Culture By Design

Heather Smith
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Meet business owners and executives who recognize that employee culture is too important to be left to chance. Each week, we dive into how companies like yours transform accidental norms into purposeful strategies that accelerate growth while enabling employees to thrive. If you're eager to turn culture into a competitive advantage for your small or mid-sized business, Heather Smith, CEO of Talent Elevated, will give you practical strategies for designing culture with intention and unlocking employee potential. Find the clarity, focus, and actionable insights to build a workplace where your team is invested in their work, their colleagues, and the company mission—even when business priorities feel overwhelming.

  1. Oct 22

    22. How to Lead When the Work Gets Hard with Chris Lancaster

    How do you lead when the work gets hard, uncertainty is high, and your team is struggling to stay positive? In this episode, Chris Lancaster, CEO of Baylor Scott & White in Waco, shares how leaders can navigate difficult seasons without losing sight of what matters. He reflects on why leadership requires both high standards and grace, how reconnecting people with their purpose can help them through challenging times, and why leaders need to find a way forward even when things feel hard. Chris offers a thoughtful reminder that difficult seasons are part of leadership. The challenge is learning how to respond to them, support the people around you, and keep moving forward together. Chris Lancaster has devoted more than 17 years to serving communities across Texas and is passionate about strengthening healthcare access and quality for Central Texans. He serves on the Council of Policy Development for the Texas Hospital Association, is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, and was named to Becker’s Hospital Review’s Rising Stars list of 67 healthcare leaders under 40.  Listen to the full episode to hear: How to give people grace while still holding them accountableWhy reconnecting people to their why matters when the work gets toughHow leaders can stay optimistic without ignoring the challengesHow to help your team navigate uncertainty without creating an “us versus them” mentality Learn More About Heather Smith: Talent Elevated Resources: The Six Types of Working Genius

  2. Oct 8

    21. Margie Cobb on How Leaders Create Impact That Lasts

    I’m joined in this episode by Margie Cobb, Director of Branches Worldwide, an organization I’m also proud to be a part of. Margie has a wealth of views on a global scale working with leaders and entrepreneurs from all over the world and at all stages of business in her role at Branches. Margie and I talk about the importance of recognizing and considering your own lens on resilience, leadership, impact, and community, how her own faith and beliefs shape how she thinks about leadership, tapestry as a metaphor for a career journey, and the difference between healthy resilience and just surviving. Margie Cobb serves as the Director of Branches Worldwide, where she equips global entrepreneurs to grow in faith, leadership, and community impact. With over 30 years of experience in leadership development, Margie is deeply passionate about servant leadership and the power of strong, Christ-centered communities. Originally from Texas, Margie now lives in Wooster, Ohio with her husband Bruce. Together, they have three adult children and two wonderful grandchildren. Listen to the full episode to hear: Why long-term support and community are essential to transformational leadershipHow leadership development has been a consistent thread in the tapestry of Margie’s careerThe elements of entrepreneurship and leadership that cross language, culture, and geographyWhy helping business owners create community impact is a core part of mentorship at Branches WorldwideHow everyone benefits from sharing space and ideas with people at various stages of their businesses and careers Learn More About Margie Cobb: Branches Worldwide: https://www.branchesworldwide.orgConnect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margiecobb3/ Learn More About Heather Smith: Talent Elevated: https://www.talentelevated.org

  3. Sep 24

    20. How to Create Teams Where People Thrive with Kristen Fox

    What if creating a great culture has less to do with programs and more to do with how we lead every day? In this conversation, I talk with Kristen Fox about what it really takes to create a workplace where people can thrive. Kristen shares why curiosity and vulnerability are such powerful leadership tools, how to build the trust needed for honest feedback, and why leaders need to take responsibility for creating the conditions for their people to succeed. Kristen Fox is a senior human resources executive with more than 25 years of experience helping organizations navigate growth, transformation, and cultural change. Her career has spanned healthcare, higher education, and some of the world’s largest and most complex operations. Listen to the full episode to hear: How moving from “expert” to curious leader can unlock the talent around youPractical ways to build trust so people feel safe giving honest feedbackThe powerful lesson Kristen learned from her rowing coach about putting people in the right “seat”How to create psychological safety by meeting your team where they areWhy leaders can save time by involving the people who created an outcome in solving the problemHow to discern between issues with performance, fit, or a lack of the right supportsLearn More About Kristen Fox: Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-fox-hr-executive/ Learn More About Heather Smith and Talent Elevated: Talent Elevated: https://www.talentelevated.org

