Mastering Workplace Culture

S. Chris Edmonds and Mark S. Babbitt
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The Mastering Workplace Culture podcast examines the hard truths of workplace culture change. Proven culture leaders share unfiltered stories of breakdowns, breakthroughs, and their bold decisions. And they'll discuss the steps they took to drive sustainable, tangible change in which respect and results are modeled, monitored, and validated equally. This is practical insight for executives who cannot afford to let culture fail—and for those who are just as concerned with their leadership legacy as they are with today's results.

Episodes

  1. How Amber Jordan Transformed Culture in Rural Healthcare

    4 DAYS AGO

    How Amber Jordan Transformed Culture in Rural Healthcare

    The newest episode of the Mastering Workplace Culture features an honest, compelling conversation with Amber "AJ" Jordan, CEO of Desert Sage Health Centers—a rural healthcare organization that transformed culture, strengthened leadership, and rebuilt trust across multiple sites through values‑driven alignment and measurable accountability. AJ shares how a single team conflict sparked her search for a stronger cultural foundation. What began with a book full of Post‑it notes led to a multi‑year journey grounded in transparency, data, and consistent leadership behavior. She describes the moment she realized she couldn't improve culture through isolated fixes—the entire organization, beginning with the executive team, needed shared expectations, clearer communication, and a common language.  This episode takes you inside the realities of culture change in a close-knit rural setting: Young managers learning to lead, long‑standing interpersonal history, the strain of limited staffing pools, and the unique challenges of small‑town relationships. AJ explains how data‑driven insights, leadership vulnerability, Lean foundations, and repeated Executive Team Effectiveness surveys shaped a culture where respectful behavior mattered as much as performance.  You'll hear how AJ and Desert Sage handled: Bringing frontline providers and clinicians into values‑based leadership Coaching high performers who struggled with interpersonal behavior Addressing skepticism from staff convinced that nothing would change Expanding culture work from executives → managers → staff Moving into a brand‑new medical building while protecting team  morale Innovating an innovative drive‑through element to the clinic based on patient feedback Creating a leadership pipeline that elevated people from entry‑level roles to major responsibilities This is one of the clearest examples of how culture becomes a core operating system — not through slogans, but through repeated alignment, shared vulnerability, and daily accountability.   ⏱️ Key Moments 00:00 Bold Leaders, No Buzzwords (Opening Narration) 00:21 Welcome + Introducing Amber "AJ" Jordan 00:45 Who AJ Is and the Reality of Rural Healthcare 02:07 The Post‑It Filled "Culture Engine" Book 03:36 Team Conflict That Sparked a Culture Journey 05:06 Why "Good" Wasn't Good Enough 06:49 Discovering Measurable Culture Tools 07:18 CEO Alignment + Building the Case for Culture 08:55 Why Site Alone Can't fix Culture 10:34 Young Managers, Small‑Town Dynamics, Healthcare Stress 12:09 Accountability: The Long‑Standing Challenge 13:51 The First Survey Results: A Painful Wake‑Up 15:44 Leadership Scores All Over the Map 17:31 Translating Clinical Strengths into Leadership Skills 19:04 Lean Foundations: Respect + Continuous Improvement 20:20 Skepticism, Naysayers, and Peer‑to‑Manager Transitions 22:42 Leaders Go First: The Multi‑Year Rollout Strategy 24:38 Beneficial Attrition + Coaching Interpersonal Outliers 27:00 The "Green‑Green" Breakthrough Moment 30:23 Culture as a Continuum: Progress Over Perfection 34:23 Applying Culture During a Massive Building Move 37:54 Innovating the Drive‑Through Clinic 41:30 Accountability: The Hardest Cultural Value 43:14 Leadership Development + Internal Promotions 45:39 AJ's Advice for CEOs: Transparency + Vulnerability 48:07 Olympic Reflections on Human Performance 52:12 Desert Sage as a Culture Success Story 54:26 Closing Narration + Call to Action
 Whether you're leading culture in a small organization in a small town or a large global corporation, we're sure AJ's culture story resonated. So please support more conversations that highlight real cultural transformation: 👍 Give this video a like to elevate people‑centered leadership 🔔 Subscribe to Mastering Workplace Culture for more in‑depth transformation stories 💬 Comment with the insight you're taking into your own culture work 🔗 Share this episode with a leader navigating organizational change   #MasteringWorkplaceCulture #LeadershipDevelopment #OrganizationalCulture #PeopleFirstLeadership #HealthcareLeadership #BusinessTransformation

