In today's episode: Change can seem hard, but it can also provide purpose--and that purpose can make the process fun. The science shows that an adaptive leadership mindset is the most effective in the face of change. Strategy is easy to change, but that's often just a few words on a slide. Changing a mindset is a company-wide endeavor, but aligning it with strategy can lead to a huge boost in profitability. Culture Leaders Daily is a daily, five-minute podcast for CEOs where we dissect the week'...
Dec 16, 2024•7 min
In today's episode, some more key workplace trends to watch for 2025, featuring Peter Miscovich at JLL: Digital talent, magnetism and workforce upskilling. The integration of digital and AI technologies at scale. Flexible and high-quality buildings and locations, plus human-centric workplace experiences. The necessity of sustainable, resilient strategies to mitigate the risks of climate change. And the continuation of hybrid work alongside in-office and remote strategies. Culture Leaders Daily i...
Dec 13, 2024•6 min
In today's episode: Steve Pruett identifies "growth cycles" in his career--periods that encompass a structure of "Go, Assess, Identify, and Next" In the Go phase, we build things and cover ground. Then we Assess how we feel, Identify pros and cons, and figure out where we might want to head Next. These cycles aren't hard boundaries--they can happen faster in the early-career phase, and might include sub-cycles within a company--but they provide a framework for growth and career development. Cult...
Dec 12, 2024•6 min
In today's episode: In the era of Big Data, large companies often have a variety of technology systems and data sets that can't speak with each other directly. It falls to smaller, more agile companies to build technologies that integrate and translate between these various systems. The arrangement gives those smaller companies a lot of power; their products are necessary to "unleash" multimillion-dollar investments. Culture Leaders Daily is a daily, five-minute podcast for CEOs where we dissect...
Dec 11, 2024•6 min
In today's episode from Jessica's appearance on NBC: A new Gallup poll shows half of working women report being stressed a lot of the day, compared to 39% of working men. 42% of working women say their job had a negative impact on their mental health over the last six months. Women face significant pressure to deliver results for work and also shoulder much of the work for raising families. That demands a lot of flexibility from work. But lots of companies are demanding a return to the office in...
Dec 10, 2024•6 min
In today's episode from Jessica's appearance on NBC: Employees are feeling detached from their work at all levels, from the frontline to executive leadership. Part of the problem is systemic, but another problem is widespread below-the-line thinking: playing the blame game instead of taking accountability. Those feeling detached should be asking themselves four questions: What's going on? What about that can I control? What else could I try? And what am I going to do by when? By focusing on thes...
Dec 09, 2024•4 min
In today's episode, we look at Jessica's 2025 workplace culture trends that you should be paying attention to: Trump Administration Uncertainty. AI-powered empathy. The end of work-from-home. Bye-bye, middle managers. Rebellion against traditional "ping-pong table" culture initiatives. Culture Leaders Daily is a daily, five-minute podcast for CEOs where we dissect the week's biggest news, unpack hot-button workplace trends, and bring you exclusive interviews with leaders who leverage culture to ...
Dec 06, 2024•6 min
In today's episode: Executives often fear sharing information with employees for fear of causing panic. Honesty is appreciated, even when it comes with bad news. When hard times cause tough decisions, it helps to know why they're being made. Employees are the ones executing strategic plans. Bringing them into the planning process means more insight. Executives don't need to have the answers; they need to have the questions. Culture Leaders Daily is a daily, five-minute podcast for CEOs where we ...
Dec 05, 2024•5 min
In today's episode: A leader needs to know their own "why"--their fundamental motivation. Is it service? Influence? Impact? This prime mover might change over time, and the act of choosing may actually reinforce it. Like a clear purpose for an organization, a personal prime mover helps leaders make strategic decisions and ignore the noise. Culture Leaders Daily is a daily, five-minute podcast for CEOs where we dissect the week's biggest news, unpack hot-button workplace trends, and bring you exc...
Dec 04, 2024•6 min
Steve Pruett, Executive Chairman of Cox Media Group, shares his remarkable journey from a humble upbringing to leading one of the largest media organizations in the United States. With insights drawn from his book The Gain Principle, Steve reflects on personal and professional growth, the power of radical inclusion, and the hard-won lessons from navigating corporate culture. He also opens up about the profound impact of losing his two sons and how their legacy continues to inspire his work and l...
