The Culture Code

What is “talent density” and why might it be the secret to unlocking a high-performance culture? In our latest podcast episode, the CPO of Zapier, Brandon Sammut,  unveils the innovative strategies they’re employing at Zapier to supercharge their talent pool and create a culture of excellence and innovation.Key Topics Covered:Growing Talent Density:The philosophy and application of Reed Hasting's "Talent Density" concept at Zapier.Strategies for enabling and activating talent density among existing employees.Intensive Onboarding Program:How Zapier’s robust onboarding process fosters culture from day one.The role of “default transparency” in aligning employees with the company’s remote-first culture.Measuring Engagement:The integration of manager effectiveness data to fine-tune leadership development strategies.Leadership Development:The commitment to providing growth opportunities for both managers and individual contributors.Sammut’s Wisdom for CPOs:The power and confidence in admitting “I don’t know” and navigating the learning curve.Recommended Reading:Why “Atomic Habits” by James Clear is a must-read for HR professionals looking to transform anxiety into actionable, impactful behaviors.

In this insightful episode, we uncover the intricacies of a founder-led culture, using Omada Health as a case study. Nancy Vitale, the Chief People Officer of Omada Health, joins us to elucidate how the company’s founders directly shape its authentic and innovative environment. We explore the tangible impacts of this leadership style on employee engagement, innovation, and overall organizational ethos.The conversation includes: Founder’s Impact: Analyzing how the active involvement of founders in cultural development enhances authenticity and creativity.Values in Action: Unraveling the methods Omada employs to ensure that values are living entities within the organization, influencing every aspect of work.Leadership Development: Evaluating Omada’s unique approach to nurturing leaders, focusing on behavioral change and practical application of learned skills.HR Strategies: Vitale’s perspective on key behaviors for HR professionals and the role of strategic vision and impact focus in organizational development.

To foster a thriving company culture, you have to address the key behaviors underpinning your culture. In this podcast, the CPO of UiPath, Brigette McInnis-Day breaks down her approach to fostering culture. People-First Paradigm: Uncover how UiPath balances its tech innovation with a strong human-centric approach, rooting its mission in human achievement.The Four Core Values: Dive deep into UiPath’s foundational beliefs - Be Humble, Be Bold, Be Fast, and Be Immersed - and understand how these guide and shape behaviors across the organization.Culture Champions: Learn about UiPath’s unique approach to scaling and nurturing culture with a dedicated culture team and a group of champions who embody and foster the company's core values.Leadership Expectations: Unravel how behaviors are tied to values and discover the strategic approach to cascading and measuring leadership expectations to foster a harmonious and productive work environment.Podcast Recommendation: Get a glimpse of McInnis-Day’s learning palette as she shares her favorite podcast, offering insights that extend beyond the professional realm and touch on the journey of women in various life stages.

Think chaos can't be good for company culture? Think again. Helen Russell, the Chief People Officer of electric vehicle powerhouse Rivian, shares how chaos, when harnessed correctly, can spur unparalleled innovation and growth. In this podcast, discover the unique values, behaviors, and strategies that have driven Rivian from 1,000 to 16,000 employees in just a few years, and how a seemingly counterintuitive approach might just be the key to creating a truly magnetic company culture.Key Takeaways:Chaos as a Catalyst: How embracing chaos is not just a byproduct of rapid growth, but a fundamental piece of Rivian's innovative culture.Verb-ifying Values: Russell's unique perspective on how making company values actionable, or turning them into "verbs," can lead to deeper cultural integration.Culture from Day One: Rivian's distinctive strategies for instilling culture during the hiring and onboarding process, from CEO interactions to "Recharge Meetings."Feedback & Humility: The two most crucial behaviors at Rivian, and why Russell believes the key to effective feedback is focusing on the receiver rather than the giver.Nurturing Creativity: Helen’s recommended Ted Talk, “Schools Kill Creativity” by Sir Ken Robinson, explores how conventional systems can inhibit true innovative thinking and how this can translate into the corporate realm.

