Lead Culture with Jenni Catron

In this episode of the LeadCulture Podcast, Jenni Catron unpacks a surprising new Gallup study revealing what she calls “the remote work paradox.” While fully remote employees report the highest levels of engagement, they’re also less likely to be thriving in life overall—experiencing more stress, loneliness, and emotional fatigue than their hybrid or in-office peers.Drawing from her own work-from-home reflections and years of coaching leaders, Jenni explores the delicate balance between autonomy and connection in today’s hybrid workplaces. She highlights three key leadership takeaways from Gallup’s findings:Physical distance creates mental distance—why remote employees need intentional connection rhythms.Autonomy can be stressful—how too much flexibility without structure increases cognitive load.Technology can frustrate—and what leaders can do to minimize coordination fatigue.Whether your team is remote, hybrid, or fully onsite, Jenni helps you rethink how to build engagement that doesn’t cost wellbeing—and how to cultivate a culture where your people can be both engaged and thriving.We need your help to get the LeadCulture podcasts in front of more leaders! There are three simple things you can do that truly help us: Review us on Apple podcasts Subscribe - we’re available wherever you listen to podcasts. Share - let your friends know about the podcast by sharing your favorite episode on social media!

In this episode of the LeadCulture Podcast, Jenni Catron dives into practical strategies for investing in your team—even when budgets are tight. Many organizations cut leadership development and culture initiatives first, but Jenni shows why those investments pay off in engagement, retention, and performance.You’ll learn:How to evaluate and strengthen your people managers to drive culture and performanceSimple, cost-effective ways to invest in your entire staff’s growthHow to build a culture plan that prevents drift and fosters alignment, trust, and clarityJenni also shares the surprising costs of disengagement and introduces the LeadCulture Network, the place where culture champions access every tool, resource, and training they need to build thriving team cultures—regardless of title or budget.Whether you’re a culture champion or a leader looking for practical ways to invest in your people, this episode is full of actionable insights you can implement immediately.We need your help to get the LeadCulture podcasts in front of more leaders! There are three simple things you can do that truly help us: Review us on Apple podcasts Subscribe - we’re available wherever you listen to podcasts. Share - let your friends know about the podcast by sharing your favorite episode on social media!

What does it look like to lead culture from the middle?In this episode, Jenni sits down with Trina Lee, a mid-level leader at Africa New Life, who shares how she transformed her team’s culture—starting with small but intentional steps. From clarifying ownership (“Who takes the mail?”) to creating rhythms that celebrate people and reinforce values, Trina shows that you don’t have to sit in the corner office to shape the culture of your organization.Together, they explore how clarity, consistency, and intentional rhythms create lasting cultural impact—even when you’re not the one setting strategy. You’ll hear how Trina’s approach began influencing the wider organization over time, proving that culture work done well always ripples out.If you’ve ever felt like you’re the only one who cares about culture, this conversation will remind you that your leadership matters—and that building the team you want to be on can change everything.Listen in to learn:Why clarity is a chief indicator of a healthy cultureHow to create consistent rhythms that reinforce your valuesPractical ways to influence culture—even when you don’t have top-down authorityHow culture systems sustain momentum and outlast transitionsWe need your help to get the LeadCulture podcasts in front of more leaders! There are three simple things you can do that truly help us: Review us on Apple podcasts Subscribe - we’re available wherever you listen to podcasts. Share - let your friends know about the podcast by sharing your favorite episode on social media!

What if the greatest leader who ever lived was never actually called a “leader”?This week on the LeadCulture Podcast, Jenni sits down with Lyle Wells—President of Integris Leadership, pastor, and author of the new book Easy to Follow—to unpack how Jesus modeled leadership through behaviors that made people want to follow Him.Together, they explore how leadership is more than authority—it’s about influence, behavior, and the success of others. Lyle shares eight characteristics that make leaders easy to follow, why “teaching not telling” changes everything, and how generosity and intentional mentoring can reshape your culture.You’ll also hear their honest reflections on today’s leadership landscape—from the crisis of confidence many young leaders feel, to the surprising reasons some are stepping away from management roles.If you’ve ever wondered how to lead with greater influence, humility, and purpose—this episode will challenge and encourage you to reframe what great leadership truly looks like.🎧 Listen now and learn how to lead in a way that others naturally want to follow.Learn more about Lyle Wells, Integrus, and Easy to Follow. We need your help to get the LeadCulture podcasts in front of more leaders! There are three simple things you can do that truly help us: Review us on Apple podcasts Subscribe - we’re available wherever you listen to podcasts. Share - let your friends know about the podcast by sharing your favorite episode on social media!

