The Culture Coach

Send a text What actually makes a culture real—not just aspirational? In this episode, Wendy Brand sits down with Sabrina Parsons, CEO of Palo Alto Software, to talk about what it takes to build an intentional culture that holds up through growth, change, and hiring challenges. Sabrina shares the turning point that led her team to articulate their culture (after several “perfect resume” hires didn’t work out), and how they operationalized six culture tenets—like relying on data, solving for the customer, and transparency—to create a workplace where people have the autonomy to be awesome and the accountability to deliver. If you’re a founder, CEO, or senior leader who wants culture to drive strategy (not sit beside it), this conversation will give you both clarity and practical takeaways. Sabrina Parsons is the CEO of Palo Alto Software, a SaaS company headquartered in Eugene, Oregon with a mission to help people succeed in business. She has led the company since 2007 and guided major transformations while building a culture rooted in transparency, autonomy, and mission-driven work. Connect + Links Connect with Wendy Brand / The Culture Coach Palo Alto Software ____________________________ With 25+ years of leadership experience, spanning multiple roles across corporations and non-profits, I have gained a wealth of experience in understanding what makes organizations successful. The Aligned Leader Collective -Join today: https://go.CultureCoachWendy.com/aligned FREE DOWNLOAD - The Culture Strategy Audit: https://culturecoachwendy.com/cultureaudit/ Online Community - The Culture Strategy Lab: https://culturecoachwendy.com/strategylab/ FREE Online Mini Course - The C.E.O. Reset: https://culturecoachwendy.mykajabi.com/offers/zqP7fYvR/checkout CONNECT WITH ME Website: CultureCoachWendy.com LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/wendybrand/ Instram: Instagram.com/culturecoachwendy YouTube: YouTube.com/@CultureCoachWendy The CultureCoach Podcast Page: CultureCoachWendy.com/podcasts/

Send a text February is American Heart Month—a reminder of the importance of cardiovascular health and the signals our bodies send us every day. In this deeply personal conversation, Wendy sits down with her dear friend Julie Habelmann—founder of Noble Tones, integrative sound healing practitioner, and women’s heart health advocate—to explore how a heart attack became a catalyst for profound life and leadership transformation. After surviving a spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) in 2020, Julie was forced to slow down, listen to her body, and reevaluate everything. That experience ultimately led her to integrative sound healing and the creation of Noble Tones, a practice dedicated to helping others regulate their nervous system, restore balance, and reconnect with themselves. Julie focuses on helping individuals move out of chronic stress and back into balance—supporting sustainable overall wellbeing of mind, body, and spirit. Julie will also be facilitating mindset and nervous system sessions inside The Aligned Leader Collective. Learn More About Julie Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nobletones/ Website: https://www.noble-tones.com/ Substack: https://substack.com/@juliehaberman Join The Aligned Leader Collective The Aligned Leader Collective is a 6-month leadership experience for high-achieving women who are ready to realign with themselves and their next chapter of leadership. This is not traditional leadership development. It’s a space to: Julie will be facilitating three dedicated mindset and nervous system sessions as part of the program. The next cohort begins in March. Learn more and apply here: https://culturecoachwendy.com/aligned ____________________________ With 25+ years of leadership experience, spanning multiple roles across corporations and non-profits, I have gained a wealth of experience in understanding what makes organizations successful. The Aligned Leader Collective -Join today: https://go.CultureCoachWendy.com/aligned FREE DOWNLOAD - The Culture Strategy Audit: https://culturecoachwendy.com/cultureaudit/ Online Community - The Culture Strategy Lab: https://culturecoachwendy.com/strategylab/ FREE Online Mini Course - The C.E.O. Reset: https://culturecoachwendy.mykajabi.com/offers/zqP7fYvR/checkout CONNECT WITH ME Website: CultureCoachWendy.com LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/wendybrand/ Instram: Instagram.com/culturecoachwendy YouTube: YouTube.com/@CultureCoachWendy The CultureCoach Podcast Page: CultureCoachWendy.com/podcasts/

