Culture Matters

Subbu Kalpathi
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Learning, Leadership and Organizational Development expert Subbu Kalpathi talks with leading academics, researchers, authors, corporate leaders, consultants and subject matter experts on the topic of organizational culture. From harnessing the science of happiness at work to innovations such as the 4-day workweek, Culture Matters will challenge the way you think about your people strategy for the new world of work.

  1. 3 days ago

    Leading Family-Owned Enterprises with S 'Venky' Venkatesh

    S. “Venky” Venkatesh is a seasoned business and HR leader, former Group CHRO of RPG Enterprises, board member, and advisor to CXOs. Over a career spanning more several decades, he has worked across professionally managed multinational companies and some of India’s leading promoter- and family-led organizations, including RPG Group, Arvind Lifestyle Brands, and Vedanta. Today, through his advisory work, he helps senior leaders navigate complex career and organizational transitions. In the 50th episode of Culture Matters, Venky joins Subbu to explore what changes when leaders move from multinational corporations into founder- and family-led businesses—and what it takes to succeed in both worlds. We explore: Venky’s journey from multinational corporations to promoter-led businesses—and what drew him to make the shiftWhy working directly with an entrepreneur demands a different language, mindset, and leadership styleWhat MNC leaders must unlearn when they enter a founder- or family-led organizationWhy leaders should resist repeatedly referring to the practices and successes of their previous companiesThe importance of understanding the informal influencers and long-standing relationships surrounding a founderWhy business knowledge, commercial thinking, speed, and return on investment matter deeply in promoter-led organizationsThe CHRO’s role as a conscience keeper—and as a buffer protecting the organization’s cultural fabricWhat CXOs and independent directors must understand when serving on the boards of family-owned companiesWhy young professionals should choose good organizations rather than thinking only in terms of MNCs, startups, or family businessesVenky’s career playbook: learn culture, governance, and ethics in a strong MNC—and then apply them in a founder-led enterprise

  2. 15 Jul

    Architecting People Powered Startups with Saurabh Nigam

    Saurabh Nigam is a seasoned HR leader, entrepreneur, and author of People Powered Startups. Over the last two decades, he has helped build and scale people functions across some of India's most prominent startups and high-growth organizations, including Snapdeal and Beroe. Today, through his advisory work, he partners with founders and leadership teams to build organizations where people and business can grow together. In this episode, Saurabh joins Subbu to explore what it really takes to build people-powered organizations, why culture is far more than perks and policies, and how HR can become a genuine strategic partner in scaling businesses. We explore: Saurabh's journey from software engineer to HR leader, and the mentors who shaped his thinkingWhat working alongside founders at high-growth startups taught him about ambition, experimentation, and building at speedWhy startups don't need more HR processes—they need better organizational designThe strategic role of HR in helping businesses scale sustainably rather than simply adding more peopleWhy culture is best understood as "the way we work together" rather than office perks or employee benefitsHow leaders can intentionally shape culture by defining what's okay—and what's not okay—as organizations growWhy purpose is the foundation of every successful team, and how founders can rally people around a shared missionHow HR leaders can demonstrate business impact by connecting people initiatives to customer outcomes, innovation, and business performanceLessons from People Powered Startups on building organizations where great ideas are matched by great people practicesWhy India's founders are among the country's greatest enablers—and what it takes to build companies that last

  3. 2 Jul

    Decoding the science of longevity with Dr. Marcus Ranney

    Dr. Marcus Ranney is a physician, entrepreneur, explorer, and founder of Human Edge, a longevity science company focused on helping individuals and organizations improve health, energy, and performance. He is the author of At the Human Edge and Good Stress, Bad Stress, and has led scientific expeditions to some of the world's most extreme environments, including Mount Everest. In this episode, Marcus joins Subbu to explore what it really takes to live longer, healthier, and more energetic lives, and why many of the biggest breakthroughs in longevity have less to do with hacks and more to do with everyday habits. We explore: How Marcus's Mount Everest expedition shaped his views on leadership, risk, and resilienceWhy the journey matters more than the summit, both in the mountains and in lifeThe fascinating role of mitochondria in energy, performance, and healthy agingWhat longevity science actually tells us—and the myths we should stop believingWhy exercise remains the single most powerful intervention for living a longer, healthier lifeThe difference between good stress and bad stress, and why stress isn't always the enemyPractical ways to build healthy stress into everyday life through movement, recovery, and lifestyle choicesHow Human Edge helps individuals and organizations improve health through a data-driven, lifestyle-first approachWhy organizations are beginning to see employee energy and health as strategic business prioritiesSimple daily habits that can improve health without making life more complicated

  4. 9 Jun

    When meetings become acts of sabotage with Rebecca Hinds

    Rebecca Hinds is Head of the Work AI Institute at Glean, a researcher of organizational behavior and collaboration, and the author of the bestselling book Your Best Meeting Ever. Over the course of her career, Rebecca has studied how people work together, how teams make decisions, and how technology shapes collaboration. In this episode, Rebecca joins Subbu to discuss why meetings have become one of the biggest sources of frustration in modern organizations and what leaders can do about it. We explore: Why a World War II-era sabotage manual bears an uncomfortable resemblance to many modern meetingsThe concept of "meeting debt" and how calendars become overloaded over timeWhy equal airtime is one of the strongest predictors of team performanceHow power, status, and hierarchy influence who speaks and who stays silentWhy fewer meeting participants often lead to better outcomesThe hidden costs of pre-meetings and meeting overloadThe debate around cameras on versus cameras off in virtual meetingsWhat research tells us about Zoom fatigue and the unequal burden it places on different groupsHow AI can improve meetings, and the ways in which it can inadvertently make them worseWhy successful AI adoption is ultimately a human and organizational challenge, not just a technological one

