The Culture Works Podcast

Most wellness programs fail because they're just policies and gym reimbursements. Tiffany Nugent, Chief People Officer at Concert Health and owner of SALT Wellness, learned this the hard way after being hit by a car and recovering while leading 11,000 healthcare employees through COVID. In this conversation, Tiffany shares her philosophy of reflective leadership, why psychological safety is the universal foundation for high performance, how AI is creating HR's biggest strategic opportunity in decades, and what it actually takes to build cultures where people thrive instead of just survive. A refreshingly honest look at what real human-centered leadership requires.Timestamps:[00:00:00] Opening: Curiosity sparks innovation and change[00:01:25] Welcome and Tiffany's dual role as CPO and wellness center owner[00:02:00] Getting hit by a car and the journey to opening SALT Wellness[00:03:05] Career journey from healthcare to tech to behavioral health[00:06:20] Why Concert Health and collaborative behavioral care[00:09:15] Building human-centered workplaces: What does thriving really mean?[00:11:00] Leadership as privilege and responsibility[00:13:50] Psychological safety as the universal foundation[00:16:20] The biggest mistakes CHROs make with wellbeing programs[00:18:15] What's really going on when leaders get stuck[00:19:45] Leading from authenticity and dealing with difficult people[00:22:05] Courage and curiosity as leadership requirements[00:24:05] What CHROs should focus on with AI disruption[00:26:15] Lightning round begins[00:28:35] Where to connect with Tiffany[00:28:50] Final advice for burned-out HR leadersFollow Tiffany, Chester & Adrian:Connect with Chester & Adrian: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thecultureworksofficial/Website: https://thecultureworks.com/Connect with Tiffany: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffanynugent/Website: https://www.saltwellnessky.com/

An 80-point engagement swing in three months sounds impossible, but Bruce Nichols did it at Liberty Mutual by doing something radical: he stopped pushing culture from the top down. As a partner at The Human Resource Consortium and former HR leader at companies like Liberty Mutual, Fidelity, and Citizens Bank, Bruce shares how he transformed a failing tech organization by empowering first-line managers to own the change. In this conversation, Bruce reveals why HR technology fails without solid process foundations, how to build integrated people-first systems, and why bureaucracy is killing corporate HR. If you're an HR leader tired of surveys that go nowhere and initiatives that don't stick, this episode will change how you think about culture transformation.Timestamps:[00:00:00] The 80-point culture transformation story begins[00:02:00] How Liberty Mutual's tech division was hemorrhaging talent[00:03:50] The five-point plan that changed everything[00:06:25] Why storytelling and being heard drove the transformation[00:07:30] The moment Bruce realized top-down culture pushes don't work[00:09:20] When first-line managers became the culture owners[00:11:25] What mini-celebrity status really means for HR credibility[00:13:25] Building trust in low-engagement environments[00:14:05] Why technology on broken systems makes things worse[00:16:00] The "One HR" approach to breaking down silos[00:18:15] Mapping the entire employee journey to find what's broken[00:21:20] Why Bruce says "don't buy HR tech"[00:23:00] The moment Bruce decided to leave corporate HR[00:25:10] Where HR is heading in the next 3-5 years[00:27:00] The embedded HR model that's emerging[00:28:30] Lightning round: Best Army leadership lesson[00:30:20] What HR trend makes Bruce skeptical (spoiler: AI)[00:31:00] What "culture works" means to BruceFollow Bruce, Chester & Adrian:Connect with Chester & Adrian: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thecultureworksofficial/Website: https://thecultureworks.com/Connect with Bruce: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucernichols/Website: https://thehrc.com/

When your organization wins Best and Brightest Company to Work For ten consecutive years, you're doing something right. Shawn Premer, CHRO of Consumers Credit Union, shares how she's maintained award-winning culture through pandemic uncertainty, financial stress, and the mental health crisis while driving 38 consecutive years of double-digit organic growth.In this conversation, Shawn reveals how Consumers Credit Union approaches employee wellbeing in high-stress, member-facing roles. She discusses their partnership with Be Nice for suicide prevention, the decision to bring employees back five days a week, and how they balance deep care for people with high performance accountability.Timestamps: [00:00] Introduction and Shawn's background [02:11] Journey from 110 to 500 employees while maintaining culture [04:30] What keeps Shawn engaged after 15 years [06:20] How credit union membership shapes culture and purpose [08:15] Real stories of helping members through financial struggles [10:20] Partnership with Be Nice for suicide prevention [13:05] Removing stigma around mental health conversations [15:10] Starting mental health support in your organization [17:30] Leading member-facing teams through emotional moments [20:20] Decompression strategies for high-stress roles [22:10] Bringing employees back five days a week [24:15] Culture challenge: Balancing care with accountability [27:15] What strategic HR really means [28:25] Lightning round: Best advice, recommended books, and HR trendsFollow Chester and Shawn:Connect with Chester: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chesterelton/Website: https://chesterelton.com/Connect with Shawn: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnpremer/Website: https://www.consumerscu.org/

