The Culture Gap

Karen Wawrzaszek is a Certified Financial Planner, a social entrepreneur, and a community activist. She has over 20 years of experience operating at the intersection of business, wealth management, commerce, and social impact and has dedicated her career to connecting the professional space with the community.

In this episode of The Culture Gap — the first of two episodes featuring Karen — she shares more about her background in finance and what sparked her passion for community activism. She sheds light on the cultural norms in the finance industry, particularly with regard to wealth management, and how culture has changed as a result of the 2008 financial crisis. Karen and Daniel also discuss the role of collaboration and teamwork in the finance industry, and how organizations can move towards instilling these values. Welcome to The Culture Gap.

Key Takeaways:

[:43] Daniel introduces his guest for this episode — Karen Wawrzaszek.

[1:22] Who is Karen?

[1:58] Did Karen's passion for community activism start at an early age?

[3:11] Who were some people who shaped Karen's values?

[5:52] What drew Karen to the field of finance? What was her experience as a woman in a male-dominated field?

[9:17] Who were some people who "took chances" on Karen that made all the difference?

[13:30] What is the culture like in the finance industry, specifically with regard to wealth management?

[16:14] What has Karen learned about the role of collaboration and teamwork, and how to instill that value in organizations?

[20:00] How did the financial crisis of 2008 bring about culture shifts in the financial industry?

Brought to You By:

The Culture Gap Podcast

THRUUE

Podfly Productions

Learn more about:

Karen Wawrzaszek on LinkedIn

The Culture Gap Podcast "Episode 1: Carly Fiorina, American Businesswoman and Political Figure (Part 1 of 2)"

Tim Kuppler is a world-renowned expert in culture management, with over 20 years of experience in the industry. After an illustrious business career, Tim now serves as the Director of Culture and Organization Development for Human Synergistics International (HSI), a pioneer in the culture space.

In this episode of The Culture Gap — the second of two episodes featuring Tim — he dives into the measurement of culture as well as the impact of technology and digitization on culture. Tim shares some key insights he has gleaned from his career and experiences, and some surprising takeaways about the connection between strategy and culture from his time at HSI. He also has some great advice to CEOs, board members and other leaders about the role of culture vs engagement. Welcome to The Culture Gap.

Key Takeaways:

[:43] Daniel introduces his guest for this episode — Tim Kuppler.

[1:20] Tim shares some case studies of how he has helped companies have epiphanies and how they have changed the company.

[5:09] What is Tim's advice to CEOs on giving sustained attention to culture, and why is it worth their time?

[9:15] Tim shares some insights about digitization, the transformation in technology and its impact on culture.

[12:31] Daniel and Tim discuss challenging the norm that failure is okay, and how companies can transition into the "fail fast, learn fast" model.

[16:04] What is the most surprising thing that Tim has learned during his time at HSI?

[18:01] What is the role of boards vis-a-vis culture, and what is Tim's advice to board members and leaders about what their responsibilities are regarding engagement vs. culture?

[20:40] What are the questions board members should be asking?

[23:55] Tim shares some advice to CEOs who may be asking themselves if there's a Me Too problem in their company.

[27:02] What is some advice Tim would give his younger self?

Brought to You By:

The Culture Gap Podcast

THRUUE

Podfly Productions

Learn more about:

Tim Kuppler on LinkedIn

Human Synergistics International (HSI)

Leadership/Impact — Executive Development

Edgar Schein

Marc Benioff

Me Too Movement

Tim Kuppler is a world-renowned expert in culture management, with over 20 years of experience in the industry. After an illustrious business career, Tim now serves as the Director of Culture and Organization Development for Human Synergistics International (HSI), a pioneer in the culture space.

In this episode of The Culture Gap — the first of two episodes featuring Tim — he shares his experiences and perspectives on corporate culture and the disconnect that sometimes exists in companies between beliefs and values and behavioral norms. Tim and Daniel also discuss what CEOs think about in the context of culture, what they should be thinking about, what it means to measure culture and how to transform organizations through measurement of culture. Welcome to The Culture Gap.

Key Takeaways:

[:45] Daniel introduces his guest for this episode — Tim Kuppler.

[1:21] Who is Tim?

[2:04] What are Tim's core values and where do they come from?

[3:14] How did Tim's experience prior to HSI shape his current position as an evangelist for culture and culture change?

[5:03] In Tim's business life before HSI, were there examples of frustrating or toxic cultural norms he experienced? What was the impact of these experiences?

[7:00] What is Tim's definition of corporate culture?

[7:47] Tim and Daniel talk through an example of beliefs, values, and behavioral norms.

[9:08] How quickly do norms show up in businesses?

[10:44] Tim shares more about HSI, and its work in relation to Edgar Schein.

[14:48] Why does culture matter, and why should CEOs care about it?