Send a text There’s a moment in leadership that's that in-between phase where, on the outside, everything looks fine… but internally, something feels off. In this solo episode, Wendy shares a personal story from her leadership journey—one where success, responsibility, and recognition continued to rise, while alignment quietly slipped away. She reflects on what happens when leaders sacrifice their own values, boundaries, and well-being in an effort to become what the organization needs—at the cost of who they are becoming. This episode is for high-capacity leaders who are: If you’ve ever felt successful but misaligned, this conversation will resonate—and may offer the permission you didn’t know you needed to pause, reflect, and realign. Check out The Aligned Leader Collective ____________________________ With 25+ years of leadership experience, spanning multiple roles across corporations and non-profits, I have gained a wealth of experience in understanding what makes organizations successful. The Aligned Leader Collective -Join today: https://go.CultureCoachWendy.com/aligned FREE DOWNLOAD - The Culture Strategy Audit: https://culturecoachwendy.com/cultureaudit/ Online Community - The Culture Strategy Lab: https://culturecoachwendy.com/strategylab/ FREE Online Mini Course - The C.E.O. Reset: https://culturecoachwendy.mykajabi.com/offers/zqP7fYvR/checkout CONNECT WITH ME Website: CultureCoachWendy.com LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/wendybrand/ Instram: Instagram.com/culturecoachwendy YouTube: YouTube.com/@CultureCoachWendy The CultureCoach Podcast Page: CultureCoachWendy.com/podcasts/

Send us a text In this episode of The Culture Coach Podcast, Wendy Brand sits down with former CEO Barry Moline to explore what truly drives high-performing teams — and why connection, trust, and community matter more than strategy alone. With nearly three decades of leadership experience, Barry shares real-world stories of early leadership mistakes, building intentional culture, strengthening collaboration, and guiding teams through crisis with clarity and trust. Together, Wendy and Barry unpack how relationships are the foundation of strong culture — and how the same principles that build thriving teams also support leadership growth and transformation. Here a link to Icebreakers for Team Building: https://barrymoline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Ideas-for-Icebreakers-Team-Building-1-25.pdf LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barry-moline/ Website: https://barrymoline.com/ ____________________________ With 25+ years of leadership experience, spanning multiple roles across corporations and non-profits, I have gained a wealth of experience in understanding what makes organizations successful. The Aligned Leader Collective -Join today: https://go.CultureCoachWendy.com/aligned FREE DOWNLOAD - The Culture Strategy Audit: https://culturecoachwendy.com/cultureaudit/ Online Community - The Culture Strategy Lab: https://culturecoachwendy.com/strategylab/ FREE Online Mini Course - The C.E.O. Reset: https://culturecoachwendy.mykajabi.com/offers/zqP7fYvR/checkout CONNECT WITH ME Website: CultureCoachWendy.com LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/wendybrand/ Instram: Instagram.com/culturecoachwendy YouTube: YouTube.com/@CultureCoachWendy The CultureCoach Podcast Page: CultureCoachWendy.com/podcasts/

Send us a text Leadership isn’t supposed to feel this heavy. Yet so many capable, driven leaders are exhausted. Carrying everything, fixing everything, and feeling constant pressure just to keep things moving. In this episode of The Culture Coach Podcast, Wendy Brand breaks down the real root cause behind burnout, team friction, and fragile workplace culture: misalignment. Drawing from her own leadership journey and years of consulting with organizations, Wendy explores how personal misalignment shows up in leadership behavior — and how it quietly shapes (and strains) organizational culture. You’ll learn: Wendy also shares what aligned leadership creates instead — clarity over control, ownership over dependence, and systems that reinforce culture instead of constantly fixing behavior. If leadership feels harder than it should… If culture feels fragile or exhausting to maintain… If you know you’re capable of more clarity, impact, and ease… This episode will help you understand why — and what to do about it. 🌿 Ready to go deeper? Wendy is hosting a live Information Session for women leaders on February 6th to share more about the Aligned Leader Collective, a six-month experience focused on personal and organizational alignment. 👉 Learn more at: culturecoachwendy.com/aligned The Culture Strategy Lab also opens the week of February 16th for leaders ready to begin operationalizing intentional culture. ⭐ Enjoyed the episode? If this conversation resonated, share it with a fellow leader who might need it — and don’t forget to rate, review, or follow The Culture Coach Podcast. Your support helps more leaders find clarity and build cultures where people truly thrive. ____________________________ With 25+ years of leadership experience, spanning multiple roles across corporations and non-profits, I have gained a wealth of experience in understanding what makes organizations successful. The Aligned Leader Collective -Join today: https://go.CultureCoachWendy.com/aligned FREE DOWNLOAD - The Culture Strategy Audit: https://culturecoachwendy.com/cultureaudit/ Online Community - The Culture Strategy Lab: https://culturecoachwendy.com/strategylab/ FREE Online Mini Course - The C.E.O. Reset: https://culturecoachwendy.mykajabi.com/offers/zqP7fYvR/checkout CONNECT WITH ME Website: CultureCoachWendy.com LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/wendybrand/ Instram: Instagram.com/culturecoachwendy YouTube: YouTube.com/@CultureCoachWendy The CultureCoach Podcast Page: CultureCoachWendy.com/podcasts/

