In this episode, Charlotte Graham, People and Change Lead at Ocado Retail, joins Luke Fisher to explore how to make culture stick in a fast-moving, digital-first business. Charlotte shares how Ocado’s “high support, high challenge” model helps build a culture that balances ambition with wellbeing and why recognition is key to keeping people connected through change.

From embedding values into behaviour to turning resistance into advocacy, Charlotte offers a grounded, people-first approach to culture that resonates with any leader navigating transformation.

Charlotte Graham – People and Change Lead, Ocado Retail
Charlotte brings experience across IT, change, and HR. Her work focuses on helping teams navigate complex change while keeping people at the centre. At Ocado, she leads culture, engagement, and recognition (including via Mo) to build a high performance, values-led workplace.

Ocado Retail – One of the UK’s largest online supermarkets, combining world-leading tech with human-centered innovation. Its culture strategy empowers teams to thrive while delivering results.

Episode Outline

1. From IT to People and Culture
Charlotte’s journey from tech to HR and how both shape her work today.

2. Defining Culture in a Digital-First Business
How Ocado’s values and “high support, high challenge” model drive culture.

3. Turning Resistance into Advocacy
Why change skeptics often become the strongest champions (if heard).

4. Making Values Feel Real
How leadership behaviours and everyday moments bring values to life.

5. Change That Sticks
The role of alignment, feedback, and engagement data in long-term change.

6. Recognition and Engagement Data
How Mo helped boost recognition and engagement at Ocado.

7. The Future of Work and the Change Mindset
Why adaptability and learning are must-have skills for everyone.

Host & Show Info

Host Name: Luke Fisher

About the Host: Luke Fisher is the CEO of Mo, a platform that's all about helping teams create workplaces where people genuinely want to be. Luke's on a mission to show that brilliant company culture isn't just a nice-to-have but what makes teams thrive, feel connected, and do brilliant work together. Mo helps organisations around the world turn their values from poster-board promises into real, everyday habits that bring teams closer and give everyone a sense of purpose. It's culture you can actually see and feel in action.

Podcast Website: Culture in Action

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In this episode, Hazel Hogben, Chief People Officer at Unilode Aviation Solutions, shares how she’s helped reshape culture across a global aviation logistics business — with teams in 36 countries, many of whom don’t sit at a desk.

From stepping into a newly acquired company, to rewriting values, overhauling communication, and building recognition programs, Hazel explains how Unilode is building emotional connection across a distributed, operational workforce. She shares what’s worked, what’s been hard, and why true alignment with the business is the only way to make culture change stick.

This episode is full of practical insight for anyone leading culture in complex, deskless environments.

Guest Information

Hazel Hogben is Chief People Officer at Unilode Aviation Solutions, a global leader in ULD management and repair for the aviation industry.

Unilode Aviation Solutions operates in 36 countries, serving major airlines and advancing sustainable logistics through aviation cargo solutions.

Episode Outline

1. Walking into a Business on a Burning Platform
Hazel joined Unilode during major change and shares why culture was as urgent as strategy.

2. Communication as a Culture Catalyst
With half the team offline, Hazel introduced tools and practices for relevant, two-way, multilingual communication.

3. Rewriting the Company Values
Hazel explains how Unilode refreshed its values to reflect purpose, growth, and sustainability.

4. From Admin to Strategic Talent Partner
She discusses transforming HR into a proactive, business-aligned function and building L&D from scratch.

5. Recognition That Travels
From Employee of the Year to personalized decals on cargo boxes, Hazel shares how recognition became meaningful and visible.

6. Measuring What Matters
She outlines KPIs like labor turnover and internal promotions — and why floor-level conversations still matter most.

7. Advice for Leading Culture in a Deskless World
Hazel shares what really makes culture land, and why having a genuine tribe matters more than having a perfect plan.

Host & Show Info

Host Name: Luke Fisher

About the Host: Luke Fisher is the CEO of Mo, a platform that's all about helping teams create workplaces where people genuinely want to be. Luke's on a mission to show that brilliant company culture isn't just a nice-to-have but what makes teams thrive, feel connected, and do brilliant work together. Mo helps organisations around the world turn their values from poster-board promises into real, everyday habits that bring teams closer and give everyone a sense of purpose. It's culture you can actually see and feel in action.