Leadership feels heavy right now. Between global uncertainty, shifting workplace dynamics, and the emotional weight our teams carry, many leaders are feeling the strain — and the loneliness — that comes with responsibility.In this episode, Jenni Catron unpacks the weight of leadership and why it feels harder than ever to keep teams engaged. Drawing from her own leadership journey, Jenni shares what she’s learned about navigating seasons of isolation, rediscovering your “why,” and finding the community you need to sustain the work of leading well.You’ll learn:Why leadership feels heavier right now—and what to do about itHow to reconnect with your purpose when you feel drainedPractical ways to invest in your team’s engagement and cultureWhy stewarding people is sacred work, not just strategic workThis conversation is an honest reminder that leadership is both a privilege and a responsibility—and that you don’t have to carry it alone.Tune in for practical wisdom, encouragement, and tools to help you lead yourself well so you can lead others better.We need your help to get the LeadCulture podcasts in front of more leaders! There are three simple things you can do that truly help us: Review us on Apple podcasts Subscribe - we’re available wherever you listen to podcasts. Share - let your friends know about the podcast by sharing your favorite episode on social media!

In this powerful episode of the LeadCulture Podcast, Jenni Catron sits down with executive business coach and former product designer Katie Richardson to unpack the intersection of leadership, identity, and faith. Katie shares her journey from designing award-winning products to building a multimillion-dollar international business—all while raising four children—and how she learned to lead without sacrificing what matters most.Together, Jenni and Katie explore:Why your identity—not your hustle—sets the ceiling for your impact.How to navigate seasons where personal values and professional ambitions seem in conflict.The unexpected lessons Katie learned building and exiting her company, and how they shape the coaching she does with high-performing executives today.A peek into her VITAL framework for leaders who want to grow thriving businesses without losing themselves or their relationships in the process.If you’ve ever wondered how to build a successful career or business without burning out—or how to align your leadership with your deepest values—this conversation will inspire and equip you.You can learn more about Katie here. We need your help to get the LeadCulture podcasts in front of more leaders! There are three simple things you can do that truly help us: Review us on Apple podcasts Subscribe - we’re available wherever you listen to podcasts. Share - let your friends know about the podcast by sharing your favorite episode on social media!

In this episode of the Lead Culture Podcast, Jenni Catron is joined by Dr. Barry Jones and Camille Holland from Irving Bible Church to explore the “Commit” phase of the Lead Culture Framework—a crucial stage in sustaining organizational culture.Culture isn’t something you build once and forget. Momentum naturally fades, values get fuzzy, and behaviors can slip if leaders don’t actively protect and reinforce the culture they’ve worked so hard to create. Barry and Camille share how they’ve navigated this challenge over the past two years, keeping their team aligned, engaged, and thriving—even through transitions and the occasional staff departure.Listeners will hear real stories of:How Irving Bible Church identified early warning signs of cultural drift.Practical strategies for rebuilding trust and maintaining relational connectivity across a team.How cultural convictions—values tailored to the organization—are reinforced through intentional rhythms, surveys, and even playful recognition like staff “trophies.”The importance of culture champions in sustaining progress and keeping conversations alive at every level of leadership.Lessons learned from maintaining momentum after the initial excitement of culture work fades.Whether you’re a senior leader, middle manager, or emerging culture champion, this episode offers actionable insights and encouragement for keeping your team’s culture alive, relevant, and aligned with your mission.We need your help to get the LeadCulture podcasts in front of more leaders! There are three simple things you can do that truly help us: Review us on Apple podcasts Subscribe - we’re available wherever you listen to podcasts. Share - let your friends know about the podcast by sharing your favorite episode on social media!

