In today's episode: Beliefs lead to actions, which produce results. Skip the "action trap" and focus on getting teams into an adaptive mindset, rather than micromanaging actions. When Oracle made its shift to cloud-based computing, it demanded a mindset shift. They were no longer making short-term hardware sales to IT departments, but selling long-term cloud applications to HR, sales, and finance. They hired people like Jessica to help Oracle's own employees get on board with that shift in langu...
Feb 03, 2025•8 min
In today's episode: Fear is having faith in something you don't want to happen. Beliefs drive actions, which create results. A mindset based in fear-based beliefs will end with fear-based results. Choosing faith--in yourself, in colleagues, in leadership--allows you to pour effort into positive beliefs, which are more likely to produce the results you're hoping for. Culture Leaders Daily is a daily, five-minute podcast for CEOs where we dissect the week's biggest news, unpack hot-button workplac...
Jan 31, 2025•5 min
In today's episode: The CEO of Workday says AI agents will soon be built into their technology. When Sarah Franklin of Lattice said this six months ago, there was massive blowback. Now, not so much. Culture doesn't go down without a fight. There was always going to be pushback against changes at this scale, but agentic AI is being increasingly normalized. Culture Leaders Daily is a daily, five-minute podcast for CEOs where we dissect the week's biggest news, unpack hot-button workplace trends, a...
Jan 30, 2025•6 min
In today's episode: A company has only two options: culture or control. Smaller, in-person companies can get away with culture and values being shared by osmosis. Larger, remote companies need to be more deliberate to achieve the culture they want. Thrive Market documents its values and how they are operationalized at every level of the business. 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 ...
Jan 29, 2025•6 min
In today's episode: Diverse skillsets united behind a shared mission can be a powerful force for success. For Thrive Market's founders, that shared purpose helped them weather dozens of rejections in early seed rounds. They succeeded by partnering with a large number of influencers instead of a few VCs. 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 le...
Jan 28, 2025•7 min
In today's episode from Jessica's appearance on Studio Sacramento: Return-to-office mandates are largely caused by employers who want to manage activity, not outcomes. The people most harmed by these mandates are employees who are already struggling to pay for child care, elder care, transportation, and more. To protect yourself from AI-related job losses, it pays to be a change embracer. Learn what AI can do in your job and your workplace, bring it to the forefront, and make yourself visible as...
Jan 27, 2025•5 min
In today's episode: A lot of companies had record-breaking December numbers, now that the election uncertainty is finally over. Since economic policy take around 2 years to manifest, we'll still be seeing the effects of the Biden economy for the next year or two. New uncertainties will emerge from the policies and disruptions that a Trump administration is likely to bring. Culture Leaders Daily is a daily, five-minute podcast for CEOs where we dissect the week's biggest news, unpack hot-button w...
Jan 24, 2025•6 min
In today's episode: Employees that believe in a company's mission will go the extra mile. Many applicants--especially younger ones--self-select for companies that align with their values. For Thrive Market, personal examples and references are key steps hiring employees who fit. 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 drive r...
Jan 23, 2025•5 min
In today's episode from Jessica's appearance on Studio Sacramento: Jessica doesn't want "loyal" employees. She wants employees who are excited about the work, doing interesting things, and believe they're getting paid fairly. If one of those things isn't true, loyalty might lead someone to stay in a position that doesn't meet their needs. That leads to resentment, burnout, and a lose-lose for everybody. A culture of transparency gets everyone on the same page. Employers can help the employees fi...
Jan 22, 2025•6 min
Nick Green, Co-Founder and CEO of Thrive Market, shares how the drive to make healthier eating more accessible has shaped the company from the very beginning; from operationalizing its core values to hiring talent whose purpose aligns with the mission. He explains how mission-driven thinking includes setting long-term sustainability goals, finding “non-zero-sum” ways to make an impact, and sharing stories to build loyalty in customers who share Thrive Market’s core values. What is Your Why? Nick...
