From The Culture

S1, E27 - Stay In Your Lane

Today on From the Culture, we're asking a simple question: Where does greatness come from? Our guest is Matthew Knowles: music executive, entrepreneur, educator, author, and the visionary behind one of the most successful music careers of our time. For decades, he's developed talent, built high-performing teams, and helped shape moments that have influenced culture around the world. But this conversation goes beyond music. We explore how leaders cultivate excellence, the cultures that allow people to thrive, and why the environments we create at work often determine the impact we have far beyond it. Here's our conversation with Matthew Knowles.

S1, E26 - Vibe Founding and the Irreducible Human Skills

What does it take to build something people actually want in the age of AI? And as technology lowers the barriers to starting a company, what becomes even more important than the idea itself? Marcus Collins and Amanda Slavin sit down with entrepreneur, investor, and UC Berkeley Haas Lester Center Fellow Jim Hornthal to explore how founders can move beyond hype and build organizations that genuinely solve problems. Together, they unpack the mindset behind successful entrepreneurship, why curiosity and resilience matter more than certainty, and how AI is reshaping everything from innovation to leadership. From founder psychology and organizational culture to evidence-based innovation and the future of work, this conversation offers a thoughtful look at what it takes to create products, teams, and companies that people truly value in a rapidly changing world.

S1, E25 - Who Decides Potential with Gil Winch

What if the people most companies overlook are actually their greatest untapped source of talent? Dr. Gil Winch, founder of a call center, Call Yachol, that employs people with disabilities and others often excluded from the workforce, joins Marcus Collins and Amanda Slavin to discuss belonging, culture, and why designing workplaces around human potential can create extraordinary results. Through powerful stories and practical insights, he makes the case that inclusion isn't just the right thing to do. It's a competitive advantage.

S1, E24 - Strike While It's Hot

This week, Marcus Collins and Amanda Slavin are joined by entrepreneur, craftsman, and Square co-founder Jim McKelvey. Through stories from his life as a glassblower and startup founder, Jim shares lessons on risk-taking, trust, innovation, and what it means to build something that can withstand pressure without losing its integrity. From unbreakable glass to billion-dollar businesses, the conversation explores how great teams create safety for experimentation, why action matters more than perfection, and how purpose can evolve after success.

S1, E23 - Building Community Through Empathy

What if the most important leadership skill isn't strategy, charisma, or vision, but empathy? This week, Marcus Collins and Amanda Slavin sit down with Kathryn Petralia, co-founder of Kabbage, a data-driven company bought by American Express that provides new lending opportunities to underserved communities. They explore how better understanding people’s needs became the foundation of a huge business. Together, they unpack cognitive empathy, building community culture at the office, hiring for self-awareness, and how the best leaders learn to see the world through someone else's perspective. Plus, Kathryn shares her personal philosophy for success.