Culture Conversations

Craig Forman
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Culture Conversations

Culture Conversations with Craig Forman: Real Discussions with The People Leading the Way to Make Work 'Work' for Everyone

  1. Gearing Up for Transform 2025: A Preview of the Voices & Themes Shaping This Year’s Event

    3D AGO

    Gearing Up for Transform 2025: A Preview of the Voices & Themes Shaping This Year’s Event

    Episode Description: Transform 2025 is almost here! As thousands of HR leaders, executives, and workplace innovators prepare to gather in Las Vegas, this episode of Culture Conversations gives you an exclusive preview of some of the key voices and themes shaping this year’s event. We kick things off with Torin Ellis, the event’s MC, setting the tone for what’s ahead and challenging us to wrestle with what it truly means to be human in the workplace. From there, we highlight some of the brilliant speakers taking the stage—each of whom has been a guest on this podcast—covering topics like leadership, culture, data, AI, and more. Featured Speakers & Topics: 🔹 Anna Binder (Asana) – Culture as a Business Driver – How top HR leaders shape strategy and drive meaningful business results. 🔹 David Hanrahan (SolarWinds, ex-Twitter, Zendesk, Niantic, Eventbrite) – Getting Buy-in for People Initiatives – How to secure executive support and prove the ROI of HR investments. 🔹 Gianna Driver (Former-Exabeam, Lattice) – The Evolution of DEI – Why DEI isn’t disappearing—it’s evolving, and here’s how to keep it embedded in your organization. 🔹 Steven Huang (ex-Culture Amp, DEI strategist) – Belonging as a Form of Activism – How joy and inclusion create thriving workplaces. 🔹 Tushar Pandit (SPINS, Rebuilt) – From Data to Direction – Turning HR analytics into strategy that informs real business decisions. 🔹 Lars Schmidt (Amplify Talent, HR thought leader) – AI & Talent Acquisition – Why AI won’t replace HR—but leaders using AI will have the edge. And One Final Speaker – You’ll Hear From Me! I’m closing out Transform 2025 with the final session: 🔹 “From Conference Insights to Real-World Action: Turning Ideas into Impact.” We all know the feeling—after days of learning, networking, and inspiration, the question becomes: Now what? Instead of leaving overwhelmed, this session is designed to help you prioritize, connect, and take action on what matters most. I’ll be joined by: ✅ Jessie Jacob (Culture First Global Community Leader, Culture Amp) – Helping turn insights into real engagement. ✅ Dr. Bobbi Wegner (CEO of Groops, Harvard Professor) – Bringing real-world applications to help make lasting change. Whether you’re attending Transform this year or looking to stay ahead of where HR, leadership, and culture are headed, this episode is packed with big ideas and practical takeaways you can use to shape the future of work. Connect with Me: 📩 Attending Transform? Let’s connect in Vegas! 🌐 Website: www.culturecraig.com 📅 More on Transform & Speaker Lineup: Transform 2025 Agenda   🎧 Listen now & get ready for the biggest conversations shaping the future of work!

    26 min
  2. Measure What You Treasure – Data, Culture, and the Future of HR with Tushar Pandit

    FEB 20

    Measure What You Treasure – Data, Culture, and the Future of HR with Tushar Pandit

