CultureLab with Aga Bajer
Have you ever felt like you are not connecting with someone and the barrier that stands in the way is cultural? It might be that the jokes you crack don't land, the emails you send seem to miss the mark, or the way you lead meetings doesn't resonate with everyone in the room. It can be like trying to tune into a radio station but finding yourself between frequencies, where everything just sounds like static. This is a common experience in today’s global workforce, where teams are more diverse than ever, spanning across different countries, cultures, and backgrounds. Andy Molinky is a...
info_outline Gary Ware: Playful Rebellion at WorkCultureLab with Aga Bajer
When was the last time you were genuinely playful at work? If you are like most of us, it might have been a while. We’ve been conditioned to believe that work and play don’t really mix. Not only we’ve been taught to draw a clear demarcation line between work and play, we’ve also been convinced that work is somehow way more noble and more important that play. But what if truly great work couldn’t happen without a healthy dose of play? What if, unless we can have fun with the work itself, at least occasionally, we can’t really achieve greatness? Today’s conversation with Gary Ware,...
info_outline Bob Sutton: On Making the Right Things Easier and the Wrong Things HarderCultureLab with Aga Bajer
Can you remember a time when it felt like things at work were unjustifiably and annoyingly hard? Maybe you had to read a 1000-word email that could have been just one paragraph, or had to attend a two-hour meeting that could have been an email. Or maybe you had to manually input data although the process should have been automated ages ago. The reality is that every workplace is clogged with this type of destructive friction—the time-consuming, and soul-crushing practices that drive us crazy and undermine our ability to achieve meaningful goals. I imagine that at the global scale, millions...
info_outline Zoe Chance: Becoming a Master InfluencerCultureLab with Aga Bajer
Do you want to be more influential? For most of us, the answer is yes. Greater influence often translates to more power, enabling us to achieve our goals, drive change, and create positive impact. But delving into the strategies and tactics of influence can leave us feeling uneasy. Words like “manipulative,” “sneaky,” and “coercive” come to mind. Zoe Chance explains this reaction this way: “The idea of influence has been corrupted by tacky, greedy people using tacky, greedy tactics to sell used cars, to promote sponsors’ products on social media, and to get us to buy now, while...
info_outline Brian Elliott - Unlocking Productivity at WorkCultureLab with Aga Bajer
So, here’s an interesting question: What does it take to actually build teams that are highly effective in this brave new world of work? And what's the relationship between making work better for people and the outcomes that organizations can achieve? Unlocking productivity is just a piece of the conversation that we dive into in today’s rich exploration with Brian Elliott. You can follow Brian on You can find the transcript of our conversation . Click here to learn more about the – a one-of-a-kind virtual community for Heads of Culture, founders, and leaders who want to up their...
info_outline Stacey Gordon - What DEI Is Really AboutCultureLab with Aga Bajer
Stacey Gordon is an expert on DEI and workplace bias and the author of . In this conversation, she shares her personal journey, offering unique insights from the experiences that shaped her understanding and approach to DEI work. There are many misconceptions surrounding diversity hiring, and the essence of true inclusion and we face them head on. We also talk about the transformative power of empathy and storytelling in creating a culture where everyone can thrive. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to understand the deeper layers of DEI and its impact on organizational success....
info_outline Amy Gallo - How to Work with Difficult PeopleCultureLab with Aga Bajer
Work relationships can be hard. The stress of dealing with difficult people dampens our creativity and productivity, and degrades our ability to think clearly and make sound decisions. Too often we grin and bear it as if we have no choice. But you can only endure so much —there's your sanity to consider, and your career. This is why, we are thrilled to have Amy Gallo joining us, the best-selling author of Getting Along: How to Work with Anyone (Even Difficult People) the HBR Guide to Dealing with Conflict, a how-to book about handling conflict professionally and productively. Tune into this...
