The CultureCon Podcast

Sometimes the most meaningful recognition starts as a mug, a T-shirt, or a pin, then becomes a symbol of belonging over time. Nick and Zach sit down with Nick Phillips, Senior Director of Sales at Brilliant, to explore why appreciation only sticks when it is rooted in real care. Nick shares how leaders can move beyond transactional recognition and create moments that prove people are truly seen. F...

The higher you go in leadership, the harder it can be to get honest perspective. And when you're leading through transition, growth, or culture change, going it alone can limit what you're able to see. In this episode, CEO Heather Haas and leadership consultant BJ McKay are joined by John D'Addario III, CEO of D'Addario, for a conversation about leadership transition, culture clarity, and the valu...

Some workplace "rules" are written in handbooks. The most powerful ones often aren't written anywhere. Live from CultureCon, Jasmine Bellamy sits down with Bryetta Calloway for a powerful conversation about meritocracy, marginalization, and the invisible barriers that keep people on the fringes at work. Bryetta unpacks how leaders can confuse sameness with safety, why inclusion has to come before...

Alignment sounds simple until Monday happens. Nick and Zach sit down with Kate Zappitelli, Principal Consultant at Karrikins Group and Chair of the Alignment Institute, to unpack why agreement is not enough for people-first leaders. Kate shares how real alignment requires clarity, connection, commitment, and courage, especially when teams are stuck in side conversations, unclear expectations, or o...

Belonging isn't a soft skill, it's a performance strategy. 💡 Live from CultureCon West, Nikki sits down with Latesha Byrd to explore why people can't reach their highest potential when they're masking, code switching, or questioning whether they're truly valued at work. Latesha breaks down how belonging connects directly to innovation, engagement, wellbeing, and business results, especially in a...

Culture only eats strategy for breakfast when the culture isn't aligned with the strategic aims of the business.  In this episode, ADVISA CEO Heather Haas and leadership consultant BJ McKay discuss with special guest Joey Williams, Engagement & Development Specialist at Healthpeak Properties (NYSE: DOC), how organizations can achieve competitive advantage when their leaders are able to consistentl...

Helping others is noble work, but who helps the people everyone turns to when things get hard? Live from CultureCon West in Las Vegas, Nikki sits down with Sam Simmons to unpack what it really means to "help the helpers." Inspired by the wisdom of Mr. Rogers, Sam brings a fresh and deeply human lens to HR leadership, reminding people-first leaders that their behavior gives others permission to sta...

The AI conversation just got real, and Nick and Zach are taking us inside the inaugural CultureCon AI Summit to unpack what actually happened in the room. From hope and hesitation to leadership buy-in, ethical responsibility, and the very human need for connection, this episode explores why AI is not just a tech topic, it is a culture topic. 🤖 Nick and Zach reflect on what surprised them most, in...

What pulls people in more than polished leadership? Presence that feels real. Live from CultureCon West in Las Vegas, Nikki sits down with Scott Floyd for a conversation that gets beneath the surface of leadership and into what actually makes people feel seen, heard, and moved. Scott shares how his own journey helped him stop performing leadership and start embracing authenticity, generous listeni...

AI is changing how work gets done, but it's also raising the bar for leadership. In this special live episode, hosted by Jason Cochran of People Forward Network, Heather Haas and BJ McKay explore what it means to lead when AI is reshaping the workplace. While much of the work people are paid to do can now be automated, leadership is not one of those things. Together, they unpack what they're seein...

A water bottle might look like swag, but it could actually be shaping your company culture. Live from CultureCon in Las Vegas, Nikki sits down with branded merchandise expert Crissy Manwaring, who has spent more than 25 years helping organizations turn everyday items into powerful cultural symbols. From new hire kits that create belonging before day one to simple artifacts that inspire behavior ch...

In a world starving for real connection, what if the answer is as simple and as radical as pulling up more chairs? 🍽️ Nick and Zach sit down with Tim Jones, Founder and Executive Director of Longer Tables, to explore how shared meals can break down barriers, spark belonging, and remind us what it means to truly see one another. Tim shares the heart behind Longer Tables and why the table has become...

What happens when storytelling stops being scripted and starts being deeply human 🎥 Nick and Zach sit down with Curtis Gilbert, Co-Founder and Executive Producer of p3 mediaworks and a creative force behind some of the most authentic culture storytelling happening today. From launching a video agency with one camera and zero investors to shaping how organizations emotionally connect with talent a...

