Rethink Culture is the podcast that shines the spotlight on the leaders who are rethinking workplace culture. Virtually all of the business leaders who make headlines today do so because of their company performance. Yet, the people and the culture of a company is at least as important as its performance. It's time that we shine the spotlight on the leaders who are rethinking workplace culture and are putting people and culture at the forefront.
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S03E09 Designing a Net Positive Culture with Co-creation, with Ulla Sommerfelt
Episode 42
Friday, January 10, 2025 • Duration 46:37
“We know that our P&Ls have to yield a net positive financial result, but I think also businesses need to yield a net positive people result… Net positive just means giving more than you take… When you use co-creation… people feel ownership and you don’t have to explain or implement it afterwards because when you’ve co-created, everybody is involved, and everybody knows what we’re talking about… In a company where people lead themselves, what do we need leaders for? We need leaders to give us direction and to inspire us, and we need leaders to push us out of our comfort zones and then have our backs when we fail…”
S03E08 of the Rethink Culture podcast shines the spotlight on Ulla Sommerfelt, a dynamic serial entrepreneur from Denmark. Ulla is a seasoned CEO, founder with an exit, investor, and mentor. With a deep passion for leadership and culture design, she recently released her book Firesoul Leadership, which features a striking red cover. Ulla’s journey includes building a thriving culture from scratch at EGGS Design, an innovation consultancy where she grew the team from 27 to 130 people across 27 countries over a decade. Ulla is currently focused on her latest venture, Femtech Studios, dedicated to promoting female wellness.
In this episode, Ulla shares profound insights into the transformative power of workplace culture, emphasizing the need for intentionality in its design. She highlights the interplay of masculine and feminine leadership energies, advocating for a balance between achieving results and fostering empathy. Ulla underscores the importance of connection before performance, reminding us that people are not resources but human beings deserving trust and understanding. She challenges leaders to rethink culture as a dynamic system that must align with strategy to succeed. Through personal stories and practical advice, Ulla inspires us to lead with heart, prioritize people, and create workplaces where teams thrive.
The podcast is produced by Rethink Culture (rethinkculture.co). Our Culture Health Score provides an X-ray of your organisational culture, allowing you to measure and manage it.
Production, video, and audio editing by Evangelia Alexaki of Musicove Productions.
Listen to this episode to discover: • Why culture must be designed intentionally to align with strategy and prevent dysfunction. • How masculine and feminine leadership energies can balance results-driven focus with empathy and care. • The power of connection before performance in building trust and achieving team synergy. • Why leading with heart and love creates loyalty and engagement in teams. • How to treat culture not as a "fluffy" concept, but as a system that requires as much focus as strategy. • Practical ways to redefine success by valuing employees as people, not resources.
Further resources: • Ulla’s Website, Mother Hen Ventures: https://www.motherhen.ventures/ • Ulla on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ullasommerfelt/ • Net Positive: How Courageous Companies Thrive by Giving More Than They Take, by Andrew S. Winston: https://www.amazon.com/Net-Positive-Courageous-Companies-Thrive-ebook/dp/B08TCHX4FY • Firesoul Leadership: An Entrepreneur’s Blueprint for Fueling Growth, Igniting Creativity, and Crafting a Culture of Compassion, by Ulla Sommerfelt: https://www.amazon.com/Firesoul-Leadership-Entrepreneurs-Creativity-Compassion-ebook/dp/B0DGJ5G4P8
S03E08 The Five Pillars of a Thriving Workplace Culture, with Elizabeth Dixon
Episode 41
Friday, December 20, 2024 • Duration 42:59
“The magic… is what happens between that frontline employee and the customer… the outcome is impact. It’s impact on people’s lives. And ultimately that impact, it drives business success. The framework to get there is to choose your mindset, create your culture, know your customer, define your differentiator, and pursue innovation and iteration. And those are not things we do once, we set them, we’re good and now we’re going to do something else. They’re continual. Culture is living, it’s people. It’s lives. It’s humans. We have to continually keep it alive.”
S03E08 of the Rethink Culture podcast shines the spotlight on Elizabeth Dixon, President and CEO of the Trilith Foundation, a nonprofit for artists. Elizabeth is a speaker and entrepreneur with expertise in customer experience and workplace culture. She’s the author of two books, The Power of Customer Experience and The Strength of Purpose. Having worked with brands like Chick-Fil-A and inspired by visionaries like Horst Schulze of Ritz-Carlton, she brings purpose-driven leadership to life. Her book, The Power of Customer Experience, offers practical insights for creating impactful cultures and delivering exceptional service.