Send us a text Fresh off a week in Reno and Lake Tahoe working with Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) leaders, Wendy reflects on conversations with founders, CEOs, and franchise leaders navigating growth, change, and transition—and why alignment, not reinvention, is the real work leaders are being called to do in 2026. Building on her recent newsletter and Substack article, “2026 doesn’t need a new you—it needs an aligned you,” Wendy unpacks how misalignment quietly shows up inside organizations long before leaders consciously name it themselves. She also weaves in her CORE Culture Framework—Clarify, Operationalize, Reinforce, and Evaluate—to explain how leaders can intentionally operationalize culture and prevent teams from carrying the weight of unspoken ambiguity. This episode is especially relevant if: Resources & Next Steps ✨ Free Resource: Download Wendy’s alignment workbook to help you clarify what matters most right now and identify where misalignment may be showing up in your leadership and culture. ✨ The Aligned Leader Program: If you’re a successful leader navigating growth, transition, or recalibration—and want a structured, supportive space to realign without reinventing yourself—learn more about Wendy’s Aligned Leader Program: 👉 https://go.culturecoachwendy.com/aligned This is a collective for leaders who want clarity, alignment, and intentional culture—without forcing change that doesn’t fit who they are now. ____________________________ With 25+ years of leadership experience, spanning multiple roles across corporations and non-profits, I have gained a wealth of experience in understanding what makes organizations successful. The Aligned Leader Collective -Join today: https://go.CultureCoachWendy.com/aligned FREE DOWNLOAD - The Culture Strategy Audit: https://culturecoachwendy.com/cultureaudit/ Online Community - The Culture Strategy Lab: https://culturecoachwendy.com/strategylab/ FREE Online Mini Course - The C.E.O. Reset: https://culturecoachwendy.mykajabi.com/offers/zqP7fYvR/checkout CONNECT WITH ME Website: CultureCoachWendy.com LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/wendybrand/ Instram: Instagram.com/culturecoachwendy YouTube: YouTube.com/@CultureCoachWendy The CultureCoach Podcast Page: CultureCoachWendy.com/podcasts/

Send us a text In this solo episode of The Culture Coach Podcast, Wendy Brand is bringing awareness to leadership habits that may be quietly draining your culture — and holding your organization back. If you feel like everything is urgent, you’re constantly stepping in to do work that isn’t yours, or every decision still has to run through you, this episode is for you. Wendy breaks down three common leadership patterns that erode clarity and momentum inside organizations and explains how each one connects back to mission, vision, core values, and role clarity. Drawing on 30 years of leadership experience and culture consulting work, she shares practical ways leaders can simplify priorities, clarify ownership, and empower teams to make confident decisions. In this episode, you’ll learn: Wendy also shares the different ways leaders can work with her this year — including culture consulting, leadership cohorts and retreats, and the Culture Strategy Lab, a monthly group experience for those responsible for building intentional culture inside their organizations. If you’re a CEO, founder, executive, HR leader, or people manager who wants more clarity, alignment, and trust inside your organization, this episode will give you practical insight you can apply right away. ____________________________ With 25+ years of leadership experience, spanning multiple roles across corporations and non-profits, I have gained a wealth of experience in understanding what makes organizations successful. The Aligned Leader Collective -Join today: https://go.CultureCoachWendy.com/aligned FREE DOWNLOAD - The Culture Strategy Audit: https://culturecoachwendy.com/cultureaudit/ Online Community - The Culture Strategy Lab: https://culturecoachwendy.com/strategylab/ FREE Online Mini Course - The C.E.O. Reset: https://culturecoachwendy.mykajabi.com/offers/zqP7fYvR/checkout CONNECT WITH ME Website: CultureCoachWendy.com LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/wendybrand/ Instram: Instagram.com/culturecoachwendy YouTube: YouTube.com/@CultureCoachWendy The CultureCoach Podcast Page: CultureCoachWendy.com/podcasts/

