In this insightful episode, host Gary A. Bolles welcomes Kyle Hermans, Singularity University's Fellow for Purpose and CEO of Be Courageous. They dive deep into the concept of purpose in a world of exponential change, marked by "great resets" like the global pandemic and the "AI tsunami".
Kyle, who has conducted over 2,500 sessions with leaders globally, shares his unique journey, starting from his curious youth in apartheid South Africa. Driven by a "five whys mentality" and a vast imagination, his non-linear career arc was always shaped by profound questions. A pivotal "lightning bolt" moment revealed his life's purpose: that "creativity is courage," leading him to help others choose between building their lives through fear or courage. Kyle emphasizes that deep purpose often emerges from "conflicted places" and "very hard struggles," not just ideal circumstances. His process for finding purpose involves reflecting on life's highs and lows to find meaning and gain "agency".
The conversation extends to organizational purpose in an era of constant disruption. Kyle asserts that many modern disruptions are a "failure of imagination," as humans fail to anticipate possibilities. He highlights how "modern tools" like AI are increasingly accessible, enabling rapid adoption of new solutions and challenging fundamental societal beliefs. For organizations, the future is a "blank canvas," necessitating big, different thinking anchored in purpose. Kyle offers practical examples for cultivating purpose, such as Patagonia's practice of starting meetings by asking, "How did we serve and impact the earth today?" or placing an "empty customer chair" at the table.A significant focus is placed on generational differences in the workforce. Kyle notes that younger generations are "wide for different things," with meaning and purpose often ranking higher than traditional career incentives or money. They seek organizations that "stand for something" and offer psychologically safe environments where their voices are heard and creativity embraced.
Regarding AI and purpose, Kyle's company integrates AI as a "team member" named FID (short for Infinity). While AI excels at synthesizing information and articulating ideas, Kyle currently observes its limitation in generating novel, profound "why" reasoning about things that don't yet exist. He raises a fascinating question: What if we started "programming" AI with a sense of purpose beyond just functional tasks?. Looking to the future (2045-2050), Kyle believes the only constants will be "love and courage," as humans, intrinsically wired for fear, will continually need courage to navigate relentless change.For listeners seeking to explore their own purpose, Kyle offers a free resource on his website, including a 10-minute video and downloadable toolkit.
https://bcrgs.com/
