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# Lessons from Brandon Sammut
- URL: https://www.antoinebuteau.com/lessons-from-brandon-sammut/
- Published: 2026-03-22T02:28:30.000Z
- Updated: 2026-07-18T22:06:10.000Z
- Description: Brandon Sammut, Zapier’s chief people and AI transformation officer, leads at the intersection of talent and technology in a remote company, pairing an AI-first philosophy with transparency, human-centered culture, and experience managing large-scale digital change.
- Author: Antoine Buteau
- Tags: Profile, Operations, Business Leaders & Executives Profiles

Brandon Sammut is the Chief People & AI Transformation Officer at Zapier, where he leads the intersection of human talent and technological evolution for one of the world's most successful fully remote companies. Renowned for his "AI-first" leadership philosophy, he has successfully steered organizations through large-scale digital transformations while maintaining a steadfast focus on transparency and human-centric culture.

![Visual summary of operating lessons from Brandon Sammut.](https://www.antoinebuteau.com/content/images/2026/07/image-30-optimized.webp)

### Part 1: The AI Transformation Framework

1. **On Redesigning Work:** "Done thoughtfully, AI transformation isn't about replacing humans with machines. It's about redesigning work in ways that boost efficiency, quality and, importantly, the experience of the people doing the work." — [*Source: TechIntelPro*](https://techintelpro.com/brandon-sammut-of-zapier-discusses-ai-transformation-in-hr/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
2. **On the True Goal of AI:** "Successful AI initiatives should aim to improve the quality of outputs, not just save time or money." — [*Source: Future of HR*](https://www.futureofhr.com/episodes/brandon-sammut-zapier?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
3. **On AI Fluency Levels:** "We use a four-level assessment for AI fluency: Unacceptable, Capable, Adaptive, and Transformational." — [*Source: Zapier Blog*](https://zapier.com/blog/ai-fluency-framework/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
4. **On Universal AI Adoption:** "Achieving 97% AI adoption across a team isn't about the tools; it's about building a culture where everyone feels empowered to experiment." — [*Source: People Leader Accelerator*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vV1p-fW9HkU&ref=antoinebuteau.com)
5. **On AI as a People Problem:** "Scaling AI across an organization is a 'people problem' rather than just a technology problem." — [*Source: YouTube - Scaling AI*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8V7vP5-T6r4&ref=antoinebuteau.com)
6. **On Hiring for the Future:** "Every new hire at Zapier must now be 'AI-transformational' to ensure the company stays ahead of the curve." — [*Source: Solutions Review*](https://solutionsreview.com/business-process-management/zapier-ai-adoption/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
7. **On AI Integration:** "The challenge of AI is not finding the tools, but integrating them into existing workflows in a way that feels natural." — [*Source: Substack - AI Transformation*](https://aisupremacy.substack.com/p/zapiers-brandon-sammut-on-ai)
8. **On the AI-First People Team:** "To build an AI-first People team, you must start by automating the mundane so the team can focus on the human-critical." — [*Source: Future of HR*](https://www.futureofhr.com/episodes/brandon-sammut-zapier?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
9. **On Practical AI Application:** "AI fluency is about practical application and curiosity, not just technical coding expertise." — [*Source: Disco.co*](https://www.disco.co/blog/how-zapier-uses-ai-to-scale-culture?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
10. **On the Speed of AI Learning:** "The pace of AI progress in an organization is directly tied to how quickly employees can unlearn old habits." — [*Source: People Leader Accelerator*](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/people-leader-accelerator/id1552554523?ref=antoinebuteau.com)

