Remote work isn’t just a logistical shift—it’s a mindset shift.
In this clip from The State of Black Tech series, our guest talks about how leading tech teams during a crisis requires more than just tactical adjustments—it demands a complete rethinking of mental models.
Rather than reacting, this leader chose to focus on well-being first—building a culture of empathy, infrastructure, and sustainable support for teams navigating remote work at scale.
In this video, you’ll learn:
• Why traditional “adjustments” aren’t enough
• The importance of shifting organizational mental models
• How leadership, HR, and teams can align on employee wellness
• What long-term success looks like in distributed work cultures
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Timestamps:
00:09 – Not adjustments—mental model shifts
00:31 – The double challenge: physical + mental adaptation
00:55 – Putting employee well-being at the center
01:27 – Organizational alignment around people-first strategies
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Subscribe for more honest conversations from the State of Black Tech series with Henry Childs II—where we tackle the real challenges and opportunities in building inclusive, resilient tech ecosystems.
Working from home has fundamentally changed the way we work, requiring not only an overhaul of company processes but also a significant shift in the mental mindset of the entire collaborative workforce. The extended shift to remote work has presented new challenges, and businesses everywhere are grappling with how to adapt.
In this #TechTalkTuesday snippet, Amol Dharmadhikari shares valuable insights on how companies can adjust to this new normal and how teams can thrive amidst these changes.
Amol explains that there are two primary areas of adjustment: environmental and mental. While everyone has worked from home at some point, the prolonged nature of this setup introduces a unique set of challenges. It forces companies to reevaluate how they work together, support one another, and continue to be effective as a remote workforce.
The first major shift for his team was a focus on people and their well-being. This became the key driver of maintaining effectiveness in such a challenging environment. Amol emphasizes that addressing both the physical and mental needs of employees is paramount to sustaining a productive and positive work culture.
He highlights that it’s not just the responsibility of managers or HR to make these adjustments, but of the entire organization. Collaboratively, companies must ensure they provide the right infrastructure and create a supportive environment for their teams. This involves providing the right tools, mental health initiatives, and ongoing support to help employees adjust and thrive in this new work model.
Through this shift in mindset, Amol and his team have been able to prioritize employee well-being while continuing to operate effectively, adapting to the evolving landscape of remote work.
