Culture Secrets

Chellie Phillips
  • 5.0 (2)
  • MANAGEMENT
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

Culture is what causes things to happen inside an organization - both good and bad. It's the heart and guts of a company and it is what determines is they are successful or not. Join interntional best-selling author, speaker and culture expert Chellie Phillips as she delves into what makes people-centered cultures in the workplace unique. She packs each episode with ideas, strategies and real-world learning to help you build workplaces where both employees and companies thrive.

  1. 5 for 55 - Five Truths I Trust at 55

    14H AGO

    5 for 55 - Five Truths I Trust at 55

    At 55, clarity hits differently. In this episode of Five at 55, Chellie Phillips shares five truths she trusts—not because they sound inspiring, but because experience has proven them true. From self-worth and courage to conversations and choosing how to spend your time, these reflections are grounded, honest, and earned the long way. This isn’t theory. It’s leadership shaped by real life. If you’re navigating growth, reinvention, or simply asking “what really matters now?” — this episode is for you. No speed limit on growth. Thanks for listening. Grab the book the original podcast is based on at https://mybook.to/culturesecrets . Want more quick leadership tips? Sign up for my FREE bi-weekly newsletter: Coffee, Culture and Common Sense. Check out my website www.chelliephillips.com for more great content. Follow me on LinkedIn.

    4 min
  2. The Moment I Realized I Actually Liked Myself

    1D AGO

    The Moment I Realized I Actually Liked Myself

    Sometimes confidence doesn’t arrive all at once—it sneaks in through small, hard decisions. In this episode, Chellie shares how training for a half marathon became an unexpected turning point—not just physically, but mentally and emotionally. It opened the door to trusting herself, sharing imperfectly, and stepping into new possibilities. A reminder that confidence isn’t perfection—it’s willingness. Thanks for listening. Grab the book the original podcast is based on at https://mybook.to/culturesecrets . Want more quick leadership tips? Sign up for my FREE bi-weekly newsletter: Coffee, Culture and Common Sense. Check out my website www.chelliephillips.com for more great content. Follow me on LinkedIn.

    3 min
  3. 5 for 55: Delete the Label — What The Breakfast Club Still Teaches Us About Leadership

    5D AGO

    5 for 55: Delete the Label — What The Breakfast Club Still Teaches Us About Leadership

    This week marks the anniversary of the premiere of The Breakfast Club — and it still holds one of the most powerful leadership lessons we often overlook. In this episode of 5 for 55, Chellie explores what happens when leaders stop sharing only their wins and start sharing the full story — including the doubt, the mistakes, and the lessons learned the hard way. Because people don’t connect to perfection.  They connect to growth. Through the lens of this iconic film, Chellie unpacks: • Why assumptions erode workplace culture  • How honest conversation strengthens trust  • The leadership power of vulnerability  • What label you may need to delete Most workplaces aren’t broken — they’re unheard. Grab your coffee and join the reflection. ☕ Continue your leadership growth through Culture, Coffee & Common Sense:  https://chelliephillips.com/culture-coffee-commonsense/ Thanks for listening. Grab the book the original podcast is based on at https://mybook.to/culturesecrets . Want more quick leadership tips? Sign up for my FREE bi-weekly newsletter: Coffee, Culture and Common Sense. Check out my website www.chelliephillips.com for more great content. Follow me on LinkedIn.

    4 min
  4. Five at 55: What This Is (and What It’s Not)

    FEB 9

    Five at 55: What This Is (and What It’s Not)

    Turning 55 isn’t a slowdown—it’s a launch point. In this kickoff episode of Five at 55, Chellie Phillips introduces a year-long series of short, real-world reflections built around lessons learned through leadership, growth, missteps, and reinvention. This isn’t polished theory or highlight-reel leadership. It’s honest insight, lived experience, and stories that make you think, laugh, and reflect. Some episodes will be fun. Some will be serious. All will be real. Welcome to Five at 55. There’s no speed limit on growth. Thanks for listening. Grab the book the original podcast is based on at https://mybook.to/culturesecrets . Want more quick leadership tips? Sign up for my FREE bi-weekly newsletter: Coffee, Culture and Common Sense. Check out my website www.chelliephillips.com for more great content. Follow me on LinkedIn.

    4 min
  5. EPISODE 25: Designing a Cooperative Culture: Servant Leadership, Hiring for Fit, and What Co-ops Get Right with Adam Schwartz

    JAN 11

    EPISODE 25: Designing a Cooperative Culture: Servant Leadership, Hiring for Fit, and What Co-ops Get Right with Adam Schwartz

