Discover“HR Heretics” | How CPOs, CHROs, Founders, and Boards Build High Performing CompaniesBuilding Culture-First Companies: Insights from Culture Amp's CEO, Didier Elzinga
Building Culture-First Companies: Insights from Culture Amp's CEO, Didier Elzinga

Building Culture-First Companies: Insights from Culture Amp's CEO, Didier Elzinga

Update: 2025-10-07
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For today’s essential Heretics 101 feature, Kelli and Nolan talk to Culture Amp CEO Didier Elzinga, revealing data-driven insights on building culture-first companies, balancing psychological safety with accountability, and prioritizing growth as engagement’s foundation.

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KEEP UP WITH DIDIER, NOLAN + KELLI ON LINKEDIN

Didier: https://www.linkedin.com/in/didierelzinga/

Nolan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nolan-church/

Kelli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellidragovich/

LINKS:

Culture Amp: https://www.cultureamp.com/

For coaching and advising inquire at https://kellidragovich.com/

TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00 ) Intro

(00:30 ) From Harry Potter to Building Culture Amp

(02:16 ) What Is a Culture-First Company?

(03:19 ) The Coherency Matrix: Trust vs. Mission Orientation

(04:40 ) Growth: The One Thing That’s Never Changed

(05:36 ) Leaders Matter More Than Managers (The Data)

(07:09 ) Don’t Bother Convincing People Who Don’t Get It

(08:02 ) How Structured Reviews Closed the Gender Gap

(09:17 ) Sponsor: Ethena | Metaview

(12:39 ) Data Is Just the Start of Honest Conversations

(13:28 ) Esther Perel: Leaders Don’t Know How to Say No

(14:16 ) My Engagement Survey Mistake as CPO

(15:32 ) Feedback Is Not a Gift, It’s a Workout

(16:23 ) How We Run Culture Amp: Values and Growth

(18:45 ) We Can’t Be Everything for Everyone

(20:07 ) Storytelling: The Most Important Leadership Skill

(22:07 ) Finding Your Authentic Narrative

(23:32 ) Wrap



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hrheretics.substack.com
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Building Culture-First Companies: Insights from Culture Amp's CEO, Didier Elzinga

Building Culture-First Companies: Insights from Culture Amp's CEO, Didier Elzinga

HR Heretics