Podcast Website: Culture in Action

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In this episode, Paula Schneider, former CEO and now Honorary Vice Chair of Susan G. Komen, shares how she led the world’s largest breast cancer research and advocacy organization through one of the most ambitious nonprofit transformations in recent history. From consolidating 63 affiliates into one unified entity, to navigating a full pivot to remote work during COVID, Paula’s approach to mission-driven leadership is rooted in kindness, strategy, and personal experience — as both a breast cancer survivor and a daughter who lost her mother to the disease.

As we mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Paula offers a timely, powerful look into the inner workings of a purpose-led organization on a global mission.

Guest Information

Paula Schneider - is the Honorary Vice Chair and former CEO of Susan G. Komen, the world’s leading breast cancer research organization.

Susan G. Komen - With over $3.5 billion invested in breast cancer research, patient support, advocacy, and public health initiatives, Susan G. Komen is a global force in the fight against breast cancer. Its work continues to save lives and drive progress in early detection, treatment, and support for people living with metastatic breast cancer.

Episode Outline

1. From Fashion Industry to Breast Cancer Advocacy

Paula shares how her personal journey compelled her to leave a career in fashion and step into nonprofit leadership at Susan G. Komen.

2. Leading Organizational Change in a Mission-Driven World

When COVID hit, Paula acted quickly: merging 63 Komen affiliates, going fully virtual, and redefining how the organization delivered its mission.

3. Kindness as a Leadership Strategy

Paula unpacks how “kindness doesn’t mean softness.” She shares how Komen’s culture transformation elevated clarity, transparency, and accountability — and why kindness has become a foundational leadership principle at all levels.

4. Culture Rituals in a Remote Workplace

With no physical offices, Komen had to build new cultural glue. Paula shares how whole-company weeks off, “skip level” leadership calls, onboarding copilots, and live dashboards helped staff stay connected and aligned.

5. Supporting People Doing Life-Saving Work

From providing mental health resources to ringing bells for donations, Paula explains how Komen sustains its people through emotionally intense work.

6. Legacy, Leadership, and Breast Cancer Awareness

As a survivor and advocate, Paula reflects on her legacy: increasing investment in metastatic breast cancer research, scaling mission impact, and embedding a culture of care at the heart of one of the world’s most recognized health nonprofits.

Host & Show Info

Host Name: Luke Fisher

About the Host: Luke Fisher is the CEO of Mo, a platform that's all about helping teams create workplaces where people genuinely want to be. Luke's on a mission to show that brilliant company culture isn't just a nice-to-have but what makes teams thrive, feel connected, and do brilliant work together. Mo helps organisations around the world turn their values from poster-board promises into real, everyday habits that bring teams closer and give everyone a sense of purpose. It's culture you can actually see and feel in action.

Podcast Website: Culture in Action

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Thompson Thrift is a nationally recognised real estate company with employees across 23 states and more Top Workplace awards than most companies dream of.

In this episode, Luke Fisher is joined by Kristin Tolliver, Senior Vice President of HR, and Lily Tikijian, Senior Director of Communications and Engagement at Thompson Thrift. Together, they share how the company has scaled culture while doubling headcount, launching innovative benefits, and empowering managers as everyday carriers of culture.

This episode is packed with practical lessons on employee retention, recognition and reward, internal communications, leadership development and wellbeing benefits. If you want to know what it really takes to become a Top Workplace in a competitive industry, you’ll want to listen in.

Guest Information

Kristin Tolliver is Senior Vice President of HR at Thompson Thrift, overseeing training, benefits, compensation, recruiting and team member relations.

Lily Tikijian is Senior Director of Communications and Engagement at Thompson Thrift. Since 2021, she has shaped the company’s communications strategy.

Episode Outline

1. From Growth to Culture Strategy
   How Thompson Thrift’s rapid expansion from 350 to 700 employees triggered a deliberate focus on culture and becoming a Top Workplace.
2. Communication That Engages
   Why a weekly newsletter transformed internal communications, creating visibility, recognition and connection across dispersed teams.
3. Recognition at Every Level
   How programmes like Living the Core celebrate employees, and why recognition drives higher engagement and retention.
4. Managers as Culture Carriers
   Why Thompson Thrift calls site managers “CEOs of their sites” and how they’re empowered to lead with values and embed culture daily.
5. Family Impact Benefits
   The story behind a leadership idea that grew into a national benefits programme covering healthcare, wellbeing, flexibility and financial support.
6. Measuring Impact on Retention and Recruitment
   The results: stronger retention, lower recruitment costs thanks to referrals, and employee tenure of 15+ years in key teams.
7. The Secret Sauce for a Top Workplace
   Kristin and Lily share their advice: culture can’t be faked, it has to be lived daily by every employee and reinforced by authentic leadership.