What if AI could make your workplace more human, not less? Laura Butler, Chief People Officer at TTEC, is proving this isn't just possible, it's already happening. Leading HR for over 50,000 employees across 25 countries, Laura shares how her team uses AI to strip away robotic tasks and unlock human creativity, connection, and innovation. From personalized onboarding experiences with "Louie" the digital concierge to prompt engineering that teaches leaders to ask better questions, Laura demonstrates how technology can drive extraordinary employee and customer experiences at scale. She tackles the biggest misconceptions about AI in HR, reveals how to create cohesive culture across diverse global teams, and offers concrete ROI strategies that go beyond the "soft skills" debate. If you're navigating the intersection of technology and human-centered leadership, this conversation will shift how you think about the future of work.Timestamps:[00:00] Opening: The AI revolution in HR and human potential[02:00] Practical AI applications transforming productivity at scale[04:45] Navigating resistance: From 50-year-olds to Marshall Goldsmith's AI embrace[08:20] How prompt engineering makes you a better leader[09:00] Building cohesive culture across 25 countries[10:30] Non-negotiables: Service mindset and "Act as One" philosophy[12:05] Creating innovation culture: Celebrating experiments, not punishing failures[14:05] Technology-enabled employee journey: Recruitment through retention[18:20] The Culture Challenge: Proving ROI on psychological safety[23:55] Lightning Round: People are magic, and HR's future is untapped[24:55] Why culture matters more than strategyFollow Chester, Adrian and Laura:Connect with Chester & Adrian: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thecultureworksofficial/Website: https://thecultureworks.com/Connect with Laura: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurabutler/Website: https://www.ttec.com/

In this powerful conversation, Dave Ulrich, the "Father of Modern HR" and University of Michigan professor, transforms how we think about HR's role in building culture. Discover why the most successful HR leaders focus on customer value over internal processes, how organizational culture beats individual talent 4-to-1 in driving results, and why AI requires "authentic intimacy" to truly work. Dave shares real examples of HR leaders who turned culture initiatives into billion-dollar business outcomes, plus his contrarian take on leading through uncertainty by focusing on what you're certain about. Whether you're in HR, leadership, or culture change, this episode will shift your perspective on creating workplace cultures that actually drive business performance.Key Topics Discussed:Why HR is "not about HR", it's about creating stakeholder valueThe 4:1 advantage of organizational culture over individual talentHow to build culture from the customer's perspectiveThe AI paradox: Artificial Intelligence × Authentic IntimacyLeading through uncertainty by focusing on certaintyReal case studies of culture driving billion-dollar resultsTimestamps:00:00 Introduction: Embracing Uncertainty in Culture00:29 Welcome to the Culture Work Podcast01:01 Meet Dave Ulrich: The Father of Modern HR01:56 The Evolution of HR: From Administrative to Strategic04:55 The Importance of HR in Business Strategy09:11 HR's Role in Building Culture and Teams12:39 Shifts in HR Over the Last Decade15:52 Understanding Your Top Customers16:10 The Role of AI in HR18:40 The Paradox of AI22:16 Culture Challenge Segment28:53 Lightning Round and ConclusionFollow Chester & Adrian and Dave:Connect with Chester & Adrian: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thecultureworksofficial/Website: https://thecultureworks.com/Connect with Dave: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daveulrichpro/Website: https://www.rbl.net/

What does it take to grow a company from $250 million to $3.5 billion while maintaining 98% employee retention and respect for leadership? Former WD-40 CEO Garry Ridge joins Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton to share the leadership philosophy that transformed his company into a global powerhouse.In this inspiring conversation, Garry reveals how a chance encounter with the Dalai Lama's wisdom at 38,000 feet sparked a cultural revolution. Learn about the power of "learning moments" over failures, why WD-40 celebrates the 39 formulas that didn't work, and how servant leadership principles created psychological safety across a global workforce.Garry shares practical insights on building tribal cultures, the "Maniac Pledge" that eliminated finger-pointing, and why values must be hierarchical to truly guide decision-making. Plus, discover how focusing on safety, customers, and business fundamentals helped WD-40 thrive during the pandemic.Key Topics:Transforming from manager to coach mindsetCreating learning moments instead of failure cultureBuilding global tribal cultures with clear valuesLeading through uncertainty and crisisThe ROI timeline for culture transformationServant leadership in practiceTimestamps:00:00 Introduction to Leadership Challenges00:31 Welcome to the Culture Work Podcast00:51 Introducing Garry, Former CEO of WD-4002:11 Garry's Leadership Journey and Philosophy04:29 Implementing Servant Leadership at WD-4006:15 The Importance of Culture and Values10:23 Learning Moments and Innovation12:17 The Long-Term Impact of Cultural Change15:00 Dealing with Resistance to Cultural Change17:37 Turning Down a Tempting Offer21:40 The Maniac Pledge: Empowering Responsibility23:12 Leading Through Uncertainty27:34 Advice for New Leaders30:50 Rapid-Fire Leadership Insights31:21 Conclusion and FarewellFollow Chester & Adrian and Garry:Connect with Chester & Adrian: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thecultureworksofficial/Website: https://thecultureworks.com/Connect with Garry: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garryridge/Website: https://thelearningmoment.net/

