When a leader is tasked with creating a major turnaround in a business, or even getting out of a plateau, culture might be the last thing on their mind. But being intentional about culture as a strategy that supports the bottom line can create outcomes and momentum that they never dreamed of.

Mike Ware lived this when he was put at the helm of a 40-year-old organization that was literally days from going under and brought them to the healthiest financial position they’ve ever been in. And the culture within that company was instrumental to that success. In our conversation, Mike shares practical advice and key takeaways for leaders in the thick of challenging times. We also talk about how, in his current role as a strategist and executive coach, he guides business owners to get clear about the why behind our work more than the how and how that influences culture.

Mike Ware is a proven strategist and executive coach specializing in helping owner-operated businesses break through growth plateaus. As Founder and CEO of MAMCO, he provides hands-on strategic implementation services. His Five Factors approach has enabled clients to rethink their business models and achieve nearly 300% revenue growth through innovative diversification and enhanced engagement.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• Key indicators other than your P&L that your business isn’t where it needs to be
• How clarity and transparency build trust and calm in an organization
• How clear, strategic quarterly goals set up teams for success
• The top three areas to assess to decide if you’re ready to diversify revenue
• Why perks and benefits don’t solve culture problems, and what leaders need to focus on instead

Learn More About Mike Ware:

• MAMCO: http://mamco.org/
• Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelawarejr

Learn More About Heather Smith:

• Talent Elevated: https://www.talentelevated.org

Resources:

• Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things, Adam Grant
• Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action, Simon Sinek
• Simon Sinek: How great leaders inspire action | TED Talk

In this episode of Culture by Design, I’m joined by executive coach Diana Lowe for a thoughtful conversation about the inner work of leadership. Diana blends positive psychology with cognitive behavioral coaching to help leaders uncover the beliefs and patterns that shape how they show up at work.

We explore why self-awareness is such a critical leadership skill, how outdated leadership paradigms are shifting, and why leaders need a “village” of support to grow and thrive.

Diana also shares how hidden beliefs that are often formed early in life, can influence leadership behavior, and how developing greater awareness can help leaders build healthier cultures, stronger teams, and more sustainable success.

Diana Lowe is an executive coach, speaker, and the Founder and CEO of Blue Light Leadership, where she helps organizations retain top talent by transforming how leaders show up. Diana has experienced firsthand the emotional toll of working under technically brilliant but emotionally unskilled leaders—an experience that shaped her mission to change workplaces from the inside out.

With a Master of Science in Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology and credentials as an ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC), Diana blends research-based coaching, Positive Psychology, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, and Mental & Emotional Release (MER) to address one of the most pressing challenges in business today: the human cost of bad leadership. She has coached leaders from many Fortune 500 organizations and is the bestselling author of Hard to Handle: A High Performer Paradox, a practical and compassionate guide for HR leaders and executives navigating difficult leadership dynamics while striving to protect culture and performance.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• Why self-awareness is the foundation of effective leadership
• How unconscious beliefs can shape leadership behaviors like micromanagement
• Why today’s leaders need to break away from the “know everything” leadership model
• The role of feedback, vulnerability, and reflection in modern leadership
• How energy management and personal values impact leadership effectiveness

Learn More About Diana Lowe:

• Blue Light Leadership: https://bluelightleadership.com/
• Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianaelowe/
• Hard to Handle: A High Performer Paradox: https://bookshop.org/p/books/hard-to-handle-a-high-performer-paradox-diana-lowe/8047d386958a60c1
• FREE ERG and Workshop PDF: https://hardtohandlebook.com/
• Forbes Coaches Council Column: https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbescoachescouncil/people/dianalowe/

Learn More About Heather Smith:

• Talent Elevated: https://www.talentelevated.org

Business owners often look to optimize systems and processes to achieve big goals.

But as my guest today can attest, without a solid foundation in culture, systems and processes will only take you so far.

Chris Seegers is a long-time owner of multiple businesses that he has stewarded through major transitions and growth. In this conversation, we talk about how people, processes, and profitability are critical pillars to the value of a business and how intentionally designing systems to reinforce culture over time is key for long-term sustainability and success.

Chris Seegers is a business owner with a long track record of starting and buying companies and building them into successful, self-governed entities. He founded the Exceptional Companies family office and is an active owner in many different businesses and part of leadership teams that have raised and deployed over $650 million in investor dollars. Chris is a self-proclaimed “capitalist missionary”, and his heart is activating and equipping others to live exceptional lives. He has written two books, Buying Main Street and Selling Main Street, aimed at equipping ordinary people in the complex space of business transitions.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• How systems reflect and support instilling and sustaining values and culture across organizations
• Why values need to be clearly defined and implemented with concrete benchmarks
• How the core pillars of people, processes, and profitability translate into a company’s valuation
• Why leaders need the humility to be wanted, but not needed in their businesses
• How clear expectations and processes for accountability drive results while maintaining relationships and building trust

Learn More About Chris Seegers:

• Exceptional Business Advisors: https://excoadvisors.com/
• Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-seegers-8a30161a

Learn More About Heather Smith:

• Talent Elevated: https://www.talentelevated.org