Every leader has the power to shape culture—but too often, it’s left to chance, leaving teams disengaged and underperforming. In this episode, Jenni Catron dives into the equip phase of the LeadCulture Framework, showing how leaders at every level can take ownership of culture, equip their teams, and turn values and vision into action.Jenni shares practical strategies for developing your people managers, building culture playbooks, and onboarding your existing team to ensure your culture isn’t just defined—it’s lived every day. She emphasizes that great leadership is the single biggest factor in team engagement, referencing research from Gallup and Harvard Business Review to highlight how managers shape employee experience and long-term growth.Why You Should Listen:Understand why culture often fails despite good intentions—and what leaders can do to fix it.Learn practical ways to equip your leaders with the tools, skills, and confidence they need.Discover actionable steps you can implement immediately to strengthen your team’s alignment and engagement.Hear stories and examples from organizations successfully operationalizing their culture.Major Takeaways:Leaders Make or Break Culture – The engagement of your team is heavily influenced by direct managers.Equipping is Key – Leadership development isn’t optional; it ensures vision and values translate into daily behaviors.Simple, Consistent Actions Work – Start with small, repeatable steps to develop leaders, coach your managers, and reinforce culture.Onboarding Matters – Existing and new employees need clear guidance to embody the culture you define.Playbooks Are Your Sideline Guide – Use tools, visuals, and systems to make culture actionable and memorable.Leadership Philosophy is Foundational – Managers must see leadership as sacred work, focused first on developing people.LeadCulture Framework & Culture Matters Book – Jenni’s roadmap for operationalizing culture LeadCulture Network – Community, training, and tools for culture champions.We need your help to get the LeadCulture podcasts in front of more leaders! There are three simple things you can do that truly help us: Review us on Apple podcasts Subscribe - we’re available wherever you listen to podcasts. Share - let your friends know about the podcast by sharing your favorite episode on social media!

Carson Pedraza, Executive Director of Operations at Local Church in South Florida, discusses the vital role of intentional operational rhythms in shaping a thriving culture. He shares insights on how culture naturally defaults without design, the importance of infusing values into everyday practices, and creating systems that ensure culture is lived, not just written. They dive into strategies for fostering team cohesion, adapting culture-building activities on a budget, and making impactful changes to enhance organizational culture over time.

In this episode of the LeadCulture Podcast, Jenni Catron dives into the Define Phase of the LeadCulture Framework, where culture clarity becomes the driving force for thriving teams.Jenni sits down with Angela Shirley, an executive leader overseeing 70+ early childhood educators and 300+ students across multiple campuses. Post-pandemic, Angela faced burnout, high turnover, and the quiet undercurrents of negativity that can sink even the best organizations.Together, they explore how Angela:Discovered the hidden culture gaps affecting engagement, trust, and performanceCollaboratively defined core values with her entire team, turning abstract ideals into daily behaviorsCreated alignment and ownership across 150 staff members, giving voice to every employeeUsed core values to guide tough conversations, reinforce positive behaviors, and strengthen moraleTransformed culture into a competitive advantage, reducing turnover and building a thriving, people-focused workplaceThrough Angela’s journey, leaders will see how intentionally defining values, beliefs, and behaviors isn’t just “nice to have”—it’s the key to turning hope into results, building alignment, and creating a culture your team chooses to stay for.If you’ve ever wondered how to move from aspirational culture statements to real, measurable outcomes, this episode is packed with insights you can apply immediately.Listen and learn: How to define your cultureAlign your teamLead with clarity, confidence, and intentionality.Check out Angela's full customer story here.We need your help to get the LeadCulture podcasts in front of more leaders! There are three simple things you can do that truly help us: Review us on Apple podcasts Subscribe - we’re available wherever you listen to podcasts. Share - let your friends know about the podcast by sharing your favorite episode on social media!