Make It Thrive: The Company Culture Podcast

In this short closing episode I explain why I've decided to end the Behind the Brand season, and where my mind is at for the future of the podcast. Keep in touch here; LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizzie-benton/ Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@Lizzie_LibertyMind

I'm joined by Timpson's Director of Happiness, Janet Leighton, as she shares their upside-down management model, and their people-centric practices that have made Timpson the success it is today. Even as one of the UK's oldest and most well-known retail brands. Janet shares how they have given power to their store teams, how they continue to experiment and adapt, and the common sense p...

I'm joined by Miro's People & Culture Leader - Sam Valentine, as he shares the challenges of navigating culture in the tech platform that's dominating the virtual workspace. From how they use Miro to create a collaborative and participative culture, to the rhythm and rituals that keep everyone connected; Sam is honest about what has worked at Miro to make their culture what it is,...

I'm joined by Vivobarefoot's Head of Culture, Ashley Allen, as she shares the evolution of the innovative footwear brand and the culture journey they've been on. From developing their own Vivo language, decentralising and using self-management practices, to the fun they get up to on their off-sites. It's the detailed deep dive into a company culture that has much for us to learn from. Connect with...

Prepare yourself for Season 15 of Make it Thrive with this short introduction to this season's theme. In Season 15, we're going Behind the Brands. Think of it like a virtual culture tour inside some of my favourite organisations to explore how they shape their workplace culture, adapt to challenges, and create thriving environments. Join me on Youtube; https://www.youtube.com/@Lizzie_Liber...

Wrapping up the women at work series, I share my own story of when I realised what it's really like to be a woman in the workplace. Plus a teaser of what's to come in Season 15. Discover more about Lizzie;  https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizzie-benton/   https://libertymind.co.uk/  

In this session I'm joined by Kirsten Buck as part of our Women at Work series. In this inspiring talk, Kirsten will share how PTHR is designed to be the most life-friendly organisation, where flexibility, trust, and autonomy aren’t just policies but lived realities. Kirsten will offer a personal perspective on balancing the joys and challenges of raising a baby while thriving at work. Expect...

In this session I'm joined by Kerstin Andlaw as part of our Women at Work series. Kerstin Andlaw is founder of TAO Consulting and consultant coach with deep expertise in company culture, self-organisation, and transformational leadership. She has worked across diverse industries, helping organisations create engaged, high-performing environments where individuals and teams can thrive. In this...

In this session I'm joined by Nora Fleischhut as part of our Women at Work series. Passionate about helping people and organizations discover more adaptive, soulful, and joyful ways of working, Nora supports the transition from old to new paradigms as a New Work & Transformation Consultant. In Nora’s session we’ll be diving into navigating the unknown. We often wait for certainty before we...

In this session I'm joined by Sophie Bryan as part of our Women at Work series. Sophie Bryan is a Workplace Culture & Human Experience Specialist with a twist. She’s also qualified in Human Sexuality, a sex/life coach, burlesque dancer and runs her own burlesque dance school. Sophie will be talking to us about how to harness the inner feminine sensual (sexual) power and energy to so as to show...

In this session I'm joined by Esmee Wilcox as part of our Women at Work Series. Esmee is an award-winning systems change practitioner. In this session, Esmee will open up her treasure trove of practices from across sustainability science, futures thinking, and social movement-building to inspire our collective imagination and action as leading-edge change-makers. https://www.socially-adept.co....

In this session I'm joined by Emma Humphrey as part of our women at work series. Emma is a therapeutic coach and hypnotherapist for heart-led women. In this conversational session, myself and Emma, will be challenging workplace mindsets. From the unspoken rules to the deeply ingrained biases, workplace conditioning has shaped how women see themselves and their potential. In this transformative...

Across March, I hosted the Women at Work webinar series, celebrating International Women’s Day and igniting real change in workplaces and communities. For this season you'll hear the recorded webinar sessions which included talks and conversations exploring bold ideas and actionable strategies. Dive into discussions on harnessing feminine power, influencing policy, and driving equity where it...

