Culture & chill

Hug #108 — 18 July 2024

Free Webinar

Finding AI scary and confusing? Or maybe you’re ignoring it and hoping it’ll go away? You’re not alone.

That’s why we’ve set out to make sense of AI in employer branding.

Join our CXO Dave Hazlehurst for a jam-packed webinar that’s simple, free from techy jargon, and full of actionable tips and programmes you can start using straight after the session.

You’ll discover:

🤖 How to create tailored content and experiences that hit home with candidates and customers.

🤖 The transformative impact of AI beyond technology, and how it influences broader business landscapes.

🤖 Why human insights are still crucial in an age dominated by data and AI.

Heads Up

Hey Huggers,

To everyone who voted on the frequency and content of The Digital Hug over the past couple of weeks - thank you.

Seriously, your feedback means the world. It helps us make smart decisions on how to deliver you the best content possible.

With that in mind, we’re taking a short summer break in August to regroup. ☀️ But we’ll be back in September with a refreshed format and a new fortnightly schedule, packed with the content you’ve asked for (and maybe a few surprises.)

See you next week for the last issue before the break.

Warm hugs,

The Digital Hug Team

Once again we get up close and personal with talent industry notables to contemplate the importance of connection, the Stone Roses and other hot topics. This week, it's…

1. If you were a brand what would your strapline be?

   ‘Wisdom begins with wonder’. Really what it means is developing a sense of curiosity about the world around us. So much so that you build a capacity for lifelong learning.

2. What’s your secret talent that has nothing to do with your job?

   Curating neo-soul tracks – and anything by Tom Misch.

3. What podcasts are you listening to?  

   So many 😊 I love How To Academy to feed my curiosity. Rich Roll for personal development. Huberman Lab for wellness. And Lex Fridman for his mind-bending guests.

4. What is the one book that you would recommend to everyone?

   ‘The Diving Bell and the Butterfly’ by Jean Dominique Bauby. He had a huge stroke and could only move one of his eyelids. He devised a code for each letter of the alphabet and dictated this book, letter by letter, about his experiences and feelings. It’s a real inspiration and the perfect reminder that when life takes a paralysing turn, there’s always a way to connect, be creative and express emotion.

5. What’s the most unexpected skill you’ve had to use in your job?

   Therapist. I’ve managed fairly big teams (200+) and very small teams but throughout that time, I’ve had to help people with break-ups, marriage proposals, divorces, deaths of loved ones, addiction, court appearances – you name it!

6. If your job had a soundtrack, what would it be?

   ‘I am the resurrection’ by the Stone Roses. Only in the sense that my career has been a constant cycle of success, failure, resurrection. That’s life, I guess!

7. Quote a line from a film

   ‘Go ahead, make my day’ – Clint Eastwood, Sudden Impact.

8. What’s your go-to strategy for overcoming a work challenge? 

   Connecting with friends. People who have been there and done it. Connection always wins.

9. Which app or tool has revolutionized your work life? 

   Omnifocus – probably a bit old school now but it was one of the original to-do-list apps. I still use it today to stop my brain exploding.

Links ’n’ Thinks

LEARN: Tech careers are falling out of favour with Gen Z
Here are the top jobs they’re chasing instead.

STUDY: Research shows AI can help one person be creative
But it has the opposite effect on teams.

READ: 3 lessons in culture from Gareth Southgate
How the England manager transformed morale and cohesion.

ICYMI

9 Ideas to Jumpstart your Advocacy Programme

Hidden in Plain Sight: Finding Merlin’s Values

Events

EBMA Ceremony
12th September, London

World Employer Branding Day
9-11 October, Amsterdam