In this episode of Mastering Workplace Culture, hosts S. Chris Edmonds and Mark S. Babbitt welcome Helena Plater-Zyberk, Founder & CEO of Supportiv, an AI and natural language processing-powered platform that helps people find real human support during life's most difficult moments.

While many organizations race to replace human interaction with AI, Helena has built a company around a different belief:

💡 Technology should help humans support other humans.

Through Supportiv, people can anonymously describe a challenge they're facing and, within seconds, connect with others navigating similar struggles in a professionally moderated environment designed to foster empathy, respect, and psychological safety.

Throughout the conversation, Helena shares her journey from financial services and healthcare innovation to mental health technology, explains how AI can strengthen human connection instead of replacing it, and offers a compelling perspective on leadership, workplace culture, and the future of responsible innovation.

One message stands out throughout the episode:

💡 Humans need to know that other humans care about them.

Whether you're leading an AI startup, supporting employee well-being, navigating workplace culture challenges, or exploring the future of human-centered technology, this conversation offers valuable insights and practical lessons.

✅ How Supportiv uses AI to connect people with real human support in under 30 seconds
✅ Why anonymity encourages honest, vulnerable conversations
✅ How leaders create psychologically safe communities at scale
✅ Why empathy and accountability must coexist in healthy cultures
✅ How Supportiv trains hundreds of moderators around the world
✅ Why AI should amplify human strengths instead of replacing human relationships
✅ How employers can improve employee well-being through accessible mental health resources
✅ Why leaders must listen closely to the people affected by their technology

One memorable insight from Helena:

"Humans need to know that other humans care about them."

S. Chris Edmonds
Mark S. Babbitt

Helena Plater-Zyberk
Founder & CEO, Supportiv

00:00 MWC Intro
01:00 Meet Helena Plater-Zyberk and Supportiv
02:30 How AI Connects People to Human Support
07:00 Why Anonymous Conversations Create Safety
12:00 Moderating Human Connection at Scale
16:00 Building a Global Team of Moderators
19:00 Curiosity, Learning, and Culture
22:00 Accountability and Protecting Community Standards
25:00 Mental Health Crisis Support and Safety Protocols
28:00 Developing the Next Generation of Mental Health Professionals
33:00 A Vision to Support People Everywhere
35:00 Employee Well-Being and Workplace Support
38:00 Helping People Take the First Step Toward Care
41:00 AI, Humanity, and Responsible Innovation
47:00 Advice for AI Startup Leaders
50:00 The Unreachable Hour and Recharging Through Tennis
52:00 Final Leadership Insights
54:00 MWC Outro

✅ Human connection remains essential in an AI-driven world.
✅ Great leaders use technology to strengthen relationships, not replace them.
✅ Psychological safety encourages people to seek support earlier.
✅ Curiosity, empathy, and accountability strengthen workplace culture.
✅ Responsible innovation starts with understanding the people affected by your technology.
✅ Purpose-driven organizations attract people who want to make a meaningful difference.

How should leaders balance AI innovation with authentic human connection?

What's the most important human skill leaders must protect in the age of AI?

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