That's a wrap a for season 13 with Maverick Founders. In this wrap-up episode I share the five themes that emerged from the conversations over the season, and reveal what to expect from Season 14 landing in Spring 2025. (ps. It's big!) And share a fun new project I'm kick-starting. Discover more about Lizzie;  https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizzie-benton/   https://libertymind.co.uk/  

In this episode I chat with Tom Van Der Lubbe co-founder of mortgage advice service Viisi. As a self-organising company based in the Netherlands, Tom share’s the Viisi journey and his philosophical approach to work and life that makes this way of operating a fulfilling and meaningful part of everyone’s life at Viisi. It’s a deep and reflective conversation that asks the much bigger questions of wh...

In today’s episode I’m joined by Charlotte Van Leeuwen, who founded Bord&Stift in the Netherlands, an agency for visual communication, which transformed into a self-managing steward-owned organisation. Charlotte now works at Energized.org where she enjoys sharing her experiences in self-organisation with other entrepreneurs. Together we dive into her journey from physics and astronomy to entre...

In this episode I chat with CEO & Co-Founder of Cadence OneFive Bomee Jung about their choice to become a horizontal organisation. Bomee share’s the experiences that led to their alternative way of working, the practices they’ve adopted, and shares openly her personal experience of being neurodiverse and the impact this way of working has had on her relationships with her team. It’s bold and h...

In this episode I’m joined by Founder and Entrepreneur Natacha Neumann. When Natacha founded her children’s food brand in Germany she realised there had to be a better way of operating. After some soul searching and exploring alternative management structures, Natacha introduced self-management into her company. In this conversation Natacha takes us through her founder journey, and how she evolved...

In this episode I’m joined Pieter Jelle De Brue, CEO of Leuven-based digital company Statik. As a founder Pieter always felt there was a better way to do things in his business, and after a few catalysts they decided to look at different ways of working. Statik has been using self-management principles for almost 12 years. In our conversation Pieter shares what started the journey, some of their p...

Prepare yourself for Season 13 of Make it Thrive with this short introduction to the Season. In Season 13 I'm talking to Maverick Founders. Those who have chosen to operate their business in an alternative way. Who believe there is both a more human, and efficient way, to work together than the common default of top down management hierarchies. In this season I'll be asking about their choices to...

In this episode I wrap-up season 12, and start to explore the themes for season 13. What will you choose? I also share some ponderings from recent culture projects and the things I've experienced as a culture coach. Discover more about Lizzie;  https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizzie-benton/   https://libertymind.co.uk/  

In this episode I’m joined by Happiness Expert Nic Marks to talk about happiness at work. Happiness can feel intangible, but in this conversation Nic shares the data and insights about how we can measure happiness at work, and the elements that organisations often miss. After the conversation you might just look at happiness at work in a totally new light, and have some practical ways in which you...

In this episode I’m joined by Angelique Slob from Hello Monday Club. Angelique is a former HR executive and an organisational sociologist who now dedicates her work on new ways of working, and shaping the leaders of the future. In this conversation Angelique shares with us her approach to creating an abundant organisation, starting with abundance mindset.  Discover more about Angelique;  https://w...

Does an egoless workplace really exist? And how do we talk about egos when they show up? In this episode I’m joined by Tanner Chambers, a business and leadership professional in the non-profit sector, as we wrestle with ego in the workplace and get to grips with both the good and bad sides of ego.  Discover more about Tanner and his work;  https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanner-c-90278015a/ Discover m...

What’s going unsaid in your culture?  In this episode I’m joined by Richard Wood, organisational design and transformation Partner at The Ready, to talk about false harmony and our need to reframe conflict at work. In this conversation Richard gives a beautifully honest, and practical approach to how we can disrupt false harmony, and stop pretending that everything’s ok, when it’s not.  Discover m...