    55 min
  2. Kris Malkoski on Transforming Culture: Winning as One Team

    3 MAR

    Kris Malkoski on Transforming Culture: Winning as One Team

    This episode of Mastering Workplace Culture features a powerful and personal conversation with global executive Kris Malkoski, whose track record includes transforming brands, rebuilding cultures, leading global turnarounds, and proving that respect‑driven leadership produces extraordinary business results. Kris shares the story behind revitalizing World Kitchen, ARC International, and Newell Brands—each with unique challenges, legacy issues, and leadership dynamics. From dysfunctional boards and cultural resistance to siloed teams and disengaged workforces, Kris explains how a clear vision, cross‑functional alignment, and accountability created measurable transformation. Her "win as one team" mindset, paired with consistent values‑based leadership, increased engagement, improved profitability, strengthened trust, and built award‑winning workplaces worldwide. This conversation highlights the reality of culture work: cCourageous decisions, transparency, the discipline to model values, and the willingness to lovingly let misaligned high performers go. Kris brings heart, wisdom, and honesty to every story—from tripling profitability at ARC in 18 months to turning siloed teams at Newell into collaborative innovators—and even the joy of becoming a grandmother. For anyone who cares about leadership, culture, or the power of aligning the "what" with the "how," this episode offers a masterclass in transformation from someone who has lived it at scale.   ⏱️ Key Moments 00:00 – 02:30 — Welcome + Kris's global leadership background  02:30 – 05:15 — World Kitchen: dysfunctional boards, private equity pressure, and cultural decline 05:15 – 06:30 — Creating a unified vision and the link between culture + business performance 06:30 – 08:15 — Resistance: leaders who feared culture change or viewed it as a "waste" 08:15 – 10:40 — Training global leaders, dissolving fiefdoms, and establishing shared expectations 10:40 – 12:00 — Accelerating engagement and building momentum across 3,000 employees 12:00 – 16:00 — Acquisition insights: high‑performing subcultures and cross‑pollinating excellence 16:00 – 18:28 — Sustaining a culture transformation across global sites 18:28 – 22:30 — ARC International: lack of community, Kaizen events, and tripling profit in 18 months 22:30 – 23:48 — "Better Together": a unified identity that lifted pride and belonging 23:48 – 26:00 — Personalized leadership: walking the floor, elevating dignity, transforming relationships 26:00 – 29:10 — Respect as daily practice: leadership modeling and contagious behavior shifts 29:10 – 31:40 — Newell Brands: silos, trust rebuilding, rewriting values, and lifting performance 31:40 – 34:40 — Reducing regretted departures + rebuilding internal talent pathways 34:40 – 38:00 — Letting go of misaligned high performers and protecting culture standards 38:00 – 40:15 — Graco success story: share gains through unified culture 40:15 – 43:00 — Kris's personal leadership evolution, biases she overcame, and early career lessons 43:00 – 45:20 — Diversity, respect, and building teams that reflect broader perspectives 45:20 – 47:00 — Sustaining a culture: accountability, calibration sessions, and values‑based ratings 47:00 – 48:56 — Why more executives struggle with culture—and how Kris guides them 48:56 – 50:30 — Culture legacy: leaders Kris developed and where they are today 50:30 – 53:20 — Joys of grandparenthood + closing reflections 
 If Kris's leadership journey inspired you, help us spread these lessons to leaders who need them: 👍 Give this video a like to support human‑centered leadership 🔔 Subscribe to Mastering Workplace Culture for more culture‑shaping insights 💬 Comment with the lesson you're taking into your own leadership journey 🔗 Share this episode with a leader ready to align values with performance #MasteringWorkplaceCulture #LeadershipDevelopment #OrganizationalCulture #PeopleFirstLeadership #BusinessTransformation #CultureChange

    55 min
  3. From Ladder‑Throwing to Leadership: The Culture Reset at CEC

    24 FEB

    From Ladder‑Throwing to Leadership: The Culture Reset at CEC

    In this powerful Mastering Workplace Culture conversation, David Mollitor Jr. shares the remarkable journey of transforming Consolidated Electrical Contractors (CEC) from a traditionally hard‑driving construction company into a people‑first, values‑anchored organization. This episode highlights a rare behind‑the‑scenes look at a blue‑collar business choosing respect, clarity, and cultural consistency over outdated pressure tactics that once dominated the industry. David walks us through saving 15 jobs in the mid‑90s, navigating explosive growth followed by a devastating recession, and rebuilding a company where 200 employee‑owners now contribute to a shared legacy. You'll hear how a call to Ken Blanchard reshaped the company's direction, why CEC committed to cultural accountability, and how one leader known for intensity became one of the company's strongest culture champions. You'll also experience vulnerable reflections on leadership, organizational rebirth, employee ownership, and the deeply personal shift that led David to redefine success—not through volume or status, but through meaningful impact on people's lives. The episode closes with a heartwarming look at his newest role: becoming a grandfather and watching the next generation grow. This story is a reminder that culture is not a slogan—it is a daily commitment, a leadership discipline, and a long‑term investment in human potential. ⏱️ Key Moments 00:00–02:30 — Introductions + David's early career 02:30–06:00 — Saving 15 employees and restarting an aging company 06:00–09:00 — Confronting entrenched construction‑industry behavior 09:00–14:00 — Rapid growth, hard lessons, and the recession crash 14:00–17:00 — The "do‑over" mindset and discovering Gung Ho! 17:00–19:00 — The pivotal call to Ken Blanchard 19:00–24:00 — Acknowledging the need for cultural reconstruction 24:00–29:00 — Managing skepticism and blue‑collar resistance 29:00–34:00 — Aligning the executive team with values and behaviors 34:00–39:00 — A major leadership transformation inside CEC 39:00–42:00 — Training breakthroughs and real‑time behavior practice 42:00–48:00 — Why culture requires intentional professional guidance 48:00–53:00 — Leadership legacy and redefining personal success 53:00–57:00 — The emotional impact of a people‑centered company 57:00–59:00 — David welcomes a new chapter as a grandfather 
 If this conversation expanded your perspective on leadership and culture, help more leaders discover this message: 👍 Like this episode to support meaningful workplace conversations 🔔 Subscribe for more transformative stories on Mastering Workplace Culture 💬 Comment with the moment that reshaped your understanding of leadership 🔗 Share this episode with someone ready to build a healthier workplace #MasteringWorkplaceCulture #LeadershipDevelopment #OrganizationalCulture #PeopleFirstLeadership #ConstructionLeadership #ESOP

