Culture Talks

Lorne Rubis

Culture Talks, hosted by Lorne Rubis, dives into the world of emerging companies that are passionately dedicated not merely to chasing success, but to making a lasting impact. Explore the innovative ways next-gen leaders connect people and transform their visions into reality through candid conversations with visionary CEOs, founders, mentors and more. Each episode delves into the unique challenges faced by these trailblazers as they scale their businesses, focusing on the transformative cultures they are striving to cultivate.

  1. 6d ago

    Culture Talks: Does Employee Retention Still Matter? AI, Glassdoor & Company Values Exposed

    On this episode of Culture Talks, Lorne Rubis and Dave McCauley tackle a question most leaders are afraid to ask: does employee retention actually matter anymore? They start with a wake-up call about workplace transparency - AI agents can now generate deeply detailed, unfiltered reviews of what it's like to work for a specific leader, going far beyond a simple Glassdoor score. Lorne demos this live with a room of 40 leaders, with results that shocked even him. From there, they dig into retention itself. With tech giants like Meta averaging under two years of employee tenure, Lorne and Dave debate whether low retention is a red flag or simply a business model some companies have built around. They break down the difference between regretted and unregretted turnover, and why a leader who can't retain anyone past five months has a real problem - no matter how they spin it. The episode wraps with a story about a corporate jet sent back empty to retrieve a forgotten set of golf clubs, right after a company-wide memo on cost-cutting — a perfect example of why values only mean something when leaders live them. Topics covered: 00:00 Intro 01:30 Glassdoor scores and organizational transparency 04:00 Using AI agents to generate leadership reviews 09:30 Companies that manage perception instead of fixing problems 16:00 Does retention still matter as a metric? 27:30 Regretted vs. unregretted retention 32:00 The five-month tenure red flag 39:00 The corporate jet and golf clubs story 44:00 Do your feet line up with your mouth? Culture Talks is a podcast exploring organizational culture and leadership, hosted by Lorne Rubis and Dave McCauley. 🔔 Subscribe for new episodes🌐 More at lornerubis.com

  2. Jul 15

    Culture Talks: Stop Lying About Psychological Safety and Layoffs

    On this episode of Culture Talks, Lorne Rubis and Dave McCauley take on two connected topics every leader needs to hear: continuous transformation, and how to handle layoffs with honesty and respect. Drawing on recent HBR and McKinsey research, Lorne and Dave explore why transformation is no longer a one-time project but an ongoing practice organizations must build into how they operate — and why delegating it to a "Chief Transformation Officer" is often a trap. Then the conversation turns personal. Lorne shares the "plan of one" approach he used while leading a 325-person, $25 million workforce reduction as a Chief People Officer, and why organizations need to stop pretending psychological safety means no one ever loses their job. Dave shares his own experience delivering layoff news directly, and why how you treat departing employees shapes the trust of everyone who stays. Topics covered: 00:00 Intro 08:30 Transformation as a continuous practice, not a project 17:00 Why "Chief Transformation Officer" roles can backfire 21:00 Cutting organizational friction and decision-making bottlenecks 27:30 The honesty leaders owe employees about job security 32:00 The "plan of one" approach to layoffs 40:00 Why HR should never deliver layoff news alone 45:30 Two red cards for leaders Culture Talks is a podcast exploring organizational culture and leadership, hosted by Lorne Rubis and Dave McCauley.🔔 Subscribe for new episodes🌐 More at lornerubis.com

  3. Jul 8

    The Brilliant Jerk: Why Toxic Top Performers Are Killing Your Culture

    On this episode of Culture Talks, Lorne Rubis and Dave McCauley dig into two of the most debated topics in leadership today. First: Adam Grant's New York Times research on return-to-office mandates, and why the data suggests ego - not productivity - is often the real driver behind "everyone back in the office" policies. Lorne shares how he built a trust-based, flexible work policy at a 5,000-person bank in 2013, and why it's still paying off today. Then: the Brilliant Jerk. Lorne and Dave share real stories of toxic high performers - a sales rep forging signatures, an abusive account manager, an F1 team principal, and a lesson from the San Antonio Spurs' scouting reports - to make the case that no organization can afford to keep talent that comes at the cost of culture. Topics covered:00:00 Intro and 4th of July talk03:00 Adam Grant's NYT article on RTO and narcissism09:00 Building a trust-based work policy17:00 The "collaboration" myth of forced office days30:00 The Brilliant Jerk: why talent isn't worth toxicity37:00 The "recommend to a friend" leadership score42:00 Closing thoughts Culture Talks is a podcast exploring organizational culture and leadership, hosted by Lorne Rubis and Dave McCauley.