    What if you could intentionally design the culture you want—not just hope it takes shape on its own? This week on The Culture Secrets Podcast, Chellie sits down with Adam Schwartz, founder of The Cooperative Way and one of the nation’s leading voices on cooperative leadership and workplace culture. Adam has spent decades helping electric co-ops, credit unions, ag co-ops, and other member-owned businesses strengthen their identity, improve employee experience, and align leadership practices with the values that make co-ops different. In this deep and practical conversation, Adam shares: How a national safety initiative revealed the blueprint for building culture with intentionWhy culture is to an organization what water is to a fish—and what leaders miss when they’re too close to see the truthThe balance between empathy and accountability that defines strong servant leadershipWhy keeping low-performing employees is not compassion—it’s a “culture suck”How surveys, data, and listening help leaders diagnose what’s really happening inside their workplaceBrilliant hiring practices (from co-ops and beyond) that prioritize cultural fit over résumé credentialsHow co-ops can remain attractive to younger, mission-driven talent without losing their history or identityWhy you can influence culture even if you’re not in the CEO chairWhether you work in a cooperative, lead a team of any kind, or care about building workplaces where people can thrive, Adam’s insights will give you clear steps to strengthen your culture—and a renewed appreciation for the power of values-driven leadership. Thanks for listening. Grab the book the original podcast is based on at https://mybook.to/culturesecrets . Want more quick leadership tips? Sign up for my FREE bi-weekly newsletter: Coffee, Culture and Common Sense. Check out my website www.chelliephillips.com for more great content. Follow me on LinkedIn.

    42 min
  6. Culture Starts with Leadership—but Lives with the People: A Conversation with Yamaha's Bob Brown

    JAN 8

    Culture Starts with Leadership—but Lives with the People: A Conversation with Yamaha's Bob Brown

    What does a strong workplace culture actually look like in action—not on paper, but in real life? In this episode of Culture Secrets, Chellie Phillips sits down with Bob Brown of Yamaha Motor Manufacturing to explore how culture is built, sustained, and strengthened inside a large, growing organization. From leadership visibility and trust to employee engagement, community involvement, and continuous improvement, this conversation goes beyond theory and into practical, people-first leadership. You’ll hear how culture “bubbles up” from employees, why accountability belongs to everyone—not just leadership—and how organizations can create environments where people feel valued, connected, and motivated to stay and grow. Whether you’re a leader, manager, or culture champion, this episode offers real-world insights you can apply immediately—no buzzwords required. To learn more about building a people-first culture, visit www.chelliephillips.com or pick up a copy of Culture Secrets wherever books are sold. Thanks for listening. Grab the book the original podcast is based on at https://mybook.to/culturesecrets . Want more quick leadership tips? Sign up for my FREE bi-weekly newsletter: Coffee, Culture and Common Sense. Check out my website www.chelliephillips.com for more great content. Follow me on LinkedIn.

    37 min

  7. 12/04/2025

    Episode 23: The Culture Compass: How Panasonic Built a People-First Model That Transformed Everything

    What really changes a workplace culture—and what’s just surface-level noise? In this powerful conversation, Chellie Phillips sits down with Stephen Childs, Chief HR Officer at Panasonic, to uncover the real strategies that transformed Panasonic from a single-location operation into a multi-billion-dollar, award-winning Best Place to Work. Stephen takes us behind the scenes of their culture journey—from visiting top innovation companies to implementing behaviors-based leadership, enforcing a “no a*****e policy,” and aligning every executive around a shared culture model. He shares why ping-pong tables and casual dress codes don’t move the needle, how accountability truly works, and why transparency during crises (including COVID shutdowns) earned Panasonic its best employee opinion scores in the toughest year on record. We explore: Why culture must be treated as a business process—not an HR initiativeHow to get executive buy-in for real, lasting changeWhat accountability looks like at every levelHow to align a growing organization around shared values and behaviorsWhy leaders must hear the truth—even when it’s uncomfortableHow Panasonic cut turnover in half and built deep leadership trustIf you're leading a team, building a culture, or trying to create meaningful organizational change, this episode is packed with practical insights you can apply today. Thanks for listening. Grab the book the original podcast is based on at https://mybook.to/culturesecrets . Want more quick leadership tips? Sign up for my FREE bi-weekly newsletter: Coffee, Culture and Common Sense. Check out my website www.chelliephillips.com for more great content. Follow me on LinkedIn.

    23 min
  8. Episode 21: The Recharge Ripple Effect: Leading by Example Without Burning Out

    09/13/2025

    Episode 21: The Recharge Ripple Effect: Leading by Example Without Burning Out

    Leaders set the tone—whether they realize it or not. In this episode of Culture Secrets, Chellie Phillips explores the hidden leadership power of rest and renewal. When leaders are constantly overworked, overstretched, and overwhelmed, it sends a powerful message to their teams: burnout is the norm. But what if we flipped that script? You'll learn: Why intentional rest is a leadership strategy, not a luxuryHow modeling healthy habits can improve team morale and retentionSigns you're leading from burnout instead of balanceSmall shifts you can make today to create a culture of sustainabilityWant to keep your team energized, engaged, and motivated?  Start by recharging yourself first. 🎧 Tune in now and discover how to model leadership that lasts. Thanks for listening. Grab the book the original podcast is based on at https://mybook.to/culturesecrets . Want more quick leadership tips? Sign up for my FREE bi-weekly newsletter: Coffee, Culture and Common Sense. Check out my website www.chelliephillips.com for more great content. Follow me on LinkedIn.

    9 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Culture is what causes things to happen inside an organization - both good and bad. It's the heart and guts of a company and it is what determines is they are successful or not. Join interntional best-selling author, speaker and culture expert Chellie Phillips as she delves into what makes people-centered cultures in the workplace unique. She packs each episode with ideas, strategies and real-world learning to help you build workplaces where both employees and companies thrive.

Information

  • Creator
    Chellie Phillips
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    29
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Culture Secrets
  • Show Website
    Culture Secrets