Well, thanks everyone for joining today. I'm at arts and I'm with Oscar Barrera today. Oscar is a business anthropologist out of Mexico and the owner of you might have to help me here, but up of motto consulting. And so yeah, please. Oscar Barrera: Yeah, actually, I changed my brand now. It's, Antropología Corporativa anthropology. I changed that years ago and yeah, it has to be because it was such a difficult name for people to relate to. So that's what I changed it. Matt Artz: Got it. Okay. Well, thanks for correcting me. So I've got that. And so why don't you maybe use that as a jumping off point. Can you give us a little background on, you know, education, anthropology, education, your career, how you started your business? Oscar Barrera: Okay. Well, and it started how I became an anthropologist. I actually, when I graduated from college, I just, I majored in tourism studies in planning and development. So I went to the Highlands of Chiapas with the idea of creating a developing project for indigenous peoples in units, communities, and an indigenous village called chermoula subpoint Kamala. So they, the idea that, again, that I have the time, because I was young and naive, I wanted to change the world. I thought that by creating a project and developing projects where indigenous people who develop, create their own infrastructure to cater tourists, I don't know, from room and board or hotels or restaurants, or I don't know, just to great economic options and possibilities for indigenous people to benefit from tourism. I thought that was a very positive contribution that I could make with after finishing thirties in, in university. Oscar Barrera: So I came in touch with with a...

In this episode of Anthropology in Business, Brooke Gibbs speaks with Matt Artz about her career as a business anthropologist. The conversation covers Brooke's early work in market research, her decision to go back to UNT to get an applied anthropology graduate degree, and the work she is doing with her company ARTYFACT. About Brooke Gibbs As an Anthropologist with over 10 years of experience working with Fortune 50 companies, Brooke combines the analytical rigor of her background in social science with an innate curiosity and intuition about people. Brooke has extensive experience building brand purpose, driving organizational change, and uncovering insight on both the product and retail side. Brooke believes brands, organizations, and retailers have a responsibility to positively impact people and society. Her goal is to help organizations find their voice and identity within their communities, so they can better address the real issues impacting people. About ARTYFACT ARTYFACT is a research, strategy, and innovation consultancy bringing clarity to business problems through human understanding. The name comes from the words ART and FACT, which represent the art and science of anthropology. Recommended Links ARTYFACT Brooke Gibbs on LinkedIn Watch the Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1200m0Fhyc Episode Transcript Please note this transcript is an automated transcription and may have some errors. Matt Artz: All right. Well, hi everyone. And welcome back. I'm Matt Artz and I'm today with Brooke Gibbs. Brooke is an applied anthropologist from UNT, same place I went and the co-founder of ARTYFACT previously at Proctor and Gamble for I believe, 11 years and a journalism background. So, I mean, I know I just covered a little bit of that, but maybe you want to give us like maybe tell us a little bit about why actually like me, why do you choose to go back for an anthropology degree when you started somewhere else and you know, what may maybe made you do that and how has that led to say ARTYFACT? Brooke Gibbs: Yeah. Thank you. First of all, for having me one of the things that has really guided my life, even from, you know, being in school has been a real interest for other people, other people that don't look, act, whatever, like me and people who, I don't know, I was always one of those people where it's like the person in the corner by themselves. I want to go over there and talk to that person and make sure they're okay. And then bring them into the fold. That's always been who I am. And so when I, from a journalism standpoint, you know, like, as you said, it was like, that was like where my, my bachelor's degree was in. And that was because I also like to be a storyteller. I want to hear people's stories, but then also share their stories. And so that's where that came from. Brooke Gibbs: But once I was in school getting my bachelor's, I started to get into some anthropology anthropology classes and it was like, Oh, this is an even better fit with who I am, what I like all those things. So I continued on the path that I was on, which was, I was getting my degree in journalism, but at the same time I had an internship with, at P and G doing market research, which was also a whole third thing. Right. But decided to go that route because Angie was a stable company. It had good benefits. I was fresh out of out of college. So I decided to go that route, but I, anthropology was always in the back of my mind, always like even the first year I was going to quit PNG and go back to school full-time to get my PhD in anthropology. Brooke Gibbs: I it's not that I decided not to do that. Actually the world God decided that was not the right timing for me. So I kept staying at P and G at that time, and then decided in 2014. So I had already been at P and G about seven years. Well, actually I...

