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Michael Arena
Dean | Chief Science Officer Syndezo | Co-founder Connected Commons
Michael Arena, Ph.D., is the Dean of the Crowell School of Business at Biola University, a position he assumed on July 1, 2023.12 He is a seasoned executive with extensive experience in talent management and organizational development. Prior to joining Biola, Arena served as Vice President for Talent and Development at Amazon Web Services (AWS) from 2019 to 2022.15 He also held the position of Chief Talent Officer at General Motors for seven years and was Senior Vice President of Leadership Development at Bank of America from 2006 to 2010.1
Arena is an accomplished author, having written the book "Adaptive Space," which outlines a model for company reinvention.1 He is also the chief science officer and co-founder of the Connected Commons, a research consortium focused on developing and applying organizational network solutions.4
In terms of education, Arena holds a doctorate in Organization Development from the Union Institute and University, an MBA from Wheeling Jesuit University, and a bachelor's degree in Industrial Technology from PennWest California University.15
Throughout his career, Arena has been involved in academia alongside his corporate roles. He has been teaching in the University of Pennsylvania's Master in Organizational Dynamics program since 2016.5 He also spent two years as a visiting scientist at MIT's Media Lab and served as a coach at Stanford University's d.school.3
Arena is known for his expertise in talent development, strategic planning, innovation, and organizational health.2 His approach focuses on leveraging network analysis and AI technologies to drive organizational growth and innovation.3
Highlights
Fortune 500 companies squander 25 billion work hours annually due to abysmal collaboration practices, according to the Atlassian State of Teams 2024 report. Despite the frenetic pace, productivity is plummeting, with teams trapped in endless planning and fruitless discussions. A shocking 64% of workers feel directionless, constantly pulled in conflicting directions, while 65% are drowning in meetings, forced to prioritize trivial tasks over critical work. This damning report calls into question the very foundations of corporate teamwork.
Check out more in the last edition of the Social Capital Compendium https://lnkd.in/g_k5TZRf
#socialcapital #peopleanalytics #futureofwork #hybridwork #organizationalnetworkanalysis #socialcapitalcompenduim

Isolation emerges as a pivotal concern in Gallup's latest findings, unveiling a troubling trend of disengagement among U.S. employees. Satisfaction with organizations and connection to company mission are both on the decline. In the first quarter of 2024, engagement decreased by three percentage points to 30%, hitting its lowest level since 2013. This drop equates to 4.8 million fewer engaged employees. Moreover, the ratio of engaged to actively disengaged employees has plummeted to its lowest point since 2013.
Check out more in the last edition of the Social Capital Compendium
https://lnkd.in/ggbskc2P
#socialcapital #peopleanalytics #futureofwork #hybridwork #organizationalnetworkanalysis #socialcapitalcompenduim
