Building Culture-First Companies: Insights from Culture Amp's CEO, Didier Elzinga
Description
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.
Support our Sponsors:
Ethena is the compliance training platform built for modern workplaces. Visit goethena.com/heretics and get 10% off your first year.
Metaview is the AI platform built for recruiting. Check it out: https://www.metaview.ai/heretics
* Our suite of AI agents work across your hiring process to save time, boost decision quality, and elevate the candidate experience.
* Learn why team builders at 3,000+ cutting-edge companies like Brex, Deel, and Quora can’t live without Metaview.
* It only takes minutes to get up and running.
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