Send us a text In this episode of The Culture Coach Podcast, Wendy Brand sits down with Steven Puri —former senior executive at major motion picture studios, startup founder, and the creator of Sukha, a platform designed to help knowledge workers access flow state and protect deep work. Steven makes a bold case: companies don’t win because TPS reports are filed on time or everyone hits inbox zero. They win because someone takes uninterrupted time to think, create, and solve meaningful problems—then brings back the insight that changes the trajectory of the business. Together, Wendy and Steven unpack what “high-performing teams” really need right now: a culture that values deep work, clarity, and trust, not just busyness, meetings, and legacy processes. Try these this week: Protect deep workNormalize focusUse the chronotype gridReward outcomes, not motionConnect with Steven steven@thesukha.co thesukha.co____________________________ With 25+ years of leadership experience, spanning multiple roles across corporations and non-profits, I have gained a wealth of experience in understanding what makes organizations successful. FREE Culture Roadmap Webinar Series: http://CultureCoachWendy.com/WebinarSeries FREE DOWNLOAD - The Culture Strategy Audit: https://culturecoachwendy.com/cultureaudit/ Online Community - The Culture Strategy Lab: https://culturecoachwendy.com/strategylab/ FREE Online Mini Course - The C.E.O. Reset: https://culturecoachwendy.mykajabi.com/offers/zqP7fYvR/checkout CONNECT WITH ME Website: CultureCoachWendy.com LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/wendybrand/ Instram: Instagram.com/culturecoachwendy YouTube: YouTube.com/@CultureCoachWendy The CultureCoach Podcast Page: CultureCoachWendy.com/podcasts/

Send us a text Greetings! This is a replay of an episode from this past summer on my CORE Culture™ Framework. Happy Holidays and I hope you enjoy. ____________________________ This week, I'm diving deep into my signature CORE Culture™ Framework, a proven model for helping leaders stop culture from happening by accident and start building one that drives retention, productivity, and purpose. After a busy season of speaking at SHRM conferences in New Mexico and Alabama, I reflect on why I built the CORE Culture™ model and how it’s helping CEOs and HR leaders operationalize their culture in practical ways. Whether you're building from scratch or refining what’s already there, this episode gives you the tools to make culture work for your business—not against it. ____________________________ With 25+ years of leadership experience, spanning multiple roles across corporations and non-profits, I have gained a wealth of experience in understanding what makes organizations successful. FREE Culture Roadmap Webinar Series: http://CultureCoachWendy.com/WebinarSeries FREE DOWNLOAD - The Culture Strategy Audit: https://culturecoachwendy.com/cultureaudit/ Online Community - The Culture Strategy Lab: https://culturecoachwendy.com/strategylab/ FREE Online Mini Course - The C.E.O. Reset: https://culturecoachwendy.mykajabi.com/offers/zqP7fYvR/checkout CONNECT WITH ME Website: CultureCoachWendy.com LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/wendybrand/ Instram: Instagram.com/culturecoachwendy YouTube: YouTube.com/@CultureCoachWendy The CultureCoach Podcast Page: CultureCoachWendy.com/podcasts/ ____________________________ With 25+ years of leadership experience, spanning multiple roles across corporations and non-profits, I have gained a wealth of experience in understanding what makes organizations successful. FREE Culture Roadmap Webinar Series: http://CultureCoachWendy.com/WebinarSeries FREE DOWNLOAD - The Culture Strategy Audit: https://culturecoachwendy.com/cultureaudit/ Online Community - The Culture Strategy Lab: https://culturecoachwendy.com/strategylab/ FREE Online Mini Course - The C.E.O. Reset: https://culturecoachwendy.mykajabi.com/offers/zqP7fYvR/checkout CONNECT WITH ME Website: CultureCoachWendy.com LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/wendybrand/ Instram: Instagram.com/culturecoachwendy YouTube: YouTube.com/@CultureCoachWendy The CultureCoach Podcast Page: CultureCoachWendy.com/podcasts/

Send us a text Today on The Culture Coach Podcast, Wendy sits down with Erika Sinner, Founder & CEO of Directorie, a $15M healthcare commercialization company and two-time Inc. 5000 honoree. Erika also serves as the Chief Empathy Officer of TinySuperheroes, a nonprofit empowering critically ill children through play and courage, and is the bestselling author of Pets Are Family. Erika is a powerful, fresh voice in modern leadership — championing pet-inclusive policies, psychological safety, and building cultures where people feel genuinely seen and supported. 🔗 Resources Mentioned Pets Are FamilyDirectorie TinySuperheroestinysuperheroes.comerikasinner.org____________________________ With 25+ years of leadership experience, spanning multiple roles across corporations and non-profits, I have gained a wealth of experience in understanding what makes organizations successful. FREE Culture Roadmap Webinar Series: http://CultureCoachWendy.com/WebinarSeries FREE DOWNLOAD - The Culture Strategy Audit: https://culturecoachwendy.com/cultureaudit/ Online Community - The Culture Strategy Lab: https://culturecoachwendy.com/strategylab/ FREE Online Mini Course - The C.E.O. Reset: https://culturecoachwendy.mykajabi.com/offers/zqP7fYvR/checkout CONNECT WITH ME Website: CultureCoachWendy.com LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/wendybrand/ Instram: Instagram.com/culturecoachwendy YouTube: YouTube.com/@CultureCoachWendy The CultureCoach Podcast Page: CultureCoachWendy.com/podcasts/

