Why Derek Haese Says Technology's Job Is to Help Develop People

Derek Haese believes great technology has one job: to help lift people up.

As Assistant Vice President of Business Development at Lineup, Derek thinks about people first. He often says behind every data point is a person, and understanding that person is what makes the data useful in the first place. 

That people-first approach is the foundation of all Lineup solutions. When companies spend less time managing data, they spend more time nurturing human skills like critical thinking, communication, curiosity, and problem solving. 

This is a topic that Derek could talk about for hours, so we sat down with him to understand the role of technology in the age of AI and which human skills are most important to develop right now. 

Q&A with Derek

Lineup: What responsibility do technology companies like Lineup have beyond building great products?

Derek Haese (DH): The goal of any great technology, in my opinion, should be to advance society and lift as many people up as possible along the way. To me, this means creating a world where people and communities are stronger (emotionally, economically, socially) and where individuals have support, opportunities, and access tools that help them become more capable of succeeding. Along those lines, I believe technology companies have a responsibility to help make people better at what they do, not just make technology better at what it does. At Lineup, that means building technology that helps organizations understand their people, develop their talent, and make better decisions that ultimately create more opportunities for people to contribute, grow, and lead.

Lineup: A core Lineup value is that "behind every data point is a person." How do we lean into modern tech without losing the human pulse of an organization?

DH: I think the answer is pretty simple: use technology to get closer to people, not further away from them. Data can tell you who is participating or who has the right credentials. But it can't tell you everything that makes that person valuable. Technology gives us the signals. Knowing the person gives those signals context. Bring the two together, and you get something neither can provide on its own: a more complete picture of the person and their potential.

Lineup: What very human skill will become more valuable in the AI era, especially when it comes to people development?

DH: Curiosity. AI is already making knowing the answer less valuable. The people who stand out will be the ones who ask the best questions. Questions about their teams. Questions about their people. Questions about their industry. Questions about the past and the future.

There's a deeper layer to that curiosity, too. The people who can think critically, challenge assumptions, and understand why something matters in the first place will benefit the most. Growth has always started with curiosity, and I think AI will make curious, thoughtful people more valuable than ever.

Lineup: When people ask, "How is Lineup leveraging AI?", what do you tell them?

DH: Our goal in implementing AI into our platform is to help organizations make sense of what they already know about their people and uncover what they don't. AI can help connect the dots, identify patterns, and surface opportunities. But the goal isn't to replace human judgment. It's to give people better information to make more informed decisions.

Lineup: In your experience, what ultimately drives outcomes for organizations: the people, the technology, or both?

DH: People. Always.

My philosophy is that technology changes; people drive outcomes. Technology is the multiplier, but people are the variable. You can have the best technology in the world and still get nowhere if the right people aren't developed, bought in, and empowered to use it. The best technology can accelerate a great team, but it can't create one. Technology can give people better tools. It's people who create the outcomes.

Want to see how Lineup helps your organization use data to develop strong leaders and retain your best talent? Reach out to book a free demo.

Connect with Derek on LinkedIn or reach out via email at derek@lineupteams.com.