Jan 21, 2025•52 min
In today's episode: In asking how to balance mission with profits, avoid a binary "yes" or "no." What can be done now? What can be achieved a few years down the line? Some opportunities are non-zero sum; they can achieve mission goals while driving business growth (or just avoiding business harm) Telling stories about the company's efforts to achieve its mission goals can inspire loyalty in customers. Culture Leaders Daily is a daily, five-minute podcast for CEOs where we dissect the week's bigg...
Jan 21, 2025•8 min
In today's episode: Start with results by making a plan. Choose goals that are meaningful, measurable, and memorable. But we can only control the effort we put into our work, not the final outcome. When it's time to check in, focus on progress, not perfection. By measure success by effort, people feel free to strive higher. Success and failure stay completely within their control. Culture Leaders Daily is a daily, five-minute podcast for CEOs where we dissect the week's biggest news, unpack hot-...
Jan 20, 2025•6 min
In today's episode, Jessica discusses John Burn-Murdoch's story in the Financial Times: The relationship recession is going global It's not just declining birth rates; fewer people are getting into relationships at all. Those changing demographics change business. Customer-first businesses need to adjust their products to include more solo households and non-traditional structures. Social media has redefined employee expectations; more focus on independence, purpose, and autonomy. More employees...
Jan 17, 2025•5 min
In today's episode: Profit can be combined with purpose. Cisco's Guy Diedrich holds to the phrase, "If we do good, we'll do well." When an outside event impacts a company, it filters through the company's core values and result in some behavior. As long as those values hold firm, a company's behavior remains predictable and consistent. 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 exclusi...
Jan 16, 2025•5 min
In today's episode: Power changes people; it reinforces worth and self-esteem, but most people in corporate jobs begin to identify with the power of their title. Three key points to avoid the power trap: Leadership is about service, not status. Delegate. Leadership means empowering others to take ownership of their work. Listen and remain open-minded. Seek different perspectives and avoid echo chambers. Culture Leaders Daily is a daily, five-minute podcast for CEOs where we dissect the week's bi...
Jan 15, 2025•7 min
In today's episode: Angry workers are taking their complaints to company website comment sections. Some companies are responding by shutting down the comments. Silencing complains doesn't make them go away; if anything, it just makes make things worse. If employees don't feel heard by their employers, they'll find somebody willing to listen: whether that's media, union organizers, or competitors. Culture Leaders Daily is a daily, five-minute podcast for CEOs where we dissect the week's biggest n...
Jan 14, 2025•4 min
In today's episode from Schwab Network: The above-average December jobs report is a direct reaction to the election. Uncertainty was bad for business. We know what a Trump administration will mean for regulation and markets, so companies can strategize accordingly. It's still a tale of two job markets: the hourly and the salaried. It may be hard to get a job as a marketing executive, but there are still labor shortages in fields like nursing and manufacturing. Culture Leaders Daily is a daily, f...
Jan 13, 2025•5 min
In today's episode: To succeed in working with different cultures, you have to leave opinions and politics at the door. But nearly everybody wants to move in the right direction--whatever that means for them. Companies coming from the outside a culture can find creative ways to succeed that are appropriate for the culture in question. 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 exclusiv...
Jan 10, 2025•7 min
In today's episode: There's been a 2% increase in workforce productivity, which businesses are celebrating. We're going to see that number continue to rise. We're going to continue automating repetitive physical jobs as well as office jobs like advertising and marketing--which means higher unemployment as those jobs are eliminated. Some unions--like the Longshoremen--will use their leverage oppose the automation and job loss. The transition to the Trump Administration will be something to watch:...
Jan 09, 2025•5 min
In today's episode: No, Mark Zuckerberg isn't joining the show--but he's removing fact-checking from Facebook. Over time, news has gotten less and less reliable; that makes it easier for people to believe in conspiracies and doubt even stories that are true. People read headlines, not articles. Those headlines and articles are often written by AI these days. All of these are dangerous signs for the future. Culture Leaders Daily is a daily, five-minute podcast for CEOs where we dissect the week's...
