Episode 294 focuses on the gap between “we have great culture” and the day-to-day behaviors people actually experience inside a firm. Scott interviews Alejandra Ramirez, founder of Ready Cultures and a longtime internal communications leader in big law, on what it really means to “walk the culture talk.” Her definition is simple but demanding: culture is credibility—aligning stated values with observable actions. She argues firms should start by auditing whether claimed values (like collaboration or transparency) show up in real behaviors (cross-selling between practices, sharing information with BD teams, etc.). Culture isn’t a slogan; it’s a set of conditions leadership actively creates, and when words and actions don’t match, trust erodes and performance suffers.

Alejandra then lays out how leaders close the gap: clear, consistent, actionable communication; active listening and feedback loops; and tying culture initiatives to measurable outcomes like engagement, retention, risk reduction, and cost savings. She emphasizes that firms recruit laterals on numbers but often lose them on fit—so culture must be evaluated explicitly during hiring through behavioral questions and by ensuring the “recruiting experience” matches the lived experience after arrival. Her three action steps: lead with curiosity (listen and ask questions), audit your internal communication system (tools, messages, measurement), and treat culture as a verb, not a noun—something you repeatedly do through choices, behaviors, and reinforcement. She also offers a practical “3H” framework (Head, Heart, Hands) to help leaders communicate change: facts, why it matters, and what to do next.

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YouTube: https://youtu.be/iwev7mcnzcw

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Alejandra Ramirez is an internal communications strategist and the founder of Ready Cultures. With nearly 20 years of experience in communications—including 15 years in Big Law and professional services—she helps leadership teams close the gap between what they say and what their people actually hear, especially in high-stakes environments where clarity directly impacts client experience and results.

Her work focuses on executive messaging, crisis communication, and organizational alignment during moments of growth, change, and pressure. By strengthening internal clarity and trust, Alejandra helps firms improve execution, reduce friction, and deliver more consistent, high-quality client service—the foundation of sustainable rainmaking.

Links:

Website: https://www.readycultures.com/

3H Framework: https://www.readycultures.com/3h-framework 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/malejandraramirez/

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