Tobias Sturesson and Andreas Almlöf delve into values-driven leadership and its transformative power. They’re looking at why it's essential to align behaviors with organizational values and the risks of disregarding this alignment. They also unpack the Culture Leadership Program, which is crucial for developing the habits and practices that underpin sustainable change. In this conversation, they challenge outdated notions related to habit formation and emphasize the philosophy of consistency ove...
Feb 15, 2024•34 min•Ep. 84
Steven Rogelberg is a leadership expert who was motivated to write his book ‘Glad We Met: The Art & Science of 1:1 Meetings’ due to the lack of strong treatment around the importance of these activities. Steven is the Chancellor's Professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He is also a professor of Organizational Science, Management, and Psychology and the founding Director of Organizational Science at UNC, Charlotte. Tune in as we discuss: The key elements of effective one-...
Dec 14, 2023•29 min
Ann Skeet is the Senior Director of Leadership Ethics at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University. Ann teaches ethics literacy for boards in the Silicon Valley Executive Education Center in the Leavey School of Business. She is also a co-author of ‘Ethics in the Age of Disruptive Technologies: An Operational Roadmap’. Tune in as we discuss: The Six Ethical Lenses Framework How to incorporate ethical principles into your decision-making Why trust is a crucial currency for ...
Nov 16, 2023•49 min•Ep. 82
Jay Barney is an American professor in strategic management at the University of Utah. He shares his insights on the crucial link between culture and strategy and how it impacts the success of any transformational change initiative. He emphasizes the importance of understanding group dynamics, the role of HR in shaping culture, and the power of storytelling in creating a healthy organizational culture. Tune in as we discuss: How does understanding group dynamics contribute to the success of tran...
Nov 02, 2023•47 min•Ep. 81
Melissa Daimler is a culture expert with over 20 years of experience driving and shaping company cultures. She has worked for iconic companies like Adobe, Twitter, and WeWork, where she learned from healthy and unhealthy cultures. Melissa is part of Udemy, an EdTech company dedicated to building a positive and thriving culture. Tune in as we discuss: How constructive debates contribute to learning and growth Why the hiring process needs to focus on behaviours and values Tips for promoting health...
Oct 19, 2023•47 min•Ep. 80
Wendy K. Smith is the Dana J. Johnson professor of management and faculty director of the Women’s Leadership Initiative at the Lerner College of Business and Economics, University of Delaware. As we navigate the complexities of sustainability and sustainable development goals, Wendy sheds light on the challenges that arise when making overarching commitments. Tune in as we discuss: Integrating sustainability goals with profitability for businesses When is it necessary to prioritise profit versus...
Oct 05, 2023•52 min•Ep. 79
In this episode I switch to the role of guest and I am interviewed by my colleague, Andreas Almlöf. Today we mark the exciting release of our free guide ‘ 6 Vital Steps to Leading Lasting Culture Change and Making Values Matter ’, which we explore in this conversation, including a proven culture change process and how to integrate your values. Tune in as we discuss: What data can be gathered to assess a company’s culture? How can leaders effectively develop and integrate better habits? The role ...
Sep 21, 2023•37 min•Season 8Ep. 78
To measure the ROI of culture is like measuring the ROI of air. Culture is not optional but a fundamental part of how we operate as a group. It influences every aspect of our organization - how we make decisions, think, communicate, collaborate, and perform. At the heart of culture are people and relationships. While many organizations will claim that they put people first, it’s easy to fall into cultural assumptions, drives, and beliefs that are harmful to our people and, ultimately, to the org...
Sep 07, 2023•41 min•Season 8Ep. 77
Join your host Tobias Sturesson and his guests, Michaela Ahlberg and Anna Romberg - co-authors of The Grey Zone, on this practical and insightful episode of the Leading Transformational Change podcast. In this conversation, they discuss how to promote a healthy, ethical and values-driven culture in your organization. Michaela and Anna also talk about their Responsible Leadership Program - what they were trying to accomplish, what they learned along the way, and what results they’ve seen. Michael...
Aug 24, 2023•48 min•Season 8Ep. 76
What constitutes a remarkably healthy culture and a workplace people love being a part of? What about your culture might instead make people frustrated and leave your organization? Two critical questions that every leader needs to ask. While we face an economic downturn, the job market is still competitive, especially for highly skilled talent. And we all want to be known for building great organizational cultures. So what can leaders do? Charlie and Don Sull, researchers at MIT and co-founders ...