    Episode Summary In this episode of Culture Conversations, I sit down with Tushar Pandit, an HR leader with deep expertise in data-driven decision-making and culture transformation. We dive into why organizations must move beyond intuition and start measuring what truly matters—people and culture. Tushar shares powerful insights on how HR leaders can think more like business leaders, why culture and strategy must be integrated, and how AI is reshaping the future of work. Whether you're a Chief People Officer, HR leader, or executive looking to create a thriving workplace, this conversation will give you practical strategies to turn insights into action. What We Cover in This Episode: ✅ **Measure What You Treasure** – Why people and culture deserve the same rigor as financial metrics. ✅ **Culture Beyond Perks** – How true culture is shaped by values and behaviors, not kombucha and foosball tables. ✅ **Listening at Scale** – How organizations can truly hear and act on employee feedback. ✅ **HR as a Business Function** – Why people leaders must be fluent in data and business outcomes. ✅ **AI and the Future of Work** – The opportunities and challenges of AI in HR and talent strategy. ✅ **HR’s Moment to Lead** – Why CPOs must take the driver’s seat in shaping transformation. Memorable Quotes from the Episode: 📢 "Measure what you treasure—what we track determines where we improve." 📢 "Culture isn't about perks; it's about behaviors that align with values." 📢 "Listening isn’t just about one survey—it’s about building a culture of feedback." 📢 "HR leaders must think like business leaders—culture is not separate from strategy." 📢 "AI won’t replace jobs, but it will redefine them—HR must lead the adaptation." Books & Resources Mentioned in This Episode:** 📚 *On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century* – Timothy Snyder  Connect with Tushar Pandit: 🔹 LinkedIn: Tushar's LinkedIn 🔹 Twitter: @TusharPandit 🔹 Email: tpendit@spins.com Resources & Next Steps:  👉 Subscribe & Review – If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and share it with your network! 👉 Follow Culture Conversations – Stay updated with new episodes and insights:(https://www.culturecraig.com/) 👉 Let’s connect on LinkedIn: 👉 **Meet Us at Transform 2025** – Join us in Las Vegas for next year’s event: Transform 2025

    38 min
  3. The Power of Listening at Scale: Building Cultures of Trust and Action with Gianna Driver

    FEB 6

    The Power of Listening at Scale: Building Cultures of Trust and Action with Gianna Driver

    Episode Summary: In this episode of Culture Conversations, host Craig Forman sits down with Gianna Driver, Chief People Officer and expert in building human-centered workplace cultures. Gianna brings a unique perspective from her experience leading people teams and working at organizations that design tools to support employee engagement and listening at scale. Together, they explore the evolving role of HR leaders in fostering psychological safety, navigating difficult conversations, and balancing empathy with performance. Gianna shares actionable insights on creating inclusive environments where employees feel seen, heard, and valued—even amid today’s divided world. Key Topics Discussed: The Role of Leaders in Divided Times: How HR leaders can create space for deep listening and foster unity, even when personal beliefs differ across teams. Moving Beyond the Surface: The importance of naming emotions and fears to demystify them and build stronger connections within organizations. Balancing Engagement and Performance: Why having an engaged workforce doesn’t automatically mean a high-performing one—and how leaders can achieve both. Listening at Scale: The power of leveraging data from engagement surveys and pulse checks while ensuring it leads to meaningful action and trust-building. The Future of DEIB: How diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging need to be intentionally woven into all aspects of organizational culture to drive long-term success. Books and Resources Mentioned: Trevor Noah Podcast Simon Sinek Podcast  Adam Grant Podcast (WorkLife) Brené Brown Podcast (Unlocking Us) Brené Brown Podcast (Dare to Lead) Relevant Links: - Connect with Gianna Driver on [LinkedIn] Culture Conversations Host: Craig Forman is an organizational psychologist and founder of CultureC Consulting, dedicated to helping companies create better workplace cultures through strategic employee listening and performance management programs. - Connect with Craig on LinkedIn - Website

    42 min
  4. Cut Through the Noise: Stanford Economist Nick Bloom’s Data-Backed Insights on RTO, Hybrid Work, and What Leaders Need to Know

    JAN 16

    Cut Through the Noise: Stanford Economist Nick Bloom’s Data-Backed Insights on RTO, Hybrid Work, and What Leaders Need to Know

