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The CultureCon Podcast
Real stories. Bold ideas. Better work.

The CultureCon Podcast brings together leaders, culture-shapers, and everyday champions who are reimagining the world of work. Each episode dives into honest conversations about workplace culture, leadership, innovation, and what it takes to build more meaningful organizations. Whether you’re a business leader, people ops professional, HR trailblazer, L&D specialist, team manager — or just a Culture Geek as we like to call ourselves — this is your place to listen, learn, and take action.

Brought to you by the team behind CultureCon, the podcast features conference speakers, community voices, and behind-the-scenes insights you won’t hear anywhere else.

Episode List

episodes

Episodes are organized by date released (newest to oldest)

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Live from CultureCon 2025: Making Multigenerational Teams Work with Megan Berki

Nikki Lewallen-Gregory, Founder at PeopleForward Network

The CultureCon Podcast

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Live from CultureCon 2025, Nikki Lewallen Gregory sits down with Megan Berki of Rocket Lawyer for a powerful conversation on bridging generational gaps in the workplace. With five generations now working side-by-side, Megan shares how leaders can turn differences into strengths, from Gen Z’s TikTok-fueled learning to Boomers’ process-driven mindset.

Packed with real examples from Rocket Lawyer, this episode explores communication strategies, culture wins (and flops), and how to build a people-first workplace where everyone feels seen and supported.

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  • YouTube
  • Spotify
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Live from CultureCon: Strengths Over Stress with Vibhas Ratanjee

Host: Jasmine Bellamy, Founder at The Loving Leader

The CultureCon Podcast

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What if the real unlock to thriving workplace cultures isn’t fixing what’s broken, but amplifying what’s already strong? Jasmine Bellamy sits down with Vibhas Ratanjee, Senior Practice Expert at Gallup, to explore how organizations can build strengths-based cultures rooted in affirmation, not audit. Drawing from over two decades at Gallup, Vibhas shares how focusing on what’s right with people can fundamentally shift culture, engagement, and performance.

From the origins of CliftonStrengths to insights on Gen Z’s workplace disconnect, this conversation blends data, stories, and deeply human takeaways. It’s a must-listen for people leaders ready to move beyond a deficit mindset and rethink strengths, feedback, and the real work of culture.

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  • YouTube
  • Spotify
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De-Risking Culture Work with Pete Savage & Greg Livings

Nick Lombardino and Zach Blumenfeld

The CultureCon Podcast

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You’ve built your culture plan… now what?

Pete Savage and Greg Livings pull back the curtain on a powerful but often overlooked concept: de-risking your culture program. From eliminating weak signals to building visual tools like the Culture Wheel Playbook, they unpack actionable strategies to ensure your culture efforts don’t fall flat.

Whether you're planning for the year ahead or trying to get your CEO on board, this episode is packed with real-world, low-cost, high-impact tactics to build executive confidence and boost internal alignment.

It’s a masterclass in making your culture work work smarter, not harder.

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  • YouTube
  • Spotify
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Culture Starts Here: For Leaders, This Can Make the Difference Between a Guess or a Smart Decision

Heather Haas and BJ McKay

The CultureCon Podcast

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Want great insights to help you lead your people? You need data.

"Actionable People Data" is the fourth driver of cultural competitive advantage in the acronym ATLAS.

Data helps you increase employee engagement. Plus, by informing decisions, data reduces the burden on you to know the right thing to do.

 

ADVISA CEO Heather Haas and leadership consultant BJ McKay discuss the critical importance of understanding employees’ motivations, needs, and experiences in qualitative and quantitative ways.

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  • YouTube
  • Spotify
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Live from CultureCon 2025: Wrestling with Leadership Chaos with Coleman Williams

Host: Nikki Lewallen-Gregory, Founder at PeopleForward Network

The CultureCon Podcast

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What happens when every leader in your company defines “leadership” their own way? Spoiler alert: chaos.

 

Live from the CultureCon 2025 studio in Madison, Wisconsin, Nikki Lewallen Gregory and Coleman Williams (co-founder of Wrestling With Talent) break down the cost of undefined leadership, from inconsistent one-on-ones to unclear goals. They share how structure creates fairness without micromanagement, plus practical ways to onboard leaders with clarity and use AI to support more consistent training and a people-first employee experience, especially during change.

