Behind Motivation: Chris Dornfeld on How Micro-Rewards Are Rewiring the Modern Workforce

Episode Summary:

In this episode of Built With Purpose, host Chris Fay sits down with Chris Dornfeld. At the time of recording Dornfield was the President and Co-Founder of Whistle Rewards, which has since been acquired by One10 where he now serves as the Executive Vice President of Product Strategy. Together they explore how behavioral science, neuroscience, and real-time recognition are transforming the way teams adopt technology and drive performance. From his early days as an architect to becoming the CIO of St. Louis and a serial tech founder, Dornfeld shares how he’s spent two decades at the intersection of human experience and digital transformation.

The conversation dives deep into how micro-rewards can spark lasting behavior change, why construction and industrial sectors are ripe for innovation, and how AI will reshape the future of workforce engagement. Dornfeld offers practical insights for leaders looking to build resilient cultures, increase adoption of new systems, and help teams embrace change, not fear it.

Key Takeaways:

• Behavior change begins with biology. Our brains resist new things, but micro-rewards can rewire habits.
• Real-time recognition drives engagement far better than delayed, large-scale incentives.
• In fast-evolving industries, low-hanging tech wins can create massive momentum and buy-in.
• Pairing behavioral science with technology unlocks powerful improvements in safety, adoption, and culture.
• Building trust and partnership is key to successful co-founder and client relationships.
• AI will soon personalize incentive systems and drive performance on an individual level.
• Companies that experiment early will outpace competitors as digital transformation accelerates.
• True innovation cultures empower every employee, from the field to the office, to find and solve problems.
• Leadership today requires resilience, curiosity, and the courage to start, even before the path is clear.
• “If you don’t like change, you’ll like irrelevance even less.”

Built With Purpose shares thoughtful conversations with the people who design, build, and improve the world around us.

Hosted by Chris Fay, the show blends experience from commercial construction and tech leadership to explore how values, systems, and steady execution create enduring companies.

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