A community dedicated to evolving our understanding of humans at work through scientific approaches and innovative technology.

Our mission

Our mission is to bridge the gap between theory and practice, focusing on using science and technology to solve real-world problems to help build great companies.

What sets WSI apart is our multi-disciplinary approach and our commitment to practical, actionable insights. Unlike purely academic institutions, we apply scientific principles directly to real-world work scenarios.

What is the Workplace Science Institute?

The Workplace Science Institute (WSI) is a community of forward-thinking scientists and practitioners dedicated to evolving our understanding of humans at work through scientific approaches and innovative technology. We explore groundbreaking topics that are shaping the future of work, such as: 

Leveraging passive and active data to gain deep insights into organizational climate and culture

Improving human performance through topics such as the role of focus/deep work, multi-tasking, hybrid/remote work, and collaboration

Examining the profound impact of AI on our relationship with work

Driving organizational transformation through evidence-based strategies and technological solutions

Founding Fellows

The Workplace Science Institute Founding Fellows are thought leaders who have joined this community, bringing their wealth of expertise and experience to drive innovation and excellence in workplace science. 

Chair of the Workplace Science Institute

Laura Hamill, PhD.

Laura Hamill, Ph.D. is an organizational psychologist and thought leader who explores the science of workplace innovation and human performance. As Chair of the Workplace Science Institute and Chief Science Officer at Groov, she pioneers evidence-based frameworks that drive high-performing, resilient teams.

  • Laura Hamill, PhD, is an accomplished organizational psychologist and business leader specializing in the fusion of science and HR to drive positive workplace transformation.

    As Chief Science Advisor at Groov, Laura leads the development of science-backed frameworks that enable organizations to build resilient, high-performing teams.

    Previously, Laura co-founded Limeade, where as Chief People and Science Officer, she played a pivotal role in shaping innovative approaches to employee experience. Before Limeade, she directed People Research at Microsoft, bringing data-driven insights into organizational strategy to foster a culture of engagement and growth.

    A recognized thought leader in organizational psychology, Laura frequently speaks at industry conferences and has been featured in publications like Fast Company, Forbes, and Inc. She is also the host of the Happy at Work podcast, where she explores strategies for thriving workplace cultures with leading experts. Laura’s upcoming book, co-authored with The Economist, offers a deep dive into building strong organizational cultures and is set for release in 2024.

    Laura holds a Ph.D. in industrial/organizational psychology from Old Dominion University and lives with her family in Woodinville, Washington.

  • Alexis A. Fink, Ph.D. is a leading figure in People Analytics, having led People Analytics teams at several major tech companies as well as extensive work in organizational transformation, organizational culture, leadership assessment, and the application of advanced analytical methods to human capital problems. She has published two books and numerous articles and book chapters. Alexis is the new incoming President-Elect of SIOP as well as a SIOP Fellow and recipient of SIOP’s Distinguished Service Award in 2019. She was Chair of the IT Survey Group, an industry consortium dedicated to employee surveys. Alexis earned her PhD in Industrial/Organizational Psychology at Old Dominion University.

  • Michael Arena, Ph.D. is an acclaimed speaker and author of the groundbreaking research on adaptation that won the 2017 Walker Prize from People + Strategy. He is a leading expert in organizational network analysis and his work has been cited in the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Inc. Magazine, Harvard Business Review, Business Insider and Sloan Management Review.

    Arena is also the former Chief Talent Officer for GM where he played a critical role in the company’s transformation. He launched GM2020, a grass roots initiative designed to enable employees to positively disrupt the way they work, which was highlighted in Fast Company and Fortune. Arena teaches in Penn’s Masters in Organizational Dynamics program and acts as a design thinking coach within the Stanford dSchool. He also spent two years as a visiting scientist within MIT’s Media Lab and served as Senior Vice President of Leadership Development at Bank of America.

  • Ian O’Keefe is a globally recognized People Analytics leader with over 20 years of experience in building and leading analytics teams in Human Resources at top organizations including Amazon, JPMorgan Chase, Google, and American Express. He is the Founder and CEO of ikona Analytics, a firm that has developed AI-assisted tools and frameworks to help HR organizations unlock the value of their people data with insights at the intersection of operations, technology, product design, and analytics. Ian is a CXO Network Member for A.Team, an HR Venture Advisor for SemperVirens Venture Capital, and a strategic advisor to start-ups, including Traversaal and Groov. Most recently, he served as Head of Talent Analytics at Amazon, leading a multidisciplinary team that provided data engineering, reporting, behavioral research, and applied data science solutions for over 400,000 corporate employees. Ian began his career in management consulting with Deloitte Human Capital and boutique firms specializing in change management and organizational effectiveness. He holds a Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of Virginia, a Master’s in Data Science from Northwestern University, is an Adjunct Professor of HR Analytics at New York University, and has studied AI and LLM product development at Stanford University. Ian is also a frequent speaker and has contributed to three books on People Analytics.