[17:09] How much education of CEOs does Tim have to do to help them understand the connection between culture and strategy?

[19:29] Why is it so hard for some cultures to unite strategy and culture?

[23:10] How can culture and engagement support and interact with each other?

Brought to You By:

The Culture Gap Podcast

THRUUE

Podfly Productions

Learn more about:

Tim Kuppler on LinkedIn

Human Synergistics International (HSI)

CultureUniversity.com

The Culture Gap Podcast "Episode 1: Carly Fiorina, American Businesswoman and Political Figure (Part 1 of 2)"

Edgar Schein

Books by Edgar Schein

Nikki Barua is a serial entrepreneur who runs Beyond Curious, a digital transformation consulting firm focused on helping big companies be more agile and adaptive. She is a speaker, an author, and a change agent with a really big mission to touch a billion lives — someone who is inspired by human potential and wants to be a catalyst to unlock it.

In this episode of The Culture Gap, the second of two episodes featuring Nikki, she and Daniel discuss the role of communication in bringing people along as digitization and transformation wash over companies. They also touch on the #MeToo movement, and its impact in transforming culture, society and the global perspectives towards women in the workforce. Nikki also shares her inspiration and motivations for her book Beyond Barriers, her relationship with fear and moving past it, and so much more, so be sure to tune in. Welcome to Culture Gap.

Key Takeaways:

[:43] Daniel introduces his guest for this episode — Nikki Barua.

[1:10] What are some best practices for leaders about being the evangelist for change vis-a-vis communications of the change? Nikki also shares her opinions on under-communication as a sub-domain of execution.

[5:18] Daniel and Nikki discuss the distinction between digitization and transformation and the role the CEO plays in driving that change.

[9:03] Nikki and Daniel dive into the #MeToo movement and its impact on society, culture, and the world in general, with regards to the equality women deserve in the workforce.

[15:04] Who did Nikki write the book Beyond Barriers for and why did she write it?

[17:41] What is Nikki's relationship with fear?

[20:28] Where can listeners get their copy of the book Beyond Barriers?

[21:34] What is one piece of advice Nikki Barua would give her younger self?

Brought to You By:

The Culture Gap Podcast

THRUUE

Podfly Productions

Learn more about:

Nikki Barua

Beyond Curious

"Closing the Gender Pay Gap" — 60 Minutes segment with Marc Benioff of Salesforce

Me Too Movement on Wikipedia

Beyond Barriers: How to Unlock your LIMITLESS POTENTIAL, by Nikki Barua

The Culture Gap Podcast Season 2 "Episode 1: Carly Fiorina, American Businesswoman and Political Figure"

The Culture Gap Podcast Season 2 "Episode 2: Carly Fiorina, American Businesswoman and Political Figure"

Nikki Barua is a serial entrepreneur who runs Beyond Curious, a digital transformation consulting firm focused on helping big companies be more agile and adaptive. She is a speaker, an author, and a change agent with a really big mission to touch a billion lives — someone who is inspired by human potential and wants to be a catalyst to unlock it.

In this episode of The Culture Gap, the first of two episodes featuring Nikki, she shares how her father was a key influence in her early years who inspired her to achieve the level of success she has today, as well as what she believes is the highest calling of not just a CEO, but any leader. She also has some great insights and advice for companies around the world in the intersection of culture, digitization, and transformation, and how to stay relevant in the age of change, so be sure to tune in for that. Welcome to Culture Gap.

Key Takeaways:

[:45] Daniel introduces his guest for this episode — Nikki Barua.

[1:29] Who is Nikki?

[2:01] What are some of the values that Nikki was born with or that came alive in her due to early experiences or influences? What are some of the values that shaped her into who she is?

[4:50] Nikki shares her perspective on her father's collage as an adult.

[6:36] Daniel and Nikki share their perspective on their first interaction with each other, and Nikki's vulnerability that made an instant impact on Daniel.

[11:15] Nikki is a serial entrepreneur. How has her perception of the job of a CEO changed from before she became a CEO, and now?

[13:25] It is the CEO's job to define the vision of the company. What has Nikki learned about defining vision, and what is her advice to other CEOs about the process and journey of defining a bold vision?

[16:51] What does Nikki's company, Beyond Curious, do and who are the clients she works with?

[19:19] What are some of the big revelations Nikki and her team have had about closing the gap between culture and strategy inside large organizations?

Brought to You By:

The Culture Gap Podcast

THRUUE

Podfly Productions

Learn more about:

Nikki Barua

Beyond Curious

Shalom "Shal" Jacobovitz is currently the CEO of CiVi Biopharma, a brand new start-up, in his 4th CEO position. Shal was born in Israel, raised in Montreal, has lived around the world, serving in various organizations. He started his career in sales and marketing and has largely been in the field of cardiology and the pharmaceutical industry, eventually becoming the CEO of the American College of Cardiology from 2013 to 2018.