Aug 10, 2023•52 min•Season 8Ep. 75
Join your host Tobias Sturesson and his guest, Aga Bajer, on this practical and helpful episode of the Leading Transformational Change podcast. In this conversation, Aga discusses culture myths, how to deal with cultural challenges as your organization grows, how to analyze the health of your culture, and why she believes fun, meaning and belonging are at the heart of a healthy culture. Agnieszka (Aga) Bajer works with leaders and teams around the globe to help them bring their vision to life. S...
Jun 15, 2023•59 min•Season 7Ep. 74
Join your host Tobias Sturesson and his guest, Stephen Shedletzky, on this honest and empowering episode of the Leading Transformational Change podcast. In this episode, your host Tobias Sturesson discusses the topic of speak-up culture with Stephen Shedletzky who has helped numerous organizations think better about their leadership, purpose, and culture. Stephen Shedletzky worked with Simon Sinek as the Head of Training & Development, inspired by the vision to improve people's work experien...
May 18, 2023•50 min•Season 7Ep. 73
Join your host Tobias Sturesson and his guest, Dr. Margaret Heffernen, on this profound and empowering episode of the Leading Transformational Change podcast. In this conversation, Margaret discusses how to reimagine the future and not fall into the trap of wilful blindness. Dr. Margaret Heffernen is an entrepreneur, CEO, writer, and keynote speaker. The author of six books, Margaret’s third book, Willful Blindness: Why We Ignore the Obvious at our Peril was named one of the most important busin...
Apr 27, 2023•55 min•Season 3Ep. 72
Welcome to episode 71 of the Leading Transformational Change podcast. Your usual host, Tobias Sturesson, switches into the role of guest and is interviewed by his colleague, Andreas Almlöf. They discuss organizational cultures in crisis, different types of unhealthy cultures, and how to rebuild trust within organizations going through challenging times. Duration: 35:10
Mar 23, 2023•35 min•Season 7Ep. 71
Join your host Tobias Sturesson and his guest, Dr. Deb Mashek, on this timely and informative episode of the Leading Transformational Change podcast. In this conversation, Deb discusses why collaboration should matter, in what cases it becomes critical, and what it takes to foster a culture of collaboration. Dr. Deb Mashek, PhD is an experienced business advisor, professor, higher education administrator, and national nonprofit executive. Named one of the Top 35 Women in Higher Education by Dive...
Mar 14, 2023•53 min•Season 7Ep. 70
Join your host Tobias Sturesson and his guest, Uri Gneezy, on this insightful episode of the Leading Transformational Change podcast. In this conversation, Uri discusses his work on when and why incentives in an organization can backfire and when traditional economic theories fail to explain real human behavior. Uri Gneezy is professor of economics and strategic management at the Rady School of Management, UC San Diego. As a researcher, Gneezy's focus is on putting behavioral economics to work i...
Feb 23, 2023•48 min•Season 7Ep. 69
Join your host Tobias Sturesson and his guest, Frank Blake, on this exciting and motivating episode of the Leading Transformational Change podcast. In this conversation, Frank discusses how incentives matter and why senior leaders need to absorb complexity and deal with values dilemmas and conflicting goals. He also explains what it means to lead from an inverted triangle and how to put concepts like servant/humble leadership into practice. Frank Blake served as Chairman and CEO of The Home Depo...
Feb 09, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Season 7Ep. 68
Happy New Year! Welcome to Season 7 of the Leading Transformational Change podcast. Your usual host, Tobias Sturesson, switches into the role of guest and is interviewed by his colleague, Andreas Almlöf. They discuss what stood out the most throughout the podcast episodes of 2022 and reflect on how to think about culture and values in a time of change and crisis. In addition, Tobias shares about his forthcoming book and why he decided to write it in the first place. Duration: 36:16...
Jan 26, 2023•36 min•Season 7Ep. 67
In this episode of the Leading Transformational Change podcast, your host Tobias Sturesson brings back a conversation with Jennifer Chatman from December 2020. In this perceptive and relevant interview with this world-renowned researcher, teacher and consultant on leveraging organizational culture, they discuss what it takes to change and leverage culture, and her research on how narcissistic leadership impacts culture. Jennifer Chatman is the Paul J. Cortese Distinguished Professor of Managemen...
Dec 02, 2022•52 min•Season 6Ep. 66
In this episode of the Leading Transformational Change podcast, your host Tobias Sturesson brings back a conversation that many new listeners may not have heard. In this insightful interview with ethics professor and author Ann Tenbrunsel, from almost two years ago (November 2020), they discuss whether we truly are as values-driven as we think, and why we make bad decisions even when we might have good intentions. Ann Tenbrunsel is the David E. Gallo Professor of Business Ethics at the Universit...