### Part 2: Remote Work and Distributed Excellence

1. **On Mission-Driven Remote Work:** "A remote company stays together through a shared mission, not shared office space." — [*Source: Mews*](https://www.mews.com/en/blog/scaling-culture-remote-teams?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
2. **On Preventing Silos:** "To prevent silos in a distributed team, you must actively design cross-functional interactions that wouldn't happen by accident." — [*Source: YouTube - Remote Work Strategies*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0mI0v8E9uE&ref=antoinebuteau.com)
3. **On Scaling Culture:** "Scaling culture across 900+ remote employees requires extreme intentionality and a written-first communication style." — [*Source: Mews*](https://www.mews.com/en/blog/scaling-culture-remote-teams?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
4. **On Smart Automation in Remote Teams:** "Automation is the 'glue' that holds a distributed team together by keeping everyone in sync without constant meetings." — [*Source: YouTube - Zapier Leadership*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vV1p-fW9HkU&ref=antoinebuteau.com)
5. **On Asynchronous Productivity:** "The true power of remote work is found in the ability to work asynchronously, allowing deep work to flourish." — [*Source: Future of HR*](https://www.futureofhr.com/episodes/brandon-sammut-zapier?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
6. **On Remote Onboarding:** "Onboarding in a remote environment must be over-indexed on social connection and tool fluency." — [*Source: Modern People Leader*](https://www.modernpeopleleader.com/podcasts/episode-98-brandon-sammut?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
7. **On Building Community Remotely:** "Community in remote work is built in the 'small spaces'—Slack channels, random coffee chats, and shared interests." — [*Source: Mews*](https://www.mews.com/en/blog/scaling-culture-remote-teams?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
8. **On Remote Accountability:** "In a remote setting, you manage by outcomes, not by hours spent in a seat." — [*Source: Your Work Friends*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6L6Uu9gU%5FA&ref=antoinebuteau.com)
9. **On Tooling for Remote Teams:** "Working with partners like Grammarly and Coda is about more than the tech; it's about feeling supported in your daily workflow." — [*Source: Superhuman*](https://superhuman.com/blog/zapier-ai-adoption?ref=antoinebuteau.com)

### Part 3: Culture, Transparency, and Trust

1. **On Default to Transparency:** "Defaulting to transparency means sharing information broadly across the organization by default, rather than by exception." — [*Source: Employee Cycle*](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-it-means-to-have-a-default-to-transparency/id1391772644?i=1000582236314&ref=antoinebuteau.com)
2. **On the Speed of Trust:** "The pace of progress in any organization is ultimately limited by the speed of trust." — [*Source: Total 180 Interview*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0mI0v8E9uE&ref=antoinebuteau.com)
3. **On Rebuilding Trust:** "When systems or relationships collapse, the first priority for a leader is to rebuild trust through radical honesty." — [*Source: YouTube - Total 180*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0mI0v8E9uE&ref=antoinebuteau.com)
4. **On Psychological Safety and AI:** "Employees won't adopt AI if they fear it will take their jobs; you must build a culture of psychological safety first." — [*Source: Your Work Friends*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6L6Uu9gU%5FA&ref=antoinebuteau.com)
5. **On Radical Candor:** "Transparency isn't just about sharing good news; it's about being honest when things aren't working." — [*Source: Employee Cycle*](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-it-means-to-have-a-default-to-transparency/id1391772644?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
6. **On Human Connection as a Moat:** "In an AI-driven world, maintaining deep human connection is a company’s primary competitive advantage." — [*Source: Mews*](https://www.mews.com/en/blog/scaling-culture-remote-teams?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
7. **On Cultural Consistency:** "Culture is what people do when no one is watching, which makes it the most important 'code' in a remote company." — [*Source: Modern People Leader*](https://www.modernpeopleleader.com/podcasts/episode-98-brandon-sammut?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
8. **On Feedback Loops:** "A culture of transparency is sustained by short, high-frequency feedback loops at every level of the organization." — [*Source: Employee Cycle*](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-it-means-to-have-a-default-to-transparency/id1391772644?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
9. **On Values-Based Leadership:** "Leadership must model the values they want to see, especially when those values are difficult to uphold." — [*Source: Total 180*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0mI0v8E9uE&ref=antoinebuteau.com)

### Part 4: Internal Mobility and Talent Development

1. **On the Secondment Program:** "Internal mobility through secondments allows people to explore new roles without the risk of leaving the company." — [*Source: Modern People Leader*](https://www.modernpeopleleader.com/podcasts/episode-98-brandon-sammut?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
2. **On Building Talent Pathways:** "Talent pathways should be flexible, allowing for 'lattice' movements rather than just traditional vertical ladders." — [*Source: Modern People Leader*](https://www.modernpeopleleader.com/podcasts/episode-98-brandon-sammut?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
3. **On Curiosity as a Metric:** "We look for curiosity in every candidate because it’s the only trait that guarantees long-term adaptability." — [*Source: Disco.co*](https://www.disco.co/blog/how-zapier-uses-ai-to-scale-culture?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
4. **On Skill Adaptation:** "In the AI era, roles will change faster than job titles; we must focus on continuous skill adaptation." — [*Source: YouTube - Zapier Leadership*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vV1p-fW9HkU&ref=antoinebuteau.com)
5. **On Internal Recruitment:** "Your best hires are often already in your building—or on your Slack—waiting for the right opportunity to pivot." — [*Source: Modern People Leader*](https://www.modernpeopleleader.com/podcasts/episode-98-brandon-sammut?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
6. **On Continuous Learning:** "Learning shouldn't be a separate event; it should be integrated into the flow of daily work." — [*Source: Future of HR*](https://www.futureofhr.com/episodes/brandon-sammut-zapier?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
7. **On Mentorship in Remote Teams:** "Mentorship in a distributed environment requires formal structures to ensure it happens consistently." — [*Source: Modern People Leader*](https://www.modernpeopleleader.com/podcasts/episode-98-brandon-sammut?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
8. **On the 'AI Hackathon' Effect:** "Events like AI hackathons are essential for uncovering hidden talent and fostering a spirit of innovation." — [*Source: Apple Podcasts - Modern People Leader*](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-modern-people-leader/id1552554523?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
9. **On Retention through Growth:** "Employees stay where they can see a clear path for their own personal and professional evolution." — [*Source: Modern People Leader*](https://www.modernpeopleleader.com/podcasts/episode-98-brandon-sammut?ref=antoinebuteau.com)

