About this podcast
Most leaders know that a strong culture is a foundation for building a great organization, but great cultures don't just happen on their own. Rather, they're designed and built systematically, brick by brick. Each week, join David J. Friedman, the best-selling author of Culture by Design, as he speaks with extraordinary leaders, from all walks of life, and they share their biggest successes, failures, and lessons learned on their culture journeys. If you're searching for the best insights on building a high-performing culture, then Culture Architects, a production of CultureWise, is for you.
Episodes
The newest 20 of 108 episodes
- 61. Scaling Culture Across Every Branch w/ Chris Turner · 49 minIn this episode of Culture Architects, David J. Friedman sits down with Chris Turner, president of Piedmont Service Group, a multi-location HVAC and mechanical services company…
- 60. Building a Culture of Ownership w/ Kerry Siggins · 59 minWhat does it really mean to think and act like an owner? In this episode of Culture Architects, David J. Friedman sits down with Kerry Siggins, CEO of StoneAge, a 100%…
- 59. Saving Humanity from Business as Usual w/ Chris Yard · 1 h 3 minWhat if business could be both people-first and performance-driven? In this episode of Culture Architects, David J. Friedman sits down with Chris Yard, co-owner of Mercury Wire…
- 58. From Soldier to Culture Architect w/ Logan Nance · 58 minMost guests on Culture Architects come to culture from the top of an organization. Logan Nance came to it first from the inside of one of the most intentional cultures there is…
- 57. The Culture Behind the Numbers w/ Chris Powell · 55 minIn a business built around claims, revenue, and operational precision, Chris Powell believes culture still has to start with people. In this episode of Culture Architects, David…
- 56. Giving Employees Their Brains Back w/ Ron Lovett · 58 minWhat happens when a leader decides to give employees their brains back? In this episode of Culture Architects, David J. Friedman reconnects with entrepreneur, author, and fellow…
- 55. How Conversational Debt Sabotages Your Company’s Culture w/ Gustavo Rizzetti · 42 minWhat happens when talented people and great ideas are trapped inside a culture that does not allow them to thrive? In this episode of Culture Architects, David J. Friedman…
- 54. How a Private Boys School Cultivates Virtues and Culture w/ Tyler Casertano · 1 h 7 minIn this episode of Culture Architects, David interviews Tyler Casertano, the head of Haverford School, about cultivating culture and values in education. Tyler shares his journey…
- 53. The Power of The Collaborative Way: Transforming Teams and Culture w/ Lloyd Fickett · 1 h 0 minIn this episode, David sits down with Lloyd Ficket from the "The Collaborative Way", a framework for enhancing workplace relationships. In this conversation, Lloyd shares…
- 52. Understanding the Dimensions of Trust w/ Dennis & Michelle Reina · 55 minIn this episode of the Culture Architects podcast, we explore the science and practicalities of trust-building with researchers and authors Drs. Dennis and Michelle Reina. Learn…
- 51. Moving People, Not Just Furniture: Larry O’Toole and the Gentle Giant Way · 1 h 0 minIn this episode of Culture Architects, David Friedman interviews Larry O'Toole, founder of Gentle Giant Moving Company. They discuss Larry's journey from engineer to…
- 50. From Shopping Centers to Strong Teams: How Andy Weiner Built RockStep Capital · 48 minIn this episode of the Culture Architects podcast, David Friedman interviews Andy Wiener, CEO of RockStep Capital, who shares his journey from running a family retail business to…
- 49. Culture as a Competitive Advantage w/ Argosy Private Equity · 58 minIn this episode of the Culture Architects podcast, David Friedman speaks with Lane Wiggers and Don Charlton from Argosy Private Equity about the critical role of company culture…
- 48. From Biotech to Climate Action: Building Culture That Scales w/ Brian Cali · 53 minIn this episode of Culture Architects, David Friedman interviews Brian Cali, a molecular biologist turned entrepreneur and investor. Brian shares his journey from a young science…
- 47. Designing Cultures Where Everyone Thrives w/ Leo Sanders (Part 2) · 30 minPart Two opens with the case for representation—why teams that reflect the communities they serve make better decisions—and explores the outsized role of language in building…
- 47. Designing Cultures Where Everyone Thrives w/ Leo Sanders (Part 1) · 31 minLeo Sanders demystifies DEI by defining it in plain terms, grounding it in civil-rights practice, and connecting it to performance: attract broader talent, retain it, and remove…
- 46. Aligning Values, Beliefs, and Behaviors to Drive Results w/ Ann Melinger (Part 2) · 27 minPart Two picks up with the leader’s job of clarity and a practical discussion of value types (core vs. permission-to-play, aspirational, accidental) and how language choices…
- 46. Aligning Values, Beliefs, and Behaviors to Drive Results w/ Ann Melinger (Part 1) · 31 minAnn Melinger, CEO of bink, joins David to chart the shift from “engagement” to culture—and why experiences, not perks, reveal who you really are under pressure. Ann introduces…
- 45. Inside Pella's People-First Culture w/ John Bollman (Part 2) · 26 minPart Two picks up with John Bollman’s answer about Pella’s six culture accelerators and the link between culture and performance. John shares how Pella’s intentional focus on…
- 45. Inside Pella's People-First Culture w/ John Bollman (Part 1) · 26 minJohn Bollman, CHRO at Pella Corporation, joins David for a conversation about how leadership and culture shape a company’s long-term success. In Part One, John traces his career…