Click here for the full transcript of this episode

Host & Show Info

Host Name: Luke Fisher

About the Host: Luke Fisher is the CEO of Mo, a platform that's all about helping teams create workplaces where people genuinely want to be. Luke's on a mission to show that brilliant company culture isn't just a nice-to-have but what makes teams thrive, feel connected, and do brilliant work together. Mo helps organisations around the world turn their values from poster-board promises into real, everyday habits that bring teams closer and give everyone a sense of purpose. It's culture you can actually see and feel in action.

Podcast Website: Culture in Action

Where to find us:

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How do you scale culture in a fully remote, mission-driven organisation? In this episode of Culture in Action, Luke Fisher is joined by Dan Kessler, President of Energage, and KK Byland, Chief Human Resources Officer at American College of Education (ACE). Together, they explore how ACE built its HR function from scratch, created a values-led employee experience and sustained strong engagement while growing rapidly across 40 states in the US.

KK shares her journey from being a one-person HR team to leading a culture powerhouse, revealing how ACE integrates mission, values and recognition into everyday life. This episode offers practical lessons for any HR or business leader navigating growth, remote transformation or purpose-led change.

Guest Information

KK Byland is the Chief Human Resources Officer at American College of Education, a fully online, accredited institution offering affordable and high-quality higher education programmes across the US. Over more than a decade at ACE, KK has scaled the HR team from a single person to a department that drives culture, employee experience and leadership development across 40+ states.

Dan Kessler is the President of Energage, the research and consulting company behind the Top Workplaces awards in the United States. With nearly 20 years at the company, Dan has helped thousands of organisations improve culture by listening to employee feedback, benchmarking engagement and taking action on the moments that matter.

Episode Outline

1. Starting from Scratch
KK describes how she built ACE’s HR department from the ground up, moving from outsourced admin to a culture-focused function.

2. Scaling Through Inflection Points
Discover how ACE responded to major changes such as rapid growth and becoming a fully remote workforce spread across 40 states.

3. Designing Remote Connection
From new hire mixers to mentoring programmes, KK shares how ACE keeps people connected, recognised and seen in a remote-first culture.

4. Values and Mission in Action
ACE lives its B Corp mission by making higher education affordable, accessible and debt-free, with 86 percent of students graduating without loans.

5. Recognition That Matters
Learn how ACE blends formal and informal recognition to sustain engagement and how being a Top Workplace has validated its culture.

6. Leadership That Scales Culture
KK explains how leadership development and succession planning underpin ACE’s culture and performance during continued growth.

Host & Show Info

Host Name: Luke Fisher

About the Host: Luke Fisher is the CEO of Mo, a platform that's all about helping teams create workplaces where people genuinely want to be. Luke's on a mission to show that brilliant company culture isn't just a nice-to-have but what makes teams thrive, feel connected, and do brilliant work together. Mo helps organisations around the world turn their values from poster-board promises into real, everyday habits that bring teams closer and give everyone a sense of purpose. It's culture you can actually see and feel in action.

Podcast Website: Culture in Action

Where to find us:

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In senior care, turnover can hit 50% a year, but Mozaic Senior Life runs at half that rate. In this episode, Kara Rodriguez, VP & CHRO, reveals how a culture built on belonging, joy, and “hiring for the heart” keeps staff committed, residents happy, and business thriving even through the toughest times.

Guest Information

Kara Rodriguez is the Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Mozaic Senior Life, an award-winning senior care organisation in western Connecticut. With over 30 years in HR, Kara has devoted her career to purpose-driven organisations that put people first. At Mozaic, she has helped create a culture that’s halved the industry’s average turnover rate by focusing on belonging, joy, and meaningful work.

Mozaic Senior Life

Episode Outline

1. Competing Beyond Compensation
Kara explains why Mozaic attracts and retains great people despite being a nonprofit that can’t always match the wages of larger healthcare providers. The secret? A culture where employees feel seen, heard, valued — and part of something meaningful.

2. Rituals that Build Belonging
From “Rumor Mill” meetings to a CEO in a hot dog costume, Kara shares the quirky, joyful, and purposeful traditions that keep Mozaic’s culture alive, foster connection, and help staff balance the emotional highs and lows of senior care.

3. Culture as a Business Driver
Kara details how Mozaic’s culture directly impacts resident satisfaction, donor loyalty, and long-term business outcomes — even maintaining full occupancy during the pandemic when others struggled.