### Part 5: Modern Leadership and Strategic HR

1. **On HR as a Business Driver:** "HR is no longer a back-office function; it is the engine room of business transformation." — [*Source: Lead with AI*](https://www.leadwithai.co/masterclass/zapier?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
2. **On Decision-Making Transparency:** "Leaders should share the 'why' behind decisions as much as the decision itself to maintain alignment." — [*Source: Employee Cycle*](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-it-means-to-have-a-default-to-transparency/id1391772644?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
3. **On Leading Through Uncertainty:** "In times of rapid change, a leader’s job is to provide clarity on the mission while remaining flexible on the tactics." — [*Source: Total 180*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0mI0v8E9uE&ref=antoinebuteau.com)
4. **On the Chief People Officer Role:** "The modern CPO must be as comfortable with data and AI as they are with empathy and culture." — [*Source: Future of HR*](https://www.futureofhr.com/episodes/brandon-sammut-zapier?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
5. **On Executive Alignment:** "Culture fails when the executive team is not aligned on the fundamental values of the organization." — [*Source: Modern People Leader*](https://www.modernpeopleleader.com/podcasts/episode-98-brandon-sammut?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
6. **On Strategic Automation:** "Automate everything that can be automated so that humans can do everything that *cannot* be automated." — [*Source: Zapier Blog*](https://zapier.com/blog/ai-fluency-framework/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
7. **On Managing High-Growth Teams:** "Scaling a team from 100 to 800 requires a complete overhaul of your communication and management structures." — [*Source: Mews*](https://www.mews.com/en/blog/scaling-culture-remote-teams?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
8. **On Crisis Leadership:** "True leadership is revealed not in success, but in how you navigate the 'Code Red' moments of integration." — [*Source: Your Work Friends*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6L6Uu9gU%5FA&ref=antoinebuteau.com)
9. **On Empowerment:** "The best leaders are those who make themselves redundant by empowering their teams to make high-quality decisions." — [*Source: Modern People Leader*](https://www.modernpeopleleader.com/podcasts/episode-98-brandon-sammut?ref=antoinebuteau.com)

### Part 6: Productivity, Efficiency, and Human Potential

1. **On Productivity vs. Hours:** "Output is the only metric that matters in a high-performing distributed team." — [*Source: Your Work Friends*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6L6Uu9gU%5FA&ref=antoinebuteau.com)
2. **On AI-Powered Recruitment Screens:** "AI helps us manage application volume so we can spend more time on meaningful interviews with the right people." — [*Source: Zapier Blog*](https://zapier.com/blog/ai-recruitment/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
3. **On the Human-in-the-Loop:** "Technology is ultimately a tool wielded by humans; the 'human-in-the-loop' is non-negotiable for quality." — [*Source: YouTube - Total 180*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0mI0v8E9uE&ref=antoinebuteau.com)
4. **On Deep Work:** "Creating space for deep work is the most productive thing a company can do for its employees." — [*Source: Future of HR*](https://www.futureofhr.com/episodes/brandon-sammut-zapier?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
5. **On Meeting Reduction:** "If a meeting can be an asynchronous document or an automated update, it should be." — [*Source: Zapier Blog*](https://zapier.com/blog/ai-fluency-framework/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
6. **On Creative Augmentation:** "AI should augment human creativity, not replace it, by handling the heavy lifting of data and drafting." — [*Source: Mews*](https://www.mews.com/en/blog/scaling-culture-remote-teams?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
7. **On Technical Partners:** "Choosing the right technical partners is about finding tools that feel like a natural extension of your team." — [*Source: Superhuman*](https://superhuman.com/blog/zapier-ai-adoption?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
8. **On Workflow Optimization:** "We are constantly looking for 'friction' in our workflows and using automation to smooth it out." — [*Source: Substack - AI Transformation*](https://aisupremacy.substack.com/p/zapiers-brandon-sammut-on-ai)
9. **On Personal Productivity:** "Your own personal AI fluency is the best investment you can make in your career today." — [*Source: People Leader Accelerator*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vV1p-fW9HkU&ref=antoinebuteau.com)

