Culture Matters

Subbu Kalpathi

Learning, Leadership and Organizational Development expert Subbu Kalpathi talks with leading academics, researchers, authors, corporate leaders, consultants and subject matter experts on the topic of organizational culture. From harnessing the science of happiness at work to innovations such as the 4-day workweek, Culture Matters will challenge the way you think about your people strategy for the new world of work.

  1. 4天前

    Engagement, Well-being and the Future of Work with Jim Harter

    Jim Harter is Chief Scientist of Workplace Management and Well-being at Gallup — one of the world’s most trusted voices in understanding what makes work, and workers, thrive. Over three decades at Gallup, Jim has helped shape how organizations across the globe make sense of engagement, performance, and well-being. His research has defined the modern science of engagement. From pioneering the first meta-analysis linking engagement to performance outcomes, to co-authoring Wellbeing at Work with Jim Clifton, Jim’s work has influenced leaders, managers, and policymakers in every industry. In this episode, Jim and Subbu explore the evolving story of how people feel about their work: what drives engagement, why well-being can’t be separated from it, and how today’s hybrid workplaces are testing the limits of both. They unpack Gallup’s latest State of the Global Workplace 2025 report — from the sharp decline in manager engagement to the paradox of remote work, where autonomy rises but connection fades. We cover: How Gallup’s decades of research have reshaped our understanding of workThe drop in global engagement and why it matters more than most leaders thinkWhy managers hold 70% of the variance in engagement and what to do about itThe three habits of great managersHow engagement and well-being intertwine, and why one without the other won’t lastThe rise of “the great detachment” and what it says about loyalty and belongingHow AI and hybrid work are redefining the manager’s roleThe next frontier in Gallup’s research: strengths utilization and how it drives both performance and prosperity

    47 分钟
  2. 9月24日

    Burnout is preventable: Rethinking healthy work with Malissa Clark

    Professor Malissa Clark is one of the world’s leading scholars on workaholism, burnout, and the science of healthy work. She is Professor and Head of Psychology Department at the University of Georgia, where she also leads the Healthy Work Lab. Her research has redefined how we think about overwork as a multidimensional phenomenon with deep consequences for individuals, families, and organizations. Prof. Clark is the author of Never Not Working, a book that blends rigorous research with personal insight to challenge the myths of productivity and the culture of “always on.” In this episode, Malissa and Subbu unpack why workaholism is far more complex than simply clocking long hours, how burnout is preventable, and what both individuals and organizations can do to build healthier ways of working. They also explore the hidden costs of overwork on families, the myths that refuse to die, and the cultural signals that silently enforce “ideal worker” norms. We cover: Malissa’s winding career path—from sales and consulting to academiaWhy she founded the Healthy Work Lab and what “healthy work” really meansThe four dimensions of workaholism: motivational, cognitive, emotional, and behavioralWhy long hours don’t predict productivity—and how overwork can harm teamsThe health consequences of chronic overwork—from poor sleep to cardiovascular riskThe ripple effects of workaholism on spouses, children, and workplace cultureBurnout as an organizational problem, not just an individual one—and why it’s preventablePractical strategies to “kick the habit”: Eisenhower matrix, recovery breaks, and mastery experiencesHow organizational norms—like praising late-night availability—shape unhealthy culturesWhat leaders can do to reset expectations, model balance, and experiment with changeThe promise and challenges of the four-day week movementWhy vulnerability and personal storytelling matter in academic work

    53 分钟
  3. 9月3日

    Reframing Regret as an Engine for Growth with Daniel Pink

    Daniel Pink is one of the world’s most influential thinkers on work, behavior, and human motivation. He is the author of seven New York Times bestsellers—including Drive, When, and The Power of Regret—books that have shaped how leaders, educators, and individuals approach purpose, timing, decision-making, and the emotions that drive us. Across a career that spans law, politics, speechwriting, and two decades of groundbreaking writing, Dan has made complex research in psychology and behavioral science accessible to millions of readers worldwide. His TED talks have been viewed tens of millions of times, and his work continues to influence the way organizations and individuals think about performance, choice, and meaning. In this episode, Dan and Subbu unpack why regret is not something to suppress but a vital emotion that helps us learn, grow, and make better choices. They also explore how to navigate today’s flood of information, the habits of good decision-making, and the human commonalities revealed by studying regrets from around the world. We cover: Dan’s winding career path—from law school and politics to bestselling authorWhy he regrets not having mentors early in his careerHow he stays current with fast-moving research without drowning in informationThe puzzle at the heart of The Power of Regret—why an emotion that feels terrible is so universalWhy “no regrets” culture is misguided, and how to confront regrets productivelyThe difference between regrets of action and inaction—and why inaction regrets dominate as we ageThe four universal categories of regret: foundation, boldness, moral, and connectionWhat 26,000 submissions to the World Regret Survey reveal about being humanHow to deal with regrets through self-compassion, writing, and sense-makingThe regret optimization framework, and how to apply it to the decisions that matter mostWhy kindness and pro-social behavior should become our “default setting”How changing the delivery of ideas matters as much as the ideas themselves in an age of AI and distraction