In this episode, Elizabeth shares how aligning personal purpose with organizational culture drives success. She highlights leadership through vulnerability, continual growth, and her five pillars of workplace excellence: mindset, culture, customer knowledge, differentiation, and innovation. Her insights offer a clear path to building thriving, people-centred organizations. Elizabeth reminds us that culture is not a static element but a living system, nurtured through purpose, collaboration, and ongoing innovation. Leaders who actively shape and support their culture create workplaces where employees feel empowered, and customers feel valued, unlocking the full potential of their organization.
The podcast is produced by Rethink Culture (rethinkculture.co). Our Culture Health Score provides an X-ray of your organisational culture, allowing you to measure and manage it.
Production, video, and audio editing by Evangelia Alexaki of Musicove Productions.
Listen to this episode to discover:• The crucial role of frontline employees in shaping culture• The Five Pillars of a thriving workplace culture• How leaders shape culture through actions, decisions, and what they allow• The importance of aligning personal and professional identity• Why a clear purpose is essential for leaders and organizations to inspire their teams• How to stay adaptive by evolving your culture and practices• Leadership lessons on generosity and service from Dan Cathy of Chick-Fil-A• Lessons on excellence, consistency, and empowerment from Horst Schulze of Ritz-Carlton• Why leaders don't need to have all the answers, but must embrace collaboration and vulnerability
S02E20 Culture Classics: How to craft company values with Will Scott
Episode 31
Friday, August 16, 2024 • Duration 46:11
"If leaders are willing to be vulnerable and listen to their employees.. those are cultures which empower everyone to feel safe and to bring their whole selves to work... A lot of leaders are still trying to hide behind stuff.. and they are not sleeping well at night. The most peaceful place for a leader to be is to have stated values and then can stand in the spotlight of those values."
While Rethink Culture is relaxing on summer holidays, we thought we'd bring you one of the podcast classics - How to Craft Company Values - with Will Scott, founder of Culture Fix Academy, entrepreneur, published author, servant leader, father and triathlete.
Will has worked with 10s of companies to transform them into culture-first workplaces. He talks about creating your values bottom-up, how to "notice and nominate" to reinforce values in the company using stories, how often to revise values, and how he started playing with values and culture as a young child in his treehouse.
The podcast is produced by Rethink Culture (rethinkculture.co). Our Culture Health Check helps you turn your culture into a competitive advantage, with data. Visit rethinkculture.co to see how you can create a healthier culture at your company.
S02E19 Return Joy to the Workplace, with Rich Sheridan
Episode 32
Friday, August 2, 2024 • Duration 49:39
"We founded the company with a crazy big mission. We wanted to end human suffering in the world as it relates to technology, by returning joy to both technology and to the teams that design it and build it… I had this picture in my head of, what do I want my work life to look like? And I thought… a big opening collaborative work environment, a place filled with human energy, a lot of collaboration, doing interesting, new, innovative things together, accomplishing big goals, not as individuals, but as a team."
S02E19 of the Rethink Culture podcast shines the spotlight on Richard Sheridan, founder and CEO of Menlo Innovations, a Michigan-based software company where he is also known as the Chief Storyteller. Rich is the author of two books, Joy, Inc. and Chief Joy Officer. Menlo Innovations stands out for its unique culture, attracting around 3,000 visitors annually who come to observe it firsthand.
Rich discusses the early influences that sparked his passion for creating joy, which became the foundation for Menlo Innovations. He recounts how winning a programming contest during high school led to his first job as a programmer and how he later redesigned the culture at Interface Systems. Rich also describes the pivotal moment when the internet bubble burst, which spurred his journey into entrepreneurship and the founding of Menlo Innovations. Throughout the interview, Rich emphasizes the value of intentionality in creating a culture, collaborative work, joy in the workplace, and service to others.
The podcast is produced by Rethink Culture (rethinkculture.co). Our Culture Health Check helps you turn your culture into a competitive advantage, with data.
Production, video, and audio editing by Evangelia Alexaki of Musicove Productions.
