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Culture Architects

Culture Architects

By: David J. Friedman
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 Most leaders know that a strong culture is a foundation for building a great organization, but great cultures don't just happen on their own. Rather, they're designed and built systematically, brick by brick. Each week, join David J. Friedman, the best-selling author of Culture by Design, as he speaks with extraordinary leaders, from all walks of life, and they share their biggest successes, failures, and lessons learned on their culture journeys. If you're searching for the best insights on building a high-performing culture, then Culture Architects, a production of CultureWise, is for you.Copyright CultureWise Economics Leadership Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • 48. From Biotech to Climate Action: Building Culture That Scales w/ Brian Cali

    48. From Biotech to Climate Action: Building Culture That Scales w/ Brian Cali
    Jan 5 2026
    In this episode of Culture Architects, David Friedman interviews Brian Cali, a molecular biologist turned entrepreneur and investor. Brian shares his journey from a young science enthusiast to co-founding Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, emphasizing the importance of relationships, culture, and collaboration in building successful companies. As Ironwood grew, Brian navigated the challenges of maintaining a healthy company culture and adapting to organizational complexity. After a successful career in biotech, he transitioned to climate advocacy, focusing on community building and empowering others to engage in climate action. Brian's story highlights the significance of intentionality in leadership and the ripple effect of decisions made within organizations.
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    53 mins
  • 47. Designing Cultures Where Everyone Thrives w/ Leo Sanders (Part 2)

    47. Designing Cultures Where Everyone Thrives w/ Leo Sanders (Part 2)
    Dec 15 2025
    Part Two opens with the case for representation—why teams that reflect the communities they serve make better decisions—and explores the outsized role of language in building trust, shared meaning, and belonging. Leo closes with practical guidance leaders can use to translate inclusive intent into everyday behaviors.
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    30 mins
  • 47. Designing Cultures Where Everyone Thrives w/ Leo Sanders (Part 1)

    47. Designing Cultures Where Everyone Thrives w/ Leo Sanders (Part 1)
    Dec 8 2025
    Leo Sanders demystifies DEI by defining it in plain terms, grounding it in civil-rights practice, and connecting it to performance: attract broader talent, retain it, and remove barriers so people can thrive. He addresses the common backlash by showing how critics often reduce DEI to one tactic, and he offers a pragmatic approach—universal design and phased improvements—to make progress without breaking budgets.
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    31 mins
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