Business Anthropology w/ Melissa Vogel

On the latest episode of AnthroPuzzled, we sit down with Melissa Vogel, a business anthropologist, corporate research leader, and founder of Great Heron Insights. With a PhD in anthropology and a career spanning academia, UX research, and organizational consulting, Melissa shares how anthropology can transform workplaces, improve business decision-making, and help people better understand one another. Melissa reflects on her journey from archaeology and Peruvian fieldwork to founding Clemson University's Business Anthropology Program and later leading qualitative and UX research in corporate environments. She discusses the realities of academia, navigating career pivots, and the challenges anthropologists face when translating their skills into the private sector. Along the way, she emphasizes the value of cultural understanding, adaptability, and anthropological thinking in solving real-world business problems. The conversation also dives into artificial intelligence, workplace culture, and the future of anthropology beyond academia. Melissa shares insights from her current AI research projects, discusses how anthropologists can critically engage with emerging technologies, and explains why anthropology is more relevant than ever in an increasingly interconnected world. Listen now to explore business anthropology, career pivots, AI in research, and how anthropology can create more human-centered workplaces and communities.