Versapiens: An Origin Story
If you’re reading this, welcome. You’ve managed to find your way to the very first issue of the Versapiens blog. Maybe you’re here out of curiosity, maybe by accident, or maybe you’re the kind of person who cares about where we’re heading, how technology is impacting humanity (and the other way around) and what the future – particularly the future of work – looks like. However you landed here, I’m glad you made it.
I’m starting this blog as a companion to a company we’re building called Versapia. We spent a long time coming up with that name, and although it’s an invented word, there’s intent behind it.
We can all see that the world’s changing at an alarming rate, but some things are staying the same and have done for decades. Technology is advancing at a rapid clip, but human biology & psychology are much like they’ve been for the last couple of thousand years. The delivery mechanisms of our businesses are evolving, but the core elements of providing value and building relationships remain.
In the same way, Versapia’s combining time-tested principles of high-performance culture with the capabilities of AI, and so we wanted a name that evoked both timelessness and forward-looking optimism. So, we went back to Latin (naturally).
Veritas is Latin for truth, while sapientia means wisdom, and is also the root of homo sapiens. Combining these concepts of truth, wisdom and humanity led us to Versapia, and now, the Versapiens blog.
Etymology aside, you may be wondering what this blog is about. Personally, I’m fascinated by the era we’re in and the way that culture and technology are fusing. I’ve spent my career studying the cultural factors that make exceptional companies tick, and as we head into an AI-enabled future, I’ll be using this blog to explore how technology is shifting culture, how it’s helping us to build connection and engagement more effectively, and what all of this means for the future of work.
The disruption we’re seeing in the world right now is greater than it has ever been, and it’s unlikely to slow down soon. In that disruption is a goldmine of opportunity, and given the knowledge and tools at our fingertips, it should be easier than ever to start and build companies that have a positive impact on the world. We’re not seeing that play out, though. Our collective success rate isn’t improving, despite our resources.
The reason for this, in my opinion, is that we’re largely focusing on the easy stuff (automating process, extending our reach, creating content etc) rather than engaging with the things that really make businesses thrive – solving meaningful problems, building outstanding teams and connecting with our customers. In large part, these things come down to creating a high-performance culture.
No business grows on a smooth upward trajectory. There’s always challenge, and the more successful you become, the more challenges you face. The key factor in overcoming those challenges is building a team and culture that can overcome them.
So, as well as opinions and musings on the future, I’ll be sharing tools, insights, frameworks and principles with you that will help you to proactively shape the culture of your business. My ambition for the Versapiens blog is that it gives you a cutting edge toolkit to deploy as you navigate the future.
If you believe that culture powers businesses that shape the world, then you’re in the right place. If you want to know how to deliberately engineer a culture that drives your success, stick around. If you know another founder, leader or people professional who’s on the same page, forward this blog to them and encourage them to subscribe.
And tell me in the comments or in reply – what’s your biggest challenge with culture right now? I’ll do what I can to help.
See you next week.