

Leading Transformational Change with Tobias Sturesson
Heart Management
We are passionate about helping leaders, HR, and ethics professionals build healthy cultures that enable mission success, a thriving workplace and responsible impact.
Every other Thursday we post insightful and actionable conversations with leading thinkers, researchers, and practitioners on culture, values, ethics, and transformational change.
Every other Thursday we post insightful and actionable conversations with leading thinkers, researchers, and practitioners on culture, values, ethics, and transformational change.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 19, 2024 • 52min
100. Klaus Moosmayer and Richard Bistrong: Countering Corporate Arrogance to Prevent Ethical Failures
As we celebrate our 100th episode, we've invited Richard Bistrong, CEO of Front-Line Anti-Bribery and Klaus Moosmayer, Chief Ethics, Risk and Compliance Officer at Novartis, to dive into the essential role of humility in leadership. Together with host Tobias Sturesson, they explore how acknowledging imperfections, owning mistakes, and repairing trust can lead to significant positive shifts in organizational cultures.
Tune in to this episode as we explore:
The roots and virtues of humility
Humility vs. corporate arrogance
Balancing transparency and investor expectations
Personal journeys to embracing humility
Effective responses to corporate scandals
The pitfalls of corporate forgetfulness
Building a culture where ethics thrive
‘You Can Culture: Transformative Leadership Habits for a Thriving Workplace, Positive Impact and Lasting Success’ is now available here.

Dec 17, 2024 • 26min
094. Tobias Sturesson: From Toxic Cult to Cultural Transformation
In this episode, our host, Tobias Sturesson, reads the introduction of his book You Can Culture, which delves into his personal experience of becoming complicit in a toxic culture. We hope it offers you a compelling and insightful introduction to the concept of the four transformative leadership habits the book explores.
You Can Culture: Transformative Leadership Habits for a Thriving Workplace, Positive Impact and Lasting Success, launches October 8, 2024.
Read more on youcanculture.com, pre-order it on Amazon or wherever you get your books.

Dec 6, 2024 • 35min
099. Get Humble: Harnessing the Power to Build Trust, Uphold Integrity, and Prevent Crises
In this special episode of Leading Transformational Change, we dive deep into the essential habit of ‘Getting Humble’ from my book, ‘You Can Culture’. I am joined by Andreas Almlöf from Heart Management to explore why humility in leadership is crucial for fostering a thriving, ethical culture in organisations. Listen in to hear an excerpt from the book, as well as practical advice on embracing vulnerability, taking ownership of cultural issues, and the power of reflection in maintaining values alignment.
Tune in to this episode as we explore:
Key insights from the ‘You Can Culture’ book
Embracing vulnerability in leadership
Overcoming fears of showing weakness
Benefits of admitting mistakes
Humility vs. arrogance in leadership
Real-world examples of transformative change
Rituals of reflection for leaders
‘You Can Culture: Transformative Leadership Habits for a Thriving Workplace, Positive Impact and Lasting Success’ is now available here.

Nov 21, 2024 • 37min
098. Richard Bistrong: The Cost of Sacrificing Integrity for Success
Richard Bistrong is a former VP of sales for a global multinational who faced legal challenges due to FCPA violations. Richard has transformed his career, becoming an advocate for compliance and ethics, and helping organizations navigate the tricky waters of corporate integrity. Richard delves into the complex interplay between corporate success pressures and ethical compliance, sharing candid insights and real-world strategies. This episode was originally released in 2020, but the conversation still rings true today.
Tune in to this episode as we explore:
Richard’s journey from success to scandal
Navigating high-pressure ethical dilemmas
The role of culture in compliance
Managing ethical risks in volatile markets
The critical influence of middle management
Aligning corporate values with real-world risks
Vulnerability and proactive communication for leaders
‘You Can Culture: Transformative Leadership Habits for a Thriving Workplace, Positive Impact and Lasting Success’ is now available here.

Nov 7, 2024 • 50min
097. Mary Shirley: Building a Culture of Integrity in Healthcare
Mary Shirley is a lawyer with 20 years of ethics and compliance experience, which includes implementing, evaluating and monitoring compliance programs for multinational corporations. Tune in as she discusses the critical role of ethical leadership, her stand against bribery and values-driven decision-making. We’ll also delve into innovative initiatives that encourage ethical behaviour and the significance of integrating integrity into daily operations.
In this episode, we explore:
Creating a culture of integrity in healthcare
The risks of merging legal and compliance roles
Lead with heart, not just a checklist
Encourage a culture where speaking up is celebrated
… and the power of sharing compliance updates on LinkedIn
‘You Can Culture: Transformative Leadership Habits for a Thriving Workplace, Positive Impact and Lasting Success’ is now available here.