Send us a text In today’s episode of The Culture Coach Podcast, Wendy sits down with tech executive and author Kae Williams for a candid conversation about the invisible barriers women and marginalized leaders face at work—and the strategies that actually help you navigate them with confidence, clarity, and impact. Kae has spent decades leading in male-dominated environments across startups, scale-ups, and global tech companies. Throughout her career, she noticed a repeated pattern: women being spoken over, their ideas being dismissed or “hepeated,” their credibility questioned, and their contributions overlooked—regardless of company size or culture. These patterns inspired her to write her book, Not Made for You Now, a powerful guide for women who want to succeed without having to shrink, smile more, or tolerate bias. Kae Williams is a seasoned tech executive, marketer, and advocate for equity in the workplace. Her book, Not Made for You Now, offers practical tools for women navigating biased systems—and guidance for leaders ready to reimagine culture with intention. 👉 Buy the book: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads 👉 Connect with Kae: https://www.kaewilliams.com/ 👉 Follow Kae: LinkedIn & Instagram 🎧 Don’t Miss This Conversation If You Are: ✨ Continue the Conversation If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend or colleague. These stories spark dialogue—and dialogue is where cultural transformation begins. Ready to build a culture where clarity, belonging, and aligned leadership are the norm? Join Wendy at CultureCoachWendy.com for tools, frameworks, and programs that help leaders operationalize culture—intentionally and sustainably. ____________________________ With 25+ years of leadership experience, spanning multiple roles across corporations and non-profits, I have gained a wealth of experience in understanding what makes organizations successful. FREE Culture Roadmap Webinar Series: http://CultureCoachWendy.com/WebinarSeries FREE DOWNLOAD - The Culture Strategy Audit: https://culturecoachwendy.com/cultureaudit/ Online Community - The Culture Strategy Lab: https://culturecoachwendy.com/strategylab/ FREE Online Mini Course - The C.E.O. Reset: https://culturecoachwendy.mykajabi.com/offers/zqP7fYvR/checkout CONNECT WITH ME Website: CultureCoachWendy.com LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/wendybrand/ Instram: Instagram.com/culturecoachwendy YouTube: YouTube.com/@CultureCoachWendy The CultureCoach Podcast Page: CultureCoachWendy.com/podcasts/

Send us a text In this week’s episode of The Culture Coach Podcast, Wendy sits down with Farrah Mitra — executive coach, former Bain consultant, Cornell alum, and one of only fifteen Radical Candor™ coaches worldwide. Farrah's career has been built at the intersection of people, performance, and communication, and she brings a rare blend of strategic clarity and deep humanity to the conversations leaders fear most. Together, Wendy and Farrah break down: Why communication is often the true bottleneckThe thin line between “getting it right” and “getting it wrong”How two companies approached layoffsFarrah’s 3-step Communicating Challenges & Change FrameworkWhy mindset is the hidden variableA practical formula for empathyHow leaders can shift from fear of difficult conversations to skillful, confident delivery.This episode is a must-listen for leaders navigating performance conversations, reorganizations, role changes, or any situation where the stakes are high and emotions are real. Connect With Farra Mitra LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farrah-mitra-executive-coach/ Email: farrah@greenreedgroup.com Links & Resources ✨ Sign up for The Culture Roadmap Workshop Series A 3-part November experience for leaders who want clarity, energy, and ownership heading into 2026. Register at http://CultureCoachWendy.com/WebinarSeries 🎙️ Subscribe to The Culture Coach Podcast for weekly leadership and culture insights. ____________________________ With 25+ years of leadership experience, spanning multiple roles across corporations and non-profits, I have gained a wealth of experience in understanding what makes organizations successful. FREE Culture Roadmap Webinar Series: http://CultureCoachWendy.com/WebinarSeries FREE DOWNLOAD - The Culture Strategy Audit: https://culturecoachwendy.com/cultureaudit/ Online Community - The Culture Strategy Lab: https://culturecoachwendy.com/strategylab/ FREE Online Mini Course - The C.E.O. Reset: https://culturecoachwendy.mykajabi.com/offers/zqP7fYvR/checkout CONNECT WITH ME Website: CultureCoachWendy.com LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/wendybrand/ Instram: Instagram.com/culturecoachwendy YouTube: YouTube.com/@CultureCoachWendy The CultureCoach Podcast Page: CultureCoachWendy.com/podcasts/