Culture is built on the behaviors demonstrated daily. In this episode, we unpack the role of behavior in shaping organizational culture with insights from Dr. Amy Reichanadter, Chief People Officer of Databricks, a global company revolutionizing the data space. Dr. Reichanadter’s unique blend of clinical psychology and HR expertise provides a fascinating lens into how Databricks reverse-engineered employee behaviors to develop their core cultural principles. We explore the role of leadership development in amplifying culture, how Databricks learns about and measures employee engagement, and the mindsets crucial to navigating the rapidly-evolving tech landscape.Key Topics of Conversation:Behavior is the Blueprint: How understanding employee behaviors helped Databricks craft a strong set of cultural principles.Leadership’s Role: Dive deep into Databricks’ leadership development framework and training, which Reichanadter says drives their culture.Engagement as a Two-Way Street: From impressive 90% response rates on the annual engagement survey to weekly AMAs with the CEO, discover how Databricks keeps communication channels open and feedback loops tight.Mindsets for the Future: As the world of tech transforms, what are the core mindsets Reichanadter believes are essential for staying ahead? The answer might surprise you.Reading Corner: Reichanadter shares her book recommendation for understanding team dynamics in fast-growing companies.

This episode covers the integral link between company culture and hiring. Learn from the enlightening journey of 10x Genomics, a life sciences pioneer with over 25 groundbreaking products under its belt. The company’s Chief People Officer, Dr. Rebecca Port, shares her unfiltered insights, explaining how 10x Genomics shapes its culture through a unique and selective recruitment process.Key takeaways from this episode:The risks of oversimplifying culture: Why catchy phrases can be limiting.How a "warts and all" approach to recruitment can empower candidates to self-select.The importance of feedback and how 10x Genomics has institutionalized it.The one mindset Dr. Port aims to foster at 10x.Book recommendation for HR enthusiasts: "Big Potential" by Shawn Achor on networks of happiness. 

Leadership is the cornerstone of any thriving culture, especially in the face of rapid growth. But how does a company maintain its essence while scaling at breakneck speed? Let's dive into the unique approach of a tech leader who has found the secret recipe—Katya Laviolette, the Chief People Officer of 1Password. Katya has been instrumental in guiding 1Password's unique leadership development journey, all while preserving the company’s core values.Topics Covered Include:The art of codifying culture without falling into the 'corporate speak' trap.How 1Password is spearheading DEIB initiatives that truly make a difference.Going beyond data: How to unearth the real story behind employee engagement data.Leadership at 1Password: Monthly manager meetups, scaled coaching, custom in-house programs, and more.The essential skill for today's workforce: The art of 'connecting the dots' for a holistic view.A must-read book recommendation.1Password's vision for a passwordless future.

Ever wondered why many employees resist cultural change more than any other type of organizational shift? In this interview with the CEO and CPO of ForgeRock, they share the secrets behind embedding a thriving company culture without over formalizing or bureaucratizing it.We chat with the dynamic duo from ForgeRock: Fran Rosch, the CEO, and Tschudy Smith, the CPO. From rock and roll attitudes to a multi-million dollar identity and access management software company, hear how they fostered a unique, winning culture amidst rapid growth.Key Topics Covered include:The pitfalls of overformalizing company culture and how ForgeRock sidestepped these pitfalls.The transformational power of recognition and trust in shaping a company’s culture.The three cornerstones of ForgeRock's thriving culture.The "Froscars," a unique cultural celebration that recognizes and rewards in style.The importance of vulnerability in creating a collaborative and trusting workplace.The future of digital identity: A glimpse into a world without passwords.

How do you create a corporate culture that breeds innovation, unity, and fun, yet encourages risk-taking without the haunting fear of mistakes? To find out, we speak with Gianna Driver, the dynamic Chief Human Resources Officer of Exabeam. Situated in the heart of the cyber security space, Exabeam not only champions security solutions but also champions a fearless and joy-filled work culture.The Magic of Exabeam's Culture: Experience the magnetic culture at Exabeam where unity and creativity combine to create cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions.Infusing Fun into Corporate DNA: Explore Exabeam's ingenious strategies, from Mix and Mingle sessions to “Thank You Days”, aimed at emphasizing employee well-being and team cohesion.ERGs at Exabeam: A dive into how Exabeam's seven Employee Resource Groups help in celebrating diversity and fostering inclusivity.Monitoring Employee Sentiment: Navigate Exabeam's multifaceted approach to gauge employee engagement, from comprehensive surveys to innovative crowdsourcing tools.No Fear of Failure: Gianna reveals her most coveted employee trait – the audacity to work without the looming dread of mistakes.Inspiring Reads: Discover the book that Gianna Driver believes every HR professional should delve into.

This episode is a LEAKED event from our private, members-only Community of Practice for Leadership Development Professionals. In the first half, Author Dr. David Burkus speaks about his book "Best Team Ever." And in the second half, our case spotlight is on Ultragenyx. The VP of Culture and Org Strategy , Bria Martin, speaks about how she put together hi-potential and first-line leadership development programs. She also breaks down her personal leadership philosophy -- balancing the duality of "action" and "connection."