In this episode of The Culture Gap, the second of two episodes featuring Shal, he shares the lessons he has learned from his experience with governance reform and changing the culture of a company. Shal also highlights the importance of innovation, and the role of inclusion and encouraging employees to share alternative opinions in keeping an organization at the forefront of its industry. He has some great advice on how leaders should shape their vision for their companies, so be sure to tune in to find out more. Welcome to Culture Gap.

Key Takeaways:

[:43] Daniel introduces his guest for this episode — Shalom "Shal" Jacobovitz.

[1:10] What was the process that Shal went through with regards to governance reform at ACC, and what did he learn from it?

[5:49] Shal also changed the culture at the staff level. How did he change the culture to be more innovative, and how did this play out on the staff side as the governance process was transforming at the board side?

[9:27] Can innovation be incentivized?

[10:20] What has Shal learned about groupthink?

[12:21] What is in Shal's consciousness about the Me Too movement?

[15:01] What is a biopharma company?

[15:54] In his role at Biopharma, Shal gets to set strategy and design a culture from the ground up. How will he align strategy and culture as the company expands?

[18:59] What are some behaviors that Shal is setting in motion now, that he hopes will continue to retain as the company grows?

[21:46] How is Shal thinking about his vision for his company?

[24:43] What advice would Shal give to his younger self, starting out in his professional career?

Brought to You By:

The Culture Gap Podcast

THRUUE

Podfly Productions

Learn more about:

Shalom Jacobovitz on LinkedIn

CiVi Biopharma, Inc.

American College of Cardiology

Wiser: Getting Beyond Groupthink to Make Groups Smarter, by Cass Sunstein and Reid Hastie

Me Too Movement on Wikipedia

Shalom "Shal" Jacobovitz is currently the CEO of CiVi Biopharma, a brand new start-up, in his 4th CEO position. Shal was born in Israel, raised in Montreal, has lived around the world, serving in various organizations. He started his career in sales and marketing and has largely been in the field of cardiology and the pharmaceutical industry, eventually becoming the CEO of the American College of Cardiology from 2013 to 2018.

In this episode of The Culture Gap, the first of two episodes featuring Shal, he reveals the strengths that have allowed him to become a "serial CEO," and his key takeaways from his time as CEO of various organizations. Shal also shares his thoughts on the role of the CEO in shaping strategy and culture, and how empowerment plays into it. He has some valuable insights about the future of membership societies, so be sure to tune in to find out more. Welcome to Culture Gap.

Key Takeaways:

[:43] Daniel introduces his guest for this episode — Shalom "Shal" Jacobovitz.

[1:24] Who is Shal?

[1:58] Shal is in his fourth CEO position. How did he end up as a "serial CEO"?

[3:20] Who are some of the people that helped to shape Shal's values as a person and a leader?

[5:56] Shal shares his father's teachings about fear and resilience as a weapon against fear.

[6:48] Why did Shal get involved with cardiology?

[9:30] Sales and marketing are where Shal started out in his career. Who were some mentors who taught him the basics of sales?

[13:12] What did Shal think the job of a CEO was before he stepped into his first CEO role?

[14:23] What is Shal's definition of a CEO and what is their job?

[16:20] What has Shal learned about bureaucracy and hierarchy and what it does/doesn't do to accelerate ideas within a culture?

[19:27] What is Shal's reaction when people fail even when they have been empowered? How does he incentivize failures as learning moments?

[20:55] Why was Shal interested in the position of CEO at the American College of Cardiology?

[23:18] Shal shares his experience of the ACC helping the Chinese government?

[24:28] In his time leading a non-profit organization, what has Shal learned about membership and what is the future of membership societies?

Brought to You By:

The Culture Gap Podcast

THRUUE

Podfly Productions

Learn more about:

Shalom Jacobovitz on LinkedIn

CiVi Biopharma, Inc.

American College of Cardiology

Carly Fiorina is an American businesswoman and political figure known most commonly for her time as the CEO of Hewlett-Packard, and her presidential run in 2016. She started out as a secretary and during the course of her long and illustrious career, worked her way up to become a Chief Executive of the largest technology company in the world. She has run for President, has run charities, and is a mother, author, and leader on many different fronts.

In this episode of The Culture Gap, the second of two episodes featuring Carly, she talks about the lessons she learned in closing the culture gaps during her time at HP, and the other leadership takeaways it comes to enforcing company culture across the organization. She also shares her views on the Me Too movement and the importance of considering a company's social impact. Carly has some words of wisdom about closing the gaps within American society to better engage in discussions about political issues. Welcome to Culture Gap.

Key Takeaways:

[:43] Daniel introduces his guest for this episode — Carly Fiorina.

