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Darcy Jacobsen
Darcy Jacobsen is Senior Director of Thought Leadership and Brand Narrative at Workhuman, the workplace recognition and human connection platform. She is a longtime strategist and storyteller in the HR tech space, partnering with executives, researchers, and customers to turn recognition data and workforce insights into frameworks leaders can actually use, on stages, in reports, and across Workhuman's content.
Turning Recognition Research Into Frameworks Leaders Can Use
Darcy has written extensively on the science of gratitude, organizational psychology, and what actually drives engagement, belonging, and happiness at work, drawing on Workhuman's own research including its Human Workplace Index and Workhuman-Gallup studies. One of her favorite data points to share: employees recognized by a patent-award winner are 9.5 times more likely to win a patent themselves, evidence that creativity and empathy spread through networks of people, not just individuals. She has moderated Workhuman Live sessions bringing together behavioral scientists and keynote speakers to explore how psychological safety and behavioral science combine to build high-performing, human-centered cultures, and cites Workhuman's own research finding that connecting recognition to psychological safety and strategic goals makes employees dramatically more likely to understand and feel aligned with company strategy. She has been recognized as a Top 100 HR Influencer, and brings an unusual academic background to the work: a master's in medieval history alongside her communications training.
Topics Darcy speaks on
- The research behind employee recognition and gratitude
- Why recognized creativity spreads through networks of people
- Human-centered leadership and psychological safety
- Storytelling as an HR thought leadership tool
- What drives belonging and engagement at work
Sessions with Achieve
Darcy moderated the Achieve webcast "Human-Centered Leadership: Transformation Through Creativity and Connection" (April 9, 2026), presented in partnership with Workhuman, leading a conversation with Eric M. Bailey and Jeff Harry on creativity, empathy, and connection as leadership skills in an AI-forward workplace.
Connect
Want more on what the research says actually drives belonging and recognition at work? Learn more about the Achieve Leadership Network.