What gives you a sense of purpose at work?
For some, it’s building something meaningful. For others, it’s the people they work alongside or the feeling that they’re making a difference.
And sometimes, the very things that once motivated us stop giving us the same energy.
So what happens then?
In the latest episode of The Human Success Show, Zensai’s Robin Daniels, Chief GTM Officer, and Nina Elisabeth Carøe, Chief Human Success Officer, sit down with organizational psychologist, entrepreneur, and leadership coach Pernille Hippe Brun.
Together, they explore what creates purpose at work, why change can feel so difficult, and how organizations can help people succeed.
One idea runs throughout their conversation: Human success is something we create together.
When the work you once loved stops giving you energy
Pernille has built businesses, coached leaders, and helped organizations create environments where people can develop.
But one of the most interesting parts of her story is her willingness to recognize when it’s time to move on.
She describes leaving a successful consultancy she’d helped build because she wanted to apply her strengths somewhere new.
It’s a situation many people recognize. You might be good at your job, respected by your colleagues, and financially comfortable, yet feel that something is missing.
Robin shares a similar experience from his first CMO role at a cybersecurity company. Despite enjoying the team and being successful on paper, he’d lost his connection to the mission.
For months, he worried about how leaving would affect his reputation. Eventually, he asked himself a different question: What would it say about him if he stayed?
Sometimes, making progress means having the courage to reconsider where we’re heading.
The questions we ask can change our perspective
One of the most memorable stories comes from Pernille’s childhood. Feeling like an outsider at school, she struggled to connect with the people around her.
Then a teacher gave her some simple advice: Ask people questions. Be curious about their lives. That experience changed how she approached relationships.
As Pernille explains:
“The questions we ask really matter because the questions we ask also determines the answers we get.”
It’s an important lesson for leaders.
The conversations we create influence how people see their challenges and opportunities. When someone is struggling, asking what might help them take one step forward can open possibilities they hadn’t considered.
Why coaching shouldn’t be reserved for executives
Pernille founded Get Session with the belief that everyone deserves access to great coaching.
Traditionally, professional coaching has been more accessible to senior executives. Yet employees at every level face decision and challenge where an outside perspective could make a difference.
Throughout the conversation, Nina and Robin reflect on the people who have believed in them, challenged their thinking, and helped them recognize opportunities throughout their careers.
It raises an important question for organizations: How can we make that kind of support available to more people?
Helping employees develop and grow should be part of how an organization operates, rather than an opportunity reserved for a select few.
Human Success happens together
Toward the end of the conversation, Pernille shares a perspective that captures the heart of human success. It’s about building communities and creating the conditions where people feel supported, can contribute meaningfully, and don’t have to figure everything out on their own.
Business performance matters. So does the experience of the people making that performance possible.
When organizations understand what motivates people and create opportunities for them to contribute meaningfully, they build the foundation for sustainable success.
Perhaps Pernille captures it best when she asks:
“How can we together create conditions so that we can have human success all over the company?”
It’s a question worth bringing into every leadership conversation.
And one we’ll continue exploring on The Human Success Show.