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  • YouTube
  • Spotify
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Live from CultureCon: How Employee Engagement Drives Success with Gianna Driver

Host: Nikki Lewallen-Gregory, Founder at PeopleForward Network

The CultureCon Podcast

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What if the key to thriving teams isn’t better benefits or ping-pong tables, but bold conversations, deep listening, and shared ownership of culture? Live from CultureCon 2024, Nikki Llewellyn Gregory sits down with Gianna Driver to explore the real meaning of employee engagement. Gianna reflects on her journey from Silicon Valley boardrooms to culture-shaping conference stages, sharing pivotal career moments, the evolution of engagement post-pandemic, and why both leaders and employees must co-own the energy of their workplace.

You’ll learn why listening is the most underrated leadership skill, how to respond when the vibe of your company shifts, and why alignment—not just compensation—drives real fulfillment. Whether you’re leading a team or navigating your own fork-in-the-road moment, this episode offers fresh perspective, heartfelt stories, and one powerful challenge that could change your workplace for the better.

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Listen Now:

  • YouTube
  • Spotify
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What Happens in Vegas Builds Culture | CultureCon West 2025 Recap

Nick Lombardino and Zach Blumenfeld

Co-founders at CultureCon

The CultureCon Podcast

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The best moments at CultureCon West 2025 didn’t happen on stage. They happened in the spaces in between. This episode unpacks why that matters.

Nick and Zach reflect on what made CultureCon West 2025 truly stand out, and it wasn’t just the speaker lineup. From an unforgettable dinner where no one talked about work to a surprise “Hamilton” performance that brought the room to its feet, they explore the human-centered experiences that made this year’s conference feel different.

They share behind-the-scenes wins in sustainability, unexpected on-stage moments, and why the real value came from the connections formed between sessions.

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  • YouTube
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Culture Starts Here: Do Your Leaders Know What to Say and Do to Be Effective? 

Heather Haas and BJ McKay

Featuring Todd Wuestenburg

The CultureCon Podcast

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Your leaders are your culture carriers, and if your organization wants to build real cultural advantage, they must be clear on a handful of critical behaviors. In this episode, CEO Heather Haas and leadership consultant BJ McKay of ADVISA sit down with Todd Wuestenberg, Chief Culture Officer of Haverkamp Properties, to explore the third of five drivers of cultural competitive advantage: Leader Effectiveness.

Together they break down what Leader Effectiveness actually looks like in practice and how to foster it across an organization. Heather and BJ bring decades of insight from their work supporting leadership and culture development, while Todd offers his grounded perspective of how this driver shows up in day-to-day leadership.

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  • YouTube
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Live from CultureCon 2025: Hiring for Heart, Not Just Skill with Eliza Jackson

Host: Nikki Lewallen-Gregory, Founder at PeopleForward Network

The CultureCon Podcast

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What if your company values were not just words on a wall, but a living part of your culture that shapes every hire, fire, and daily decision? Live from CultureCon 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin, Nikki Lewallen Gregory sits down with Eliza Jackson of ButcherBox for a conversation that turns traditional HR playbooks upside down. With a background that spans finance, kindergarten classrooms, and fast-growing startups, Eliza brings a real and grounded perspective on building values driven organizations that actually walk the talk.

From passing on high performers who are not aligned with company values to ensuring every employee has access to a coach, Eliza shares how ButcherBox weaves culture into every level of the business. You will hear how they focus on mindset over skillset, maintain startup like agility at scale, and nurture a culture of constant improvement while keeping people at the center.

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  • YouTube
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WorkPossible: Patient Experience Starts with Staff Experience with Sven Gierlinger

Hattie Roche and Elaine Page

Featuring Sven Gierlinger

The CultureCon Podcast

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What if the way we treat healthcare employees is the reason patient care falls short? In this episode of WorkPossible, Elaine and Hattie talk with Sven Gierlinger, Chief Patient Experience Officer at Northwell Health, about how true transformation in healthcare begins behind the scenes with the people delivering care. Drawing on his background in hospitality and healthcare, Sven shows why exceptional patient experiences depend on investing in the employee experience, from redefining luxury in hospitals to empowering frontline staff to innovate and lead change.