Oct 24, 2024 • 46min
096. Guido Palazzo, Erica Wikman & Michaela Ahlberg: Transforming Workplace Culture Part 2
In our last episode, we kicked off our digital book launch series with a conversation featuring Alison Taylor, Rob Chesnut, and Ellen Hunt. Today, we have another exciting panel lined up… this time with some of Europe’s leading voices on culture and ethics.
Our discussion will focus on common pitfalls and transformative strategies in shaping corporate culture.
Tune in as we are joined by Guido Palazzo, Professor of Business Ethics at the University of Lausanne, Michaela Ahlberg, Senior Ethics & Compliance Specialist, and Erica Wikman, Vice President of Compliance & Corporate Integrity at Autoliv.
In this episode, we explore:
The ripple effect of bad decisions
The importance of inclusivity in corporate culture
The ability to listen as leaders
Understanding privilege and bias
Why it’s important to stay in the grey zone
‘You Can Culture: Transformative Leadership Habits for a Thriving Workplace, Positive Impact and Lasting Success’ is now available here.

Oct 10, 2024 • 52min
095. Alison Taylor, Rob Chesnut & Ellen Hunt: Transforming Workplace Culture for Human Flourishing, Greater Impact, and Lasting Success Part 1
Today we have an exceptional panel to delve deep into the heart of ethical culture and organizational transformation. We begin first with Andreas Almlöf interviewing Tobias Sturesson about his newest book ‘You Can Culture’. Our panel guests include Ellen Hunt, a leader in the ethics and compliance space, Alison Taylor, former Executive Director of Ethical Systems and a Clinical Associate Professor at NYU Stern School of Business, and Rob Chesnut, former Airbnb executive and author.
In this episode, we explore:
HR and compliance driving positive change
Intentional integrity and business performance
The need for advisory and counsellor roles in leadership
A decentralized approach at Airbnb for ethics and compliance
Having a culture of disagreement
‘You Can Culture: Transformative Leadership Habits for a Thriving Workplace, Positive Impact and Lasting Success’ is now available here.

Jun 26, 2024 • 51min
093. Guillem Casoliva: Keys to Building an Ethical Team Culture
This episode sheds light on the often-overlooked intricacies of team ethical culture, examining the impact of leadership, shared values, and systemic influences on ethical behaviour. Our guest today is Guillem Casoliva, a Corporate Communication and Reputation Management Specialist, who is currently working with Booking.com on the development of the Compliance & Ethics Programme.
In this episode, we discuss:
The eight dimensions of team ethical culture
Speaking up against unethical practices
Bad apple vs. systemic issues
Effective culture change interventions, including “Ethics Moments”
Manage cultural differences if you’re a multinational organisation
Links Mentioned:
Cultureandleadership.org
‘Wilful Blindness’ by Margaret Heffernan
Guillem on LinkedIn

Jun 12, 2024 • 55min
092. Barbara Kellerman: Why Leaders Go from Bad to Worse
Barbara Kellermani is a renowned expert in the fields of leadership and followership, having dedicated her lifelong work to the study and authoring of numerous books on these subjects. She is a Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Center for Public Leadership. She was the Founding Executive Director of the Center, and a member of the Kennedy School faculty for over twenty years.
In this episode, we explore:
What is bad leadership – and how to stop it early
Why good leaders are ethical
The ‘Follower’s Rule’
The cautionary tales from the Boeing and Volkswagen scandals
How successful leaders create a truly open and empowering environment
Links Mentioned:
Cultureandleadership.org
Barbara Kellerman on LinkedIn
Leadership from Bad to Worse by Barbara Kellerman
The End of Leadership by Barbara Kellerman
Leadership by Barbara Kellerman
Bad Leadership by Barbara Kellerman
Barbara Kellerman’s Website

May 28, 2024 • 45min
091. Jason Lesandrini: Empowering Ethical Decision-Making When Stakes Are High
Jason Lesandrini is the Assistant Vice President for Ethics, Advance Care Planning and Spiritual Health at Wellstar Health System in Georgia, where he leads the strategy and implementation of ethics initiatives. He holds faculty appointments at Mercer University and South College. Jason is a widely recognized expert in outcomes metrics for ethics programs and served as an ethics expert to numerous professional organizations.
In this fascinating conversation, we delve into the complex landscape of ethics in healthcare and organizational settings. We also unpack the importance of having ethical guides within organizations and the impact of culture on ethical decision-making, the ‘Ethical Buddy System’, end-of-life care dilemmas, and much more.
Links Mentioned:
Cultureandleadership.org
Jason on LinkedIn


