The Culture Whisperer - a podcast for HR, Communications and Business Leaders everywhere!

"The smallest things make the biggest difference. Welcome to The Culture Whisperer."

If you create a five star experience for your guests, why not for your people too? In this episode, Dawn chats with Jonathan Napier, Associate HR Director at the five star Jumeirah Carlton Tower Hotel in London — for a conversation full of curiosity, challenge and laughter.

Jonathan shares his passion for the leisure and hospitality sector, what it really means to build a culture where people feel special and valued, and why employee listening is the foundation of getting things right. He also unpacks what culture actually is (and isn't) in a way that's refreshingly honest and real.

Big energy, big ideas and big heart. 🎙️

Culture Whispers in this episode:

• If you expect excellence from your team, create an excellent experience for your team
• Culture isn't owned by the company or the leaders — it belongs to everyone
• Catch people doing something right — and say so

"The smallest things make the biggest difference. Welcome to The Culture Whisperer."

In this inspiring and very real conversation, Dawn is joined by Sonia Squires, Head of Communications at Citizen Housing — a leader who shows up with vulnerability, positivity and a deep belief in the power of human connection.

Sonia shares her journey into internal communications, her lived experiences as a woman of colour navigating the workplace, and the importance of representation, hope and psychological safety in leadership. Her closing culture whisper — listen to the little voices in the room — is something you'll carry with you long after you've finished listening.

Honest, warm and genuinely moving. 🎙️

Culture Whispers in this episode:

• Internal comms is a strategic function — it's the eyes and ears of an organisation
• Listen to the little voices — the quieter the voice, the more important it often is
• Follow your intuition — it's almost always trying to tell you something important

The smallest things make the biggest difference. Welcome to The Culture Whisperer."

Recognition and appreciation aren't rocket science — they're rocket fuel. In this episode, Dawn is joined by Ryan Cheyne, a Chief People Officer whose career spans some of the UK's most iconic brands including Pets at Home, Booking.com, Rentalcars and Flutter.

Ryan shares why listening intently and keeping things simple are the most important things you can do when shaping culture, why long service awards should be reframed as career celebrations, and how he's used employee voice to build something truly meaningful for the people around him. Oh — and there's a brilliant story about singing Barryoke with Barry from EastEnders. You're welcome. 🎙️

Culture Whispers in this episode:

• Recognition and appreciation are not complicated — but they are powerful
• Long service awards are moments of human connection, not just milestones
• Listening intently is a leadership superpower that costs nothing

(and how he sang ‘Barryoke’ with Barry from Eastenders – oh yes!) ;)

The smallest things make the biggest difference. Welcome to The Culture Whisperer."

What does it take to build a truly great place to work — even in the most challenging environments? In this episode, Dawn chats with the brilliant Inji Duducu, Group People Director at Poundstretcher, about what it really means to lead culture with energy, positivity and relentless communication.

Inji shares how listening and then responding to colleagues is the most important part of any transformation, why everything a leader does and says sends a message, and how bananas once played a starring role in a culture change programme (you'll have to listen to find out how!).

Warm, funny, and packed with wisdom. 🎙️

Culture Whispers in this episode:

• As a leader, everything you do and say sends a message — even the small things
• Relentless communication is the engine of any transformation
• Engagement is always a choice — your job is to create a culture where people choose to keep showing up

Note: The sound quality isn't quite what it should be on this one so best to listen in a way where you can adjust the volume up when Rebekah speaks! Forgive me - this was my first one!

"The smallest things make the biggest difference. Welcome to The Culture Whisperer."

What does it really mean to lead with courage? In this very first episode of The Culture Whisperer, Dawn sits down with Rebekah Cresswell — the first ever female CEO of the Priory Group — for a conversation full of heart, honesty and hope.

Rebekah shares what it means to create brave spaces where people truly feel safe, the power of staying mission-focused even when things get tough, and why culture whispers can lift an organisation — or quietly bring it down. She also talks about the free mental health programme Priory launched for children and young people across the UK, and why being a culture whisperer doesn't stop at the organisation's front door.

This one will give you goosebumps. 🎙️

Culture Whispers in this episode:

• Knowing your people — really knowing them — is one of the simplest and most powerful things a leader can do
• Positive culture takes active, daily, intentional work — it doesn't just happen
• Bravery and courage are quiet superpowers in leadership

Welcome to the Culture Whisperer podcast shining a light on inspiring business leaders (at all levels of the organization) who I’ve met along the way who are ‘culture whisperers’, the bringers of hope!

What do I think of when I think of a Culture Whisperer?Someone that inspires hope in the people around

I really hope you enjoy listening!