 

Sven shares powerful insights from his own journey as a patient who was temporarily paralyzed, revealing how small human moments can define recovery and how empathy, authenticity, and proximity, not hierarchy, create lasting impact. This conversation challenges old systems and invites leaders to stop doing things by default and start designing workplaces where people are free to care and be cared for.

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Fixing Broken Culture Signals with Pete Savage and Greg Livings

Nick Lombardino and Zach Blumenfeld

Co-founders at CultureCon

The CultureCon Podcast

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Pete Savage and Greg Livings are back to decode one of the most overlooked drivers of company culture: culture signals. From a restaurant that turned things around by upgrading its patio decor to a company that fumbled a milestone moment for 7,000 employees, this episode is full of sharp insights and real-world lessons.

They break down how to spot what’s truly resonating, drop the weak stuff, and create moments that stick. With practical tips and tools, you’ll learn how to plan and communicate your culture strategy with clarity and purpose.

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  • YouTube
  • Spotify
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Culture Starts Here: Do Mission, Vision, and Values Really Matter?

Heather Haas and BJ McKay

The CultureCon Podcast

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ADVISA CEO Heather Haas and leadership consultant BJ McKay spill the T in ATLAS, delving into the second of five essential drivers for creating cultural competitive advantage: Trust and Shared Purpose.

Heather and BJ define what this driver really means and provide practical tactics any organization can use to promote it.

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Live from CultureCon 2025: Who Are You? Not What You've Done with Natasha Nuytten

Host: Nikki Lewallen-Gregory, Founder at PeopleForward Network

The CultureCon Podcast

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From blowing up the resume to embracing AI in ethical and human-first ways, Natasha dishes on how leaders can stop playing it safe and start rethinking talent. They explore the magic of unlearning, why potential matters more than pedigree, and how to build hiring processes that actually reflect the world we live in today.

If you're tired of rinse-and-repeat recruiting and ready to reimagine the future of work, this episode is your permission slip to challenge the status quo and lead with heart and strategy.

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  • YouTube
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Live from CultureCon 2024: Building Brave Spaces with Faatima Khan

Host: Nikki Lewallen-Gregory, Founder at PeopleForward Network

The CultureCon Podcast

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Live from CultureCon 2024, Nikki Lewallen Gregory talks with Faatima Khan about building trust-filled spaces where people feel safe to be real. Through stories from mood elevators to office pranks, they show how intention, grace, and vulnerability drive authenticity and offer simple ways to slow down, ask better questions, and build culture.

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  • YouTube
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Why Culture Needs a Plan with Greg Livings and Pete Savage

Nick Lombardino and Zach Blumenfeld

Co-founders at CultureCon

The CultureCon Podcast

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Nick and Zach sit down with Pete and Greg from CultureShape to dive into the tools and insights that are helping leaders make culture intentional, measurable, and lasting.  From the “Culture Wheel Playbook” to lessons learned from hundreds of conversations with leaders, this episode explores how to move culture from a buzzword to a business driver, and why intentional planning makes all the difference.

Whether you’re a culture team of one or twenty-one, you’ll leave inspired to plan smarter, gain executive support, and turn big ideas into sustainable impact. 

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  • YouTube
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Culture Starts Here: One Thing Your C-Suite Absolutely Can’t Delegate

Heather Haas and BJ McKay

The CultureCon Podcast

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In this episode of "Culture Starts Here", ADVISA CEO Heather Haas and leadership consultant BJ McKay discuss the concept of Cultural Competitive Advantage, focusing on the ATLAS framework – five drivers that organizations can leverage to align their culture with the goals of the business. 

Heather and BJ delve into the importance of the first driver, 'Activation from Above,' emphasizing the role of leadership in shaping and maintaining a healthy organizational culture. 

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When Growth Breaks Culture with Dr. Julia Wiener

Nick Lombardino and Zach Blumenfeld

Co-founders at CultureCon

The CultureCon Podcast

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Dr. Julia Wiener joins Nick and Zach to share her journey from growing a business from her garage into an international company with more than 300 employees and now leading JW Strategies. She reveals how agility and quick pivots fueled innovation, why creating space to fail fast matters, and how subtle leadership behaviors shape culture more than words on a wall. From messy team mergers to scaling culture in high growth environments, Julia offers honest lessons and looks ahead at how AI is reshaping work while reminding leaders to keep the human side strong.

