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Culture Leaders

What separates the world's most iconic organizations from everyone else? From hyper-growth tech companies to legendary professional sports franchises, the answer keeps coming back to culture. Culture Leaders, hosted by Justin Angsuwat, Chief People Officer at Culture Amp, is an executive-level operating manual for building high-performance organizations. Each episode goes behind the scenes with the visionary leaders who treat culture not as a perk or a talking point, but as a disciplined, core…

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Radical roots, scalable future: balancing purpose and performance at Patagonia

Most companies talk about purpose. Patagonia builds the systems to back it up. Even when that means holding many contradictions. In this episode, Teresita Richard, Chief People Officer at Patagonia, joins Culture Amp's Justin Angsuwat to unpack how the company protects a culture built by climbers and surfers while scaling it across nearly 4,000 employees worldwide. From "liberating structures"…

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Data science, empathy, and the art of humanizing finance at Nasdaq

What happens when a philosopher walks into Wall Street? Richard Taylor, SVP of People Experience at Nasdaq, left a near-complete PhD in Buddhist studies to find out. In this episode, he joins Culture Amp's Justin Angsuwat to reveal how one of the world's most powerful financial institutions built a culture of empathy, data-driven people decisions, and radical transparency – with turnover 3x lower…

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How NZ Rugby is intentional about high performance, on and off the field

What does it take to lead the people strategy for one of the most iconic and scrutinized sporting brands in the world? Toni Grimshaw, Chief People, Safety, and Wellbeing Officer at New Zealand Rugby, joins us to go behind the curtains of the All Blacks and Black Ferns. She reveals the "Operator’s Playbook" for building a culture that thrives under the weight of a nation’s expectations. See Privacy…

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Design for belonging: How Canva scales culture through 'crazy big goals' and connection

How does a global phenomenon like Canva scale a "family feeling" across 5,500 people in eight countries while maintaining its soul? Jennie Rogerson, Global Head of People at Canva, joins host Justin Angsuwat to discuss her unconventional journey from hospitality and executive support to the C-suite in under three years. In this episode of Culture Leaders, Jennie pulls back the curtain on the…

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A bold disruptor with a kind heart:  Lessons from e.l.f. Beauty on values-led performance at scale

97%. That's the percentage of e.l.f. Beauty employees who say they feel passionate about the people they work with. For most leaders, that number stops them cold. In an industry defined by fierce competition and constant reinvention, e.l.f. has built something rare: a company that moves at its own category of speed without sacrificing the human connections that fuel it. So what's actually behind…

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Bob Sutton on building a workplace with healthy friction and no assholes

In this episode of the Culture First podcast, host Damon Klotz speaks with Bob Sutton, an organizational psychologist, Stanford management professor, and New York Times best-selling author. They discuss the negative impacts of power differences within organizations, the concept of destructive and constructive friction, and the critical role of leadership in mitigating such friction. The episode…

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Fresia Jackson & Justin Angsuwat on the trends impacting the world of work in 2025

In this episode of the Culture First podcast, host Damon Klotz, along with co-hosts Fresia Jackson, Director of People Science at Culture Amp, and Justin Angsuwat, Chief People Officer at Culture Amp, delve into the trends shaping the future of work in 2025. They discuss the implications of AI on job roles, the evolving dynamics between employees and employers, and the declining favorability of…

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Esther Perel on the power of relationally intelligent leaders

In this episode of the Culture First podcast, our host Damon Klotz invited Didier Elzinga, the CEO of Culture Amp, to step into the interview seat and speak with Esther Perel, a renowned psychotherapist and pioneering voice in understanding modern relationships and workplace dynamics. Together, Didier and Esther discuss the importance of relational dynamics and the power of storytelling in solving…

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Dr. Marcus Collins on why culture is a cheat code for success

In this episode of the Culture First podcast, Damon Klotz interviews Dr. Marcus Collins, professor and best-selling author of For the Culture: The Power Behind What We Buy, What We Do, and Who We Want to Be . Together, they discuss the profound impact of culture on brand and organizational success. They delve into the definitions and misconceptions surrounding culture. They explore how brands like…

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NBA Champion Shane Battier on why data and culture are the secret to success

In this episode of the Culture First podcast, Damon Klotz interviews Shane Battier. Shane is a two-time NBA champion and former player for the Miami Heat. He was recognized as a scholar-athlete at Duke University, earning accolades such as the National Player of the Year before being drafted sixth overall in the 2001 NBA Draft. Beyond basketball, Battier is committed to philanthropy through his…

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