Science of People

Book club is back!
Our next book club book is Why We Do What We Do: Understanding Self-Motivation by Edward L. Deci and Richard Flaste. This will be a three-session series, each focused on a part of the book - join one or join all! If you are not a reader but are interested in learning about the book, feel free to attend. A book summary will be shared at the beginning of our time together followed by discussion topics that everyone can partake in whether you have completed the reading or not.
This session will be focused on the introduction and part 1 of the book.
About the book:
In an era of persistent burnout and the exhaustion of "shoulds," many high-achieving adults find themselves successful on paper but internally depleted, operating more on controlled compliance than genuine passion. This book club series explores the scientific foundations of human agency through Why We Do What We Do by Edward L. Deci. We will examine the core tenets of Self-Determination Theory (autonomy, competence, and relatedness) and discuss how to shift from the superficial pressure of external expectations toward more self-authored and sustainable high performance. At its core, this work highlights that intrinsic motivation is not a luxury, it is essential for students, employees, leaders, and societies to learn, adapt, and thrive over time. If you are looking to reclaim your intrinsic drive and redesign your professional or personal workflows for authentic engagement, join us for an insightful discussion on how to cultivate the conditions where motivation thrives naturally.
About your hosts:
Dr. Katherine Sanders is a Work Systems and Human Factors Engineer focused on designing healthier, more effective workplaces. She creates leadership and organizational development programs that help leaders align work design with employee wellbeing, engagement, innovation, and sustainable performance. Her work integrates research from organizational behavior, occupational health, and systems engineering to address the root causes of burnout, errors, and turnover. Katherine has taught and facilitated learning for professionals across sectors, bringing a practical, systems-based lens to complex organizational challenges. She is particularly interested in how intrinsic motivation and well-designed work systems enable people and organizations to thrive.
Jacqueline Fiore is an Industrial-Organizational Psychology practitioner and founder of Elite Growth Partners with over two decades of leadership experience ranging from corporate initiatives to service as a decorated U.S. Army Sergeant and OIF Combat Veteran. She specializes in creating empowering work environments where individuals thrive - a focus that aligns deeply with the principles of autonomy and motivation within Self-Determination Theory. Jacqueline leverages her expertise in organizational effectiveness and strategic planning to help leaders drive sustainable growth and collective success.