Listen to this episode to discover: • What a workplace culture focused on joy looks like. • How books on teamwork, management, design thinking, and leadership led Rich to a breakthrough in organizing people effectively. • How rethinking a rejected promotion enabled Rich to transform the culture at Interface Systems as VP of Product Development. • The contrasting reactions to his innovative teamwork methods.• Rich's perspective on intentional culture and Menlo's unique hiring and onboarding processes.• Menlo Innovations' day-long collaborative teamwork and the interview process for finding people who enjoy it.• The importance of communicating core values from the initial interview.• The benefits of working collaboratively in pairs across a company.
S02E18 Creating a Safe Space that Loves the 5-Year-Old You and Helps them Grow , with Lisa Gill
Episode 30
Friday, July 19, 2024 • Duration 51:23
"I always hesitate a bit when organizations are like, happiness, happiness, happiness… because our pitfalls will never go away… I will always have those pitfalls. But if I can become conscious and intentional, then I can start to own my pitfalls instead of my pitfalls owning me. And I can start to take responsibility for them… We can talk about it together and no one ever punishes someone for being in their pitfall… We might lovingly make someone aware of it, give them feedback or encourage them… In one of our value statements we say, we see the five-year-old you and we love them, and we also lovingly support you to be bigger than that."
S02E18 of the Rethink Culture podcast shines the spotlight on Lisa Gill. Lisa is an organizational and self-management coach and trainer with Tuff Leadership Training. Included in the Thinkers 50 Radar 2020, Lisa has made significant contributions to the field. She hosts the Leadermorphosis podcast, where she has interviewed nearly a hundred pioneers in the future of work.
Lisa co-authored "Moose Heads on the Table," a book featuring stories about self-managing organizations from Sweden. With a rich international background, having lived in Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore as a child, she brings a unique and diverse perspective to her purpose of helping leaders transform.
The podcast is produced by Rethink Culture (rethinkculture.co). Our Culture Health Check helps you turn your culture into a competitive advantage, with data. Visit rethinkculture.co to see how you can create a healthier culture at your company.
Production, video, and audio editing by Evangelia Alexaki of Musicove Productions.
Listen to this episode to discover: - How self-managing cultures attract people who enjoy responsibility and are capable of self-management.
- Why some organizations or individuals are not suited for self-management.
- Why founders and CEOs should recognize the different personal development rates of those they lead.
S02E17 Cooking an Authentic, Fulfilling, and Positive Culture, with Gustavo Razzetti
Episode 29
Friday, June 28, 2024 • Duration 46:11
"Leaders are usually less perfect than we were taught, or books tell us about them because leading is a very complicated thing… I always like to joke with my clients… when they say, we don't know how we're going to take our culture to the next level. I tell them, give me the ingredients you have, and I'm going to help you out the same way that sometimes I get invited to a friend's house and say, tell me what you have in the kitchen… and I'm going to create some recipe with that… Each company requires its own recipe and I try to understand… the assets, their ingredients, and help them cook some interesting dish that's authentic, hopefully fulfilling, and positive for that particular company."
S02E17 of the Rethink Culture podcast shines the spotlight on Gustavo Razzetti, workplace culture consultant, author and speaker. As the founder and CEO of the consultancy Fearless Culture, an accelerator of positive culture, Razzetti has dedicated over 30 years to helping a wide array of organizations, from Fortune 500 companies to startups and nonprofits, design better workplace cultures.
Gustavo recounts pivotal moments in his life that shifted his career towards culture, discusses his book "Remote Not Distant," which provides insights on effectively managing remote teams, and introduces us to the Culture Design Canvas, a framework for enhancing organizational culture.
The podcast is created by Rethink Culture. Our goal is to help 1 million businesses create healthier, happier cultures, by turning culture into a KPI. Visit rethinkculture.co to see how you can create a healthier culture at your company.
Production, video, and audio editing by Evangelia Alexaki of Musicove Productions.
Oops! You might hear some audio gaps in this video. We hit a few bumps during recording. Thanks for sticking with us and enjoy the show!
Listen to this episode to discover:
- The true meaning of fearlessness.
- The importance of speaking up about respect in the workplace.
S02E16 Creating an Organization without Managers, One Step at a Time, with Nathan Donaldson
Episode 28
Friday, June 14, 2024 • Duration 49:10
"You can't be productive unless your team is happy… It's not the foosball tables and the perks. It's that deeper happiness that comes from doing some meaningful work for people that you like and respect, working with people that you like and respect."
