Purpose only matters when it shows up in decisions, incentives, and the everyday behavior of leaders and teams. With Dr. Peter Fasolo—Professor of the Practice and Director of the Human Resources Policy Institute at Boston University Questrom School of Business, and former CHRO of Johnson & Johnson—we dig into how to build a culture that lasts: one where values guide trade-offs, managers teach with time and perspective, and employees trust the why behind hard calls.

We explore what separates solid managers from transformative leaders, and why both roles are essential to carry strategy the last mile. Peter explains how transparency strengthens credibility even when consensus is impossible, and how leaders can close the say-do gap by aligning selection, rewards, and operating rhythms with a clear mission. As AI accelerates productivity, he argues the human edge—context, empathy, mentorship, sponsorship—becomes non-negotiable. Advisory tools can nudge, but they cannot replace nuance or care.

The conversation moves from incremental efficiency to bold redesign. Instead of treating organizations as stacked boxes, we look at work as cross-functional flow. AI can help map friction and remove waste, while leaders reimagine processes to make jobs richer and more collaborative. We also address mental health and well-being as a true test of purpose: democratizing access to support, equipping managers to notice strain, and building climates where people can bring their whole selves and still grow.

We close with a practical playbook: hire for values and collaboration before competencies, reward purpose-aligned behavior, teach leaders to explain the why, and use AI to remove bureaucracy without losing humanity.