Click here for a full transcript of this episode

Host & Show Info

Host Name: Luke Fisher

About the Host: Luke Fisher is the CEO of Mo, a platform that's all about helping teams create workplaces where people genuinely want to be. Luke's on a mission to show that brilliant company culture isn't just a nice-to-have but what makes teams thrive, feel connected, and do brilliant work together. Mo helps organisations around the world turn their values from poster-board promises into real, everyday habits that bring teams closer and give everyone a sense of purpose. It's culture you can actually see and feel in action.

Podcast Website: Culture in Action

Where to find us:

Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts – This is the most impactful way to support the show.

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In schools, teacher turnover undermines student success. At Leigh Academies Trust, however, retention is treated as a strategic driver of outcomes. In this episode of Culture in Action, Richard Taylor, Deputy CEO for Operations, explains how a people-first culture, innovative career development programmes and cutting-edge use of AI are improving staff engagement, boosting retention and ultimately helping 25,000 pupils thrive across 33 academies.

Guest Information

Richard Taylor is the Deputy CEO for Operations at Leigh Academies Trust, one of the largest multi-academy trusts in the South East of England. With a background in both HR and operations, Richard has spent more than a decade building strategies that reduce turnover, strengthen leadership and empower teachers to succeed. His initiatives include the Stay and Grow retention framework, AI-powered learning platforms and LAT Moments, a recognition programme that celebrates staff across all schools.

Episode Outline

1. Retention as a Student Outcome
   Richard explains how keeping great teachers directly improves student achievement and why retention sits at the heart of LAT’s people strategy.
2. AI as a Culture Enabler
   Discover how LAT uses artificial intelligence to reduce workload, personalise student learning and create career pathways for staff, from teaching assistants to future leaders.
3. Recognition at Scale
   Learn how LAT Moments, powered by Mo, has embedded peer-to-peer recognition across 33 schools, building visibility, fairness and belonging.
4. From Feedback to Action
   Richard shares examples of how employee surveys revealed surprising operational barriers, leading to changes in IT systems and everyday staff support.
5. The Future of Work in Education
   Hear Richard’s predictions for how AI will personalise professional development, improve performance management and shape the future of school culture.

Click here for the full transcript of this episode

Host Name: Luke Fisher

About the Host: Luke Fisher is the CEO of Mo, a platform that's all about helping teams create workplaces where people genuinely want to be. Luke's on a mission to show that brilliant company culture isn't just a nice-to-have but what makes teams thrive, feel connected, and do brilliant work together. Mo helps organisations around the world turn their values from poster-board promises into real, everyday habits that bring teams closer and give everyone a sense of purpose. It's culture you can actually see and feel in action.

Podcast Website: Culture in Action

Where to find us:

Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts – This is the most impactful way to support the show.

Sign up for our newsletter

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What makes a top workplace and how can culture drive business performance? In this episode of Culture in Action, Dan Kessler, President of Energage, explains the methodology behind Top Workplaces recognition and how employee feedback, engagement data and everyday leadership actions help companies build a culture that attracts and retains talent.

Guest Information

Dan Kessler is President of Energage, the research and consulting company behind the Top Workplaces awards in the United States. With nearly 20 years at the company, Dan has helped thousands of organisations improve culture by listening to employee feedback, benchmarking engagement and taking action on the moments that matter.

Episode Outline

1. The Culture Pyramid
   Dan explains the Energage model, from individual employee experience to manager relationships to senior leadership vision.
2. Data-Driven Insights
   Learn how Energage benchmarks engagement scores across industries and sizes to give leaders actionable comparisons.
3. Top Workplace Recognition
   Dan reveals how only employee survey data, not applications or essays, determines Top Workplaces recognition.
4. Culture Change in Action
   Hear examples of companies using survey feedback to reorganise teams, redesign benefits and invest in leadership development.
5. Culture as a Business Driver
   Dan shares how engagement data links to financial performance, with research showing correlations to future equity value.

Click here for the full transcript of this episode

Host Name: Luke Fisher

About the Host: Luke Fisher is the CEO of Mo, a platform that's all about helping teams create workplaces where people genuinely want to be. Luke's on a mission to show that brilliant company culture isn't just a nice-to-have but what makes teams thrive, feel connected, and do brilliant work together. Mo helps organisations around the world turn their values from poster-board promises into real, everyday habits that bring teams closer and give everyone a sense of purpose. It's culture you can actually see and feel in action.

Podcast Website: Culture in Action

Where to find us:

Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts – This is the most impactful way to support the show.

Sign up for our newsletter

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YouTube