S02E16 of the Rethink Culture podcast shines the spotlight on Nathan Donaldson from New Zealand. Nathan is the CEO and founder of Boost, a custom software agency for government that runs without managers. He is also the author of the book "Unicorns Over Rainbows," which focuses on making lasting, meaningful changes to organizations. Nathan is a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award for Democracy in the Workplace from WorldBlu. As a designer at heart, he loves solving hard problems. Outside of work, Nathan enjoys computer game racing and embracing the great outdoors with activities like mountain biking, surfing, and snowboarding.
Nathan explains how his company operates without traditional hierarchical structures or managers. Instead, Boost's 25-30 employees manage themselves with the help of coaches, displaying a high level of responsibility.
The podcast is created by Rethink Culture. Our goal is to help 1 million businesses create healthier, happier cultures, by turning culture into a KPI. Visit rethinkculture.co to see how you can create a healthier culture at your company.
Production, video, and audio editing by Evangelia Alexaki of Musicove Productions.
Listen to this episode to find out: - How a Dunedin controversy sparked a young Nathan's interest in political and social justice issues.
- What inspired Nathan to co-found his company and how the early internet shaped his entrepreneurial path.
- How a business crisis led Nathan to seek mentorship, embrace continuous learning, and adopt a no-manager approach.
- Why overwhelming your team with numerous ideas is counterproductive and what to do instead.
S02E15 The War for Talent is a Victim Mindset, with Dominic Monkhouse
Episode 27
Friday, May 31, 2024 • Duration 51:44
"As a manager, as a leader… one of your goals is to build the best team that you can afford… So when people say, I can't attract any talent… it's not the talent's fault. Just because you have a job… just because you have a vacancy, there is no God-given right for amazing people to show up at your door and apply for it… Are you a shit place to work or are you an amazing place to work?"
S02E15 of the Rethink Culture podcast shines the spotlight on Dominic Monkhouse, Business Coach and CEO Mentor. He's the founder and CEO of Monkhouse & Company, with a remarkable track record of scaling technology service businesses from zero to 30 million pounds in just five years. He accomplished this while serving as managing director of UK-based Rackspace and Pier 1 Hosting. Dominic is also the author of 'Mind Your F**ing Business' and the host of the same-titled podcast, which recently reached 300 episodes.
Without holding back, Dominic shares a wealth of information on how to build high-performing teams capable of rapid and sustained growth.
The podcast is created by Rethink Culture. Our goal is to help 1 million businesses create healthier, happier cultures, by turning culture into a KPI. Visit rethinkculture.co to see how you can create a healthier culture at your company.
Production, video, and audio editing by Evangelia Alexaki of Musicove Productions.
Listen to this episode to find out:
- What it takes to attract top talent away from competitors.
- How to use the monthly keeper test to decide who to keep and who to fire.
- What to do if you fear losing or having trouble replacing employees.
- Why the war for talent is essentially a victim mindset.
- Why annual performance appraisals are equal to 12 months of avoiding difficult conversations.
- How to manage and measure expectations on deliverables.
S02E14 Hiring and Accepting People from Every Walk of Life, with Gina Schaefer
Episode 26
Friday, May 17, 2024 • Duration 46:11
"I think business owners have to really rethink who and how they hire, our judgments, our biases, and what as a society we can do, even as a small business like mine, to make it a more vibrant and equitable place... I wanted to make sure that we were treating everybody, no matter what their background was, where they were from, what language they spoke, what addiction they were overcoming, what jail sentence they had served, I wanted all of those people to have a level playing field."
S02E14 of the Rethink Culture podcast shines the spotlight on Gina Schaeffer, founder, CEO, and co-owner of a chain of 13 Ace Hardware stores across multiple cities in the United States. Ace Hardware is the world’s largest retailer-owned hardware cooperative. Gina oversees the operations and management of over 300 dedicated employees.
Gina discusses her commitment to community initiatives and her experiences in creating a thriving work environment based on open-mindedness and acceptance. A beacon of inspiration in the entrepreneurial landscape, she challenges leaders to rethink their assumptions and reimagine culture by embracing the notion of providing opportunities for everyone to thrive, regardless of their background, such as a history of addiction or imprisonment. Beyond her business endeavours, Gina's passion for exploration and creativity is evident in her travels across South America and her hobby of crafting personalized greeting cards.
The podcast is created by Rethink Culture. Our goal is to help 1 million businesses create healthier, happier cultures, by turning culture into a KPI. Visit rethinkculture.co to see how you can create a healthier culture at your company.