In this episode of Anthropology in Business, Robert Morais speaks with Matt Artz about his career as a business anthropologist in advertising and marketing and the work he is doing to advance anthropology in business. Who Is Robert J. Morais? Robert J. Morais is a business anthropologist with experience in advertising and market research, and a Lecturer in the Marketing Division at Columbia Business School. He is currently focused on advancing the application of anthropology in business through writing, teaching, and mentoring, and educating business students on the value of qualitative research. Morais began his career at Grey Advertising and spent 25 years with advertising agencies, rising to Chief Strategic Officer. He then served for 11 years as a Principal and co-owner of market research firm Weinman Schnee Morais. He has worked with Procter & Gamble, GlaxoSmithKline, WD-40, Coca-Cola, Post Foods, Danone, Hain Celestial, Safeway, Sabra, Pinnacle Foods, Star-Kist, Prestige Brands, Johnson & Johnson, Bayer, Dentsply Sirona, Wyeth (now Pfizer), Boehringer-Ingelheim, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Freshpet, Benjamin Moore, and the Fairmont, Raffles, and Swissôtel hotel group, among many other corporations. His publications include five books and 50+ articles and book chapters. His books are: The Language of Branding: Theory, Strategies, and Tactics (co-author); Ethics in the Anthropology of Business: Explorations in Theory, Practice, and Pedagogy (co-editor); Advertising and Anthropology: Ethnographic Practice and Cultural Perspectives, (co-author); Refocusing Focus Groups: A Practical Guide (author); and Social Relations in a Philippine Town (author). His research articles, essays, and reviews have appeared in Forbes, Huffington Post, Advertising Age, Medium, American Anthropologist, Human Organization, Culture and Organization, Journal of Business Anthropology, and Philippine Studies, among others. Recommended Links - BusinessAnthro.com - Journal of Business Anthropology - EPIC Watch the Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwBCnFn-qmE Episode Transcript Please note this transcript is an automated transcription and may have some errors. Matt Artz: All right. Well, thanks everybody for joining. This is Matt Artz of the Anthropology in Business video podcast, and I'm here today with Bob Morais. First let me say, thank you for joining me. I'm really pleased to have you because of, of all the people in the business anthropology community, you know, you're, you're one of those top ones that are really trying to build the brand of anthropology and really help all of us sort of a younger anthropologists succeed. So thanks for that first off. And so you're, you're a great guest to have on really for not only for myself to talk with, but for really all the listeners, you know, you have really impressive background that probably hardly needs an introduction, but, you know, you identify as a business anthropologist, you had 25 years in advertising ending with your chief strategic officer position, 11 years as a principal and co-owner of a market research firm, five books under your belt, 50 plus articles and chapters. You know, some of those being for Forbes, Huffington post, and really highly visible content that has made a big impact, especially that Forbes piece a year or so ago. And I think maybe more recently the business anthro.com website and community. And so, you know, really, it's a, it's a pleasure to have you here. And I think, you know, everything we talk about today will be a great value for all the listeners. Matt Artz: So can you, I know I gave a brief introduction there, but would you mind sort...

Welcome to the introductory episode of the Anthropology in Business podcast, where you will learn about the many ways anthropology is applied in business and why business anthropology is one of the most effective lenses for making sense of organizations and consumers. I am Matt Artz, a business anthropologist specializing in design anthropology and working at the intersection of product management, user experience, and business strategy. I've started this podcast because anthropology is one of the most effective lenses for making sense of organizations and consumers, and yet, it's one of the least adopted. As business anthropologists, we know that applying the methods and theories of anthropology to business can help us improve our organizational culture, understand our consumers, innovate products and services, and design a business strategy that is differentiated and sustainable. Unfortunately, the discipline has historically encountered two issues. First, we have a supply problem since most academic programs are not training anthropologists to work in business. Likewise, many lack a firm understanding of the potential business roles and how to make the transition. Second, we have a demand problem because business leaders often lack an understanding of what anthropology is, how it's applied to business, and why they should hire anthropologists as consultants and employees. To address these issues, I've started this podcast as a form of public anthropology to help other anthropologists transition from academia to business and to increase our media visibility. I hope you all find this podcast helpful, and most importantly, I hope it can help grow our brand.