    Episode Summary: In this episode of Culture Conversations, host Craig Forman sits down with Nick Bloom, a renowned Stanford economist and leading expert on remote work and workplace trends. With over two decades of research on hybrid and remote work models, Nick offers a data-driven perspective on the evolving workplace and the challenges organizations face in managing their return-to-office (RTO) strategies. Craig and Nick dive into the economic and social dynamics of hybrid work, exploring what the data reveals about productivity, employee satisfaction, and the real reasons behind some high-profile RTO mandates. They also discuss how AI and automation are reshaping the workforce, what this means for managers, and why performance-based management is essential in a hybrid world. Key Topics Discussed: ✅ The Rise of Hybrid Work: Nick explains how hybrid work has grown steadily over the past 20 years and why it’s here to stay as a dominant workplace model. ✅ The Reality of Return-to-Office (RTO) Policies: They unpack the motivations behind recent RTO announcements by Amazon, Starbucks, and Twitter, revealing how RTO is often used as a cost-cutting tool to reduce headcount. ✅ The Three Groups of Workers Today: Nick outlines the three distinct worker groups in the current landscape—fully in-person, hybrid, and fully remote—and what this means for organizations trying to build effective policies. ✅ AI’s Impact on Remote Work: They explore how AI and automation will impact fully remote jobs in areas like call centers and back-office roles, and why hybrid work models will continue to grow. ✅ Managing in a Hybrid World: Nick highlights the importance of managing by performance, not presence, and why surveillance-based management practices can backfire in a hybrid environment. ✅ The Power of Data-Driven Decision Making: Craig and Nick discuss why organizations need to rely on internal data—not trends or external pressures—to design their workplace policies. Books and Resources Mentioned: 📚 Harvard Business Review Article by Nick Bloom ➡️ One Company A/B Tested Hybrid Work—Here's What They Found 📚 Trip.com Randomized Control Trial ➡️ Study on the Impact of Hybrid Work on Productivity and Quit Rates 📚 Wells Fargo Mouse Jiggler Story ➡️ A Case Study on Surveillance Software and Its Negative Impact on Employee Engagement Relevant Links: 🔗 Connect with Nick Bloom on LinkedIn - Nick shares weekly insights on workplace trends, hybrid work, and management strategies. Culture Conversations Host: Craig Forman is an organizational psychologist and founder of CultureC Consulting, dedicated to helping companies create better workplace cultures through strategic employee listening and engagement programs. 🔗 Connect with Craig on LinkedIn 🌐 Website: ➡️ www.culturecraig.com 📧 Email: Craig@culturecraig.com

    37 min
  5. Reimagining Organizational Structures and Team Cohesion with Dr. Bobbi Wegner

    09/05/2024

    Reimagining Organizational Structures and Team Cohesion with Dr. Bobbi Wegner

    Episode Summary: In this episode of Culture Conversations, Craig Forman sits down with Dr. Bobbi Wegner, the CEO of Groops, an innovative platform designed to build deeper connections within teams. Bobbi is also a respected author and lecturer of Industrial/Organizational Psychology at Harvard University. They dive into the complexities of human connection in the workplace, particularly in the post-COVID landscape. With over two years of specialized focus on helping organizations foster cohesion and teamwork, Bobbi shares her insights into the importance of building and maintaining strong interpersonal relationships at work. The conversation explores the challenges of remote work, the evolving dynamics of leadership, and how organizations can adapt to meet the changing needs of their teams. Key Topics Discussed: Human Connection in the Workplace: Bobbi discusses the impact of COVID-19 on workplace relationships and the increasing sense of disconnection many employees feel today. She highlights the importance of fostering strong interpersonal relationships for better quality of life and enhanced work outcomes. Balancing Remote Work with Connection: The duality of the benefits and drawbacks of remote work is explored, with Bobbi providing her thoughts on how organizations can maintain connection and cohesion even when teams are not physically together. The Role of Leadership and Power Dynamics: A deep dive into the differences between leadership and power within organizations, and how these concepts interact and evolve as structures become more fluid and less hierarchical. The Groops Approach: Bobbi shares how Groops is helping teams and leaders build deeper connections and why this work needs to be done over time rather than through one-off engagements. Organizational Structures: Craig and Bobbi discuss how different organizational structures impact team dynamics and the importance of aligning structure with both business and cultural objectives. Books and Resources Mentioned: Humanocracy by Gary Hamel and Michele Zanini Lost and Founder by Rand Fishkin Culture Code by Daniel Coyle The Social Brain by Robin Dunbar Relevant Links: Groops - Official Website Connect with Dr. Bobbi Wegner on LinkedIn Culture Conversations Host: Craig Forman is an organizational psychologist and founder of CultureC Consulting, dedicated to helping companies create better workplace cultures through strategic employee listening and engagement programs. Connect with Craig on LinkedIn or Email: Craig@culturecraig.com

