In this episode of Culture From the Heart Podcast, hosts Larry Levine and Darrell Amy are joined by Emily Schwartz, president and executive director of Operation Gratitude. Emily says leadership is a privilege focused on taking care of people, and that culture is what leaders practice and reward—values should be written as verbs like “tell the truth,” “do the right thing,” and “find a new way to solve a problem.” She describes Operation Gratitude’s origin in 2003 when founder Carolyn Blashek began sending care packages after hearing a service member felt no one cared, and notes the organization has since sent over 4.5 million packages. Emily shares her connection through her brother’s Marine enlistment, her 2019 breast cancer diagnosis, and how it amplified her values. She explains the organization’s transition from a single California warehouse to a virtual “FOB” with tools like a zip-code hero lookup to expand nationwide participation and build a gratitude movement.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Values only become culture when written as verbs (behaviors), not nouns — "tell the truth," not "honesty"
• Culture is not what you say; it's what you practice and reward
• Leadership is a privilege — it's about taking care of the people in your charge, not being in charge
• Personal adversity doesn't change your values; it amplifies them and clarifies what truly matters
• Heart-centered culture doesn't mean soft — it means anchored: in mission, values, and the dignity of people
• Leaders don't need to be the smartest in the room; they need to know how to get the smartest people in the room
• Community involvement is not optional for leaders — it's how your company earns the right to stand for something
• Gratitude is everyone's responsibility — not just one organization's

QUOTES

• "Leadership is not about being in charge, it's about taking care of the people in your charge."
• "Culture is not about what you say, it's about what you practice and what you reward."
• "Values are the words you put on a wall. Behaviors are what people actually practice."
• "My values didn't change going through cancer — they got louder."
• "I don't want people to think I'm the smartest person in the room. I want them to think I know how to get the smartest people in the room."
• "Heart-centered doesn't mean soft. It means anchored."
• "There's nothing more powerful than being seen in a community."
• "When your company stands for something, people send that fish hook out and latch onto it — give them something worth latching onto."

Learn more about Darrell and Larry.

Darrell's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrellamy/

Larry's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/larrylevine1992/

Connect and learn more from Emily Schwartz.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilyrich1/

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