  4. Sep 10

    19. Who Before What: Jonathan David Lewis on Why Identity Is the Leadership Challenge of Our Time

    What does leadership require of us when the old story of work no longer works? That’s the question I explore in this conversation with Jonathan David Lewis, president and partner at McKee Wallwork and author of The Rebuilders: Daily Foundations for the Leaders We Need. Jonathan and I talked about how dramatically the world of work has changed and how many of the assumptions that shaped previous generations no longer resonate with today’s workforce. If we’re trying to solve new problems with an old story, we’re going to struggle to find the right solutions. One of the ideas that really stayed with me is Jonathan’s metaphor of “getting behind the stroller.” Leadership means recognizing that we have a responsibility to the people and communities around us, even when we didn’t choose the circumstances we’re leading through. I loved this conversation because Jonathan doesn’t pretend that the changes we’re navigating are easy. Instead, he offers a different way of looking at them: things may be crumbling, but that doesn’t mean they have to stay that way. We can rebuild. Listen to the full episode to hear: Why today’s workforce is experiencing what Jonathan calls “transactional, futureless suffering”The leadership challenge of this momentWhat leaders need to create instead of optimizing everything for efficiencyWhy our people need a quest—a meaningful challenge and a future they can believe inWhat organizations look like when they rediscover their identity and get their “mojo” backWhat it means to answer the call to become a rebuilderMentioned: The Rebuilders: Daily Foundations for the Leaders We NeedGood to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...And Others Don't, Jim CollinsStart with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action, Simon Sinek Learn More About Jonathan David Lewis: McKee WallworkConnect on LinkedIn Learn More About Heather Smith: Talent Elevated

  5. Aug 27

    18. Mental Performance as a Competitive Advantage: Chris Carey on Building Better Workplaces

    What if employee wellbeing isn't a nice-to-have, but a fundamental part of how we create high-performing organizations? In this episode of Culture by Design, I’m joined by Chris Carey, CEO of Calm Health, to talk about the changing relationship between mental health, wellbeing, and performance at work. As AI takes over more of the information processing in our jobs, Chris argues that the skills that remain deeply human — decision-making, leadership, creativity, and meaningful collaboration — become even more important. And to perform at our best, we need to rethink how we approach mental wellbeing and recovery. Chris and I talk about why organizations can't expect their people to sprint indefinitely, how leaders can model healthy habits, and why culture is built through everyday behaviors rather than words on a whiteboard. Chris Carey, CEO of Calm Health, is an experienced leader passionate about building amazing teams striving to create healthcare tools to make the system work for everyone. At Calm Health, Chris is focused on creating a mental health platform for the world’s most trusted healthcare solutions by building and investing in simple, innovative solutions that address all dimensions of health.  Listen to the full episode to hear: How stress directly impacts our ability to engage in constructive conflict, focused ideation, and creativityWhat organizations can learn from athletes about the importance of recovery to performanceWhy leaders should share their personal wellness habits and goals with their teamsWhy we need to shift mindsets about supporting mental health away from crisis managementThe three things Chris believes employers can do to support employee mental wellbeing Learn More About Chris Carey: Calm HealthConnect on LinkedIn Learn More About Heather Smith: Talent Elevated