### Part 7: Ethics, Integrity, and Accountability

1. **On Delegating Accountability:** "You can delegate the work to AI—but you cannot delegate the accountability for the result." — [*Source: Your Work Friends*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6L6Uu9gU%5FA&ref=antoinebuteau.com)
2. **On Ethical AI Usage:** "Organizations must establish clear ethical guidelines for AI use to protect both employees and customers." — [*Source: Future of HR*](https://www.futureofhr.com/episodes/brandon-sammut-zapier?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
3. **On Radical Honesty:** "Integrity in leadership means being honest about what AI *can’t* do as much as what it can." — [*Source: Total 180*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0mI0v8E9uE&ref=antoinebuteau.com)
4. **On Data Privacy in HR:** "Trust is built on the rigorous protection of employee data, especially as we integrate more AI tools." — [*Source: Zapier Blog*](https://zapier.com/blog/ai-recruitment/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
5. **On Fairness in Hiring:** "Using AI in recruitment must be done with extreme care to ensure we are removing bias, not encoding it." — [*Source: Zapier Blog*](https://zapier.com/blog/ai-recruitment/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
6. **On Corporate Responsibility:** "A company's first responsibility is to its people, ensuring they are equipped for the technological shifts ahead." — [*Source: Lead with AI*](https://www.leadwithai.co/masterclass/zapier?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
7. **On Transparency in Change:** "The more radical the change, the more radical your transparency must be to keep the team engaged." — [*Source: Employee Cycle*](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-it-means-to-have-a-default-to-transparency/id1391772644?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
8. **On Human Dignity:** "Technology should serve human dignity, making work more meaningful, not more mechanical." — [*Source: Total 180*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0mI0v8E9uE&ref=antoinebuteau.com)
9. **On Consistency:** "Integrity is the alignment of your company's stated values with its daily operational decisions." — [*Source: Modern People Leader*](https://www.modernpeopleleader.com/podcasts/episode-98-brandon-sammut?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
10. **On Long-Term Thinking:** "We make decisions today based on where we want the culture to be five years from now." — [*Source: Mews*](https://www.mews.com/en/blog/scaling-culture-remote-teams?ref=antoinebuteau.com)

### Part 8: The Future of Work and Career Evolution

1. **On the AI-First Mindset:** "An AI-first mindset is the new literacy for the 21st-century professional." — [*Source: People Leader Accelerator*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vV1p-fW9HkU&ref=antoinebuteau.com)
2. **On Career Resilience:** "Resilience in the modern workforce comes from a commitment to lifelong learning and adaptability." — [*Source: Future of HR*](https://www.futureofhr.com/episodes/brandon-sammut-zapier?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
3. **On the Evolution of Roles:** "Most jobs won't disappear; they will simply become 'unrecognizable' to those who held them ten years ago." — [*Source: Solutions Review*](https://solutionsreview.com/business-process-management/zapier-ai-adoption/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
4. **On Pre-Vetting in Hiring:** "Pre-vetting for AI curiosity in the interview process is the best way to future-proof your workforce." — [*Source: Modern People Leader*](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-modern-people-leader/id1552554523?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
5. **On the Death of the 9-to-5:** "The fixed 9-to-5 is an artifact of a different era; the future belongs to flexible, outcome-based work." — [*Source: Your Work Friends*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6L6Uu9gU%5FA&ref=antoinebuteau.com)
6. **On Global Talent Access:** "Remote work has democratized access to opportunity, allowing the best talent to work for the best companies regardless of geography." — [*Source: Mews*](https://www.mews.com/en/blog/scaling-culture-remote-teams?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
7. **On Soft Skills in the AI Age:** "As technical skills are automated, 'soft skills' like empathy and complex problem-solving become the highest value assets." — [*Source: Total 180*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0mI0v8E9uE&ref=antoinebuteau.com)
8. **On Work-Life Integration:** "We should aim for work-life integration where work supports a full life, rather than competes with it." — [*Source: Future of HR*](https://www.futureofhr.com/episodes/brandon-sammut-zapier?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
9. **On Personal Transformation:** "To transform an organization, you must first be willing to transform yourself and your own approach to work." — [*Source: Lead with AI*](https://www.leadwithai.co/masterclass/zapier?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
10. **On the Future of Humanity at Work:** "The more we automate, the more we must celebrate what makes us uniquely human." — [*Source: Total 180*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0mI0v8E9uE&ref=antoinebuteau.com)