On the latest episode of AnthroPuzzled, we sit down with Melissa Vogel, a business anthropologist, corporate research leader, and founder of Great Heron Insights. With a PhD in anthropology and a career spanning academia, UX research, and organizational consulting, Melissa shares how anthropology can transform workplaces, improve business decision-making, and help people better understand one another.

Melissa reflects on her journey from archaeology and Peruvian fieldwork to founding Clemson University's Business Anthropology Program and later leading qualitative and UX research in corporate environments. She discusses the realities of academia, navigating career pivots, and the challenges anthropologists face when translating their skills into the private sector. Along the way, she emphasizes the value of cultural understanding, adaptability, and anthropological thinking in solving real-world business problems.

The conversation also dives into artificial intelligence, workplace culture, and the future of anthropology beyond academia. Melissa shares insights from her current AI research projects, discusses how anthropologists can critically engage with emerging technologies, and explains why anthropology is more relevant than ever in an increasingly interconnected world.

Listen now to explore business anthropology, career pivots, AI in research, and how anthropology can create more human-centered workplaces and communities.

On the latest episode of AnthroPuzzled, we sit down with data scientist and entrepreneur Stephen Paff who blends anthropology, math, and machine learning to understand people through data.

With a background in both anthropology and mathematics, he approaches data science as a social science at its core, using technical tools to answer questions about human behavior, decision-making, and culture. His work spans high-stakes environments, from analyzing data during COVID-19 in a New York hospital system to leading large-scale insights work at Google.

Now, as the founder of Idea Corner LLC, he applies a bottom-up, anthropological approach to building products, focusing on what people actually need rather than forcing top-down solutions. He also breaks down misconceptions about math and programming, emphasizing that these are learnable skills and encouraging students to explore data science in accessible ways before committing to advanced degrees.

Listen now to explore how anthropology is reshaping data science, and why understanding people is at the center of it all.

On the latest episode of AnthroPuzzled, we sit down with a technology strategist who blends anthropology with tech to guide organizations in making smarter, people-centered investments.

With a background in both technology and anthropology, Minakshi uses ethnographic interviews to uncover the real challenges teams face, going beyond surface-level needs to understand workplace culture, internal dynamics, and decision-making processes. Her approach prioritizes people over technology, ensuring that solutions are built around human experiences rather than imposed systems.

Working primarily in risk and compliance, her role focuses on shaping long-term technology strategies, from annual planning to multi-year investment decisions. By applying anthropological thinking throughout the process, Minakshi helps organizations anticipate challenges, reduce friction, and build systems that actually work for employees.

Listen now to explore how anthropology is transforming the way we build, implement, and think about technology.