BJ McKay hosts a roundtable of ADVISA Leadership Consultants, who discuss the biggest problems they're hearing in the workplace today, and actions companies can take to help solve them.   Additional Resources: Connect with Mandy on LinkedIn Connect with Kye on LinkedIn Connect with Tyler on LinkedIn Connect with Patrick on LinkedIn Get Your Culture Check! Connect with Heather on LinkedIn Connect w...

What if culture wasn't something you fixed after it broke, but something you strengthened before it ever cracked? Live from CultureCon West in Las Vegas, Nikki sits down with DraftKings Chief People Officer Linda Bukata Aiello for an honest, energizing conversation about culture transformation done right. From eliminating performance ratings to rolling out radical candor, Linda shares how DraftKin...

Culture is happening whether you design it or not. The real question is, is it accelerating your strategy or quietly sabotaging it? Live from CultureCon 2024, Jasmine Bellamy sits down with Jeff Lindemann of WD-40 Company to unpack what it truly means to create the culture you want. Jeff shares why culture is not an HR initiative but a CEO responsibility, how belonging became the foundation of the...

From NFL locker rooms to global change room, Rachel Breitbach has mastered the art of leading through chaos with heart. Rachel joins Nick and Zach to unpack what fearless leadership really looks like, not as bravado, but as a willingness to step into the unknown and bring others with you. From her early career in sports broadcasting to guiding massive organizational transformations, Rachel shares...

ADVISA CEO Heather Haas and leadership consultant BJ McKay share favorite highlights and key takeaways from the conference every leader should know. Plus, they explain how each topic relates to the ATLAS framework for achieving cultural competitive advantage.   Additional Resources: Get Your Culture Check! Connect with Heather on LinkedIn Connect with BJ on LinkedIn Learn more about Advisa Subscri...

What if the real conversation around returning to the office isn't about space, but about trust, clarity, and courageous leadership? In this live episode from CultureCon West, Nikki sits down with Dennis Richter for a powerful, no-fluff conversation that challenges the "Return to Office" status quo. Dennis brings his signature skeptical curiosity to unpack why many leaders default to blanket manda...

What if the reason culture isn't working is because leaders think they've already figured it out? Elaine and Hattie sit down with Karen Richards, founder of Uniquely Global and executive coach to top global leaders, to expose what's really going on in boardrooms when it comes to culture, and what's not. Karen brings decades of experience across industries, from elite sports to global brands, to re...

What if the most untapped leadership skill isn't found in a boardroom, but in the power of a well-told story? Nick and Zach officially welcome Dr. Rod Berger as CultureCon's newest storyteller-in-residence. With a doctorate in psychology and thousands of interviews with global leaders under his belt, Rod brings a rare lens to leadership, one rooted in the belief that storytelling isn't fluff, it's...

W. Edwards Deming was famously quoted as saying, "A bad system will beat a good person every time." After decades of training, coaching, and consulting with leaders, ADVISA has seen that five drivers create cultural competitive advantage for organizations. The final driver is one of the most important: Systems That Support Leaders. In this episode, Steve Edwards, President & General Manager of Cit...

What happens when Gen Zs and Boomers team up at work? Live from CultureCon 2025, Nikki Lewallen Gregory sits down with Megan Berki of Rocket Lawyer for a powerful conversation on bridging generational gaps in the workplace. With five generations now working side-by-side, Megan shares how leaders can turn differences into strengths, from Gen Z's TikTok-fueled learning to Boomers' process-driven min...

What if the real unlock to thriving workplace cultures isn't fixing what's broken, but amplifying what's already strong? Jasmine Bellamy sits down with Vibhas Ratanjee, Senior Practice Expert at Gallup, to explore how organizations can build strengths-based cultures rooted in affirmation, not audit. Drawing from over two decades of research and consulting at Gallup, Vibhas reveals how focusing on...

You've built your culture plan… now what? Pete Savage and Greg Livings pull back the curtain on a powerful but often overlooked concept: de-risking your culture program. From eliminating weak signals to building visual tools like the Culture Wheel Playbook, they unpack actionable strategies to ensure your culture efforts don't fall flat. Whether you're planning for the year ahead or trying to get...