The Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving

588: Former CEO of Jamba Juice on Leading with Culture

Sep 22, 2025
James D. White, former CEO of Jamba Juice and coauthor of Culture Design, dives into how to transform corporate culture into a structured discipline. He highlights the importance of starting with stakeholder listening, gathering nearly 200 inputs to drive change. Intentional culture and reducing the say-do gap are crucial themes. White emphasizes investing in people individually and fostering transparency in communication. His insights reveal that a strong, values-driven culture can propel sustained performance and unlock employee potential.
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ADVICE

Invest Individually To Unlock Effort

  • Invest time in every team member individually to learn what motivates them and remove their barriers.
  • Design roles that lean into strengths to unlock discretionary effort.
ADVICE

Begin With Structured Stakeholder Listening

  • Start any turnaround by listening broadly to stakeholders using simple prompts like start/stop/continue.
  • Use those thematic inputs to shape values and the initial cultural plan.
ADVICE

Use Multiple Channels To Build Trust

  • Combine town halls, anonymous feedback and departmental listening to build trust and surface real issues.
  • Follow up with many one-on-ones to deepen understanding and credibility.
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