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  • YouTube
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WorkPossible: Authentic Communication Beats Corporate Spin

Hattie Roche and Elaine Page

Featuring Martin Fitzpatrick

The CultureCon Podcast

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In this episode of "WorkPossible," Elaine and Hattie sit down with Martin Fitzpatrick, Global Employee Communications and Engagement Director at Ericsson, to challenge some of the most outdated practices in the workplace.

This is a conversation about ditching the rulebook, designing experiences that work for humans, and reimagining how leaders and employees engage with one another. Because work should feel possible, not prescribed.

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The Fun, the Fumbles, and the Future of CultureCon

Nick Lombardino and Zach Blumenfeld

Co-founders at CultureCon

The CultureCon Podcast

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What happens when two self-proclaimed non-event planners find themselves organizing conferences year after year? 

In this episode, Nick and Zach pull back the curtain on the lessons they have learned and the unexpected moments that make their events memorable. From food trucks to puppet shows to the not-so-sexy “Boxed Lunch Experience,” they share the highs, the hiccups, and the humor of building a community driven conference.

They also offer a glimpse of what is next, including their first ever topic specific gathering on AI.

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Introducing "Culture Starts Here"

Heather Haas and BJ McKay

Featuring Nick Lombardino and Zach Blumenfeld

The CultureCon Podcast

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Welcome to the kickoff of "Culture Starts Here," a new series from The CultureCon Podcast in partnership with Advisa!

Meet Heather Haas, CEO of Advisa and former principal, and BJ McKay, a track coach turned leadership guru. They show how culture is not just an HR project, it is a strategic lever for growth, alignment, and performance.

 

Heather and BJ introduce ATLAS, a five-part framework for building cultures that work, where systems support people, data drives clarity, and leadership is intentional from the top down.

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Doing Good Is Good Business | B Corps 101 with Nathan Stuck

Nick Lombardino and Zach Blumenfeld

Co-founders at CultureCon

The CultureCon Podcast

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Ever wondered if doing good can actually grow your business? Nathan Stuck shows it is not only possible but the future of work.

In this kickoff to the CultureCon Podcast, Nick and Zach welcome their first guest: Nathan Stuck, purpose driven leader, TEDx speaker, author, and founder of Profitable Purpose Consulting. He breaks down what B Corp certification really means (hint: it is more than a sticker on your packaging), why employee volunteer hours matter, and how brands can balance impact with authenticity.

Whether you are B curious or already part of the community, Nathan brings insight, humor, and practical strategy to help you rethink what success really looks like.

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  • YouTube
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Introducing "WorkPossible"

Hattie Roche and Elaine Page

Featuring Nick Lombardino and Zach Blumenfeld

The CultureCon Podcast

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What would the employee experience be like if we trashed the playbook? In a world where the workplace is being redefined daily, hosts Hattie Roche, Co-Founder and Strategy Chief at Fauna, and seasoned Chief People Officer Elaine Page join CultureCon co-founders Nick Lombardino and Zach Blumenfeld to flip the traditional employee experience conversation on its head. They explore how a casual chat evolved into a bold research initiative, why it’s time to unlearn how we “do” work, and what happens when we let people create the questions.

This kick-off episode of WorkPossible sets the stage for an exciting series of conversations with leaders rethinking leadership, culture, and employee experience. Tune in for fresh perspectives, future-focused thinking, and ideas bold enough to actually change things.

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Making Work Suck Less: The Birth of CultureCon®

Nick Lombardino and Zach Blumenfeld

Co-founders at CultureCon

The CultureCon Podcast

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Nick and Zach kick things off with the wild and wonderful origin story of CultureCon: from roundtables and zero event planning experience, to surprise Vegas marquees and full-on imposter syndrome. 

Along the way, they share the heart behind why CultureCon exists: to make work suck less and to build authentic connections that go far beyond job titles. You’ll laugh, you’ll learn, and you’ll get a sneak peek at the incredible stories and topics coming your way.

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  • YouTube
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Introducing the CultureCon® Podcast

Nick Lombardino and Zach Blumenfeld

Co-founders at CultureCon

The CultureCon Podcast

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Hosted by Nick Lombardino and Zach Blumenfeld, they’re taking the CultureCon experience beyond the conference. Launching this week, the Official CultureCon® Podcast brings you candid conversations with bold thinkers, everyday culture shapers, and unique voices pushing to make work better for everyone.

