Title: People Science Consultant

Hometown: Ridgewood, N.J.

Residence: Los Angeles

“Talk about a dream, try to make it real,” sings American rock n’ roll icon Bruce Springsteen in his hit Badlands. 

The words resonate with People Science Consultant Adam Greenhouse. “I get excited talking to organizations about their vision and how people can come together to achieve it,” he explains. “And every person in the organization can help realize that vision when their voices are heard and they feel empowered.”

It’s also worth emphasizing that Adam grew up in Springsteen’s home state of New Jersey, where it’s almost a legal requirement to love the music legend known as The Boss.

Learn more about Adam’s work and life…

WORK

What got you interested in People Science?

I’ve been curious about what we now call people science for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I played a lot of team sports—I had coaches dedicated to the idea that things like culture, growth, motivation, and teamwork were more important for success than individual talent. When I started studying psychology as an undergraduate, I got hooked on how we can use data to research these concepts and understand why people succeed.

Any career goals you’re working toward?

My goal is always to be in a role that provides opportunities to learn and grow. I was recently in a management role and learned a lot about developing an internal team. Now I’m more focused on helping other organizations, and I’m learning so much from them.

What has been a big learning moment in your career?

After graduating from Occidental College in Los Angeles, I worked there for a few years as an admissions officer, and part of the job was presenting information sessions to groups. I learned you can have all the best knowledge and factoids, but if they aren’t delivered as part of a broader story, they won’t resonate with the audience.

What’s your top tip?

Elevate others however you can. Whether you’re a leader or just joining a team, you can always find ways to help other people succeed. And helping others grow creates space for your own growth.

LIFE

What was your first job?

In high school, I spent summers working at a small communications consulting company. My job was to take information from their many filing cabinets and enter it into an online database. In hindsight, I was part of their digital transformation, but at the time, I was just happy to have a summer job with air-conditioning.

How many cups of coffee do you drink per day?

Usually two. Sometimes three if our son woke us up extra early that morning.

What do you like to do outside of work?

My wife and I spend most of the time with our almost 2-year-old son. We enjoy swimming, reading, playing ball, building blocks, and chasing trash trucks around the neighborhood. He’s adorable and brilliant (takes after his mom).