In a world where people already are losing jobs to AI, tech layoffs have reached an astounding 225,000 so far this year, and college admissions rates have shrunk to minuscule, our futures appear more at risk than ever. Autonomic is a technology-based behavioral change platform here to help us humans succeed.
By optimizing brain performance, Autonomic delivers customized coaching at scale for people operating in high-demand environments that rely heavily on their cognitive abilities. This includes executives, leaders, employees, and athletes. Furthermore, the company assists students in maximizing their brain potential as they prepare to face the challenges of College Entry Exams and the first year of college.
Jamie Wood is the founder and CEO of Autonomic. Her life purpose is “to harness the power of neuroscience to elevate human potential in order to make the world a better place.” But she didn’t always know this.
After climbing the corporate ladder in the finance world, Wood burned out by age 30. “At the time, there was not a lot of discussion around stress management and mental health,” she said in an exclusive interview with me. “The standard response was, ‘Go see a doctor,’ or ‘Maybe you’re not cut out for this environment.’”
Seeking a customized solution to meet her needs and help her attain her goals, Wood began studying the complexities of the human brain, particularly when under demand and fatigued. She spent years reading medical journals, getting involved in research projects, and speaking to neuroscientists until she was able to develop a science-based solution that optimized not only the individual but the environment itself for peak performance.
Wood’s first step was to develop an executive cognitive performance training program in a traditional employee coaching model. The clients kept asking Autonomic to turn this program into SaaS so they could give it to their employees. “The most important element of what we built was how an individual can feel heard, understood, and supported in as little time as possible, while getting the personalized training they need at scale,” Wood says. “We constantly were running cohorts and listening to our target market, so ultimately it was built from the feedback of people like you and me, as well as academic journals, case studies, and operations management books.”
The greatest reward of running Autonomic for Wood has been doing something that matters. “People need a tool kit and support to navigate increasingly demanding lives and responsibilities,” she says. “We can’t just say it works…it has to work or else we are just another company saying we care but really just have great marketing and nothing much under the hood. That is what has been rewarding, attracting and working with a team that really cares about what we are building and the impact it can have at scale. We all have been affected by burnout, mental health issues, and running up against our own limitations. It was important to all of us to prove scientifically that our method works.”
Right now, Wood is most excited about Autonomic’s up-and-coming initiative to work with college applicants and university students. “Our initial pilots and feedback from students and professors has been incredibly positive. Autonomic translates very well from the high-demand work environment to the high-demand environment of entry testing andpost-secondary education. We are looking to integrate with campus wellness hubs and provide the training students need to manage demand, increase performance, and ultimately succeed in their careers.”
The greatest challenge Wood faced was believing in herself at first – as she entered the daunting field of neuroscience with no formal education. “The upside was, I was in constant discovery mode, never assuming I knew the answer. I gained a unique perspective combining my formal business education and career with this new scientific world,” she says.
To those looking to align their career with their life purpose, Wood has this to say. “Ultimately, it is about contentment and happiness. When you are following a path that provides contentment regardless of the dollar figure, and happiness even in the hard times, you are living in purpose. More isn’t always better. First start with what brings you balance and allows you to feel fulfilled.”
“When we think of this from the nervous system’s perspective,” Wood continues, “it is called homeostasis. Are you conducting yourself in a way that provides the best opportunity for optimal brain function? Are you engaging in conversations and environments that stimulate you creatively and intellectually, and aren’t energetically depleting? Are you able to wake up and still have an internal motivation towards your objectives and goals? These questions are important because the function of your nervous system, brain health, and ultimately brain performance will be the difference between you thriving or merely surviving in your career.”
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