Adam Famularo: Leading With Heart

Chris sits down with Adam Famularo, CEO of WorkFusion, in a rainy New York City as the holiday season begins. Adam shares his unconventional path from elite Spartan racer to technology executive, and how endurance, resilience, and gratitude shaped his approach to leadership. His journey is a reminder that meaningful careers are rarely linear—and that growth often comes from overcoming challenges rather than avoiding them.

The conversation centers on human-centric leadership in an AI-driven world. Adam explains why technology should exist to elevate people, not replace them, and how a “giver” mindset, genuine curiosity, and gratitude have guided his success. Rather than chasing outcomes, he focuses on helping others thrive—trusting that success follows naturally.

Chris and Adam also explore what leadership looks like during times of crisis, including the responsibility to prioritize people over business when it matters most. Adam reflects on using gratitude as a tool for resilience and the importance of acknowledging the support systems—at work and at home—that make high-level leadership possible.

This episode is a powerful reminder that everyone matters. From mentors and teammates to the people we encounter every day, Adam reinforces that real impact comes from empathy, appreciation, and leading with humanity—no matter how advanced the technology becomes.

10 Key Takeaways

  • Prioritize People Over Technology: While technology budgets often dwarf human-centric spending, the true value of automation is to empower humans to do more meaningful work.

  • The Power of a "Giver" Mindset: Success often comes as a byproduct of helping others achieve their goals rather than pursuing success directly.

  • Lead with Genuine Curiosity: To build strong relationships and align with others, one must be curious about what drives and motivates people.

  • Gratitude for Support Systems: High-level success, such as running a company and serving on multiple boards, is only possible with a strong support system at home.

  • Gratitude is a Tool for Resilience: Giving and expressing thanks can be used to improve a situation, rather than waiting for circumstances to improve before being grateful.

  • Embrace Obstacles: Career and life paths are rarely straight lines; the ability to overcome challenges and objections is a primary thread of a meaningful life.

  • The Importance of Human-Centric AI: Successful AI adoption involves giving technology human-like traits, such as names and personas, to help employees feel like it is part of the team.

  • Caring for People in Crisis: Leadership means putting business on hold to ensure the safety and wellbeing of employees and their families during global conflicts.

  • Acknowledge Mentors: Success is a journey where influential people—from coaches to business leaders—play critical roles in shaping an individual's path.

  • Value Every Role: Every person, regardless of their job title—from a security guard to a CEO—plays an interesting role in your life and deserves appreciation.

10 Key Quotes

  • "Smart people can smell BS a mile away."

  • "Getting human every now and then is a good thing for us."

  • "We talk too much about technology and not enough about the human."

  • "Technology was always about automation... and enabling people to use their minds and doing things that really matter to them."

  • "If you help enough people in this world get what they want, you will ultimately get what you want without of course looking for it."

  • "Everybody is a person at the end of the day. They're all driven by something."

  • "It's very easy to do good by others, even if it's just smiling and saying hi and thank you."

  • "You don't have to wait for things to be good to give. You can use giving as a way of making things good."

  • "Luck is when hard work meets opportunity."

  • "There is no easy path, there's no easy buttoning... [it's] about overcoming major obstacles in career and life."

About the Guest: Adam Famularo

Adam Famularo is a veteran technology leader and entrepreneur with over 28 years of experience.

  • Current Role: CEO of WorkFusion, a company focused on "ending boring work" by deploying AI digital workers to fight financial crime and money laundering.

  • Previous Experience: Formerly the CEO of Erwin Inc. (acquired by Quest Software) and held executive roles at Verizon and CA Technologies.

  • Background: A former elite Spartan racer who applies an endurance mindset to the boardroom. He is also a dedicated father, son, and friend who prioritizes people above all else

Chris Schembra