Introducing Culture Starts Here with Heather Haas and BJ McKay
Release Date: 08/26/2025
Storytelling as Leadership Currency with Dr. Rod Berger
The CultureCon Podcast
What if the most untapped leadership skill isn’t found in a boardroom, but in the power of a well-told story? Nick and Zach officially welcome Dr. Rod Berger as CultureCon’s newest storyteller-in-residence. With a doctorate in psychology and thousands of interviews with global leaders under his belt, Rod brings a rare lens to leadership, one rooted in the belief that storytelling isn’t fluff, it’s fuel. From his book “The Narrative Edge” to his conversations with executives and veterans, Rod shares how narrative shapes identity, unlocks empathy, and fosters true connection inside...
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Culture Starts Here: Leaders Are Only as Effective as the Systems That Support Them
The CultureCon Podcast
W. Edwards Deming was famously quoted as saying, "A bad system will beat a good person every time." After decades of training, coaching, and consulting with leaders, ADVISA has seen that five drivers create cultural competitive advantage for organizations. The final driver is one of the most important: Systems That Support Leaders. In this episode, Steve Edwards, President & General Manager of City Wide Facility Solutions, joins ADVISA CEO Heather Haas and leadership consultant BJ McKay to dig into why systems matter – and how you can put systems to work for you. ...
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Live from CultureCon 2025: Making Multigenerational Teams Work with Megan Berki
The CultureCon Podcast
What happens when Gen Zs and Boomers team up at work? Live from CultureCon 2025, Nikki Lewallen Gregory sits down with Megan Berki of Rocket Lawyer for a powerful conversation on bridging generational gaps in the workplace. With five generations now working side-by-side, Megan shares how leaders can turn differences into strengths, from Gen Z’s TikTok-fueled learning to Boomers’ process-driven mindset. Packed with real examples from Rocket Lawyer, this episode explores communication strategies, culture wins (and flops), and how to build a people-first workplace where everyone feels seen...
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Live from CultureCon: Strengths Over Stress with Vibhas Ratanjee
The CultureCon Podcast
What if the real unlock to thriving workplace cultures isn’t fixing what’s broken, but amplifying what’s already strong? Jasmine Bellamy sits down with Vibhas Ratanjee, Senior Practice Expert at Gallup, to explore how organizations can build strengths-based cultures rooted in affirmation, not audit. Drawing from over two decades of research and consulting at Gallup, Vibhas reveals how focusing on what’s right with people, not what’s wrong, can radically shift culture, engagement, and performance. From the origin of CliftonStrengths to insights on Gen Z’s workplace disconnect, this...
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De-Risking Culture Work with Pete Savage & Greg Livings
The CultureCon Podcast
You’ve built your culture plan… now what? Pete Savage and Greg Livings pull back the curtain on a powerful but often overlooked concept: de-risking your culture program. From eliminating weak signals to building visual tools like the Culture Wheel Playbook, they unpack actionable strategies to ensure your culture efforts don’t fall flat. Whether you're planning for the year ahead or trying to get your CEO on board, this episode is packed with real-world, low-cost, high-impact tactics to build executive confidence and boost internal alignment. It’s a masterclass in making your culture...
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Culture Starts Here: For Leaders, This Can Make the Difference Between a Guess or a Smart Decision
The CultureCon Podcast
Want great insights to help you lead your people? You need data. "Actionable People Data" is the fourth driver of cultural competitive advantage in the acronym ATLAS. Data helps you increase employee engagement. Plus, by informing decisions, data reduces the burden on you to know the right thing to do. ADVISA CEO Heather Haas and leadership consultant BJ McKay discuss the critical importance of understanding employees’ motivations, needs, and experiences in qualitative and quantitative ways. Additional Resources: Learn more about Learn more about Key Takeaways: Data is...
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Live from CultureCon 2025: Wrestling with Leadership Chaos with Coleman Williams
The CultureCon Podcast
What happens when every leader in your company defines "leadership" their own way? Spoiler alert: chaos. Live from the CultureCon 2025 studio in Madison, Wisconsin, Nikki Lewallen Gregory teams up with Coleman Williams, co-founder of Wrestling With Talent, to get real about the chaos that comes from undefined leadership. From inconsistent one-on-ones to unclear goal-setting, they explore how structure creates fairness without crossing into micromanagement. They also unpack how companies can onboard leaders with clarity, integrate AI for more effective training, and give employees a consistent,...
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Live from CultureCon: How Employee Engagement Drives Success with Gianna Driver
The CultureCon Podcast
What if the key to thriving teams isn’t just better benefits or ping pong tables, but bold conversations, deep listening, and shared ownership of culture? Live from CultureCon2024, Nikki Llewellyn Gregory sits down with Gianna Driver to unpack the real meaning of employee engagement. From Silicon Valley boardrooms to culture-shifting conference stages, Gianna shares her personal journey through pivotal career moments, the evolution of engagement post-pandemic, and how both leaders and employees must co-own the energy of their workplace. You’ll hear why listening is the most underrated...
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What Happens in Vegas Builds Culture | CultureCon West 2025 Recap
The CultureCon Podcast
The best moments at CultureCon West 2025 didn’t happen on stage. They happened in the spaces in between. This episode unpacks why that matters. Nick and Zach reflect on what made CultureCon West 2025 truly stand out, and it wasn’t just the speaker lineup. From an unforgettable dinner where no one talked about work to a surprise “Hamilton” performance that brought the room to its feet, they explore the human-centered experiences that made this year’s conference feel different. They share behind-the-scenes wins in sustainability, unexpected on-stage moments, and why the real value came...
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Culture Starts Here: Do Your Leaders Know What To Say and Do To Be Effective? with Todd Wuestenberg
The CultureCon Podcast
Your leaders are your culture carriers. And if your organization wants to achieve and sustain cultural competitive advantage, your leaders must be crystal clear on a few critical behaviors. In this episode, CEO Heather Haas and leadership consultant BJ McKay of the consultancy ADVISA have a lively and insightful conversation with Todd Wuestenberg, Chief Culture Officer of Haverkamp Properties, about the importance of the third of five drivers of cultural competitive advantage: Leader Effectiveness. What does Leader Effectiveness look like, and how do you go about fostering...
info_outlineWelcome to the kickoff of “Culture Starts Here,” a fresh new series from The CultureCon Podcast in partnership with Advisa! 🎉
Meet Heather Haas, CEO of Advisa and former elementary school principal, and BJ McKay, a track coach-turned-leadership guru. Together, they break down how culture isn’t just a feel-good HR project, it’s a strategic lever for growth, alignment, and performance.
Heather and BJ introduce ATLAS, a five-part framework designed to help leaders build cultures that actually work, where systems support people, data drives clarity, and leadership is intentional from the top down.
With powerful client stories and no-BS insights, this episode shows you how to move from culture confusion to culture advantage. 🎯
Additional Resources:
Connect with Heather on LinkedIn
Learn more about Advisa
Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn
Learn more about PeopleForward Network
Key Takeaways:
- Culture can drive or derail business success… alignment matters.
- Leaders set the tone; they carry and shape culture daily.
- The ATLAS framework offers five clear culture drivers: Activation from Above, Trust and Shared Purpose, Leader Effectiveness, Actionable People Data, and Systems.
- Systems and processes must support the culture you want.
- Start with data and link culture directly to business outcomes.