In this episode, we sit down with Michelle Floyd, a former rocket scientist turned Chief Technology Officer and part-time ski instructor, to discuss the critical topic of aligning team and company goals to promote human flourishing. Michelle shares his diverse background, experiences in the tech industry, and insights on the importance of connecting employees' career aspirations with the company's mission. He also recounts an embarrassing mistake from his past and offers actionable advice for tech leaders looking to enhance team alignment and productivity. Michelle emphasizes the significance of understanding both personal and organizational 'whys' and reflects on the transformational power of goal alignment, comparing it to the United States' Apollo moon mission. The episode concludes with practical steps for leaders to implement these strategies in their teams.

* Michel Floyd on LinkedIn - http://linkedin.com/in/michelfloyd

* Weapons of Math Destruction by Cathy O'Neil - https://www.amazon.com/Weapons-Math-Destruction-Increases-Inequality-ebook/dp/B019B6VCLO?tag=sommardahl-20

* Online Scrum Master Summit - Free virtual conference, June 17-19, 2025 - Register now at onlinescrummastersummit.com

Timeline:00:00 Introduction 00:34 Meet Michelle Floyd: Rocket Scientist to CTO 01:49 Aligning Team and Company Goals 02:04 Michelle's Background and Career Journey 04:15 The Importance of Data and Bias in AI 08:05 Confession Time: Embarrassing Mistakes 12:03 Lessons from Rocket Science for Team Alignment 15:25 Promoting Human Flourishing in Teams 37:50 Final Thoughts and Contact Information