Interview with Liliia Chepelieva, HRMNY

There's a saying that any advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. Yours looks exactly like this. Could you tell me how it's even possible to assess personality traits through video?

Well, it's not exactly magic, but I can see how it might look that way! Our AI-powered assessments are based on a combination of behavioral observations, psychometric tests, and performance metrics. The video is just one part of the data that we use to build a comprehensive picture of a person's strengths, weaknesses, and potential. By analyzing a range of data sources, we can provide a more accurate and objective assessment of a person's personality traits than traditional methods, which are often subjective and prone to bias. 

The assessment is based on the decomposition of personality into 8 different dichotomies which gives us 32 types of personality in the end. Each personality type has unique values, motivations, strategies and strengths.

What are the main benefits such an assessment provides compared to traditional tests then?

There are many benefits to using our AI-powered assessments. For one, they provide a more accurate and comprehensive picture of a person's skills, personality, and potential than traditional methods. This can help organizations make more informed hiring decisions, optimize employee development, and enhance team collaboration. Additionally, our assessments are designed to be quick, easy, and cost-effective, making them accessible to organizations of all sizes.

Here are some of the drawbacks of the traditional tests I see:

• Tests may have a "correct" or employer-preferred answer, leading to respondents wanting to present themselves in a better light than they are.
• Tests can be too long and may become tiresome.
• Answering the same questions in different moods may lead to two different profiles.
• There is an ethical component to not revealing overly personal data about oneself.
• Most assessments simply provide a score, without recommendations on what to do with the situation or areas for growth.

Our experts with the help of AI make it possible to learn about candidates’ strengths, weaknesses and ways of solving problems in a stress-free environment when there’s no need to look better than one really is. 

It all leads to a deeper understanding of the employees that can help reduce conflict and tension in the team. Also, people learn more about themselves, which can help them better understand their strengths and weaknesses, which can lead to improved personal performance and career.

Does this assessment serve only at the beginning, when an employee enters the company or such a method is used throughout all the work processes?

Our assessments can be used at any point in an employee's tenure with a company. While they are often used during the hiring process to identify the best candidates for a position, they can also be used to optimize employee development and enhance team collaboration. In fact, we believe that regular assessments can help organizations stay agile and adapt to changing business needs.

When you run a big team, the most important part is to figure out how to make everybody feel welcome and appreciated. If people don't second guess themselves, they spend their time, energy and effort on solving problems and creating value. And that’s why our assessment helps teams not just at the start, but throughout an extended period of time.

How reliable are those assessments? Is there a chance of bias? How is it minimized?

Our assessments are designed to be as reliable and objective as possible. We use a range of data sources and algorithms to analyze the data and minimize the risk of bias. However, no assessment is 100% reliable, and there is always a risk of bias. That's why we're constantly refining our algorithms and processes to improve the accuracy and reliability of our assessments.

During traditional tests and interviews people try to appear better than they are. They think they are not okay and need to hide and exaggerate. But in order to play a long-term game we need to be honest and transparent with ourselves and our future colleagues.

Doesn't such a tool make HR personality assessment skills redundant? Won't we lose the ability to analyze people ourselves?

Our assessments are designed to supplement, not replace, HR personality assessment skills. While our AI-powered assessments can provide a more accurate and objective assessment of a person's skills, personality, and potential than traditional methods, they are not a replacement for human judgment and intuition. Instead, they can help HR professionals make more informed decisions and enhance their ability to analyze people.

Has your team gone through this kind of assessment? If so, what interesting insights did you get?

Yes, our team has gone through our own assessments. We broadcast only what we sincerely believe in and what we have tested on ourselves. We've found them to be incredibly insightful and helpful in identifying areas for improvement and optimizing team collaboration. In fact, we've made several changes to our own processes and strategies based on the insights we've gained from our assessments.

The more you know about yourself, the more you resist learning more. The higher the resistance, the more valuable insights you'll get if you are brave enough to dig deeper.

What are your thoughts on AI in general?

I think the advent of artificial intelligence will lead to more human empathy. People will appreciate each other more, and I see that as a huge value.

As an AI-powered company, we're obviously big fans of AI! We believe that AI has the potential to revolutionize the way we work and live, and we're excited to be at the forefront of this transformation. However, we also recognize the potential risks and challenges associated with AI, such as bias and privacy concerns. That's why we're committed to developing and using AI in a responsible and ethical way - this is the basis of our strategy.

What are the most important traits for the workspace of the future?

In today's fast-paced and ever-changing business landscape, the workspace of the future needs to prioritize flexibility, innovation, and collaboration. AI technology can play a crucial role in achieving these goals by helping us identify the strengths and weaknesses of each team member and providing practical recommendations for performance improvement.

Collaboration is also an essential aspect of the workspace of the future, as it encourages knowledge-sharing among team members. With AI, we can facilitate collaboration by providing real-time feedback and insights that can help teams work together more effectively.

Finally, creativity is critical in today's business world, and the workspace of the future needs to prioritize creativity by providing employees with the necessary space, resources, and support to think outside the box. AI can play a vital role in this by helping to identify potential areas of innovation and providing employees with the tools they need to bring their ideas to life.

On a personal level I love to work with people who are sincere, open, passionate and initiative. I think that those qualities make for a perfect workplace. Being true and authentic, open, vulnerable and brave will make you unique. There's not much competition here.

Not by hard skills alone. If you are looking for a great project manager, you don't have to headhunt one from a large corporation. With proper training, former athletes can excel too and be much more pleasant people to be around.

And, I can help but mention mindfulness. 

Mindfulness?

Yes, awareness and mindfulness is crucial when working with people. It may sound like a buzzword and until recently, I thought that the point of mindfulness was finite; that once we worked through a number of issues, everything would become clear and I would reach the pinnacle of mindfulness. But I realized that this is not true. 

Despite the vast amount of information available on this subject, people don't know how to act mindfully. Being mindful and present is not about sitting in a brightly lit room. It's about entering a dark room and making it bright with your light.

It seems to me that everyone needs to find the key for themselves to gain clarity and inner stillness. When the internal turmoil subsides, everything becomes clear. A state of awareness is especially important to enjoy your work and life in general.

How do you see your company shaping the work of the future?

"The $2 Billion Question of Who You Are at Work", have you heard about an article that was published in the New York Times a few weeks ago? I think it's important to recognize the role that technology will play in shaping the future of work. 

AI-powered assessments and other tools can help companies make more informed decisions about hiring, training, and managing employees. By utilizing these tools, companies can create a more data-driven approach to HR and gain valuable insights into their workforce. Ultimately, this can lead to a more engaged, productive, and successful team. So, I believe that companies that embrace AI and other emerging technologies will be better positioned to thrive in the workplace of the future.