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Are you interested in creating a sense of belonging in your organization? If so, I think you are going to enjoy this episode.

If you are familiar with my THRIVE Culture framework, you know that creating inspiring inclusivity and belonging is one of the six key pillars that allow organizations to own their role in employee burnout.

And, my guest today is an expert on the topic.

Lola Adeyemo is just an incredible individual, born and raised in Nigeria and came to the U.S. as an adult. She is the CEO and lead facilitator at EQImindset, a management consulting firm, and the Executive Director and Founder of a non-profit called Immigrants in Corporate Inc., a membership platform empowering immigrant professionals to thrive in corporate America.

But wait, that’s not all. Lola is also the co-founder and COO at an IT consulting firm, Sapient Logic, a rapidly growing government contracting firm with 21 full-time employees.

Drawing from almost two decades of experience across Fortune 250 Global STEM companies, she partners with organizations to increase their business goals through employee engagement and retention and scale their inclusion programs through business-aligned and optimized Employee Resource Groups (ERGs).

She is a TEDx speaker and San Diego Equal Opportunity Commissioner, and her impact has been recognized through multiple awards, including 40 under 40 recognitions and the 2024 Women in Business Awards. She hosts the 'Thriving in Intersectionality Podcast' and is the author of the award-winning book "Thriving in Intersectionality: Immigrants, Belonging, and Corporate America.

I asked a lot of questions, because I had a lot of questions about ERGs and Lola did not disappoint.

And, if you’re a small business owner and think the ERG topic is not for you, fear not…I asked questions about that too.

Connect with Lola on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lolaaadeyemopm/

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With 25+ years of leadership experience, spanning multiple roles across corporations and non-profits, I have gained a wealth of experience in understanding what makes organizations successful.

Culture Strategy Session Calls:
https://culturecoachwendy.com/strategysessions/

CONNECT WITH ME
Website: CultureCoachWendy.com
LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/wendybrand/
Instram: Instagram.com/culturecoachwendy
YouTube: YouTube.com/@CultureCoachWendy

The CultureCoach Podcast Page: CultureCoachWendy.com/podcasts/

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Morag Barrett is founder of SkyeTeam, best-selling author, and was hand-picked from over 16,000 candidates to join Marshall Goldsmith’s prestigious 100 Coaches group.

As I was listening back to this episode before producing I actually took out a notepad and started taking notes!!

Morag is dedicated to proving that success in business isn't just about what you know - it's about who you know, and how you connect. And, we talk about how you can create connection and belonging in the workplace, a much needed skill for you as leaders, building teams and shaping organizations.

And, you’ll hear insights from her latest book "You, Me, We: Why We All Need a Friend at Work."

Interested in connecting with Morag directly, you can find her here:

https://skyeteam.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moragbarrett/

____________________________
With 25+ years of leadership experience, spanning multiple roles across corporations and non-profits, I have gained a wealth of experience in understanding what makes organizations successful.

Culture Strategy Session Calls:
https://culturecoachwendy.com/strategysessions/

CONNECT WITH ME
Website: CultureCoachWendy.com
LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/wendybrand/
Instram: Instagram.com/culturecoachwendy
YouTube: YouTube.com/@CultureCoachWendy

The CultureCoach Podcast Page: CultureCoachWendy.com/podcasts/

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What started as an idea to spark deeper conversations about workplace culture has now hit a major milestone—the 100th episode of The Culture Coach podcast is live! 🙌

This special episode is a heartfelt compilation of some of my all-time favorite moments—conversations that challenged the status quo, inspired action, and reminded us all why culture isn't just an HR thing... it's a leadership strategy.

To every guest who said “yes” to joining me—thank you for your insights, your stories, and your generosity.
To every listener who’s tuned in on commutes, walks, or between meetings—thank you for growing with me.

I hope you enjoy the episode!!

____________________________
With 25+ years of leadership experience, spanning multiple roles across corporations and non-profits, I have gained a wealth of experience in understanding what makes organizations successful.

Culture Strategy Session Calls:
https://culturecoachwendy.com/strategysessions/

CONNECT WITH ME
Website: CultureCoachWendy.com
LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/wendybrand/
Instram: Instagram.com/culturecoachwendy
YouTube: YouTube.com/@CultureCoachWendy

The CultureCoach Podcast Page: CultureCoachWendy.com/podcasts/

Send us a text

Part 2 of this conversation!! With recent Gallup data showing engagement at its lowest point in a decade, my guest Sarena Diamond and I explore one of the key drivers behind this troubling trend—rapid organizational change.

To connect with or contact Sarena you can find her here:

Website: https://diamondsolutionsgroupllc.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarena-diamond

____________________________
With 25+ years of leadership experience, spanning multiple roles across corporations and non-profits, I have gained a wealth of experience in understanding what makes organizations successful.