  5. 26 May

    Why Employee Engagement is Falling with Jim Harter

    Jim Harter is Chief Scientist for Workplace Management and Wellbeing at Gallup and one of the world’s leading researchers on employee engagement, wellbeing, and organizational performance. For decades, Jim has studied how people experience work—what helps them thrive, what drives performance, and why some organizations consistently create stronger cultures than others. His work has shaped global conversations around engagement, strengths, leadership, and the future of management, and the annual State of the Global Workplace report has become one of the most widely referenced studies on the modern workplace. In this episode, Jim returns to Culture Matters to unpack the findings from the 2026 report and what they reveal about the current state of work globally. We explore: Why employee engagement has now declined for the second consecutive yearThe growing pressure and emotional burden managers and leaders are carryingWhat organizations with highly engaged managers are doing differentlyWhy AI adoption is ultimately a management and leadership challengeThe tension between productivity gains and rising fear around AI-driven job lossHow leadership and management roles may need to fundamentally evolveThe relationship between engagement, wellbeing, burnout, and performanceAnd why this moment may represent a genuine inflection point in the future of work

  6. 5 May

    The legacy of Chanakya and Sun Tzu with R Gopalakrishnan and Nirmala Isaac

    R. Gopalakrishnan (Gopal) is one of India’s most respected business leaders, having held senior roles at Unilever and the Tata Group. Over the years, he has also become a thoughtful voice on leadership, learning, and life through his writing and speaking. Nirmala Isaac is a doctoral scholar whose work spans organizational behavior, leadership, and sustainability, with a deep interest in trust and institutional dynamics. In this episode, Gopal, Nirmala, and Subbu explore the deep and fascinating relationship between India and China through the lens of history, culture, and exchange. Drawing from their book, the guests bring together the ideas of Chanakya and Sun Tzu to uncover how civilizations evolve, interact, and learn from one another over time. We cover: The origin story behind the book and the collaborationThe idea of “travel, trade, and thought” as the foundations of civilizational exchangeHow business offers a unique, practical lens to build relationships across bordersThe similarities and differences between Chanakya and Sun TzuWhat ancient dynasties like the Mauryas and the Han can teach us about leadership and stabilityStories of cultural exchange that still echo today, from language to ritualsWhy relationships, whether between people or nations, evolve by focusing on shared interestsAnd what modern leaders can learn from history about navigating complexity and difference

  7. 22 Apr

    The Leader As Facilitator with Vinay Kumar

    Vinay Kumar is a leadership facilitator and organizational development expert who has spent close to two decades helping leaders and organizations navigate complex conversations, build alignment, and strengthen culture. He’s the Founder Director of C2C OD and has been the global chair of the International Association of Facilitators (IAF). In this episode, Vinay and Subbu explore facilitation not just as a skill, but as a fundamental shift in how leadership shows up today. In a world where knowledge is abundant and easily accessible, the role of the leader is evolving, from being the one with answers to the one who creates the conditions for better answers to emerge. We cover: What facilitation really means and why it’s often misunderstoodWhy facilitation is becoming an essential leadership capabilityHow leaders can move from giving answers to asking better questionsThe role of facilitation in building alignment and driving cultural changeWhy culture is the “spine” of an organization and what happens when it’s unstableCommon mistakes facilitators and leaders make when working with groupsThe importance of creating spaces where all voices are heardAnd why leadership, ultimately, is a practice, not a theory, and never a finished product

  8. 8 Apr

    Uncovering the Rookie Playbook with Pawan Kumar Marella

    Pawan Kumar Marella is a global business leader whose career spans sales, marketing, strategy, and general management across India, Africa, and the UK. From starting out in sales at Unilever—despite training in engineering and finance—to setting up business operations in Ethiopia and later working in corporate strategy in London, Pawan’s journey reflects both range and reinvention. He is also the author of Dear Rookie, Don’t Panic—a candid, practical guide to navigating the realities of corporate life. Drawing from two decades of experience, the book distills what most professionals learn the hard way: how to deal with uncertainty, manage relationships, build credibility, and grow through setbacks. In this episode, Pawan and Subbu explore the often-unspoken side of early careers—the panic, the pressure, and the steep shift from campus to corporate life. They unpack what it really takes to succeed at work: skill, but adaptability, self-awareness, and the ability to work effectively with others. We cover: Why the transition from competition to collaboration is harder than most expectThe four non-negotiables for long-term success: health, integrity, trust, and showing upWhat personal branding really means—and why it’s more than self-promotionHow to navigate teams, conflict, and corporate culture with practical toolsThe idea of “trust but verify” and how to build reliability without micromanagingWhy performance is the true currency of corporate lifeThe importance of visibility and documenting your work in today’s environmentAnd how the energy you bring—being a radiator or a vacuum cleaner—shapes the culture around you

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About

Learning, Leadership and Organizational Development expert Subbu Kalpathi talks with leading academics, researchers, authors, corporate leaders, consultants and subject matter experts on the topic of organizational culture. From harnessing the science of happiness at work to innovations such as the 4-day workweek, Culture Matters will challenge the way you think about your people strategy for the new world of work.

Information

  • Creator
    Subbu Kalpathi
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    50
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2023 Subbu Kalpathi
  • Show Website
    Culture Matters