  6. Aug 13

    17. From Competition to Collaboration: Patrick Payton on Leading Through Division

    When conflict shows up at work, our instinct is often to solve it as quickly as possible or to prove we're right. But what if the strongest leaders do something entirely different? In this episode, I'm joined by Patrick Payton, Managing Director at Consilium Business Labs, former mayor, founding pastor, business consultant, and author. Drawing on decades of leading through uncertainty and division, Patrick shares why the best leaders choose curiosity over certainty, collaboration over competition, and purpose over polarization. If you're leading a team through change, navigating differing opinions, or working to build a stronger culture, this conversation offers practical insights that will challenge the way you think about leadership. Listen to the full episode to hear: Why great leaders choose wisdom over simply being right.How understanding another person's perspective builds trust and reduces division.The shift from competing with people to collaborating alongside them.Why a shared purpose is the foundation for alignment and healthy culture.Questions that move difficult conversations from posturing to genuine learning.How to lead teams through disagreement without becoming divisive.Patrick's advice for bringing people with you instead of leaving them behind.Learn More About Patrick Payton: WebsiteConsilium Business LabsNo Neutral Moments PodcastInstagram: @patrickpayton_The Middle: How the Quiet Majority Can Mend a Divided Nation Learn More About Heather Smith: Talent Elevated Resources: 12: Serving People to Serve the Purpose: Dave Kuhnert’s Approach to Leadership and AccountabilityThe 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen R. CoveyCelebrate Kids8 Great Smarts: Discover and Nurture Your Child's Intelligences, Kathy Koch Phd

  7. Jul 30

    16. Why Leadership Consistency Matters More Than Good Intentions

    In this solo episode, I want to have an honest conversation about something I'm seeing in organizations everywhere and experiencing myself.  Leaders are carrying so much that many of us are operating without any margin. And while we often talk about burnout, I think there's another consequence we don't talk about enough: exhaustion makes us unpredictable. The challenge isn't that tired leaders suddenly become bad leaders. It's that our teams never quite know which version of us they're going to get. Even with the best intentions, that inconsistency can quietly erode trust, create unnecessary anxiety, and shape the culture we're working so hard to build. In this episode, I explore why leadership consistency matters more than perfection, how exhaustion changes the way we show up, and what we can do to close the gap between our intentions and the experiences our teams are actually having. Listen to the full episode to hear: How inconsistency impacts trust and psychological safetyThe difference between the leader you intend to be and the leader your team experiencesFour ways executive exhaustion changes organizational culturePractical strategies for reducing decision fatigue and leading with greater consistencyWhy healthy leadership starts with intentionally managing yourself Learn More About Heather Smith: Talent Elevated

  8. Jul 16

    15. The Hidden Systems That Are Shaping Your Culture Right Now

    When it comes to building culture, it’s not the idea itself that is complicated or difficult. Where we often find organizational leaders struggling is in the gap between intention and the existing day-to-day reality and understanding the actions that need to be taken to bridge that gap. Today, I want to spend some time breaking down some of the key questions that we, at Talent Elevated, get over and over again.  How do I improve accountability?  How do I get people engaged? How do I improve communication? How do I get everyone aligned? These are consistent pain points that we see in organizations we work with. I think it’s worth digging into some of the assumptions and perspectives that leaders might bring to these questions around culture, so that together we can make good culture a reality. Listen to the full episode to hear: Questions every leader should ask before trying to transform cultureWhy "accountability problems" are often really systems problemsThe gap between leadership intent and employee experience—and how to close itSimple ways to build culture through everyday decisions, conversations, and feedbackWhy mindset is the essential first step in any successful culture transformationLearn More About Heather Smith: Talent Elevated

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Meet business owners and executives who recognize that employee culture is too important to be left to chance. Each week, we dive into how companies like yours transform accidental norms into purposeful strategies that accelerate growth while enabling employees to thrive. If you're eager to turn culture into a competitive advantage for your small or mid-sized business, Heather Smith, CEO of Talent Elevated, will give you practical strategies for designing culture with intention and unlocking employee potential. Find the clarity, focus, and actionable insights to build a workplace where your team is invested in their work, their colleagues, and the company mission—even when business priorities feel overwhelming.

Information

  • Creator
    Heather Smith
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Heather Smith