Culture Strategy Session Calls:
https://culturecoachwendy.com/strategysessions/

CONNECT WITH ME
Website: CultureCoachWendy.com
LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/wendybrand/
Instram: Instagram.com/culturecoachwendy
YouTube: YouTube.com/@CultureCoachWendy

The CultureCoach Podcast Page: CultureCoachWendy.com/podcasts/

Send us a text

With recent Gallup data showing engagement at its lowest point in a decade, my guest Sarena Diamond and I explore one of the key drivers behind this troubling trend—rapid organizational change.

Stay tuned next week for part 2 of this conversation

To connect with or contact Sarena you can find her here:

Website: https://diamondsolutionsgroupllc.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarena-diamond

____________________________
With 25+ years of leadership experience, spanning multiple roles across corporations and non-profits, I have gained a wealth of experience in understanding what makes organizations successful.

Culture Strategy Session Calls:
https://culturecoachwendy.com/strategysessions/

CONNECT WITH ME
Website: CultureCoachWendy.com
LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/wendybrand/
Instram: Instagram.com/culturecoachwendy
YouTube: YouTube.com/@CultureCoachWendy

The CultureCoach Podcast Page: CultureCoachWendy.com/podcasts/

Send us a text

If you’ve ever struggled to find the right people in a labor-driven industry—or felt the pressure of filling high-turnover roles while still protecting your company culture—this episode is for you.

This week, I sat down with Hannah Dannecker, Managing Partner at The Better Together Group, a staffing agency that specializes in connecting skilled workers with companies that truly value their people.

Hannah is on a mission to bridge the gap between previous working generations and Gen Z to create an open environment where we can work Better Together.

In this conversation, we talk about multi-generational workplaces and dive in to leading Gen Z employees. And you’ll hear a little bit about my parenting style, and also my leadership style which I believe helps regardless of your generational identity.

Whether you're a CEO trying to scale responsibly or a CHRO navigating the complexities of frontline staffing I think you’ll enjoy Hannah's real-world lessons and experience that she shares.

____________________________
With 25+ years of leadership experience, spanning multiple roles across corporations and non-profits, I have gained a wealth of experience in understanding what makes organizations successful.

Culture Strategy Session Calls:
https://culturecoachwendy.com/strategysessions/

CONNECT WITH ME
Website: CultureCoachWendy.com
LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/wendybrand/
Instram: Instagram.com/culturecoachwendy
YouTube: YouTube.com/@CultureCoachWendy

The CultureCoach Podcast Page: CultureCoachWendy.com/podcasts/

Send us a text

Culture Strategy Session Calls: https://culturecoachwendy.com/strategysessions/

I’m thrilled to bring you a special conversation with Elena Wells, Executive Director for the San Antonio Local Organizing Committee for the 2025 NCAA Men’s Final Four. And, Vice President of National Events at San Antonio Sports.

With just days to go until tipoff, Elena shares what it takes to lead a high-performing team under pressure — and how to build culture in fast, dynamic environments. We explore how her journey has come full circle from her early days supporting the Final Four to now leading one of the most impactful sporting events in the country.

____________________________
With 25+ years of leadership experience, spanning multiple roles across corporations and non-profits, I have gained a wealth of experience in understanding what makes organizations successful.

Culture Strategy Session Calls:
https://culturecoachwendy.com/strategysessions/

CONNECT WITH ME
Website: CultureCoachWendy.com
LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/wendybrand/
Instram: Instagram.com/culturecoachwendy
YouTube: YouTube.com/@CultureCoachWendy

The CultureCoach Podcast Page: CultureCoachWendy.com/podcasts/

Send us a text

✅ Take the Culture Compass Quiz: https://culturecoachwendy.com/quiz/

📅 Join me for a free Culture Strategy Session: https://culturecoachwendy.com/strategysessions/

If you’ve ever wondered how to scale a purpose-driven brand without compromising your culture, this episode is for you.

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This week on The Culture Coach Podcast, I sit down with Shane Evans, Co-Founder of Massage Heights (now Heights Wellness Retreat), who shares her incredible journey from solving her own back pain to building a national wellness brand with 115 locations in the US and Canada.

But this episode isn’t just about business growth—it’s about the intentional culture decisions that made it possible.

Shane pulls back the curtain on:

• How her brand is evolving to meet today’s demand for holistic wellness
• What it takes to stay rooted in values while expanding across the country
• How wellness and culture are now inseparable for modern businesses

Whether you're a CEO navigating growth or a Chief People Officer shaping culture at scale, Shane’s story will challenge and inspire the way you think about brand, leadership, and employee well-being.

🎧 Tune in and discover why culture is your most strategic advantage.

____________________________
With 25+ years of leadership experience, spanning multiple roles across corporations and non-profits, I have gained a wealth of experience in understanding what makes organizations successful.

CONNECT WITH ME
Website: CultureCoachWendy.com
LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/wendybrand/
Instram: Instagram.com/culturecoachwendy
YouTube: YouTube.com/@CultureCoachWendy

The CultureCoach Podcast Page: CultureCoachWendy.com/podcasts/