Jan 08, 2025•7 min
Dr. Guy Diedrich, Senior Vice President and the Global Innovation Officer at Cisco, shares his story as a key player in global digitization and the future of technology education. He discusses the power of shared vulnerability to build trust across organizations and cultures, the importance of core values in business, and Cisco’s role in bringing people across the globe into the digital age. What is Your Why? Guy explains how his 'why' is aligned with Cisco's mission to power an inclusive future...
Jan 07, 2025•51 min
In today's episode: Trust is "the lubricant of efficient markets." It allows businesses to work together quickly without constantly watching their own backs. Trust is built by shared, symmetric vulnerability. When one side of an agreement shows vulnerability, the other side can build trust with a reciprocal gesture. Cisco's model is to do what it does best--connection-related technology--while teaming with smaller, local partners around the globe. Their Global Innovation Officer says trust is ke...
Jan 07, 2025•8 min
In today's episode: Most generational dynamics are stereotypes, not hard science. No generation has a monopoly on any trait. Our pre-existing beliefs shape our interactions, which often causes us to reinforce our priors. These biases lead to dysfunction in the workplace; they're both unfounded and unproductive. 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 leader...
Jan 06, 2025•7 min
In today's episode from Merit Street: The next wave of AI--agentic AI--is going to cause job losses, at least in the short term. Adapting to an AI-focused future is crucial. One tactic is to become an expert on how AI can improve your duties and your organization, establishing yourself as valuable to the company. 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 lead...
Jan 03, 2025•5 min
In today's episode from Jessica's appearance on NBC: California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced the state is removing the college degree requirement for 30,000 state jobs--which follows what many private employers are already doing. A college degree signifies that someone got certain grades in certain classes, but employers have begun to realize that most training gets done on-the-job anyway. College costs are skyrocketing and enrollment is declining. It's a major era of change for higher ed...
Dec 23, 2024•4 min
In today's episode: Rising childcare costs have a huge impact on single parents in the workforce (80% of whom are women). They're forced to be less flexible in the workplace in order to support family needs, which means a tougher time climbing the corporate ladder. Diverse populations create higher levels of performance. We should be subsidizing childcare to retain the highest level of talent. Managers looking to support their single-parent employees should have an honest conversation with HR le...
Dec 20, 2024•6 min
In today's episode: After the pandemic hit, 87% of Yelp's employees said they preferred working at home. When offices opened, they were less than 1% occupied. Following the data, the company decided to stay remote-first as a sign of trust in their employees--a trust that goes both ways. We're seeing a lot of return-to-office mandates as we head into 2025, but it's not clear whether the mandates are based in data on culture or productivity. Culture Leaders Daily is a daily, five-minute podcast fo...
Dec 19, 2024•5 min
In today's episode from Jessica's appearance on NBC: The gender wage gap is expanding. That's partly due to discrimination, and partly due to the price of childcare. When companies don't subsidize childcare, it often becomes unaffordable. Women are usually the ones who leave the workforce to take care of their families. Companies that offer greater flexibility and childcare subsidies create diverse organizations, which drives results for everyone. The first step for women looking to make a chang...
Dec 18, 2024•4 min
Carmen Amara, Chief People Officer at Yelp, shares her journey into HR, emphasizing the importance of finding purpose in work and creating a people-first culture. She discusses the power of storytelling, Yelp's shift to remote work, and the role of empathy in leadership, and she debunks myths about HR--particularly the misconception that one must choose between profit and people. What is Your Why? Carmen discusses her desire to make an impact, and how she found a purpose in HR: helping businesse...
Dec 17, 2024•36 min
In today's episode: The world is getting less stable, between wars abroad, the possibilities of tariffs at home, and weird stuff like the drones. World events impact employees. Whether leaders care about employee well-being or pure productivity, action is still necessary. Bottom line: check in on your teams. If you don't listen to your people, somebody else will. Culture Leaders Daily is a daily, five-minute podcast for CEOs where we dissect the week's biggest news, unpack hot-button workplace t...
Dec 17, 2024•7 min
