253 Fran Katsoudas: How to Create a Culture of Purpose

Workplace culture, work/life balance, and burnout have been under the microscope in recent years. But long before the unique challenges of the pandemic, Fran Katsoudas has worked to build a "conscious culture" at Cisco.

She's a 25 year veteran of the technology company, and currently the Chief People, Policy and Purpose Officer, who knows that our "work selves" can't be separated from our "regular selves" — especially when we work from home.

Because of this, purpose is paramount — not just for the individual, but for the entire company. “Purpose has to be embedded in your day-to-day business,” Fran tells Whitney. And that's not just a feel-good mantra. She has the data to show that a "system of goodness" improves your products, and is always better for the bottom line.

Fran shares how we can bust commonly held myths about employee satisfaction, use tech to facilitate leader attention, and why hybrid work can be a powerful force for inclusion. She also shares the time she stepped back from a big promotion in order to change her perspective.