Culture in Action

In schools, teacher turnover undermines student success. At Leigh Academies Trust, however, retention is treated as a strategic driver of outcomes. In this episode of Culture in Action, Richard Taylor, Deputy CEO for Operations, explains how a people-first culture, innovative career development programmes and cutting-edge use of AI are improving staff engagement, boosting retention and ultimately helping 25,000 pupils thrive across 33 academies.

Guest Information

Richard Taylor is the Deputy CEO for Operations at Leigh Academies Trust, one of the largest multi-academy trusts in the South East of England. With a background in both HR and operations, Richard has spent more than a decade building strategies that reduce turnover, strengthen leadership and empower teachers to succeed. His initiatives include the Stay and Grow retention framework, AI-powered learning platforms and LAT Moments, a recognition programme that celebrates staff across all schools.

Episode Outline

1. Retention as a Student Outcome
   Richard explains how keeping great teachers directly improves student achievement and why retention sits at the heart of LAT’s people strategy.
2. AI as a Culture Enabler
   Discover how LAT uses artificial intelligence to reduce workload, personalise student learning and create career pathways for staff, from teaching assistants to future leaders.
3. Recognition at Scale
   Learn how LAT Moments, powered by Mo, has embedded peer-to-peer recognition across 33 schools, building visibility, fairness and belonging.
4. From Feedback to Action
   Richard shares examples of how employee surveys revealed surprising operational barriers, leading to changes in IT systems and everyday staff support.
5. The Future of Work in Education
   Hear Richard’s predictions for how AI will personalise professional development, improve performance management and shape the future of school culture.

Click here for the full transcript of this episode

Host Name: Luke Fisher

About the Host: Luke Fisher is the CEO of Mo, a platform that's all about helping teams create workplaces where people genuinely want to be. Luke's on a mission to show that brilliant company culture isn't just a nice-to-have but what makes teams thrive, feel connected, and do brilliant work together. Mo helps organisations around the world turn their values from poster-board promises into real, everyday habits that bring teams closer and give everyone a sense of purpose. It's culture you can actually see and feel in action.

Podcast Website: Culture in Action

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What makes a top workplace and how can culture drive business performance? In this episode of Culture in Action, Dan Kessler, President of Energage, explains the methodology behind Top Workplaces recognition and how employee feedback, engagement data and everyday leadership actions help companies build a culture that attracts and retains talent.

Guest Information

Dan Kessler is President of Energage, the research and consulting company behind the Top Workplaces awards in the United States. With nearly 20 years at the company, Dan has helped thousands of organisations improve culture by listening to employee feedback, benchmarking engagement and taking action on the moments that matter.

Episode Outline

1. The Culture Pyramid
   Dan explains the Energage model, from individual employee experience to manager relationships to senior leadership vision.
2. Data-Driven Insights
   Learn how Energage benchmarks engagement scores across industries and sizes to give leaders actionable comparisons.
3. Top Workplace Recognition
   Dan reveals how only employee survey data, not applications or essays, determines Top Workplaces recognition.
4. Culture Change in Action
   Hear examples of companies using survey feedback to reorganise teams, redesign benefits and invest in leadership development.
5. Culture as a Business Driver
   Dan shares how engagement data links to financial performance, with research showing correlations to future equity value.

Click here for the full transcript of this episode

Host Name: Luke Fisher

About the Host: Luke Fisher is the CEO of Mo, a platform that's all about helping teams create workplaces where people genuinely want to be. Luke's on a mission to show that brilliant company culture isn't just a nice-to-have but what makes teams thrive, feel connected, and do brilliant work together. Mo helps organisations around the world turn their values from poster-board promises into real, everyday habits that bring teams closer and give everyone a sense of purpose. It's culture you can actually see and feel in action.

Podcast Website: Culture in Action

Where to find us:

Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts – This is the most impactful way to support the show.

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Hospitality faces high turnover and burnout, but Crowne Plaza Newcastle has turned the tide with a culture transformation. In this episode of Culture in Action, Kelly Johnson, People and Culture Manager, reveals how rethinking communication, prioritising wellbeing and embedding recognition created a workplace where staff feel valued, supported and motivated to deliver exceptional guest experiences.