  • Dr Fiona Crichton is a health psychology specialist with over a decade of experience developing programs to enhance health behaviors and mental wellbeing.

    As VP of Behavioral Science at Groov, Fiona applies her expertise to create evidence-based solutions that foster resilience and adaptive change in workplaces and communities alike. Her research on placebo and nocebo effects, published in numerous high-impact, peer-reviewed journals, has advanced understanding of psychological influences on health outcomes.

    With a background in law, including roles as a litigation lawyer and legal writer, Fiona brings a unique interdisciplinary perspective, combining clinical expertise with a nuanced understanding of behavioral and societal factors. She is strongly committed to improving mental health on a broad scale across New Zealand and beyond, ensuring Groov’s approach is both scientifically grounded and impactful.

    A recognized speaker and presenter, Fiona regularly shares insights on health psychology and behavioral science at conferences and professional forums, translating complex scientific concepts into accessible, actionable strategies.

As leaders in their respective fields, Founding Fellows actively share their knowledge and insights with the broader WSI community. They contribute cutting-edge research, author thought-provoking articles, and lead engaging webinars and workshops that explore the frontiers of workplace science. Their work spans a wide range of topics, from leveraging data analytics for organizational insights to examining the impact of AI on work relationships and driving evidence-based transformation strategies. WSI handles the infrastructure to support the work of the Founding Fellows.

Upcoming events

Unlock your data advantage: Leveraging active and passive insights for strategic impact

Virtual event | 11 March 2025, 12pm PST

In this enlightening webinar featuring Alexis Fink, PhD. and Laura Hamill, PhD. they unravel the complexities of current data challenges.

Join us to:

  • Unravel the complexities of current data challenges.

  • Explore the nuances of passive and active data collection.

  • Examine the interplay between qualitative and quantitative information.

  • Discover innovative strategies for aligning your data with key business initiatives.

Alexis Fink PhD. Meta

Laura Hamill PhD. Groov

Discover more perspectives on Workplace Science

WSI replays
Unlock your data advantage with Alexis Fink
Unlock your data advantage with Alexis Fink

Leveraging active and passive insights for strategic impact.

In this insightful conversation, Laura Hamill, PhD. and Alexis Fink, PhD. cut through the noise on data in modern organizations. They explain how active and passive data drive strategic decisions and connect people data to business outcomes. They explore the evolution of people analytics, discuss its challenges and pitfalls, address privacy and ethical concerns, and look ahead to the future of People Analytics and AI.

Unlock your data advantage: Leveraging active and passive insights for strategic impact

In this insightful webinar, Laura Hamill, PhD. Organizational Psychologist and Chief Science Officer at Groov, and Alexis Fink, PhD. an expert in people analytics and organizational transformation, discuss the evolution of people analytics, the integration of active and passive data, and the ethical considerations in leveraging workplace data.

They delve into the challenges of turning data into actionable insights and explore the future of people analytics with AI. Alexis also shares her extensive career journey and upcoming plans.

This is the first in a series of engaging conversations hosted by the Workplace Science Institute.

Highlights

00:30 Meet Laura Hamill and Groov

01:57 Introducing Dr. Alexis Fink

02:48 Alexis Fink's Career Journey

04:55 The Role of Data in Organizations

06:03 Active vs. Passive Data

12:44 Connecting People Data to Business Outcomes

17:27 Evolution of People Analytics

27:56 Challenges and Pitfalls in People Analytics

37:48 Privacy and Ethical Considerations

41:35 Future of People Analytics and AI

43:10 Conclusion and What's Next for Alexis

Why start the Workplace Science Institute?

The Workplace Science Institute (WSI) is a response to the rapidly evolving landscape of work. As the pace of technological change accelerates, organizations and professionals alike find themselves struggling to keep up with the latest advancements and their implications for the workplace. 

Organizations are struggling with AI, hybrid/remote/RTO, generational differences, ever-increasing revenue expectations, and balancing the needs of customers, stakeholders, and employees. Organizations are challenged to stay on top of these issues so that they can understand and take action to improve their organizations.

WSI fills this gap by providing a community where cutting-edge research meets practical application. By bringing together leading scientists, practitioners, builders, and innovators who share data, case studies, and lessons learned, WSI creates a unique ecosystem for rapid knowledge sharing and collaborative learning.

Join the conversation.

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