    The Brilliant Jerk: Why Toxic Top Performers Are Killing Your Culture

  4. Feb 25

    Culture Talks: Why Emotional Fitness is the Root System of Every Thriving Organization

    In this insightful episode of Culture Talks, Janice Taylor, a rising expert in emotional wellness and psychology, discusses the critical importance of emotional fitness in personal and organizational success. She explores the differences between mental health and emotional wellness, the impact of emotional injuries, and practical frameworks for leaders to foster emotionally healthy workplaces. Takeaways:  Difference between mental health and emotional wellness The emotional system as the foundation of human behavior Impact of emotional injuries from childhood Frameworks for building emotional fitness in organizations The role of leaders in fostering emotional health

  5. Jan 7

    Culture Talks: Why People Say ‘I Wish I’d Quit Sooner’ with Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett

    In this episode of Culture Talks, Lorne Rubis and Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett discuss the challenges of toxic leadership in the workplace and the insights from Laura's upcoming book, I Wish I'd Quit Sooner. They explore the impact of toxic bosses on employee well-being, the importance of understanding different leadership traits, strategies, and the need for organizations to create a safe and supportive culture. The discussion also touches on the balance between compassion and business decisions, and the future of workplace culture.

  6. 12/22/2025

    Culture Talks: The Caring Leader's Edge — Balancing People & Performance with Kimberly Vaughn

    In this conversation, Kimberly Vaughn, VP of Claims at Amerisure Insurance, discusses the evolving landscape of leadership, emphasizing the importance of employee engagement, psychological safety, and the balance between caring for people and achieving business results. She shares insights on how to address negative friction in the workplace, the role of AI in enhancing workflows, and the significance of recognition in fostering a positive work environment. Vaughn also highlights the qualities she looks for in emerging leaders and the lessons learned from her experiences in swimming and leadership.

  7. 11/26/2025

    Culture Talks: The Path to Organizational Improvement with Craig Hampson

    What does it truly take to change an organization for the better? In the latest episode of Culture Talks, Lorne Rubis sits down with Craig Hampson, Chief Business Enablement Officer at BURNCO, for a no-holds-barred conversation about the realities of organizational change. We dive deep into the critical role of leadership in this process and uncover why so many well-intentioned change efforts fail.  In this episode, we explore: The high cost of incongruency: What happens when you declare a new vision but don't follow through. Why toxic leaders often persist and the damage they cause to culture and progress. The non-negotiable link between clarity of vision and genuine commitment from the top down. How to ensure your leadership declarations are backed by actionable steps and real cultural investment. This is a must-listen for any executive, leader, or individual who is genuinely committed to their teams and the health of their organization. Ready to commit to being better? Listen/watch the full conversation.

  8. 10/29/2025

    Culture Talks: How to Create a Happier Workplace (And Why You Should)

    In this episode of the Culture Talks Podcast, Lorne Rubis sits down with Taarif (Tim) Jafferi, Chief Business Officer of Happily.ai, to uncover the direct link between employee happiness and your bottom line. Taarif, a former Google employee, shares his firsthand experience of the cultural shifts hurting modern workplaces and the simple, data-backed strategies that can fix them.

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About

Culture Talks, hosted by Lorne Rubis, dives into the world of emerging companies that are passionately dedicated not merely to chasing success, but to making a lasting impact. Explore the innovative ways next-gen leaders connect people and transform their visions into reality through candid conversations with visionary CEOs, founders, mentors and more. Each episode delves into the unique challenges faced by these trailblazers as they scale their businesses, focusing on the transformative cultures they are striving to cultivate.

Information

  • Creator
    Lorne Rubis
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    24
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Lorne Rubis
  • Show Website
    Culture Talks