Culture REfit

Why Do You Still Have to Prove Yourself? With Shilpa Satchwell

Hey Culture REfit community! We have a new episode this one is for everyone who's ever felt like the only one in the room. What if everything that made you "the other" became your biggest professional advantage? In EP08 of Culture REfit, our host Carol Watson connects cross boards with the multi talent Shilpa Satchwell, former Partner at Unmistakeable a UK agency helping global brands communicate across cultures with authenticity. But Shilpa's expertise isn't just professional. It's deeply personal. hilpa grew up as the only Indian girl in rural Suffolk. She was spat on, told not to speak her mother tongue, and had no words to name what she was experiencing. Decades later, that same outsider lens became her professional superpower. Together, Carol and Shilpa unpack why representation without the right voices in the room is just decoration, what the DEI backlash is really telling us, how your internal culture and external brand are always the same story, the reverse culture flow reshaping global marketing, and how AI is either interrupting or reinforcing bias. Plus: a final tip that reframes how you show up at work every single day. Culture REfit is produced by Livre Para.

Culture on the Streets: 8 Countries. 1 Viewpoint. Zero Hierarchy. | EP07

What does belonging look like when you're far from home? At a beautiful View Point (Miradouro) in Lisbon, Carol Watson and Bruno Lisboa spoke with people from 8 different countries about what they actually want from work and what still holds them back. Voices from Italy, Portugal, Germany, France, Turkey, Nigeria, Brazil, and Russia open up about cultural identity, accent shame, hierarchy, and their dream celebrity bosses. Honest, unfiltered, and filmed in the streets of Lisbon. Press play and join in the global conversation! Culture REfit is a global community for people who believe workplace culture is worth fighting for. Culture REfit is produced by Livre Para Social Good Agency.

Is Your CEO Actually in Charge of Culture? With Ron Thomas | EP06

What actually happens in the rooms where culture gets decided? Ron Thomas has been there, and he's not holding back. Ron is a global CHRO and executive advisor based in Dubai, with decades of experience across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Asia-Pacific, and Africa. In this conversation with Carol Watson, he breaks down why most C-suite leaders have no idea what's really happening inside their own organizations — and what it takes to change that. From lessons learned in a Black barbershop in New Jersey to boardrooms in Karachi, Jakarta, and Riyadh, this episode is packed with honest insights on leadership, culture, identity, and what the next generation of workers really wants. What you'll hear:— Why Ron felt more accepted in Saudi Arabia and the UAE than in the US as a Black American man— The C-suite age gap and why it's breaking workplace culture— Why APAC is outpacing the world in workforce culture— The "iceberg of ignorance", and why your CEO is probably living in it— Return to office: the tension that isn't going away— How to build your personal brand and why it matters more than your MBA The uncomfortable truth? Culture doesn't come from an HR conference room. It starts at the top, and most C-suites aren't even in the building. 👀 🎙️ Created and hosted by Carol Watson 🎬 Produced by Livre Para — Social Good Agency Executive Producer: Bruno Lisboa Diotallévy Production Director: João Kraeski Copywriter: Shirley Van-Dúnem e Bruno Lisboa Editor: Gabriel Diniz Art Director: Gabriel Valentim Stylist: Natália Castañola Lisbon, Portugal & Brazil www.livrepara.com [http://www.livrepara.com] | @livre_para

Culture on the Streets | Lisbon | Does Belonging Require Fitting In? | EP 05

We took Culture REfit to the streets of Lisbon and had the most honest conversations about what it really means to belong at work. In Jardim de Estrela, we sat down with Irene from Nigeria, Asha from the USA, Alex from Portugal, Naky from Togo, and Manuel from Spain. They shared their real stories about moving to a new city, navigating different workplaces, and what actually makes you feel welcome. Here's what we learned: Belonging isn't about fitting in. It's about showing up as yourself without shrinking. We talked about the little things that matter, greeting your neighbors, making friends across cultures, having a boss who treats you like an adult. We talked about what healthy workplace culture actually looks like from the inside. And we shared practical tips for navigating across cultures with curiosity instead of fear. If you've ever felt like you had to become someone else to fit in at work. If you navigate multiple cultures or identities. If you've wondered what real people actually think about workplace culture and belonging, this episode is for you. Real people. Real conversations. Real solutions. 🎙️ Culture REfit Podcast Created and hosted by Carol Watson Cohosts: Bruno Lisboa Diotallévy Produced by Livre Para — Social Good Agency Executive Producer: Bruno Lisboa Diotallévy Production Director: João Kraeski Copywriter: Shirley Van-Dúnem Editor: Gabriel Diniz Art Director: Gabriel Valentim Producer & Stylist: Natália Castañola Lisbon, Portugal & Brazil livrepara.com | @livre_para 🌐 culturerefit.com 👉 Follow: @culturerefit Also available on YouTube and Apple Podcasts

Strategic Authenticity and the Joy of Thriving | With Annahid Dashtgard | EP 04

What does it mean to thrive when the system wasn't built for you? In this episode, Annahid Dashtgard (CEO of Anima Leadership, bestselling author of Fire and Silence) deconstructs burnout, perfectionism, and systemic barriers. She reveals how strategic authenticity and radical joy become acts of resistance. If you've felt pressured to work twice as hard to be seen as half as good, if you're exhausted from shrinking yourself... this conversation is for you. Annahid breaks down: why joy is radical resistance, how to reclaim your power without permission, and the real cost of staying silent. A roadmap for anyone struggling to show up authentically at work. Let's talk power, trauma, burnout, and how to actually thrive. Find Annahid at annahiddashtgard.com | Fire and Silence available on all book platforms _______________________________ Culture REfit is for every worker and leader who has felt alone or frustrated by a workplace culture that wasn’t designed for them. We bring real insights, real solutions, and real stories from thought leaders, authors, and people like you living it every day, across borders, generations, and identities. Come for the conversation. Stay for the rebuild journey. Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! _______________________________ Culture REfit Podcast: 🎙️Created and hosted by Carol Watson 🎤 Cohosts: Bruno Lisboa & Shirley Van-Dúnem 🎬 Produced by Livre Para — Social Good Agency (Lisbon) Executive Producer: Bruno Lisboa Diotallévy Production Director: João Kraeski Copywriter: Shirley Van-Dúnem Editor: Gabriel Diniz Art Director: Gabriel Valentim Producer & Stylist: Natália Castañola Lisbon, Portugal & Brazil