    43 min
  6. Unleashing the Power of Play to Combat Burnout with Gary Ware

    08/22/2024

    Unleashing the Power of Play to Combat Burnout with Gary Ware

    Episode Summary: In this episode of Culture Conversations, Craig Forman sits down with Gary Ware, a dynamic consultant and workshop facilitator who uses purposeful play to help organizations combat burnout and build resilience. Gary shares his unique approach to fostering creativity and connection within teams by integrating play into the workplace. The discussion delves into the current challenges facing organizations in 2024, including burnout and the complexities of remote work. Gary and Craig explore how leaders can redefine play to drive high performance, and the importance of human responsibility in setting boundaries and protecting well-being in a demanding work environment. Key Takeaways: Burnout and Resilience in 2024: Despite the advancements in workplace flexibility, many employees are still feeling burned out. Gary emphasizes the need to address this by rethinking how we work and interact. The Role of Play in Transformation: Gary explains how play can serve as a powerful tool for transformation in organizations, allowing teams to open up, shed egos, and tackle challenges more effectively. Redefining Play: Drawing on insights from *Prime to Perform*, Craig and Gary discuss the importance of play, not just as a fun activity, but as a critical component of flow and creativity in the workplace. Human Responsibility: The conversation highlights the role of leaders and employees in setting boundaries and protecting their well-being, emphasizing that organizations will naturally push for maximum efficiency unless humans intervene. Practical Tips for Managers: Gary offers simple, actionable advice for managers looking to create psychologically safe spaces and integrate more play into their teams’ routines. Relevant Links and References: Gary Ware’s Website: https://www.breakthroughplay.com Book Mentioned: Prime to Perform by Lindsay MacGregor and Neil Doshi Movie Mentioned: Soul by Pixar, directed by Pete Docter About Gary Ware: Gary Ware is a consultant and workshop facilitator who specializes in using play as a medium for organizational transformation. With over a decade of experience, Gary has helped numerous teams break through barriers, enhance creativity, and build resilience through his innovative approach. Connect with Gary: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garyware Instagram: @garyware Connect with Craig Forman: Website: https://www.culturecraig.com  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigforman

    42 min
  7. Embracing Human Connection in a Tech-Driven World with Adam "Smiley" Poswolsky