Guest Information

Kelly Johnson is the People and Culture Manager at Crowne Plaza Newcastle. With more than 20 years in hospitality, Kelly has led a culture transformation at the hotel, tackling turnover of nearly 70 percent and rebuilding engagement through communication, recognition and work-life balance initiatives.

Episode Outline

1. From Turnover to Retention
   Kelly explains how turnover dropped significantly by addressing culture challenges head-on after Covid-19.
2. Communication that Connects
   Learn how new rhythms, staff engagement forums and use of Mo created transparency and trust across teams.
3. Work-Life Balance in Hospitality
   Discover how rota improvements and wellbeing support gave employees more flexibility and recognition of their personal lives.
4. Rewarding Great Guest Experience
   Kelly shares how simple incentives such as £5 rewards for staff named in guest reviews boosted motivation and guest satisfaction.
5. Sustainable Change
   Hear how consistency, accountability and keeping people at the centre of decisions sustain the hotel’s cultural transformation.

Click here for the full transcript of this episode

Host Name: Luke Fisher

About the Host: Luke Fisher is the CEO of Mo, a platform that's all about helping teams create workplaces where people genuinely want to be. Luke's on a mission to show that brilliant company culture isn't just a nice-to-have but what makes teams thrive, feel connected, and do brilliant work together. Mo helps organisations around the world turn their values from poster-board promises into real, everyday habits that bring teams closer and give everyone a sense of purpose. It's culture you can actually see and feel in action.

Podcast Website: Culture in Action

Where to find us:

Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts – This is the most impactful way to support the show.

Sign up for our newsletter

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Energy companies are often seen as traditional, but OVO Energy is breaking the mould with culture-led innovation. In this episode of Culture in Action, Alex Goodanew, Employee Engagement Manager at OVO, explains how adopting Agile ways of working in customer operations has transformed collaboration, improved employee engagement and boosted customer satisfaction.

Guest Information

Alex Goodanew is Employee Engagement Manager at OVO Energy, one of the UK’s most innovative energy retailers. With responsibility for employee experience across large operational teams, Alex has been instrumental in embedding Agile practices into customer service, helping to improve team performance, create psychological safety and drive recognition through technology.

Episode Outline

1. Bringing Agile Beyond Tech
   Alex shares how OVO adapted Agile rituals such as daily stand-ups, sprints and retrospectives from software teams into customer operations.
2. Driving Culture Change
   Learn how OVO overcame barriers such as psychological safety, constructive feedback and devolved leadership to embed new ways of working.
3. Improved Communication in Hybrid Teams
   Discover how Agile rituals structured communication in hybrid working environments and improved collaboration across teams.
4. Recognition and Belonging
   Find out how OVO uses Mo’s Boost functionality to embed weekly rituals of peer recognition, reward and celebration that sustain engagement.
5. The Measurable Impact
   Alex explains how OVO’s engagement scores rose from 6.9 to 8 out of 10 and how customer complaints decreased while satisfaction scores improved.

Click here for the full transcript of this episode

Host Name: Luke Fisher

About the Host: Luke Fisher is the CEO of Mo, a platform that's all about helping teams create workplaces where people genuinely want to be. Luke's on a mission to show that brilliant company culture isn't just a nice-to-have but what makes teams thrive, feel connected, and do brilliant work together. Mo helps organisations around the world turn their values from poster-board promises into real, everyday habits that bring teams closer and give everyone a sense of purpose. It's culture you can actually see and feel in action.

Podcast Website: Culture in Action

Where to find us:

Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts – This is the most impactful way to support the show.

Sign up for our newsletter

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Welcome to Culture in Action, the podcast where real stories meet real impact. Each episode shines a light on the people and practices driving workplace culture forward, from bold leadership moves to everyday moments that build belonging. Whether you're a people leader, culture champion, or simply curious about what makes teams thrive, this is your space to learn, reflect, and get inspired.