Send us a text In this week’s episode of The Culture Coach Podcast, Wendy Brand unpacks the power of conscious leadership—a philosophy popularized by John Mackey (Whole Foods), Steve McIntosh, and Carter Phipps—and how it connects directly to the CORE Culture™ pillars of Clarity, Energy, and Ownership. Wendy explores what it truly means to lead above the line—where fear is acknowledged but not in control—and how awareness, alignment, and accountability fuel intentional cultures. Drawing from The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership, Dare to Lead, and her own coaching work with CEOs and leadership teams, Wendy breaks down three essential dimensions of conscious leadership: Vision & Virtue (Clarity):Mindset & Strategy (Energy):People & Culture (Ownership):This episode offers practical ways to integrate these concepts into your daily leadership practices—helping you move from reaction to intention, and from managing chaos to shaping culture consciously. 🔍 Key Takeaways visionvirtue🧭 Next Steps If you’re ready to stop reacting to culture and start shaping it with intention: 👉 Join Wendy’s free 3-part Culture Roadmap Webinar Series — begins November 11. Get the full experience (or access replays) at culturecoachwendy.com/webinarseries And if you’re a CEO ready for deeper transformation, join the waitlist for The Empowered CEO, a 6-month coaching program designed to help you lead with confidence, clarity, and conviction. 🔗 culturecoachwendy.com/ceo ____________________________ With 25+ years of leadership experience, spanning multiple roles across corporations and non-profits, I have gained a wealth of experience in understanding what makes organizations successful. FREE Culture Roadmap Webinar Series: http://CultureCoachWendy.com/WebinarSeries FREE DOWNLOAD - The Culture Strategy Audit: https://culturecoachwendy.com/cultureaudit/ Online Community - The Culture Strategy Lab: https://culturecoachwendy.com/strategylab/ FREE Online Mini Course - The C.E.O. Reset: https://culturecoachwendy.mykajabi.com/offers/zqP7fYvR/checkout CONNECT WITH ME Website: CultureCoachWendy.com LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/wendybrand/ Instram: Instagram.com/culturecoachwendy YouTube: YouTube.com/@CultureCoachWendy The CultureCoach Podcast Page: CultureCoachWendy.com/podcasts/

Send us a text This week on The Culture Coach Podcast, Wendy sits down with Dave McDonald, founder of the Better Together Group and host of the WTF Podcast, to talk about the unconventional path that led him from being “fired from every good job he ever had” to running a thriving family of staffing agencies dedicated to feeding families one shift at a time. Dave’s story is full of humility, humor, and heart. Together, Wendy and Dave unpack: This is a must-listen for any entrepreneur or leader who’s ever questioned whether they were “cut out” for leadership — and a reminder that great cultures aren’t built by accident; they’re built through intentional connection and consistency. 🔗 Connect with Dave McDonald: Website: https://wtftalks.work/ Email: dave@wtftalks.org ____________________________ With 25+ years of leadership experience, spanning multiple roles across corporations and non-profits, I have gained a wealth of experience in understanding what makes organizations successful. FREE Culture Roadmap Webinar Series: http://CultureCoachWendy.com/WebinarSeries FREE DOWNLOAD - The Culture Strategy Audit: https://culturecoachwendy.com/cultureaudit/ Online Community - The Culture Strategy Lab: https://culturecoachwendy.com/strategylab/ FREE Online Mini Course - The C.E.O. Reset: https://culturecoachwendy.mykajabi.com/offers/zqP7fYvR/checkout CONNECT WITH ME Website: CultureCoachWendy.com LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/wendybrand/ Instram: Instagram.com/culturecoachwendy YouTube: YouTube.com/@CultureCoachWendy The CultureCoach Podcast Page: CultureCoachWendy.com/podcasts/

Send us a text What’s the real difference between a strong leader and a tough one? In this solo episode, I’m unpacking one of the biggest shifts in leadership today — moving from command-and-control to human-centered leadership. After 30 years in corporate leadership, I’ve seen both styles up close. The truth? The leaders who build loyalty, trust, and high performance aren’t the ones barking orders — they’re the ones balancing clarity, accountability, and empathy. In this episode, you’ll learn the five key shifts that separate strong leaders from tough ones — and how to apply them to your own leadership style: We’ll explore how these traits define modern leadership — especially as we move into a more technology-driven, AI-powered workplace where human connection matters more than ever. If you’re leading a team, running a company, or shaping culture from any seat — this episode will help you lead with strength that inspires, not fear that controls. 💡 Join the FREE Culture Roadmap Webinar Series kicking off November 11: culturecoachwendy.com/webinarseries ____________________________ With 25+ years of leadership experience, spanning multiple roles across corporations and non-profits, I have gained a wealth of experience in understanding what makes organizations successful. FREE Culture Roadmap Webinar Series: http://CultureCoachWendy.com/WebinarSeries FREE DOWNLOAD - The Culture Strategy Audit: https://culturecoachwendy.com/cultureaudit/ Online Community - The Culture Strategy Lab: https://culturecoachwendy.com/strategylab/ FREE Online Mini Course - The C.E.O. Reset: https://culturecoachwendy.mykajabi.com/offers/zqP7fYvR/checkout CONNECT WITH ME Website: CultureCoachWendy.com LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/wendybrand/ Instram: Instagram.com/culturecoachwendy YouTube: YouTube.com/@CultureCoachWendy The CultureCoach Podcast Page: CultureCoachWendy.com/podcasts/