[1:14] What is the role that boards play with regard to setting and measuring a corporate culture, and then holding leadership teams accountable for the behaviors in the firm?

[5:10] What happens to companies when they keep "culture vampires" around, and when leaders aren't willing to deal with such people?

[6:44] What do all CEOs need to know and think about in the context of the Me Too movement as it continues to unfold?

[9:15] What is the role of a corporation vis-a-vis profit vs. social impact?

[12:55] One of the greatest divides in the country is that people can't have a reasonable conversation about policy in their own families. How can a conversation be started to close the gap where Americans can begin to listen to each other again?

[15:22] What would Carly tell her younger self as she was just starting out?

Brought to You By:

The Culture Gap Podcast

THRUUE

Podfly Productions

Learn more about:

Carly Fiorina

Carly Fiorina on Wikipedia

Me Too Movement on Wikipedia

Carly Fiorina is an American businesswoman and political figure known most commonly for her time as the CEO of Hewlett-Packard and her presidential run in 2016. She started out as a secretary and during the course of her long and illustrious career, worked her way up to become a Chief Executive of the largest technology company in the world. She has run for President, has run charities, and is a mother, author, and leader on many different fronts.

In this episode of The Culture Gap, the first of two episodes featuring Carly, she reflects on the lessons she has learned from life and career. Carly discusses what it means to be a leader and her key takeaways from her time before and during her tenure at HP. She also has valuable advice for leaders seeking to engage in dialogue with their team, and challenge the culture and status quo in an organization, as well as how to deal with fear and criticism as a leader. Welcome to Culture Gap.

Key Takeaways:

[:43] Daniel introduces his guest for this episode — Carly Fiorina.

[1:18] Who is Carly Fiorina?

[1:53] What are Carly's core values and how did those values come to her?

[3:35] What is Carly's definition of leadership? What is a leader?

[4:00] What are some of the most important lessons Carly learned as a rising businesswoman prior to her time at HP?

[8:22] What was Carly's mental mindset about how she was going to lean in and discover how best to lead, in her first 90 days at HP?

[11:17] Carly shares a critical experience when she came into HP.

[13:29] Did Carly have ground rules for running her leadership team, for engaging in dialogue and conversation to ensure groupthink is avoided?

[15:44] What is Carly's advice to CEOs now who are dealing with disruptions? How can they challenge a culture, but also be respectful of its history?

[20:59] Carly has some insights about criticisms she faced during her time at HP.

[22:46] How does Carly manage fear in her career?

Brought to You By:

The Culture Gap Podcast

THRUUE

Podfly Productions

Learn more about:

Carly Fiorina

Carly Fiorina on Wikipedia

Dr. Cliff Hudis is the CEO of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). A medical oncologist by profession, he spent three decades at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, one of the most iconic institutions in the world, and served as Chief of the Breast Medicine Service from 1998 to 2016. In June 2016, he took on the role of CEO at ASCO, where he gets to lead the conversation globally about where the profession is going.

In this episode of The Culture Gap, Cliff talks about cancer, the gaps in knowledge that have been closed in cancer discovery and research, and what he has learned from his experiences. He also gives us insight into what it takes to lead a team of brilliant professionals to come together for a larger purpose, and the lessons he has gained as a leader driving strategy and culture change. Welcome to Culture Gap.

Key Takeaways:

[:45] Daniel introduces his guest for this episode — Dr. Cliff Hudis.

[1:59] Who is Cliff?

[2:47] Who were some of the big influencers in Cliff's life that helped him become who he is today? He shares some of his background.

[9:51] As a young oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, what was going through Cliff's mind? Could he have imagined the changes that occurred over the subsequent decades?

[13:13] What are some of the gaps in knowledge that have been closed in cancer discovery, specifically breast cancer? Which of these gaps that have been closed have surprised Cliff the most?

[20:30] What was it like for Cliff to be a young leader given an incredible authority and responsibility? How did he balance the individuals on his team and respect their autonomy, while still coming together as a group to discover something larger?

[26:39] Cliff shares some of his experiences with his patients.

[28:08] Why did Cliff want the job as CEO of ASCO?

[34:59] Why did Cliff want to set a strategy in the earliest months of his tenure at ASCO, and what are the changes that have happened to the strategy since its inception?

[40:41] If Cliff could have a conversation with cancer, what would he ask it?

[43:49] What is Cliff's advice to other CEOs?

[49:17] Cliff's wife, Jane, is a successful leader in the retail space. What is the best leadership advice Jane has given Cliff as he has taken on his role at ASCO?

Brought to You By:

The Culture Gap Podcast

THRUUE

Podfly Productions

Learn more about:

Dr. Cliff Hudis

The American Society of Clinical Oncology

The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer, by Siddhartha Mukherjee

The Gene: An Intimate History, by Siddhartha Mukherjee