The Culture Code

NEW data from McKinsey: 90% of CEOs don’t believe their people development efforts have a clear business impact.  More often than not, this is because learning professionals aren’t using, measuring, or communicating their impact in a useful way. One of the simplest and most effective examples of data-informed people development that I’ve seen recently is at HackerOne, where they follow a simple, d...

This episode is a LEAKED event from our private, members-only Community of Practice for Leadership Development Professionals. The agenda for the October session of the Leadership Development Community of Practice included: 1. Author: Mike West on his book People Analytics For Dummies 2. Case: How Penske Paves The Way To A Legendary Culture Of Learning with the VP of Talent Development Laura Heaton...

Considering that 70% of employee engagement can be traced to an employee’s relationship with their manager, you might expect companies to get intentional about leadership development and company culture early on. BUT, most companies don’t do so until it’s nearly too late. Despite having just 115 employees, Syapse boasts more robust and effective leadership development offerings and cultural initia...

One of the most effective strategies to scale and sustain culture through a time of rapid growth is to establish a values system. But, it’s a strategy to approach with caution. A weak values system is arguably worse than no system at all. To dive deep into an example of a rapid-growth startup that built out a highly effective values system, I met with the Chief People Officer of National Resilienc...

Discover how Twilio, a 15-year-old tech giant, has managed to uphold its founder-led culture through its years of expansion. If the startup spark is what you seek to retain or reignite in your organization, this episode is your blueprint! Christy Lake, the Chief People Officer at Twilio, takes us behind the scenes, revealing how Twilio has doubled in size without losing its entrepreneurial spirit,...

What is “talent density” and why might it be the secret to unlocking a high-performance culture? In our latest podcast episode, the CPO of Zapier, Brandon Sammut,  unveils the innovative strategies they’re employing at Zapier to supercharge their talent pool and create a culture of excellence and innovation. Key Topics Covered: Growing Talent Density: The philosophy and application of Reed Hasting...

In this insightful episode, we uncover the intricacies of a founder-led culture, using Omada Health as a case study. Nancy Vitale, the Chief People Officer of Omada Health, joins us to elucidate how the company’s founders directly shape its authentic and innovative environment. We explore the tangible impacts of this leadership style on employee engagement, innovation, and overall organizational e...

To foster a thriving company culture, you have to address the key behaviors underpinning your culture. In this podcast, the CPO of UiPath, Brigette McInnis-Day breaks down her approach to fostering culture.  People-First Paradigm: Uncover how UiPath balances its tech innovation with a strong human-centric approach, rooting its mission in human achievement. The Four Core Values: Dive deep into UiPa...

Think chaos can't be good for company culture? Think again. Helen Russell, the Chief People Officer of electric vehicle powerhouse Rivian, shares how chaos, when harnessed correctly, can spur unparalleled innovation and growth. In this podcast, discover the unique values, behaviors, and strategies that have driven Rivian from 1,000 to 16,000 employees in just a few years, and how a seemingly count...

Culture is built on the behaviors demonstrated daily. In this episode, we unpack the role of behavior in shaping organizational culture with insights from Dr. Amy Reichanadter, Chief People Officer of Databricks, a global company revolutionizing the data space.  Dr. Reichanadter’s unique blend of clinical psychology and HR expertise provides a fascinating lens into how Databricks reverse-engineere...

This episode covers the integral link between company culture and hiring. Learn from the enlightening journey of 10x Genomics, a life sciences pioneer with over 25 groundbreaking products under its belt. The company’s Chief People Officer, Dr. Rebecca Port, shares her unfiltered insights, explaining how 10x Genomics shapes its culture through a unique and selective recruitment process. Key takeawa...

Leadership is the cornerstone of any thriving culture, especially in the face of rapid growth. But how does a company maintain its essence while scaling at breakneck speed? Let's dive into the unique approach of a tech leader who has found the secret recipe—Katya Laviolette, the Chief People Officer of 1Password. Katya has been instrumental in guiding 1Password's unique leadership development jour...

Ever wondered why many employees resist cultural change more than any other type of organizational shift? In this interview with the CEO and CPO of ForgeRock, they share the secrets behind embedding a thriving company culture without over formalizing or bureaucratizing it. We chat with the dynamic duo from ForgeRock: Fran Rosch, the CEO, and Tschudy Smith, the CPO. From rock and roll attitudes to...