Production, video, and audio editing by Evangelia Alexaki of Musicove Productions.
Listen to this episode to discover: - How Gina defies conventional assumptions by hiring people who have experienced addiction, homelessness, or incarceration.
- Why extending opportunities to those with employment barriers promotes connection, support, and a strong community.- The significance of adapting core values and practices to reflect evolving circumstances.
S02E13 A Culture of Love, not Fear, with David Henzel
Episode 25
Friday, May 3, 2024 • Duration 39:12
"If you're not properly leading yourself, it's hard to lead others... How you do one thing is how you do everything. And if… the three areas of your life, if they're in order, if… yourself, mind, body, spirit is good and your family and relationships is good, then it's much easier to be good in the work world."
S02E13 of the Rethink Culture podcast shines the spotlight on David Henzel, a serial entrepreneur who owns several businesses with over 500 employees. Among his recent ventures are TaskDrive, an AI-driven virtual assistance platform, and upcoach, a coaching platform. His successful track record includes having co-founded and sold MaxCDN, which hosted over 6 million websites.
David talks about "Love Not Fear" a concept that drives his personal development course, Managing Happiness, and his organizational development course, Love Not Fear. David's commitment to fostering a positive workplace culture is reflected in his company's impressively high Cultural Health Score, which is scoring in the high 90s. David spends his free time at his Bodrum farm with his wife, daughter, three horses, ten dogs, and two donkeys.
The podcast is created by Rethink Culture. Our goal is to help 1 million businesses create healthier, happier cultures, by turning culture into a KPI. Visit rethinkculture.co to see how you can create a healthier culture at your company.
Production, video, and audio editing by Evangelia Alexaki of Musicove Productions.
Listen to this episode to find out: · Why acting out of love rather than fear can transform your life and business.
· How David practices Love Not Fear in his daily habits.
· What makes aphantasia and SDAM his superpower.
· What is the Managing Happiness framework and how it supports personal and professional goals.
· Why rethinking product development improved employee happiness and productivity.
Further resources: • Elizabeth’s Website: https://www.elizabethdixonspeaks.com/ • Elizabeth on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethdixonspeaks/ • Elizabeth on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethdixonspeaks/ • The Power of Customer Experience: 5 Elements To Make An Impact, by Elizabeth Dixon: https://www.amazon.com/Power-Customer-Experience-Elements-Impact-ebook/dp/B09X6HQXY3 • The Strength of Purpose: A Guide to Knowing And Living Your Reason For Being, by Elizabeth Dixon: https://www.amazon.com/Strength-Purpose-Knowing-Living-Reason-ebook/dp/B0CLSYKWP3 • Excellence Wins: A No-Nonsense Guide to Becoming the Best in a World of Compromise, by Horst Schulze: https://www.amazon.com/Excellence-Wins-No-Nonsense-Becoming-Compromise-ebook/dp/B07DXGL7VQ • A More Beautiful Question: The Power of Inquiry to Spark Breakthrough Ideas, by Warren Berger: https://www.amazon.com/More-Beautiful-Question-Inquiry-Breakthrough-ebook/dp/B00GC53AG8 • The Book of Beautiful Questions: The Powerful Questions That Will Help You Decide, Create, Connect, and Lead, by Warren Berger: https://www.amazon.com/Book-Beautiful-Questions-Powerful-Connect-ebook/dp/B07FQT1BMR
Further resources: • Rich Sheridan's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/menloprez/ • Joy, Inc.: How We Built a Workplace People Love, by Richard Sheridan: https://www.amazon.com/Joy-Inc-Built-Workplace-People/dp/1591847125 • Chief Joy Officer: How Great Leaders Elevate Human Energy and Eliminate Fear, by Richard Sheridan: https://www.amazon.com/Chief-Joy-Officer-Leaders-Eliminate/dp/0735218226 • Extreme Programming Explained: Embrace Change, 2nd Edition, by Kent Beck with Cynthia Andres: https://www.amazon.com/Extreme-Programming-Explained-Embrace-Change/dp/0321278658
- The impact cultural transformations have on employee retention.
- The importance of creating compassionate spaces to process changes and difficulties.
- How to create safe spaces for sharing, owning, and taking responsibility for pitfalls.
- Why respecting your work capacity and wellbeing prevents burnout.
- The role of exposure to diverse leadership styles in personal development.
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