Being able to maximize human capital to optimize employee engagement is the unspoken goal of every business.

Yet not all talent is created equal, and too often entrepreneurs, especially those in startup mode, rely on their gut feel and past experience in assembling their teams.

But today's guest says a data driven approach to decision making helps sidestep predictable people problems and can actually accelerate your business success. Discover what data you need and how to use it.

* What you need to know before collecting data to maximize human capital

* 5 non-financial metrics that help maximize human capital

* How to create healthy work environments to help maximize human capital

* And much more.

DR. NIKKI BLACKSMITH is co-founder and CEO of Blackhawke Behavior Science and an adjunct faculty member at American University in Washington, D.C.

She has nearly 15 years of experience as a scientist-practitioner, focusing on psychometrics, selection, decision-making, and entrepreneurial performance.

She has also published over 80 conference papers, book chapters, and journal articles, and her scientific research has been featured in top-tier academic publications, including American Psychologist, the Journal of Business and Psychology, Personality and Individual Differences, and the Journal of Behavioral Decision-Making, and media outlets including New York Magazine, Real Simple Magazine, and BBC.

She’s the co-author of the new book: Data-Driven Decision Making in Entrepreneurship: Tools for Maximizing Human Capital (CRC Press; April 2, 2024).

If you liked this interview, you might also enjoy our other Human Resources episodes.

Contact Nikki and connect with her on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Also check out her website and her new book, Data Driven Decision Making in Entrepreneurship: Tools for Maximizing Human Capital.

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