Unlock Your Best Workplace:
Why Your Workplace Needs an Anthropologist

by Melissa Fisher (msf4@nyu.ed)

As co-editor of “Frontiers of Capital: Ethnographic Reflections on the New Economy,” with anthropologist Greg Downey, I’m struck by how relevant our insights from the early 2000s remain for today’s dynamic workplaces.

The “New Economy” era was a powerful lesson: economic shifts are never just about technology or finance. They are profoundly social and cultural, a truth that forward-thinking organizations are now embracing to build truly great workplace experiences.

Our work highlights three critical arguments that underscore why anthropology is indispensable for modern business:

1) Technology & Social Change are Intertwined: We showed that technological adoption isn’t automatic; it’s deeply shaped by social and cultural contexts, often in unforeseen ways. In today’s hybrid work environments, understanding how people actually integrate new tools, rather than just if they do, is key to boosting productivity and well-being.

2) Social Structures contribute to Driving Economic Activity: Far from making social relations obsolete, the New Economy demonstrated their intensified importance. Networking, trust, and personal connections became paramount for success. A thriving workplace experience isn’t built on isolated individuals but on robust social connections, shared practices, and collective purpose. We need to actively design for meaningful interactions.

3) Economic Value is (also) Culturally Constructed: The boom-and-bust cycles of the New Economy laid bare that “economic fundamentals” and even concepts of “value” are profoundly shaped by cultural norms and shared understandings. For workplace experience this means that “value” isn’t just about compensation; it’s about the cultural fabric of recognition, belonging, and purpose that anthropologists can help weave.

Hiring and collaborating with an anthropologist is about gaining deep, qualitative insights into the human element of your organization. We study the unspoken rules, the cultural narratives, and the social dynamics that truly drive engagement, retention and innovation. 

If you’re serious about creating a truly exceptional workplace experience that stands the test of time, an anthropologist provides the unique cultural intelligence to navigate the complex interplay of economic and social realities within your organization. Let’s connect and discuss how my expertise can help transform your workplace culture