I often use the octopus as a metaphor for how to thrive and lead in the AI-era and create highly efficient and adaptable organizations. Real octopuses have distributed intelligence with nine "brains"-two-thirds of their neurons are in their arms, allowing each arm to sense, decide, and act locally while a neural ring maintains coordination. In other words, the octopus is agile at the edges and aligned at the center.
While 2023 research from Visier demonstrated that 83% of workers admit to " productivity theater"-performing busy work that creates the appearance of output without meaningful results-that same year, the World Economic Forum declared creativity to be the second most critical skill for our workforce by 2027. The collision of these realities signals a fundamental shift that smart organizations can no longer ignore.
With more than 15 years of experience in human resources, Drew has helped companies navigate Pre-IPO readiness, mergers and acquisitions, culture shifts, and reorganizations to position businesses for major growth-all through the lens of people. He doesn't just talk about HR as a support function. For Drew, it's a strategic engine that drives performance, shapes culture, and supports transformation at every level.