Dec 03, 2024•1 hr 16 min
In today's episode: An organization should have a clear, simple purpose. "Our purpose is to..." followed by six words or less. When this purpose permeates an organization, it inspires employees and helps them feel fulfilled with the knowledge that they're working toward a clear mission. A clear purpose serves as a measuring stick for thousands of strategic decisions. If it doesn't align with the purpose, then move on. Culture Leaders Daily is a daily, five-minute podcast for CEOs where we dissec...
Dec 03, 2024•6 min
In today's episode from Merit Street: Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy plan to use return-to-office mandates to convince large portions of government workers to quit. Controversy aside, they're more transparent than many private-sector CEOs, who claim RTO is about culture. Culture doesn't just happen within the four walls of the office: it's about experiences, beliefs, and actions, which also happen in a virtual space. It isn't that younger generations don't want to work: leaders have failed to con...
Dec 02, 2024•5 min
In today's episode: While tomorrow is Thanksgiving for Americans, it's just another Thursday for the rest of the world. Global companies often keep that in mind when communicating with employees. We tend to react poorly to changes in language based on sensitivity--but it's not about us. Everyone has something going on. To be truly global, a company has to put in effort to see all the different populations within itself. Culture Leaders Daily is a daily, five-minute podcast for CEOs where we diss...
Nov 27, 2024•5 min
In today's episode: The new Jaguar ad has seen backlash that claims it's "too woke"-- but we can't know the ad's effectiveness until we see the sales numbers on their new line of cars. For now, it's the most buzz Jaguar has seen in a while. Advertisements tell a specific story. Jaguar's ad is banking on that story resonating with the subset of customers that are likely to buy their cars. A company can't be for everyone; what works for Jaguar won't work for Kia or Audi, and vice versa. Culture Le...
Nov 26, 2024•6 min
In today's episode from Merit Street: Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy have promised "large-scale firings" in the federal workforce, partly through return-to-office mandates. Most RTO mandates have the same purpose, but private companies are less transparent about the reason. The federal government is inefficient, but that's a problem of accountability and culture rather than size. Disruption at this level could foster innovation, but could also just be catastrophic. The key is how federal workers ...
Nov 25, 2024•6 min
In today's episode: AI tools are promising the ability to rephrase our messages in ways that better-suit their recipients. There's some hope that this "AI-powered empathy" will smooth workplace communication, but it's actually disconnecting us more than ever. The reality is that relationships and culture are messy. Building real human empathy is the way to achieve long-term satisfaction and results. Culture Leaders Daily is a daily, five-minute podcast for CEOs where we dissect the week's bigges...
Nov 22, 2024•6 min
In today's episode from Merit Street: Microsoft has plans for widespread use of AI agents, but AI still represents more hype than capability at this point. In the near future, we'll probably see AI replace a lot of people--but when the bots cause a liability problem, companies will bring the people back. Regardless of AI's future, CEOs need to make sure the hearts and minds of employees are along for the ride. An adaptable culture is an evergreen asset. Culture Leaders Daily is a daily, five-min...
Nov 21, 2024•5 min
In today's episode: Women experience health issues that men don't. In their fifties and sixties, that includes hot flashes as a part of menopause. Sometimes, that means needing to step out of a meeting for a moment. It isn't a sign of weakness; it's a normal occurrence that everyone in the workplace should be aware of. Everyone is going through different things, even if they haven't shared the details. Awareness and sensitivity in all aspects of business will build the relationships necessary to...
Nov 20, 2024•4 min
In today's episode: Both personal and professional problems can be opportunities for personal growth; when employees experience that growth, it's also good for business. Great leader hire people who are better than them. They get other people to take a new level of action that benefits both the employee and the organization. When employees can be themselves, they can assess their strength and weaknesses and find solutions that work for everyone. Culture Leaders Daily is a daily, five-minute podc...
Nov 19, 2024•5 min
In today's episode from: President-elect Trump has been unclear about his position on union regulation, but very clear on an immigration crackdown. CEOs should plan to have their ducks in a row on documentation and visas. The best way to get ahead of strikes is to solve problems before they snowball. That means listening to employees sooner in the process. Strategic planning should center on the key question: what beliefs do I want employees to have about my organization? That vision should be s...