Send us a text In this episode of The Culture Coach, Wendy sits down with Janelle Miller Moravek, a nonprofit leader and mental health advocate who has led Youth & Family Counseling as Executive Director since 2009. Janelle’s leadership journey offers a masterclass in balancing compassion with strategy. She shares how trust is built over time — and how that trust becomes the foundation for psychological safety. Together, Wendy and Janelle unpack what it looks like to create a manageable workload, support your team’s well-being, and model what it means to care for yourself while caring for others. One of Janelle’s most powerful reminders? isWhether you lead clinicians, a small business, or a growing team, this conversation will help you pause, reflect, and lead with more clarity, empathy, and intention. 🔑 Key Takeaways trust over timeboundaries🧭 Ready to Create a Healthier Culture in 2026? Join Wendy for the FREE Culture Roadmap Webinar Series — a 3-part live training designed to help you stop reacting to culture and start shaping it. You’ll learn how to: ✅ Protect your energy and eliminate workplace drains ✅ Bring clarity to chaos with a proven framework ✅ Reset your values, rituals, and habits for a strong start to 2026 👉 Save your seat at: http://CultureCoachWendy.com/WebinarSeries ____________________________ With 25+ years of leadership experience, spanning multiple roles across corporations and non-profits, I have gained a wealth of experience in understanding what makes organizations successful. FREE Culture Roadmap Webinar Series: http://CultureCoachWendy.com/WebinarSeries FREE DOWNLOAD - The Culture Strategy Audit: https://culturecoachwendy.com/cultureaudit/ Online Community - The Culture Strategy Lab: https://culturecoachwendy.com/strategylab/ FREE Online Mini Course - The C.E.O. Reset: https://culturecoachwendy.mykajabi.com/offers/zqP7fYvR/checkout CONNECT WITH ME Website: CultureCoachWendy.com LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/wendybrand/ Instram: Instagram.com/culturecoachwendy YouTube: YouTube.com/@CultureCoachWendy The CultureCoach Podcast Page: CultureCoachWendy.com/podcasts/

Send us a text In this episode of The Culture Coach podcast, I sit down with Grant Harris to explore neurodiversity and inclusion in the workplace. Grant shares his journey of discovering his own neurodistinct identity, the strengths that come with it, and how leaders can create more inclusive cultures that unlock hidden brilliance on their teams. We cover: Whether you’re a CEO, HR leader, or manager, you’ll walk away with practical strategies to make your workplace more inclusive and high-performing. Connect with Grant Harris compliancetocommunity.com Resources & Next Steps Want to start building a more intentional culture in your organization? 👉 Join me inside The Culture Strategy Lab—a monthly membership where CEOs and HR leaders get access to research, frameworks, and live strategy sessions to operationalize culture in 30 days or less. ____________________________ With 25+ years of leadership experience, spanning multiple roles across corporations and non-profits, I have gained a wealth of experience in understanding what makes organizations successful. The C.E.O. Reset - FREE Online Mini Course: https://culturecoachwendy.mykajabi.com/offers/zqP7fYvR/checkout The Empowered C.E.O.: https://culturecoachwendy.com/ceo/ Culture Strategy Session Calls: https://culturecoachwendy.com/strategysessions/ CONNECT WITH ME Website: CultureCoachWendy.com LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/wendybrand/ Instram: Instagram.com/culturecoachwendy YouTube: YouTube.com/@CultureCoachWendy The CultureCoach Podcast Page: CultureCoachWendy.com/podcasts/

