Culture Conversations

Designing Listening Strategies That Work: A Conversation with Anna Binder (Special Webinar Edition)

This special edition of Culture Conversations brings you highlights from a recent live webinar with Anna Binder, Head of People at Asana and one of the most thoughtful leaders in the HR space. In this episode, Anna and Craig dive deep into: * Why listening strategies matter more than ever in times of disruption. * How to connect listening programs directly to business goals. * The biggest pitfalls organizations fall into — and how to avoid them. * What it looks like to design sustainable, organization-wide listening systems. * Where the future of listening is headed as active and passive data converge. You’ll hear Craig’s reflections alongside Anna’s candid insights, creating a practical guide for HR leaders and practitioners who want to strengthen culture and drive performance through employee listening. 👉 This conversation was adapted from a recent CultureC Consulting webinar. If you’d like to stay informed about upcoming webinars, events, and resources, head to culturec.com [http://www.culturec.com] and sign up for our newsletter.

The Human Side of Data: Building Culture Through People Analytics with Al Adamsen

The Human Side of Data: Building Culture Through People Analytics In this episode of Culture Conversations, Craig Forman sits down with longtime friend and industry pioneer Al Adamsen—a name synonymous with the evolution of people analytics. From his early work at Gap Inc. to executive leadership at Perceptyx and his current role as founding partner of Future of Work Advisors, Al has been at the epicenter of how organizations use data to understand and transform the employee experience. Together, Craig and Al explore: * The origin story of people analytics—and why the term “employee insights” still matters. * How culture, leadership, and data intersect to drive both performance and human well-being. * The challenges of continuous disruption—AI, globalization, organizational change—and what this means for the next generation of workers. * Why too many leaders treat listening as a checkbox exercise—and how to move from data collection to sustainable action. * Practical advice for HR practitioners: how to contextualize insights, craft stories that resonate with executives, and influence change even in smaller organizations. Al leaves us with a powerful reminder: employees everywhere want three things—to be seen, to be heard, and to be empowered. When organizations get this right, they unlock not just productivity, but purpose and performance that lasts. 📌 Resources & Mentions • Nexus by Yuval Noah Harari [https://www.amazon.com/Nexus-Brief-History-Information-Networks/dp/059373422X/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.nuW_5Amu55_fHf1ocwksSqRDN_-ZaANmVLZ61YGMhr8kHB6HpVp0HbYur-Bl2HMkdc8n_RwzE3bYh-wsJ8n9-a6WUnrjZAk0PVEP_IlYuASTDZIe7Uy-sGspzHe0_SuIjMqa0eEFBF34uGTP0Hh1A2321iP2-fY_w0LsaTfTI8sIpJ12dWWev2x9gz4xjLz7U6hya0vLaEGvV9ZbCMJYZPf1BewvLgi2b5oinhK70-4.RxXFzFVh3Z-VdavGidlfS2a0l5Je8plz7wZR43bureg&dib_tag=se&hvadid=726111467172&hvdev=c&hvexpln=67&hvlocphy=9032096&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=15768959723923230718--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=15768959723923230718&hvtargid=kwd-2337200452927&hydadcr=20589_13321855&keywords=nexus+by+yuval+noah+harari&mcid=ab9e065abe3f3f79b4b0a8885ba7cad0&qid=1756416595&sr=8-1] • I, Human by Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic [https://www.amazon.com/dp/1647820553/?bestFormat=true&k=i%2C%20human%20by%20tomas%20chamorro-premuzic&ref_=nb_sb_ss_w_scx-ent-pd-bk-d_k0_1_35_de&crid=26CP9HY4CQAVK&sprefix=I%2C%20Human%20by%20Tomas%20Chamorro-Premuzic] • Al’s website: https://aladamsen.com/ [https://aladamsen.com/] • Connect with Al on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/aladamsen/]

What Global Culture Can Teach Us About How We Work: Insights from 151 Cultures with Dr. Hilary Curry

WHAT GLOBAL CULTURE CAN TEACH US ABOUT HOW WE WORK: INSIGHTS FROM 151 CULTURES WITH DR. HILARY CURRY In this episode of Culture Conversations, Craig Forman welcomes Dr. Hilary Curry—an organizational development consultant with a PhD and two decades of experience—to explore what working across 151 cultures reveals about the way we work. Hilary shares reflections from global consulting roles, from the UAE to Canada, shedding light on how national culture and workplace dynamics intersect in surprising ways. What You’ll Learn: * Why leaders need a “professional retrospective” – take real steps to pause, reflect, and reset your career direction. * The art of listening beyond words – how spotting what’s unsaid can be more telling than what’s spoken, especially across cultural lines. * Balancing structure and spontaneity – why process matters and facilitation must flex to be human-centered. • Cross-cultural lessons you can apply anywhere – insights from her work across 151 cultures that enhance collaboration and leadership. * The cost of disregarding cultural context – understanding “where people come from” in national terms is just as important as organizational culture. Why It Matters: Whether you’re leading locally or globally, Hilary’s perspectives will help you rethink how culture shapes your workplace—and how being culture-aware makes you a better leader.  Connect with Dr. Hilary Curry: * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/hilarycurry/]: Hilary Curry * Website [https://www.halstonconsulting.com/]: Halston Consulting

Thriving vs. Surviving: A Leadership Lens for Building Teams That Last

In today’s fast-moving, post-pandemic world of work, the difference between thriving and surviving isn’t just a mindset — it’s a leadership lens that shapes how people show up, make decisions, and work together. When we’re thriving, we’re expansive, collaborative, and strategic. When we’re surviving, we’re reactive, guarded, and often running on fumes. In this episode of Culture Conversations, Craig is joined by Megan Galloway — executive coach, leadership development expert, and founder of Everleader Consulting — for a deeply human conversation about what it takes to build resilient teams in the face of constant change. Together, they explore: • Why so many leaders are stuck in survival mode (and how to break out of it) • The neuroscience of stress and its impact on executive thinking and decision-making • How strong relationships and proactive communication give teams a competitive edge • The lost art of healthy conflict and how executive teams can re-learn it • What it really means to “hold on to culture” during growth, reorgs, and transitions • Why every team needs to define how they want to relate before crisis hits Megan shares stories from her coaching work with executive teams across industries, offering practical tools for leaders who want to show up with more clarity, alignment, and capacity. Whether you’re leading a high-growth company, navigating uncertainty, or simply trying to keep your team connected — this episode offers perspective, grounding, and plenty of “oh wow” moments.

Culture Is What Happens When It’s Hard: A Conversation with David Hanrahan

Join Craig Forman in conversation with David Hanrahan, Chief People Officer at SolarWinds and former people leader at Twitter, Eventbrite, Zendesk, and Niantic. Together, they unpack how culture truly shows up in moments of upheaval, growth, and transformation—and what that means for people teams and executives navigating complexity today. What We Cover: • Why HR often acts as the mirror for organizational culture, especially when values are put to the test • How inflection points—growth, downsizing, disruption—can become intentional culture resets • The future of engagement and performance management: how AI could make feedback more real, relational, and continuous • Why storytelling and lived values matter more than policy when shaping culture • How David is approaching inclusion and belonging in today’s fast-shifting environment Why Listen: If you’re leading people or shaping culture, this episode offers clarity, reflection, and forward-thinking ideas on how to stay grounded when everything around you shifts.