Darcy Verhun, CEO of Canada Diagnostic Centers and co-author of "The Freedom of Constraints," joins Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton to discuss his leadership transformation playbook. From inheriting a company with 121 unfinished projects to implementing his focused "CDC" framework (Culture, Deliver Care, Cost Excellence), Darcy shares how he's revolutionizing healthcare leadership through coaching principles and strategic clarity.Key topics include:Why culture change begins immediately, not in yearsThe power of the "65%" principle for laser focusHow asking "How are you?" transformed his leadership approachMoving from boss to coach in command-and-control environmentsCreating remarkable patient care that spans multiple brands and locationsThe clinic excellence index: measuring what good looks likeWhy constraints actually create freedom in organizationsWhether you're leading healthcare teams or any organization facing complexity, Darcy's insights on servant leadership, strategic focus, and human connection offer practical frameworks for building cultures where people want to stay.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction to Culture Change00:41 Welcome to The Culture Works Podcast00:58 Meet Darcy Verhun: Transformational Leader01:54 Unpacking the Leadership Playbook02:58 The Concept of Clinic Excellence Index03:57 Balancing Quality and Access to Care05:32 The Freedom of Constraints08:02 The 65% Rule in Arts and Business12:05 Focusing on Culture, Care, and Cost Excellence15:20 The Power of a Smile in Healthcare18:01 From Boss to Coach: Rewiring Team Leadership18:31 From Boss to Coach: Key Lessons for Executives20:25 Coaching Culture and Financial Excellence21:36 The Importance of Follow-Up in Coaching22:34 Maintaining a Coaching Mindset: Habits and Rituals24:52 The Culture Challenge: Real-World Leadership Dilemmas32:44 Lightning Round: Leadership Principles and Practices34:22 Concluding Thoughts and GratitudeFollow Chester & Adrian and Darcy:Connect with Chester & Adrian: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thecultureworksofficial/Website: https://thecultureworks.com/Connect with Darcy: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darcy-verhun/Website: https://canadadiagnostics.ca/

In this episode of Culture Works, hosts Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton sit down with Dr. Brent Ridge, co-founder of Beekman 1802, to explore how authentic leadership and purpose-driven culture can transform both business outcomes and human lives.From losing his job as a Manhattan physician during the 2008 recession to building a global beauty brand powered by goat milk and kindness, Brent's journey demonstrates that culture truly drives business success. Discover how he and his husband Josh turned a weekend farm purchase into a purpose-driven empire that puts kindness at the center of everything, literally listing it as an ingredient in every product.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction to the Culture Work Podcast01:00 Meet Brent Ridge: Physician Entrepreneur and Co-Founder of Beekman 180202:29 The Origin Story of Beekman 180203:38 Building a Brand on Kindness07:09 Lessons in Leadership and Resilience13:05 Embedding Purpose in Company Culture26:10 Maintaining Authenticity and Values29:35 Staying Grounded and Humble32:31 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsFollow Chester & Adrian and Brent:Connect with Chester & Adrian: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thecultureworksofficial/Website: https://thecultureworks.com/Connect with Brent: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brent-ridge-md-0641791/Website: https://beekman1802.com/

Most communication fails because people aren't communicating well with themselves first. Leadership expert Molly Tschang, co-author of "Say It Skillfully" with Marshall Goldsmith, joins Adrian and Chester to unpack why those post-meeting sidebar conversations are killing team alignment, and what leaders can do about it.In this conversation, you'll discover the difference between being direct and being destructive, why vulnerability makes senior executives uncomfortable (and why it's essential anyway), and how to create the kind of psychological safety that actually moves teams forward. If you've ever struggled with having difficult conversations or wondered why your team isn't as aligned as you thought, this episode cuts straight to the practical solutions that work.00:00 Introduction to Effective Communication00:30 Meet Molly Tschang: Transforming Team Communication01:59 The Importance of Trust in Leadership03:54 Addressing Sidebar Conversations06:19 Say It Skillfully: Finding Your Authentic Voice11:58 Real-Life Examples and Executive Presence16:13 Handling Difficult Personalities at Work19:05 Building Credibility and Offering Constructive Feedback21:01 The Importance of Transparency in Leadership22:01 Creating a Culture of Inclusion and Dissent24:18 Aligning Leadership Actions with Cultural Values28:47 Addressing Politeness and Realness in Organizational Culture30:24 Rapid Fire Questions and Leadership Insights35:03 Final Thoughts and Resources for GrowthFollow Adrian, Chester and Molly:Connect with Adrian Gostick | Chester EltonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thecultureworksofficial/Website: https://thecultureworks.com/Connect with Molly: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mollytschang/Website: https://www.sayitskillfully.com/

The Culture Works Podcast dives deep into the evolving dynamics of leadership and workplace culture. Hosted by bestselling authors and leadership experts Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton, this show brings real conversations with C-suite leaders, HR changemakers, and cultural innovators. From recognition and psychological safety to AI disruptions and hybrid work, every episode helps today’s leaders thrive—not just survive. Whether you’re leading a team of five or five thousand, discover practical insights to build cultures that connect, perform, and endure.