Send us a text What does it really take to lead with confidence in the age of AI? And how can leaders embrace innovation without burning out themselves—or their teams? In this episode of The Culture Coach Podcast, Wendy sits down with Victoria Mensch, Founder and CEO of the Silicon Valley Executive Academy, to explore the intersection of AI, leadership, and workplace culture. Victoria shares her perspective on why AI adoption isn’t just a technical challenge—it’s a leadership competency. She explains how executives can cultivate agility, emotional intelligence, and a culture of experimentation to help their organizations thrive in times of disruption. You’ll also hear Victoria’s practical strategies for preventing burnout, including her Micro Joy Method for bringing more energy, resilience, and balance into daily life. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: people and cultureculture of experimentationResources & Links SV Executive Academy Website CEO RESET,____________________________ With 25+ years of leadership experience, spanning multiple roles across corporations and non-profits, I have gained a wealth of experience in understanding what makes organizations successful. The C.E.O. Reset - FREE Online Mini Course: https://culturecoachwendy.mykajabi.com/offers/zqP7fYvR/checkout The Empowered C.E.O.: https://culturecoachwendy.com/ceo/ Culture Strategy Session Calls: https://culturecoachwendy.com/strategysessions/ CONNECT WITH ME Website: CultureCoachWendy.com LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/wendybrand/ Instram: Instagram.com/culturecoachwendy YouTube: YouTube.com/@CultureCoachWendy The CultureCoach Podcast Page: CultureCoachWendy.com/podcasts/

Send us a text What can leaders learn from comedians? As it turns out—quite a lot. In this episode of The Culture Coach Podcast, Wendy Brand sits down with Kevin Hubschmann, founder of Laugh.Events and author of the Laugh Rx newsletter, to explore how laughter and improv translate into powerful leadership and culture skills. Kevin shares his journey from being one of the first employees at a SaaS company to building a career in comedy—and eventually creating team-building experiences that blend fun and professional development. Along the way, he discovered that the very skills comedians use on stage—listening, curiosity, collaboration, and resilience—are the same ones that help leaders and teams thrive. You’ll learn: Whether you’re a CEO, HR leader, or team manager, this conversation will inspire you to see humor not as a distraction, but as a tool for culture transformation. Connect with Kevin Hubschmann https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-hubschmannn/ ✨ If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a leader who could use both a laugh and a new perspective on culture. And don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode of The Culture Coach Podcast. ____________________________ With 25+ years of leadership experience, spanning multiple roles across corporations and non-profits, I have gained a wealth of experience in understanding what makes organizations successful. The Empowered C.E.O.: https://culturecoachwendy.com/ceo/ Culture Strategy Session Calls: https://culturecoachwendy.com/strategysessions/ CONNECT WITH ME Website: CultureCoachWendy.com LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/wendybrand/ Instram: Instagram.com/culturecoachwendy YouTube: YouTube.com/@CultureCoachWendy The CultureCoach Podcast Page: CultureCoachWendy.com/podcasts/

Send us a text What does it take to keep your people’s fire alive—and build organizations where everyone can thrive? In this episode of The Culture Coach Podcast, Wendy Brand sits down with Telle Whitney—computer scientist, co-founder of the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing, former CEO of the Anita Borg Institute, and author of Rebooting Tech Culture: How to Ignite Innovation and Build Organizations Where Everyone Can Thrive. Telle brings decades of experience leading in technology and building communities for women in computing. Together, we explore: 💡 Why so many employees enter organizations with passion and leave a few years later feeling burned out or undervalued 💡 Telle’s Six Cs of Culture—creativity, courage, confidence, curiosity, communication, and community—and how leaders can bring them to life 💡 How to move beyond the numbers and create environments where people’s best ideas can flourish 💡 The critical role of storytelling, collaboration, and belonging in driving innovation 💡 Practical ways leaders can model curiosity, encourage courage, and design more inclusive workplaces If you’re a leader who wants to build an intentional culture that keeps people engaged, inspired, and performing at their best, this conversation is for you. Connect with Telle Whitney 🌐 Website: tellewhitney.com 📖 Book: Rebooting Tech Culture Connect with Wendy Brand 🌐 Website: culturecoachwendy.com 📧 Subscribe to the Culture Compass Newsletter for weekly strategies on intentional culture 🎙️ Follow The Culture Coach Podcast on your favorite podcast platform ____________________________ With 25+ years of leadership experience, spanning multiple roles across corporations and non-profits, I have gained a wealth of experience in understanding what makes organizations successful. The Empowered C.E.O.: https://culturecoachwendy.com/ceo/ Culture Strategy Session Calls: https://culturecoachwendy.com/strategysessions/ CONNECT WITH ME Website: CultureCoachWendy.com LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/wendybrand/ Instram: Instagram.com/culturecoachwendy YouTube: YouTube.com/@CultureCoachWendy The CultureCoach Podcast Page: CultureCoachWendy.com/podcasts/