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Do Good To Lead Well with Craig DowdenAuthor: Craig Dowden
If you're passionate about mastering self-leadership, you're in the right place. I've dedicated my career to understanding the science and practice of positive leadership. I Integrate evidence-based principles from the fields of positive psychology with those in leadership and organizational excellence that will help you develop real-life solutions to solve your greatest challenges. Each week I'll bring world-class content with industry experts to help you use positive leadership to build a peak performance culture. Language: en-us Genres: Business, Management Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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TITLE: Designing Resilient Organizational Culture with Heart: Insights from James D. White and Krista White
Wednesday, 11 February, 2026
How do you know whether your company’s culture is happening by accident or being intentionally designed? That’s the challenge we explore in this episode of Do Good to Lead Well, as I sit down with culture architects James D. White and Krista White, co-authors of the USA Today bestseller “Culture Design.”James and Krista share why now, more than ever, leaders can’t afford to leave culture to chance. Their advice springs from decades of practical experience: culture isn’t a poster on the wall—it’s what people do when no one is looking.In a thought-provoking and engaging conversation, they answer timely questions from the audience including: How do you diagnose the real health of your culture? Can values become more than just “word salad?” What about the unique pressures of remote work, generational differences, or legacy cultures stuck in old patterns?Through stories and concrete examples, James and Krista reveal what organizations can actually do. They talk about running “archaeological digs” through interviews and surveys, turning employee feedback into actionable strategy, and the power of empathy. They explain how and why leaders should “listen with heart,” make time for micro-moments of connection, and value small steps over perfection.Perhaps the most powerful takeaway is that designing culture is ongoing work. It’s about ensuring that how you operate matches what you say you value and having the courage to change, with empathy, when your organization needs it most.What You’ll Learn- Culture is always there – whether you design it or not.- The importance of closing the “say-do” gap.- Empathy is a leadership superpower.- How to design your culture for both stability and change.- Why you want your values to be actionable and personal.- The key role of middle managers in fostering culture.- Honor the past, but don’t cling to it.Podcast Timestamps(00:00) - The Inspiration and Meaning Behind "Culture Design"(05:47) - Intentional Culture: Design vs. Default(07:17) - Diagnosing Organizational Culture(16:00) - The Future Back Approach in Leadership(18:37) - Values: From Performative to Impactful(22:21) - Organizational vs. Individual Resilience(25:47) - Empathy as a Leadership Foundation(33:00) - Generational and Hybrid Workforce Dynamics(43:37) - Measuring, Supporting, and Sustaining Culture ChangeKEYWORDSPositive Leadership, Culture Design, Organizational Culture, Empathy, Resilience, Values, Change Management, Transformational Leadership, Inclusion, Organizational Stability, Leading with Integrity, Rituals, Future-back Methodology, Cross-generational Workforce, Remote Work, Hybrid work, Employee Engagement, AI adoption, Feedback Loops, Legacy Culture, CEO Success