info_outline THE DEEP DIVE with Aga and Shani: Deep Fun at WorkCultureLab with Aga Bajer
In this Deep Dive Aga and Shani delve deep into a topic that has fascinated Aga for almost a decade – what drives people to do their absolute best work. Over the years, she's posed this question to more than 3000 individuals and discovered something truly unexpected: peak performance at work is often closely linked to one surprising factor - having fun. But not the kind of fun associated with ping-pong tables and office parties. Instead, it's all about deriving genuine enjoyment from the work itself. Join Aga and Shani in this illuminating conversation as they explore the concept of "Deep...
info_outline Mauro Porcini - The Power of People in Love with PeopleCultureLab with Aga Bajer
Many companies aspire to be industry disruptors and innovation leaders, but only a handful can genuinely claim those titles. What sets them apart? We're zeroing in on PepsiCo—a company that's nailed it when it comes to creating an environment where people excel. According to their Chief Design Officer, Mauro Porcini, the secret sauce is love, empathy, kindness, and generosity. So tune into this week's episode of the CultureLab where we dig into the nuts and bolts of innovative cultures. To join CultureBrained® with a 25% discount (until November 15th) go to To learn more...
info_outline Dana Chapman - Fueling Success: The Relationship of Nutrition, Mind and CultureCultureLab with Aga Bajer
In a world where the relentless pursuit of productivity often overshadows well-being, it's easy to overlook the fundamental connection between what we eat and how our bodies and minds perform. But what if the secret to enhanced cognitive function and overall vitality lay within the choices we make on our plates? Our guest in this episode of the CultureLab podcast, Dana Chapman, is a leading mental health and wellness expert, specializing in the gut-brain axis. Tune in this episode as we explore the synergies between nutrition, mind, and body and how they are all linked with creating thriving...
info_outlineMeet Ron Carucci, the co-founder and managing partner at Navalent, who works with CEOs and executives pursuing transformational change for their organizations.
I came across Ron’s work in the Harvard Business Review. His writing on leading change, navigating conflict, and understanding corporate values and lies, as well as many other topics, has always challenged my thinking and offered valuable insights.
Ron is someone deeply invested in helping leaders thrive by impacting the lives of those they lead.
I was fascinated to learn that Ron keeps a collection of antique door knobs, door knockers, and skeleton keys so that he gets a reminder that life is about finding and pursuing the open doors in front of us and making sure those doors open for others.
Episode Highlights
In this interview, Ron and I discuss:
- Being an introvert and the superpowers that come with it
- What helps Ron be grateful for all those in his life who’ve been part of his story
- How artifacts impact our behavior
- Ron’s research on why people lie or withhold the truth at work
- How companies inadvertently institutionalize duplicity and trigger dishonesty among their employees
- Enabling the culture of honesty in an organization
- The dangers of using values without living them
- Conditions that need to be present to prevent the misuse of corporate values
- How to know when training is the answer (and when it is NOT) when it comes to behavior change
More About Ron Carucci
Ron has a thirty-year track record helping some of the world’s most influential executives tackle the challenges of strategy, organization, and leadership. From start-ups to Fortune 10s, turnarounds to new markets and strategies, overhauling leadership and culture to redesigning for growth, he has worked in more than 25 countries on 4 continents. In addition to being a regular contributor to the Harvard Business Review and Forbes, he has been featured in Fortune, CEO Magazine, BusinessInsider, MSNBC, Inc, Business Week, Smart Business, and Thought Leaders.
Books Mentioned in this Episode:
Free ebook, Leading Transformation: Owner’s Manual
Ron Carucci, and Mike Roberts, Leadership Divided
Ron Carucci, Relationships That Enable Enterprise
Ron Carucci and Eric C. Hansen, Rising to Power: The Journey of Exceptional Executives
Ray Dalio, Principles: Life and Work
David Whyte, Crossing the Unknown Sea: Work as a Pilgrimage of Identity
John Kotter, Corporate Culture and Performance
Tasha Eurich, Insight: The Surprising Truth About How Others See Us, How We See Ourselves, and Why the Answers Matter More Than We Think