    43 分钟
  4. 8月13日

    How deliberate rest can fuel performance with Alex Soojung-Kim Pang

    Alex Soojung-Kim Pang is a historian, futurist, and one of the most compelling voices rethinking the way we work, rest, and create. He is the author of Rest, Shorter, and The Distraction Addiction—books that have reshaped the global conversation on productivity and wellbeing. Alex has worked across academia, tech, publishing, and firms like the 4 Day Week Gobal. Today, he leads programs with 4.dk - a Dutch team leading 4-day week experiments in Denmark, and 4 Day Week studio. In this episode, Alex and Subbu explore the science and art of deliberate rest, why overwork is counterproductive, and how the four-day week is moving from radical idea to mainstream practice. The conversation draws on history, neuroscience, and real-world experiments to reveal how we can all work better by working less. We cover: Alex’s unconventional “Grand Theft Auto” career path—from historian to tech futurist to rest evangelistThe mentors and moments that shaped his thinkingWhy overwork persists—and how it erodes creativity, judgment, and empathyWhat it really takes to rest well: active recovery, multiple time scales, and deliberate planningThe “four-hour rule” of deep work and how great minds from Darwin to Hemingway structured their daysThe link between morning routines, the default mode network, and creativityThe concept of deep play and why serious hobbies sustain high performanceThe business case for the four-day week, and what early adopters have learnedHow AI is changing the way we discover and apply researchWhat the music industry can teach us about creativity and collaboration in the age of automation

    1 小时 3 分钟
  5. 7月23日

    Signals, Stories and Tribal Instincts with Prof. Michael Morris

    Michael Morris is the Chavkin-Chang Professor of Leadership at Columbia Business School, and one of the world’s leading scholars at the intersection of culture, cognition, and leadership. A cultural psychologist by training, his research has shaped how we understand identity, influence, and the psychology of change across global contexts. Over a career spanning decades, Prof. Morris has published over 200 academic papers and founded Columbia’s Leadership Lab and Behavioral Lab. In this episode, Prof. Morris and Subbu unpack the deep instincts that shape our collective lives—from the psychology of sports teams to corporate leadership—and why culture is not fixed, but dynamic, contested, and constantly evolving. To listen to the full episode, go here: bit.ly/m/cult_m We cover: - Prof. Morris' journey from literature and cognitive science to pioneering cultural psychology - The origin story of the field—and why it had to reemerge after being sidelined for decades - Why culture is not what people say, but what people signal - What South Korea’s 2002 World Cup team taught us about identity and adaptability - Peer, hero, and ancestor instincts—and how they shape organizational behavior - What leaders often get wrong about culture change - Why the legitimacy of the messenger matters more than the message - How companies like Infosys, HCL, and GM shifted culture through surprising signals - The future of cultural analysis in an age of AI and big data

    1 小时 27 分钟
  6. 6月25日

    Why learning to fail well can be a superpower with Amy Edmondson

    Amy Edmondson is the Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at Harvard Business School, and one of the world’s foremost thinkers on organizational behavior. Best known for her pioneering work on psychological safety, Amy’s research has transformed how leaders build trust, foster learning, and create high-performing teams. Her books—including The Fearless Organization and Right Kind of Wrong—have become must-reads for anyone serious about culture and innovation. In this episode, Amy and Subbu dive deep into the science of failing well, teaming in a hybrid world, and why psychological safety isn’t about being nice but about being brave. We explore the roots of her work, lessons from early setbacks, and what it takes to build resilient, learning-focused organizations in an age of AI, burnout, and constant change. In this episode, we cover: Amy’s unconventional journey—from working with Buckminster Fuller to redefining team learningThe surprising discovery that launched psychological safety researchCommon myths about psychological safetyHow hybrid and remote work are reshaping interpersonal risk-takingThe difference between errors and failures, and why most organizations confuse the twoWhat “intelligent failure” looks like, and how to cultivate itWhy team-based learning is the underappreciated engine of innovationThe link between psychological safety and burnout—and what leaders can do about itA systems-thinking lens for navigating consistent, variable, and novel work contextsAmy’s next big question: Given the larger societal and technological changes around us, how do we make work work for everybody?

    45 分钟

关于

Learning, Leadership and Organizational Development expert Subbu Kalpathi talks with leading academics, researchers, authors, corporate leaders, consultants and subject matter experts on the topic of organizational culture. From harnessing the science of happiness at work to innovations such as the 4-day workweek, Culture Matters will challenge the way you think about your people strategy for the new world of work.