From Ego to Impact: Pioneering a Fresh Approach to Job Titles

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Written By Matt Chapman

Naming roles and giving titles has always been an art I have been amused by. Some people like grandiose titles to define their worth. Others don't care.

As someone who has had such titles, I don't care. But I appreciate why others at different stages of their journey care about these things.

Across corporations in some countries or industries, titles are a big thing. It can also depend on culture. I am generalising, but Europe tends to have flatter titles, whereas Asia or the US has grander ones. I feel like in New Zealand it's not a big deal, but again, I am generalising.

When it comes to the Well-Being Officer, I talk a lot about the Chief Well-Being Officer (CWO), but I prefer Well-Being Custodian (WC). It's humbler and more in line with the human aspect of well-being.

However, C-suite executives often like the "Chief" title, but I do think this is changing. Perhaps we will soon have Finance Custodians, Marketing Custodians, or even Technology Custodians.

I find it important to look beyond titles and get to the impact and design of roles. I like to ask questions like:

  • How does the role impact the day-to-day of the company?

  • What is the reputation envisaged for the role among stakeholders?

  • How will the role evolve in the future?

  • How does the position improve the company's brand?

It's a complex area with no clear answers, but at the end of the day, I believe the well-being space will pioneer a fresh approach to looking beyond titles and more at the content and impact of roles.

Matt Chapman

Matt is an accomplished entrepreneur, investor, and HR futurist who has successfully transitioned from building a global HR search firm to focusing on well-being. He co-founded ChapmanCG, one of the world's most reputable HR search companies, which was acquired in 2022. Now, he is the creator of MC² Search, a well-being search company focused on developing a global talent pool of Chief Wellbeing Officers (CWOs), a role he believes will be part of the C-suite in future organizations. Matt’s passion for well-being extends beyond business; he was one of the creators of Bawah Reserve, an acclaimed wellness resort, and has completed six 250km ultra-marathons. He believes in using modern technology to empower talent and new-age business possibilities through remote working, a philosophy he has practiced since 2008.

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