Thanks Brian, I'm glad you enjoyed it! I think you're right - the majority of my findings of Bay Area culture held true for a lot of tech companies in other cities as well (particularly Seattle). It was interesting how companies founded in other countries tended to mirror the social values of their culture and - in my opinion, at least - were often significantly more ethically grounded.
Hi Katy, it’s reassuring to know that about other countries. I’d love to know more about those locations where ethics are grounding tech growth. Could we connect 1:1?
Hi Katy, interesting insights gathered particularly from other psychologists in the Bay Area. This reminds me of the criticism of banking and finance culture which revealed itself following the GFC, the fall of Lehmann and recent banking scandals in Australia. I can say in the banking sector that many jurisdictions are including in regulations a strong focus on behaviour through codes of conduct and other behavioural tools issued by the regulator to change culture. Its a long term focus as behaviours don't change overnight but what are your thoughts on the efficacy of such tools for the tech industry?
Hi Valerie, I think you're quite right - there are a ton of important parallels between banking and the tech industry. Liquidated by Karen Ho is a pretty cool book that details the culture of Wall Street leading up to the financial crash, and I keep thinking while reading it "gosh that's quite similar..."
You're also right that it's difficult to regulate conduct and influence culture, but also absolutely necessary to try if we want to see change embedded in a sustainable way. I'd love to see US and EU regulators pay more attention to markers of social intelligence and healthy business culture in all industries - especially tech, given its reach and influence. If you have links to any of the banking codes of conduct you mentioned I'd love to take a look and see how they might be adapted for tech!
Great read. I think you can insert any/most city (technology hub) name where it said Bay Area.
Thanks Brian, I'm glad you enjoyed it! I think you're right - the majority of my findings of Bay Area culture held true for a lot of tech companies in other cities as well (particularly Seattle). It was interesting how companies founded in other countries tended to mirror the social values of their culture and - in my opinion, at least - were often significantly more ethically grounded.
Hi Katy, it’s reassuring to know that about other countries. I’d love to know more about those locations where ethics are grounding tech growth. Could we connect 1:1?
Hi Kate, sure, do you want to shoot me an email and we can find a time? I'm at katycook@protonmail.com.
Thanks, Katy. I use protonmail too. The note is one its way.
Hi Katy, interesting insights gathered particularly from other psychologists in the Bay Area. This reminds me of the criticism of banking and finance culture which revealed itself following the GFC, the fall of Lehmann and recent banking scandals in Australia. I can say in the banking sector that many jurisdictions are including in regulations a strong focus on behaviour through codes of conduct and other behavioural tools issued by the regulator to change culture. Its a long term focus as behaviours don't change overnight but what are your thoughts on the efficacy of such tools for the tech industry?
Hi Valerie, I think you're quite right - there are a ton of important parallels between banking and the tech industry. Liquidated by Karen Ho is a pretty cool book that details the culture of Wall Street leading up to the financial crash, and I keep thinking while reading it "gosh that's quite similar..."
You're also right that it's difficult to regulate conduct and influence culture, but also absolutely necessary to try if we want to see change embedded in a sustainable way. I'd love to see US and EU regulators pay more attention to markers of social intelligence and healthy business culture in all industries - especially tech, given its reach and influence. If you have links to any of the banking codes of conduct you mentioned I'd love to take a look and see how they might be adapted for tech!