    55 min
  4. She Transformed a Toxic Team Culture — Katelyn Taylor's Leadership Wake‑Up Call

    10 FEB

    She Transformed a Toxic Team Culture — Katelyn Taylor's Leadership Wake‑Up Call

    In this episode of Mastering Workplace Culture, Katelyn Taylor, Director of Marketing Communications at Boise State University, reveals the hard decisions and practical steps she took to rebuild a toxic team culture. From spotting the waving red flags to hiring for respect and results, this conversation provides leaders a roadmap for transforming any workplace—no matter how tough the starting point. 👉 If you're serious about building a healthier, higher‑performing team, hit LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and drop a comment sharing your biggest culture challenge! #MasteringWorkplaceCulture #WorkplaceCulture #Leadership #RespectAndResults #ChangeLeadership #EmployeeExperience

    54 min
  5. How WD‑40 Built a Thriving Culture: Gary Ridge on Leadership That Works

    27 JAN

    How WD‑40 Built a Thriving Culture: Gary Ridge on Leadership That Works

    Discover the leadership philosophies that helped turn WD‑40 into a globally admired organization. In this episode of Mastering Workplace Culture, hosts S. Chris Edmonds and Mark S. Babbitt sit down with Garry Ridge, former CEO and Chairman Emeritus of the WD‑40 Company — widely known as a Culture Architect. Garry shares the principles that helped expand WD‑40 into 176 countries while building a culture grounded in trust, accountability, belonging, and values that guide behavior and performance. From authentic care to the concept of positive attrition, he explains how leaders can cultivate workplaces where people feel safe, connected, and motivated to do their best work. You'll learn: How values‑based leadership fosters engagement and trust Why accountability is an act of care — not punishment How belonging drives performance What "positive attrition" really means How WD‑40 sustained its values through the pandemic How to maintain a strong culture across global teams Perfect for leaders, HR pros, culture strategists, and anyone passionate about building people‑first workplaces. ⏱️ Episode Chapters 00:00 Introduction  00:31 Meet Garry Ridge  02:44 Garry's Journey with WD‑40  03:46 Building a Global Culture  05:46 Values‑Based Leadership  09:34 The Tribe Philosophy  11:22 Challenges & Resistance  23:41 Accountability that Works  28:02 Overcoming Obstacles with Values  29:39 Why Values Matter in Business  30:18 Thriving During the Pandemic  31:13 Employee Engagement & Safety  32:58 The Power of Belonging  36:26 Global Expansion & Cultural Differences  38:16 Values in Divisive Times  50:28 Addressing Toxic Behavior  53:51 Final Thoughts & Resources 👍 If you enjoyed this episode, like the video  💬 Comment below: What value most influences your workplace culture?  🔔 Subscribe for more insights on leadership and workplace culture  📤 Share this episode with a leader or HR professional! #Leadership #WorkplaceCulture #GarryRidge #WDCOMPANY #ValuesBasedLeadership #EmployeeEngagement #OrganizationalCulture #PsychologicalSafety #BusinessLeadership #MasteringWorkplaceCulture

    56 min
  6. Introductory Episode

    14 JAN

    Introductory Episode

    Welcome to Mastering Workplace Culture! In this kickoff episode, hosts S. Chris Edmonds and Mark S. Babbit share why they launched this podcast and what you can expect. We go beyond corporate jargon to explore practical strategies for building cultures that value respect and results equally.   ✅ Why culture change isn't a quick fix ✅ How leaders can manage performance AND values ✅ Real-world success stories from Fortune 100 companies to nonprofits   If you're ready to challenge assumptions and create a workplace where people thrive, this podcast is for you.   📧 Have questions or guest ideas? Email us at authors@goodcomesfirst.com   #Leadership #WorkplaceCulture #RespectAndResults #Podcast

    19 min
  • 6 Episodes

About

The Mastering Workplace Culture podcast examines the hard truths of workplace culture change. Proven culture leaders share unfiltered stories of breakdowns, breakthroughs, and their bold decisions. And they'll discuss the steps they took to drive sustainable, tangible change in which respect and results are modeled, monitored, and validated equally. This is practical insight for executives who cannot afford to let culture fail—and for those who are just as concerned with their leadership legacy as they are with today's results.

Information

  • Creator
    S. Chris Edmonds and Mark S. Babbitt
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    6
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026
  • Show Website
    Mastering Workplace Culture

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