In today’s dynamic and competitive business landscape, organizational culture stands out as a key differentiator and driver of long-term success. We recently hosted October’s Culture Cohort to shed light on why cultivating a strong culture should be a fundamental component of every business leader’s strategy playbook.
As part of this insightful event, we brought together a lineup of expert speakers from diverse industries to share insights, strategies, and best practices. In case you missed it, we’re sharing a sampling of this exploration into the indispensable role of culture in shaping a successful business strategy. Mark your calendars for our next Culture Cohort happening in February 2025!
An introduction to our expert panel
- Moderator: Chelsey Paulson, Chief Strategy Officer of Keystone Group International
- Panelist: Chris Galvin, President and CEO of Andersen Corporation – Chris began his career with Andersen in 2002, and over the course of his more than 20 years there, has held leadership roles across all areas of the company. In 2019, he became president of the Andersen Division, and in 2021, Chris was named the company’s president and chief operating officer and was named Andersen’s 11th CEO in 2023.
- Panelist: Ebony Wyatt, VP Regional Grocery, General Mills, Founder and Creator, Ebony Wyatt Speaks LLC – Ebony is a General Mills business leader with 21 years of sales experience, the owner of Ebony Wyatt Speaks and is the creator and facilitator of the “Building Your BadAss Brand” workshop series. Ebony is a staunch advocate for creating equitable workplaces and communities.
- Panelist: Ben Utecht, Owner, Behavior Essentials & Former Super Bowl Champion – Ben is not only an NFL Super Bowl Champion but also the Chief Culture Officer of True North Private Equity, owner in Conquer Ninja Gyms and Behavioral Essentials, founder of SoleCareRx, Culture Ambassador for Realty Group, speaker, and author of “Counting the Days While My Mind Slips Away.”
A sampling of some of the questions we covered with our panelists
How do you define culture and strategy?
Ebony: “Culture is having a people first mindset. Culture is the way people feel and a shared set of beliefs. Strategy is the long term plans and actions to achieve the plan, including the resources needed to accomplish what we need.”
How have you seen the culture evolve and shift at Andersen?
Chris: “We continue to evolve Andersen’s culture around a core set of values and principles that are the foundation around everything we do, through the good times and through challenging periods.”
How do you align people with strategy?
Ebony: “I am proud of the people-first strategies and values that we embody at General Mills. We added “Champion Belonging” as a company value a few years ago and it’s the DNA of how we show up for one another to ensure every individual can bring the best version of themselves to help us achieve our business results.”Chris: “It all starts with leadership from the top, setting the vision, connecting that vision with every team member and getting out of our offices and leading from out front.”
What do you take from the football huddle to your business?
Ben: “Practice is missing in business and is key to athletics. It’s one hour of human development to 30 hours of work, while football is 280 hours of practice to one hour of performance.”
How do you do culture in a hybrid workplace?
Ebony: “Start with remote teammates first and ensure your interactions are focused on clear, concise communication and the ability to purposefully connect -whether it’s in-person or on a call. When you are managing a hybrid team, ensure the time together is thoughtful and focused. Are the priorities clear and concise? Make it impactful and don’t waste people’s time. Are we teaching our people something new? Are we celebrating our achievements?”
Ben: “You will have a culture, whether by design or default.”
How do you stay in tune with how your people are feeling in your organization?
Ben: “By being relational and actually asking how they are feeling. Utilize the best assessment platform that works for you for data and insights that you might otherwise miss in the organization. Focus on the behavior and more importantly the WHY connected to the behavior.
What do leaders need to be capable of to thrive?
Chris: “Great leaders are authentic. They need to be decisive, they have to be great listeners and they must be able to connect with their team members in a way that builds trust and alignment.”
At the end of the day, leaders drive culture
Culture is not a one-size-fits-all concept. Every organization has its unique set of values, beliefs, and goals that shape its culture. Therefore, it’s essential for leaders to assess their current culture and identify areas that need improvement or alignment.
Leaders have a responsibility to demonstrate the beliefs, values and purpose of the company and reinforce behaviors that reflect those values. Organizations succeed when their purpose is authentically aligned with strategy and operations.
Need help with incorporating culture into your business strategy? Schedule a call with our Keystone team today: https://www.keystonegroupintl.com/contact/
Keystone’s Culture Cohort is focused on driving a different conversation, one that brings leaders from all industries, company sizes and job functions together to discuss how we can all have positive impacts on our work environments. This community’s purpose is to give leaders a place where we share our concerns, struggles and solutions with each other so we can all learn and grow.