Nov 17, 2022•42 min•Season 6Ep. 65
Join your host Tobias Sturesson and his guest, Sandra J. Sucher, on this fascinating and timely episode of the Leading Transformational Change podcast. In this conversation, Sandra discusses the foundation of a healthy organizational culture - trust, and how trust can be built, lost, and regained. Sandra J. Sucher is a professor of management practice at Harvard Business School and an internationally recognized trust researcher. The Power of Trust: How Companies Earn It, Lose It, Regain It, is h...
Oct 21, 2022•1 hr•Season 6Ep. 64
Join your host Tobias Sturesson and his guest, Maria Hemberg, on this informative and helpful episode of the Leading Transformational Change podcast. In this conversation, Maria shares what it means to live one's values, how Volvo Cars think about ethics, and how they are meeting the radical shifts in the car industry. Maria Hemberg has more than 25 years of experience from practicing business law both in private practice and as in-house counsel. Before joining Volvo Car Group in 2012, Maria ser...
Oct 07, 2022•42 min•Season 6Ep. 63
Join your host Tobias Sturesson and his guest, Dan Cable, on this inspiring episode of the Leading Transformational Change podcast. In this conversation, Dan shares profound insights into how you can bring more meaning to your organization. With a focus on experimentation and purpose, Dan unpacks a remarkable example of the power of servant leadership and how redesigning your rituals can contribute to a healthier culture. Dan Cable is Professor of Organisational Behaviour at London Business Scho...
Sep 22, 2022•57 min•Season 6Ep. 62
As we are now taking steps into a new post-pandemic normal in many parts of the world, it seems like many organizations are struggling with how to have trusting and constructive internal conversations about how and where they do their best work. As a result, internal trust in leadership seems to be shaken. An essential foundation for a healthy culture is an organization’s ability to have hard and important conversations that can move the organization forward. Fred Dust, the author of "Making Con...
Sep 08, 2022•53 min•Season 6Ep. 61
Many organizations struggle with a culture of silence in which critical concerns are neither welcomed nor raised, essential feedback is unshared, and vital ideas are left unsaid. But how do you measure a lack of something? How do you deal with something that isn’t there? What strategies and habits need to be implemented to deal with silence? This final episode of Season 5 is a recording of an online live Healthy Culture Initiative event with Megan Reitz and Mary Inman. Listen in on this critical...
Jun 30, 2022•1 hr 22 min•Season 5Ep. 60
As we are now taking steps into a new post-pandemic normal in many parts of the world, it seems like many organizations are struggling with how to have trusting and constructive internal conversations about how and where they do their best work. As a result, internal trust in leadership seems to be shaken. An essential foundation for a healthy culture is an organization’s ability to have hard and important conversations that can move the organization forward. Fred Dust, the author of "Making Con...
Jun 16, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Season 5Ep. 59
We live in times in which circumstances change rapidly, decisions are rarely black and white, and it's hard to know what is right, true, and most important. With our current political climate, polarization, and media culture, there are considerable risks involved in decision-making. How do we build a healthy organizational culture with an ethical compass in turbulent times? Professor and ethics expert, Alison Taylor, is currently writing a book for Harvard Business Review Press on how companies ...
Jun 02, 2022•59 min•Season 5Ep. 58
A culture of speaking up and listening up does not happen by default. Leaders need to build it with intentionality and an awareness of their blindspots. Researcher and author Megan Reitz is passionate about helping people flourish in their workplaces through the way they speak with, listen to, learn from, and care for each other. In this engaging and helpful episode, your host Tobias and Megan discuss building cultures of listening, understanding positions of power and its impact, and a framewor...
May 19, 2022•51 min•Season 5Ep. 57
Values that don’t cost us something aren’t worth anything. In the struggle between upholding the principles we say we believe in and a possible loss of prestige or financial gain, our values get tested and are often found lacking. Sweden's leading political scientist, Bo Rothstein, gave up a coveted professorship because he couldn’t teach political ethics with good conscience in a role funded by a financier who supported a cause Bo believed conflicted with the values that the role represented. I...
May 05, 2022•42 min•Season 5Ep. 56
The pandemic has greatly impacted how organizations gather. Not having been able to put all the focus on a few physical gatherings or corporate retreats, organizations have hopefully had an opportunity to think through what values and behaviors are actually promoted through their stories, rituals, and processes. INSEAD's Associate Professor, Mark Mortensen, has investigated the nature of conflict in distributed collaborations and its relationship to identity, context, and communication. In this ...
Apr 21, 2022•59 min•Season 5Ep. 55
