Human on the Inside with Greta Bradman
Human on the Inside. We’re big believers in the power of human skills. But don’t just take our word for it - the evidence for excellence powered by human (‘soft’) skills is everywhere! In this engaging, ever-enlightening series, we speak with industry leaders, innovators and game-changers to learn a little about their personal career journeys, and how human-led strategies, philosophies and cultures are proving a force for good in their working worlds …
Maxme: Welcome Greta, and thanks for stepping into the #SuccessIsHuman Spotlight!
You’re a Psychologist, AI scientist, Founder, Advisor, ABC Broadcaster and Former no. 1 recording artist/ freelance classical singer. Woweeee!
Currently, you’re also Leader of People Science AI, with CultureAmp.
In 1 sentence, what does this role entail?
Greta Bradman: Having worked in AI-related startups and scaleups for the last five years or so, I’m now helping develop Culture Amp’s AI coach, not to replace human coaches at work but to democratise access to quality and affordable workplace coaching.
M: A wearer of many eclectic hats, you’ve built a distinguished career spanning psychology, AI, and the performing arts. Initially rising to prominence as a classical soprano, you achieved significant success with four No. 1 classical albums and performances with leading orchestras and opera companies worldwide.
After nearly a decade as a professional singer, you brought psychology into the mix, specialising in clinical, coaching, and performance psychology. Integrating data science and AI into your practice, you now advise on AI applications that enhance human wellbeing and decision-making.
Alongside your work with CultureAmp, and as a practicing psychologist, you’re a respected media personality, serving as an ABC broadcaster. You’re also the proud author of What Matters to You: How Values Transform Your Work and Life, set for release in March 2025.
Finally, you also hold governance roles with Opera Australia, Arts Centre Melbourne, and The Bradman Foundation.
How does all this work speak to your personal purpose and what drives you as an individual?
GB: I actually did my ten years of psychology study before embarking on my decade of singing, and the plan was always to return to my roots in psych and tech. The ten years flew by! During that time, I worked in private practice, established the Arts Wellbeing Collective, ran gallons of values workshops, and kept very involved in the psych world as well as volunteering in non-profits.
I’m massively driven by contribution, and seeking to make a difference by compounding scalable impact over time rather than working with one individual at a time (as much as that’s valuable work!).
For over a decade I’ve been practicing with human values (both with organisations and individuals). I’m hoping that What Matters to You offers a bit of a guide based on my practice and the research that underpins it. I also get a bit vulnerable for the first time about my journey with a neurodivergent brain, and how values have greatly helped me make sense of the human world better.
M: Tell us a little about your personal education pathway/s - what led you to where you are now? How closely do your formal qualifications match your current career?
GB: I missed a bunch of highschool - three years on and off - and so when I finished school, I was amazed and had no idea what to do or what I could do. To be honest, I didn’t think I’d make it that far!
I made it to university and found a love of learning. I never intended to have a career in music - the decision to sing for a living came from a combination of wanting to learn more about nonprofits and contribute there (it’s a long story), and needing to earn an income with a toddler and newborn to support my family.
Backtracking to uni though, I picked up a few academic awards in undergrad but it wasn’t until I was Dux of my Honours Psychology year that I started to think, maybe I’m not totally incapable of learning stuff. I was still very unsure about my ability to do anything much though. Later, I went on to do similarly in my MBA at Melbourne Business School, and that was my favourite piece of education (so far).
My grad psych years had been chaotic, what with having two babies and helping my husband Didier get his startup going, but I loved every minute. I do think my broad post-school education has deeply supported my current career - especially all the stats and data modeling in my grad studies and my clinical skills. But to be honest it’s been learning about people at scale through my singing and radio careers that have really brought it all together in ways that provide an intuition around how to solve real-world problems.
Would I encourage others to take the education route I have? Absolutely not; there are easier routes, and with less HECS debt involved. But it’s gotten me to a place where I get to contribute to some cool things that I believe make a positive impact, so I’d do it again.
M: If you could share one piece of career advice to your 21 year old self it would be ...
GB: Listen to your own inner voice now, not ‘when you’re qualified’, and understand that your values mean that your version of a great life might be different to someone else’s who is providing you emphatic, well-meaning advice.
When people tell you you can’t or shouldn’t do something, understand that reflects their assumptions, not a reality. Avoiding things that matter most to you because you may fall short is not a good reason to not do them; indeed if you find yourself avoiding something to avoid disappointment, lean in and do it.
M: Maximising the potential of individuals, communities and businesses through the power of human skills is the reason Maxme exists. Can you tell us a little about the role and / or value of human skills in large corporate workplaces right now?
GB: The Digital Revolution is making way for the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0), characterised by artificial intelligence amongst other things. At its best this revolution can support and enable people at work, but there are pitfalls and perils too around automated decision-making that doesn’t adequately consider human values and the long-term needs of humans and humanity.
Right now, organisations are changing fast. With change can come deep uncertainty, which can lead to people feeling under threat, at which point people’s threat-based values (around control, avoidance, blame deflection, perfectionism, and such) can come to the fore.
Responding to situations from a threat-based stance tends to erode trust and value over the longer-term. Human skills involving empathy, constructive communication, adaptability, humour, and creativity, can help mitigate against threat-based stances that fundamentally undermine optimal performance for the individual, for teams, and ultimately, for the organisation.
M: Self Awareness sets the critical foundation for all Maxme learning experiences. With that said … what’s your strongest trait / personal super power?
GB: Hmm.. I would say (for better or worse), I can hyperfocus with the best of them when doing deep work, and I take pride in holding space for people so they can talk to me openly and honestly.
M: And on the flip side, what’s one human / ‘soft’ skill you’ve had to really work on improving over the course of your career?
GB: Understanding human motivation, and that people can say one thing and mean another.
M: If you could share one piece of career advice with recent Uni graduates or candidates keen to explore the world of organisational psychology, &/or musical performance, what would it be?
GB: Hmm.. my psych masters was in clinical psychology so I’d probably speak from that perspective..
For now, index on experience over income, but don’t sell yourself short over the longer-term. Seek out work opportunities that challenge you and help you grow, but don’t undermine your sense of self and your confidence.
Don’t leave it up to happenstance or other people to present you opportunities - my experience is they’re hard-won and you need to chase them down.
M: You’ve been granted approval to add one University graduate to your team, but have 100 applicants, all with outstanding academic results. How do you find your perfect candidate - what are you looking for?
GB: I’d look at the convergence of their values and strengths. I’d ask them three questions:
What brings you joy?
Who is someone you admire and why (I’d be looking at how this relates to their values and what they prioritise), and
What is something they can’t walk past and why?
Personally, I’m looking for someone with a growth mindset, who takes accountability, who has high standards without being perfectionistic, who knows their priorities, and who is kind and respectful.
M: In the words of John Dewey, “education is not preparation for life, education is life itself.”
What’s next on your #learning agenda?
GB: My learning agenda these days combines a heap of journal articles around new AI techniques with AI-related courses. Putting that aside, learning more about what matters most to people around the country as I embark on some conversations sparked by my new book. It’s incredibly inspiring and eye-opening hearing the depth of thought people put into answering this question, as well as the diversity of answers.
Ready to develop the human skills within your organisation, team or self? Explore our menu of Maxme Products & Programs or simply download the Hodie app to get started today.
Prefer to talk through your options? Simply contact us at any time.
More human goodness you might like:
