Most companies don’t fail because of bad strategy—they fail because they ignore culture. In this episode of Frog Talk, Nader Safinya sits down with organizational alignment expert Tammy Fitzpatrick to explore why culture isn't an add-on—it's the foundation. From her childhood on a working farm to her leadership consulting today, Tammy shares how identity, leadership alignment, and employee experience shape everything. They break down why mergers collapse, why unspoken power dynamics quietly destroy teams, and how leaders must show up intentionally every single day. This episode is a must-listen for anyone serious about building workplaces that people believe in—not just work for.

Episode Guest Details:

Tammy Fitzpatrick, Founder & CEO of The Fitzpatrick Collective. Tammy is an organizational alignment expert who helps businesses navigate transformative change, optimize team performance, and guide leaders toward sustainable success through human-centered approaches.

Key Takeaways:

1. Culture is Built Through Actions, Not Slogans.Mission statements and values printed on walls are meaningless if they aren’t lived through daily behaviors, leadership decisions, and employee experiences.

2. Leadership Alignment is Non-Negotiable.Organizations crumble when leadership teams act like bobbleheads in meetings but pursue personal agendas behind closed doors. Real alignment isn’t about agreement—it’s about unified action.

3. Silos Destroy Organizational Health.When leaders only "fight for their team," they lose sight of the bigger mission. Healthy organizations focus on advancing the entire company, not just protecting department turf.

4. Growth Without Cultural Integrity is Fragile.Organizations can show short-term success on paper while slowly eroding internally. Sustainable growth requires a strong cultural foundation from the start.

5. Observational Awareness is Critical.What leaders see—how people behave, engage, and even how "thick the air feels"—tells a more honest story about culture than surveys ever will.

6. Legacy Comes from Intentional Leadership.Tammy challenges leaders to think about the legacy they are creating—not just at work, but across communities. Every action leaves a ripple effect.

7. Culture Impacts the Bottom Line.Strong, thriving cultures aren’t just “feel good.” They drive profitability, reduce turnover, attract top talent, and create organizations people want to buy from—and work for.

Chapter Markers:

00:00 - 05:00 | Introduction and Tammy’s farm roots and early lessons in work identity

05:01 - 10:00 | Defining culture before knowing the word

10:01 - 15:00 | Discovering the "people component" in business and early career moments

15:01 - 20:00 | Helping organizations through M&A and cultural due diligence

20:01 - 25:00 | Early signs of culture erosion despite outward success

25:01 - 30:00 | Leadership ego, alignment struggles, and the myth of "knowing everyone"

30:01 - 35:00 | The hidden costs of silos and how to break them down

35:01 - 40:00 | Diagnosing organizations quickly and building real strategic alignment

40:01 - 45:00 | The ripple effect of positive workplace culture across communities

Keywords company culture, organizational alignment, leadership alignment, culture transformation, mergers and acquisitions failure, employee engagement, workplace silos, intentional leadership, workplace legacy, culture-driven growth, business transformation, corporate culture, leadership development, employee retention, human-centered leadership, Fitzpatrick Collective, Tammy Fitzpatrick, Frog Talk podcast, Nader Safinya