Nov 18, 2024•8 min
In today's episode: In today's economy, information is cheap and skills can be learned. The new competitive edge is an honest, accountable mindset. People want to follow accountable leaders. Bosses who lack accountability will never get the best from their employees. See it: what's going on? Own it: what about it can I control? Solve it: what else can I try? And then do it. Culture Leaders Daily is a daily, five-minute podcast for CEOs where we dissect the week's biggest news, unpack hot-button ...
Nov 15, 2024•5 min
In today's episode: People think of their future selves as entirely different people. That makes realistic long-term goal setting difficult. Goals and outcomes are two different things. Goals are aspirational; outcomes are tangible consequences. Instead, work backwards. To achieve an outcome now, what needs to have been true one, five, or ten years ago? Often it's more than expected. Culture Leaders Daily is a daily, five-minute podcast for CEOs where we dissect the week's biggest news, unpack h...
Nov 14, 2024•7 min
In today's episode: As workers fight for more expensive packages, automation starts to look more and more appealing for management. The promise is that we'll upskill workers when automation takes their jobs--but this doesn't happen. Thousands of skilled manufacturing jobs are still open because people don't have the aptitude or appetite for them. A portion of the workforce isn't looking for more responsibility; they want to do their job and go home. When looking at worker potential, ask: can the...
Nov 13, 2024•5 min
From leading IKEA, one of the world's largest furniture brands, to championing sustainability and innovation, Jesper Brodin's journey is a remarkable tale of leadership and forward-thinking. As CEO, Brodin has been instrumental in steering IKEA towards a future-oriented business model, emphasizing the importance of long-term investments, embracing change, and the delicate balance between profitability and positive impact. In this episode of Culture Leaders Podcast, Jesper Brodin shares his insig...
Nov 12, 2024•59 min
In today's episode: Creativity isn't just art and poetry; it's fundamentally about problem-solving and creating novel solutions. Companies are looking for ways to solve problems for themselves and for customers in order to create market share. The world works because of numbers and spreadsheets; even though they're not in museums, they're still crucial. Culture Leaders Daily is a daily, five-minute podcast for CEOs where we dissect the week's biggest news, unpack hot-button workplace trends, and...
Nov 12, 2024•6 min
In today's episode: The call is out for a mass, simultaneous strike in 4 years; it would effect hundreds of thousands of workers across industries. Workers are fed up with the cultures at their organizations and the perceived disconnect with executives. They want to feel valued, useful, and recognized. Modern leaders must be willing to give of themselves; listening and offering feedback, recognizing great work, and being conscious of employee experiences every day. Culture Leaders Daily is a dai...
Nov 08, 2024•6 min
In today's episode: Nowadays, investors prioritize explosive growth over everything else--even profit is a secondary concern. The result is companies constantly searching for new, bigger ways to expand past their core product--the thing they were good at in the first place. With the constant need for growth comes innovation. On the downside, culture is hard to maintain, management is overextended, and risk escalates. Culture Leaders Daily is a daily, five-minute podcast for CEOs where we dissect...
Nov 07, 2024•8 min
In today's episode: The cost of living continues to rise; people who make minimum wage have been priced out of one-bedroom apartment rentals in most major cities. Politicians are seizing on this data in different ways. Consumer sentiment is a powerful factor that's based mostly on emotion. Despite high debt loads and interest rates, people are spending more and more. That tension can't last forever. Culture Leaders Daily is a daily, five-minute podcast for CEOs where we dissect the week's bigges...
Nov 06, 2024•5 min
In today's episode: Companies are analogous to societies: they work best when the organization strives to work for everyone, regardless of ambition, skill, and education. The human cost of layoffs is immense. When an arm of the business is failing, it may be worth redeploying and redeveloping employees: it shows faith and gives them a sense of confidence. Democratic processes can be slow, but they build consensus. That kind of momentum is powerful. Culture Leaders Daily is a daily, five-minute p...
Nov 05, 2024•6 min
In today's episode: Small businesses and entrepreneurs need to know their numbers: where they stand and what they need to succeed. Don't run from resources. The tough times are when mentors are most important. Entrepreneurs need to learn to manage their time. Say no to some projects and building in personal time will help avoid burnout. Culture Leaders Daily is a daily, five-minute podcast for CEOs where we dissect the week's biggest news, unpack hot-button workplace trends, and bring you exclus...
Nov 04, 2024•6 min