    08/08/2024

    Embracing Human Connection in a Tech-Driven World with Adam "Smiley" Poswolsky

    Episode Summary: In this episode of Culture Conversations, Craig Forman sits down with Adam "Smiley" Poswolsky, a renowned author and speaker on workplace culture and human connection. They delve into the challenges and opportunities of fostering meaningful connections in the modern workplace, especially in an era increasingly dominated by remote work and AI technology. Smiley emphasizes the importance of prioritizing human connection, the role of organizational culture, and the need for flexible, people-centric policies. Key Topics Discussed: The Importance of Human Connection: Smiley highlights the necessity of remembering the human element in the workplace, especially as technology and remote work become more prevalent. Balancing Flexibility and Connection: Exploring the dichotomy of enjoying remote work benefits while addressing the resulting disconnection and loneliness among employees. Organizational and Individual Roles: Discussing how both organizations and individuals can take responsibility for fostering a connected workplace. Designing for Connection: The concept of prioritizing human connection in all work environments—remote, hybrid, or in-person. Autonomy and Innovation: How giving employees more autonomy and ownership can lead to greater innovation and change. AI and the Future of Work: Smiley's perspective on AI's potential to improve work efficiency while emphasizing the critical need to reinvest the saved time back into people. Building Community: Insights from Craig’s experience in building the Culture First community and the importance of localizing leadership and topics within global frameworks. AI Ethics: The growing importance of AI ethics training and making principled decisions in the use of AI technologies. Relevant Links: Smiley’s Website: Explore Smiley’s work, download the free Workplace Belonging Toolkit, and sign up for his newsletter. LinkedIn: Connect with Smiley on LinkedIn for more insights and updates. Recommended Reading: Super Communicators by Charles Duhigg - An insightful book on the science of connection and effective communication. About Our Guest: Adam "Smiley" Poswolsky, a renowned workplace and connection expert, motivational speaker, and bestselling author. Smiley is best known for his impactful books such as "The Quarter-Life Breakthrough" and "Friendship in the Age of Loneliness," which have inspired countless individuals to find meaningful work and foster deeper connections in their lives. Smiley's work focuses on fostering workplace belonging, increasing employee engagement, and building high-performing teams. His insightful keynotes provide actionable strategies for leaders to attract and retain top talent by creating a culture of empathy, connection, and belonging. Smiley has spoken at numerous Fortune 500 companies, including Apple, Google, and Deloitte, and his TEDx talk on the quarter-life crisis has garnered over 1.5 million views. Smiley has a unique approach to creating inclusive workplaces, the challenges of modern work culture, and his strategies for building stronger human connections in the digital age.   Host: Craig Forman, founder of CultureC Consulting, is an organizational psychologist and HR technology expert dedicated to improving workplace culture through employee listening and engagement programs. Connect with Us: Website: CultureC Consulting LinkedIn: Craig Forman Listen and Subscribe: Don’t miss out on future episodes of Culture Conversations. Subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform.

    40 min
  8. Transforming Organizational Culture Through Storytelling with Jerome Deroy

    07/25/2024

    Transforming Organizational Culture Through Storytelling with Jerome Deroy

    Episode Description: In this episode of Culture Conversations, I sit down with Jerome Deroy, the CEO of Narativ, Inc., to explore the transformative power of storytelling in organizational culture. Jerome shares his unique journey, from being handed a shoebox full of notes by the founders of Narativ, Inc. to revolutionizing the way companies use storytelling to enhance communication, employee engagement, and leadership development. Join us as we delve into: The intersection of AI and storytelling The critical role of storytelling in onboarding processes How to harness personal narratives to build a cohesive organizational culture The art of listening and its impact on storytelling Practical tips for leaders on leveraging stories to drive change Jerome’s expertise extends beyond Narativ as he lectures at Parsons New School of Design, teaching the art of storytelling. In this conversation, he provides actionable insights and real-world examples from his work with clients like CIGNA, Warby Parker, and Twitter. Whether you're a leader, manager, or simply passionate about the power of stories, this episode is packed with valuable insights to help you transform your organizational culture. Key Takeaways: AI and Storytelling: Jerome discusses the evolving role of AI in storytelling and how it can enhance productivity and creativity. Storytelling in Onboarding: Learn how stories can significantly improve onboarding processes by creating connections and providing context. Cultural Alignment: Discover how storytelling can align employees with organizational values and foster a sense of belonging. Listening as a Skill: Jerome emphasizes the importance of listening in storytelling and how it can lead to more impactful narratives. Driving Change with Stories: Practical advice on using data and stories together to inspire and drive organizational change. Reference Links: Narativ, Inc. - Learn more about Jerome's company and their storytelling approach. Powered by Storytelling - A book by Narativ’s founder, Murray Nossel. The Danger of a Single Story - TED Talk by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - A powerful talk on the importance of diverse perspectives in storytelling. Connect with Jerome Deroy: LinkedIn: Jerome Deroy Twitter: @JeromeDeroy   Twitter: @CultureCraig Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review Culture Conversations on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us bring more insightful conversations to you! #Storytelling #OrganizationalCulture #Leadership #EmployeeEngagement #Onboarding #CultureConversations #AI #Narativ

    43 min
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Culture Conversations with Craig Forman: Real Discussions with The People Leading the Way to Make Work 'Work' for Everyone

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