How do you create a corporate culture that breeds innovation, unity, and fun, yet encourages risk-taking without the haunting fear of mistakes?  To find out, we speak with Gianna Driver, the dynamic Chief Human Resources Officer of Exabeam. Situated in the heart of the cyber security space, Exabeam not only champions security solutions but also champions a fearless and joy-filled work culture. The...

This episode is a LEAKED event from our private, members-only Community of Practice for Leadership Development Professionals.  In the first half, Author Dr. David Burkus speaks about his book "Best Team Ever."  And in the second half, our case spotlight is on Ultragenyx. The VP of Culture and Org Strategy , Bria Martin, speaks about how she put together hi-potential and first-line leadership devel...

Ever pondered on the secret ingredient that drives a company’s thriving culture of continuous learning? Dive in as we unravel the formula at HealthEdge with Wendi Ellis, the VP of Talent and Learning at HealthEdge. HealthEdge is a game-changing healthcare SaaS enterprise. While HealthEdge seamlessly processes your medical claims behind the scenes, Wendi and her team work diligently to cultivate a...

Ever wondered how a booming tech company maintains its original start-up vibe while doubling its workforce in just a year? Step inside the dynamic world of Turo with Lorie Boyd, the Chief People Officer at the largest peer-to-peer car-sharing platform. From unique cars for weekend getaways to ensuring a stellar workplace culture, Boyd sheds light on Turo’s rapid evolution and growth. Turo’s cultur...

Dive deep into the heart of one of the world's most engaged cultures at Pinterest, where employees aren't just workers but active users of their own site. Christine Deputy, the Chief People Officer at Pinterest, pulls back the curtain to reveal the secret ingredients of Pinterest's flourishing culture. With nearly 4,000 employees globally, discover what keeps this innovative platform inspired and...

Imagine leading the world's largest fully remote workforce: 1,300 employees across 70+ countries. How would you scale such an expansive, global culture?  Join us as we chat with Michelle Labbe, the Chief People Officer at Toptal. A company designed to connect businesses with the world’s top talents, Toptal has become the gold standard for remote work. Since its inception in 2010, the company has n...

At the intersection of speed, technology, and life sciences, Veeva Systems is changing the way BioPharma companies operate. But how do they maintain a culture of speed with a rapidly growing team spanning 40 countries? Meet Vivian Welsh, the Chief People Officer of Veeva Systems, a company renowned for its ground-breaking software, data, and services designed to revolutionize the pharmaceutical la...

In this episode we dive deep into the heart of HubSpot's culture! With the VP of Culture and ESG at HubSpot, Eimear Marrinan, we uncover the strategies behind scaling and sustaining a customer-centric culture to a global remote workforce. Key Topics Covered: The Essence of HubSpot's Culture: Learn about the HEART acronym (Humble, Empathetic, Adaptable, Remarkable, Transparent) and the driving forc...

At my old companies, I sold millions of dollars worth of binders, facilitator guides, and participant kits. I was part of the OLD WAY of doing leadership development: build out binders of content (competencies, lists, models, and steps) deliver 5-day workshops schedule classes generate enrollment measure attendance and completion The old way was all about content. Content curation and content deli...

The number one mistake leadership development professionals make with emerging leaders programs? How they approach SELECTION. This episode details how to nail the selection process. You have to stop: - Overthinking and overcomplicating your selection process - Dumping money and resources into SELECTION - Weeding out enthusiastic applicants And you have to start: - Selecting based on self-selection...

This episode is a LEAKED event from our private, members-only Community of Practice for Leadership Development Professionals.  In this episode, we first sit down with Dr. Richard Winters, who is both a practicing ER Physician and the esteemed Director of Leadership Development at Mayo Clinic. He unveils key insights from his book, "You’re the Leader. Now What? Leadership Lessons from Mayo Clinic."...

In this interview the CPO of Quizlet, Stephanie Douglass, shares her extensive experience and deep insights into organizational culture. She gets into:   Quizlet's Culture of Learning: Learn about the passionate and inclusive environment where every team is celebrated, and the mantra "I can't wait to learn from you" resonates. Leadership Development: How does Quizlet nurture its leaders to grow it...