Podcast Episode 1 | Autonomy & Intrinsic Drive
In this first episode exploring the ASPIRE Index, our Chief Behavioural Scientist Mark Dean, and behavioural scientist Debbie Androlia, turn their attention to Autonomy and Intrinsic Drive, the first of the ASPIRE clusters. Together they explore why these two factors are so tightly linked, what's happening in the brain when we're intrinsically motivated versus externally pushed, and what this means for anyone trying to perform at their best while protecting their focus and mental health.
Listeners will gain practical insight into the neurochemistry of intrinsic drive, the risks of over-engineering flexibility and control in teams, and simple ways to build greater self-awareness around what genuinely motivates them.
Listen here to the full podcast:
Mark Dean
Founder
Mark Dean is a brain and mind scientist, workplace mental health expert advisor, and facilitator with over 30 years’ experience in conflict resolution and psychological wellbeing. His approach integrates neuroscience with cognitive and behavioural sciences – as well as social and environmental factors – to optimise mental health, decision-making, emotional regulation, relationships and performance at work.
As Founder of Enmasse, Mark builds psychologically healthy, safe, and productive workplaces for global organisations. Previously, he practiced as a lawyer before focusing on mental health in high-performance environments.
Mark advises law firm partners, university professors, and judiciary members on managing perfectionism, imposter syndrome, and cognitive overload. He serves as a non-executive director across financial and community services sectors while regularly speaking on active bystander interventions to eliminate workplace harassment.
Debbie Androlia
Debbie is a behavioural scientist, coach and facilitator with 20+ years of experience across the consulting, finance, and legal sectors.
For the past 6 years Debbie has worked on projects with Pickering Pearce (and previously Janders Dean), on consulting projects for multi-national law firms. Her expertise lies in group identity and role modelling, effective collaboration, and decision-making.
Debbie’s experience also includes a decade as partner at a boutique investment firm, where she joined as the fourth team member and helped grow the company to 40 people in various senior operational roles. She subsequently spent two years at BlackRock working on special projects within their Legal & Compliance team.
Debbie holds an MA in Law from Downing College, Cambridge, and an MSc in Behavioural and Economic Science. She is an ICF ACTP Professional Coach and certified LEGO® SERIOUSPLAY® Facilitator, bringing organisational skills and a thoughtful approach to building rapport with clients.
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