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The Heidrick & Struggles Leadership Podcast
Special feature: The pillars of culture shaping
We know today that thriving cultures are sustained when leaders understand that culture is a journey in its own right and not a destination. This special episode of the Heidrick & Struggles’ Leadership Podcast is about organizational culture: what it means, how to build a positive one, and why it matters now more than ever. With the constancy of change in our world today and the looming economic uncertainty, it is culture that will enable organizations to sustain performance, even in times of uncertainty. There is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to culture shaping. However, there are common elements to thriving, adaptive, powerful cultures, and there are four foundational principles that serve as keys to shaping and maintaining them: purposeful leadership, personal change, broad engagement, and systemic alignment. Following our discussion of the four principles of culture shaping, we'll explore other important principles related to monitoring and maintaining a positive culture. The goal of this podcast, our published work, and indeed our whole organization is simple: to empower you with the mindsets, case studies, research, and resources that you need to intentionally and continuously shape your culture and your future.
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Resilient leadership in a PE-backed environment: A conversation with Dino Koutrouki, chief executive officer of Pelsis
27:07|Dino Koutrouki shares key principles to drive growth in small private equity-backed companies.
Leading in crisis: A conversation with Mark Garrett, co-founder of Glenstone Capital Partners and independent board member
29:24|Mark Garrett shares how times of crisis are changing the role of the board, how boards should approach CEO succession, and what qualities make the best executive leadership.
Building resilience in a disrupted world: A conversation with Alison Martin, CEO Life, Health, and Bank Distribution at Zurich Insurance Group
22:12|Alison Martin shares how employee wellbeing, AI adoption, and having a system of measurement for organizational wellbeing support a resilient workforce.
Driving organizational transformation in family-owned businesses: A conversation with Björn Lahm, CFO of Harting Technology Group
19:03|Björn Lahm shares how he maintains culture and aligns goals with values within a family-owned business.
How to drive agile AI adoption: A conversation with Michael Lefenfeld, president and CEO of Hexion
11:34|Michael Lefenfeld shares how organizations can build AI-enabled workforces and strengthen leadership through consistent processes.
Accelerating growth with culture: A conversation with Dr. Kaleen Love, chief people and culture officer at Philip Morris International US
15:25|Kaleen Love shares how clear values, behavioral expectations, and a united mission build a culture that attracts resilient leaders and accelerates talent growth.
How culture drives performance and transforms leadership: A Conversation with Allan Swan, President of Panasonic Energy North America
34:45|Allan Swan shares how understanding the value of culture allow leaders to drive performance and innovation and make strategic transformations.
The generics mindset: A conversation with Richard Saynor, CEO of Sandoz
28:41|Richard Saynor reflects on what it takes for leaders to combine accountability, clear decision-making, and the humility to change course.
Culture as a strategic advantage in times of change: A conversation with Ken Campbell, CEO of Play Group
20:00|Ken Campbell shares how a strong culture and fast adaptation keep people motivated through clarity, focus, and a challenger mindset.