April 22, 2026

693: Building a Remote Culture that Works with Don Harkey

55 minutes

Wanna earn a CEU? Go here! CEU: https://forms.gle/LthLsWwnABtGNoPX7

How do you build a strong team when your employees rarely, if ever, see one another? In this episode of Pet Sitter Confessional, Collin talks with Don Harkey of People Centric about what it takes to create healthy remote culture in pet care businesses. Don explains how leadership, communication, autonomy, and feedback all work together to help employees feel connected and set up for success. They discuss practical ways to build community across distributed teams, improve onboarding, and create better systems for performance and accountability. This conversation is a helpful reminder that strong culture does not happen by accident, but it can be built deliberately and fruitfully.

Main topics:

Remote culture in pet care
Leadership through better systems
Feedback that builds trust
Community in distributed teams
Autonomy and accountability balance

Main takeaway: "You can design an organization that works really well for people that also works really well for the company."

Too often, business owners feel like they have to choose between caring for their team and building a successful company, but those two things are not in conflict. In fact, when we build better systems, communicate clearly, and lead with intention, both people and businesses benefit. This episode is a great reminder that healthy culture is not fluff or extra work for someday. It is part of building a business that lasts.

About our guest: Don Harkey is the CEO of People Centric, a Springfield, Missouri-based company that helps organizations build healthier, more effective workplaces. A self-described recovering engineer, Don began his career at Fortune 500 companies including Archer Daniels Midland and 3M before turning his attention to the science of people and organizations. Through training, coaching, and systems implementation, he helps businesses create environments where employees can thrive and companies can perform better. Don is also the host of the People Centric Podcast, where he explores leadership, communication, strategy, and workplace culture.

Links:

Wanna earn a CEU? Go here! CEU: https://forms.gle/LthLsWwnABtGNoPX7

People Centric (Don Harkey's consulting firm): https://peoplecentric.com/

Don Harkey – Founder and CEO Bio: https://peoplecentric.com/about/

People Centric Blog / Articles by Don Harkey: https://peoplecentric.com/author/donharkey/

Don Harkey LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/don-harkey-8911556

Trello (project management tool referenced in the episode): https://trello.com

Slack (team communication platform referenced in the episode): https://slack.com

Microsoft Teams (team collaboration tool referenced in the episode): https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-teams

Gallup CliftonStrengths / StrengthsFinder: https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths

Book referenced: Multipliers by Liz Wiseman: https://thewisemangroup.com/books/multipliers/

Gallup: https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/254033/strengthsfinder.aspx

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Full show notes and transcript

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Pet Sitter Confessional, its hosts, or sponsors. We interview individuals based on their experience and expertise within the pet care industry. Any statements made outside of this platform, or unrelated to the topic discussed, are solely the responsibility of the guest.