Our Hosts

Hosts
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Nick Lombardino

Co-founder at CultureCon

Co-host of The CultureCon Podcast

Born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin, Nick Lombardino is a social entrepreneur and community builder with experience leading teams across Marketing, Business Development, Operations, HR, and Finance. He’s the co-founder of CultureCon and a faculty member at Edgewood College, where he teaches Social Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management.

Outside of work (and sometimes during), he enjoys cribbage, soul music, lunch buffets, and most things you'd find in a senior living community.

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Zach Blumenfeld

Co-founder at CultureCon

Co-host of The CultureCon Podcast

Zach Blumenfeld is a seasoned entrepreneur with a track record of launching and exiting multiple businesses. His sweet spot: growth strategy, innovation, sales, and workplace culture. Zach has scaled companies across industries including InsurTech, FinTech, SaaS, HR Tech, and Pet Insurance.

 Outside of work, Zach loves travel, sports (Go Badgers!), collecting sports cards, and lunch buffets. He’s also been known to pop up as a background actor on TV.

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Nikki Lewallen-Gregory

Founder & Chief Meaningful Work Officer, PeopleForward Network

Co-host of The CultureCon Podcast

Nikki Lewallen Gregory is the Founder and Chief Meaningful Work Officer at PeopleForward Network, a podcast collective and community dedicated to helping people-first leaders build better workplaces. She’s also the host and guest host of several podcasts where she interviews culture-driven changemakers to share real strategies for employee engagement and leadership.

 

A passionate connector and purpose-driven entrepreneur, Nikki’s work centers on helping individuals and organizations align with what truly matters at work and in life.

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Heather Haas

CEO at ADVISA

Co-host of Culture Starts Here

Heather Haas is the Owner and CEO of ADVISA, where she leads a team of leadership and culture experts dedicated to helping organizations build trust, alignment, and cultural competitive advantage through data-driven, values-based leadership development. A former teacher and principal with degrees in education and leadership, Heather has coached thousands of leaders and is certified in a range of tools including Predictive Index®, EQ-i 2.0, and Coaching for Sales Growth™. She’s passionate about serving others—both professionally and through her volunteer work with organizations that support children, families, and those facing homelessness.

 

Heather lives in Indiana with her husband and three children, and finds joy in the mountains, good music, great books, and her faith.

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BJ McKay

Senior Leadership Consultant at ADVISA

Co-host of Culture Starts Here

BJ is the Director of New Client Acquisition at ADVISA but you may know him as an entrepreneur, leadership or sales coach. In his 13 years with ADVISA, BJ has worked with hundreds of companies and has trained hundreds of leaders, managers, and sales professionals. From small start-ups to Fortune 100 companies, you’ll find him working to building meaningful connections between results, business strategy and the teams, leaders and cultures that drive them.

Outside of work you’ll find BJ enjoying time with his wife and six children.

Hattie Roche CultureCon

Hattie Roche

Founder & Chief Strategy Officer at Fauna

Co-host of WorkPossible

Hattie is the Founder and Strategy Chief at Fauna, a global employee experience creative consultancy built by agency veterans with decades of expertise in designing experiences that lead to happier people, stronger teams, and better businesses. With 18 years of experience shaping strategies and reimagining employee journeys for some of the world’s top brands, Hattie is passionate about human-centered design that drives real business impact. She believes there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to people and champions employee-led solutions in culture transformation, leadership development, and experience design that empower individuals to do their best work.

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Elaine Paige

Advisory Board Member at Fauna

Co-host of WorkPossible

Elaine Paige is a seasoned Chief People Officer with over 20 years of experience leading HR and business transformation across high-growth startups and Fortune 500 companies. Known for aligning people strategy with business goals, she’s led M&A integrations, IPO readiness efforts, and culture transformations in fast-paced, high-change environments. From scaling TaxJar to acquisition by Stripe—the largest fully remote acquisition in U.S. history—to co-founding The Good Trouble Company, Elaine brings a sharp mix of operational excellence, strategic vision, and people-first leadership to every challenge.

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