Culture By Design

Meet business owners and executives who recognize that employee culture is too important to be left to chance. Each week, we dive into how companies like yours transform accidental norms into purposeful strategies that accelerate growth while enabling employees to thrive. If you're eager to turn culture into a competitive advantage for your small or mid-sized business, Heather Smith, CEO of Talent Elevated, will give you practical strategies for designing culture with intention and unlocking employee potential. Find the clarity, focus, and actionable insights to build a workplace where your team is invested in their work, their colleagues, and the company mission—even when business priorities feel overwhelming.

Culture By Design is a business podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 18 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts Culture By Design, a business show with 18 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #17

  17. From Competition to Collaboration: Patrick Payton on Leading Through Division

  Aug 13, 202643 min

  When conflict shows up at work, our instinct is often to solve it as quickly as possible or to prove we're right. But what if the strongest leaders do something entirely different? In this episode, I'm joined by Patrick Payton, Managing Director at Consilium Business Labs, former mayor, founding pastor, business consultant, and author. Drawing on decades of leading through uncertainty and division, Patrick shares why the best leaders choose curiosity over certainty, collaboration over competition, and purpose over polarization. If you're leading a team through change, navigating differing opinions, or working to build a stronger culture, this conversation offers practical insights that will challenge the way you think about leadership. Listen to the full episode to hear: Why great leaders choose wisdom over simply being right. How understanding another person's perspective builds trust and reduces division. The shift from competing with people to collaborating alongside them. Why a shared purpose is the foundation for alignment and healthy culture. Questions that move difficult conversations from posturing to genuine learning. How to lead teams through disagreement without becoming divisive. Patrick's advice for bringing people with you instead of leaving them behind. Learn More About Patrick Payton: Website Consilium Business Labs No Neutral Moments Podcast Instagram: @patrickpayton_ The Middle: How the Quiet Majority Can Mend a Divided Nation Learn More About Heather Smith: Talent Elevated Resources: 12: Serving People to Serve the Purpose: Dave Kuhnert’s Approach to Leadership and Accountability The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People , Stephen R. Covey Celebrate Kids 8 Great Smarts: Discover and Nurture Your Child's Intelligences , Kathy Koch Phd

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  Episode #16

  16. Why Leadership Consistency Matters More Than Good Intentions

  Jul 30, 202636 min

  In this solo episode, I want to have an honest conversation about something I'm seeing in organizations everywhere and experiencing myself. Leaders are carrying so much that many of us are operating without any margin. And while we often talk about burnout, I think there's another consequence we don't talk about enough: exhaustion makes us unpredictable. The challenge isn't that tired leaders suddenly become bad leaders. It's that our teams never quite know which version of us they're going to get. Even with the best intentions, that inconsistency can quietly erode trust, create unnecessary anxiety, and shape the culture we're working so hard to build. In this episode, I explore why leadership consistency matters more than perfection, how exhaustion changes the way we show up, and what we can do to close the gap between our intentions and the experiences our teams are actually having. Listen to the full episode to hear: How inconsistency impacts trust and psychological safety The difference between the leader you intend to be and the leader your team experiences Four ways executive exhaustion changes organizational culture Practical strategies for reducing decision fatigue and leading with greater consistency Why healthy leadership starts with intentionally managing yourself Learn More About Heather Smith: Talent Elevated

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  Episode #15

  15. The Hidden Systems That Are Shaping Your Culture Right Now

  Jul 16, 202630 min

  When it comes to building culture, it’s not the idea itself that is complicated or difficult. Where we often find organizational leaders struggling is in the gap between intention and the existing day-to-day reality and understanding the actions that need to be taken to bridge that gap. Today, I want to spend some time breaking down some of the key questions that we, at Talent Elevated, get over and over again. How do I improve accountability? How do I get people engaged? How do I improve communication? How do I get everyone aligned? These are consistent pain points that we see in organizations we work with. I think it’s worth digging into some of the assumptions and perspectives that leaders might bring to these questions around culture, so that together we can make good culture a reality. Listen to the full episode to hear: Questions every leader should ask before trying to transform culture Why "accountability problems" are often really systems problems The gap between leadership intent and employee experience—and how to close it Simple ways to build culture through everyday decisions, conversations, and feedback Why mindset is the essential first step in any successful culture transformation Learn More About Heather Smith: Talent Elevated

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  Episode #14

  14. Why Change Fails: Dr. Rachel Boehm on the Psychology Leaders Often Miss

  Jul 2, 202642 min

  One of the hardest things leaders have to do is communicate change effectively to their teams. I invited Dr. Rachel Boehm today to help me uncover the key reasons why it can be such a struggle to get everyone on the same page when changes are coming. Dr. Boehm is an expert in organizational psychology and in our conversation, we unpack what might be going on with your people when announcements fall flat or motivation flags, and most importantly, what you can do to better prepare for these conversations and guide your people through organizational change more successfully. Dr. Rachel Boehm changes how leaders and teams thrive through chaos with customized Science-Backed, People-Proven® strategies. She holds a PhD in organizational psychology and a board certification with the National Center for Health & Wellness Coaching. RB Strategies exists to help small businesses stay in business by giving leaders and employees the skills they need to perform at their best in a high-stakes, deadline-driven, VUCA world through one-on-one and group strategic advisory and coaching. Listen to the full episode to hear: Why good change initiatives often fail. How leaders unintentionally create resistance to change. What psychological safety really means and what it doesn't. Why motivation is fleeting and what leaders can do instead. A simple framework for communicating change more effectively. Mentioned: Amy Edmondson | Psychological Safety Learn More About Dr. Rachel Boehm: RB Strategies https://substack.com/@drrachelboehm Connect on LinkedIn Learn More About Heather Smith: Talent Elevated

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  Episode #13

  13. What Makes a Business Truly Valuable? Angie Scheribel on Culture, Retention, and Legacy

  Jun 18, 202636 min

  What makes a business valuable? Many owners assume it's revenue, growth, or years in operation. But according to business broker and M&A advisor Angie Scheribel, the factors that drive business value are often the same factors that create a healthier, stronger company in the first place. In this episode, I sit down with Angie to explore what buyers actually look for when evaluating a business, why owner dependency can dramatically impact value, and how culture, retention, leadership, and systems all contribute to a company's long-term worth. Angie also shares a few stories about businesses that had real heart–and one that didn’t–and how that impacted their ability to sell. Angie Scheribel combines strategic mergers and acquisitions experience, an MBA, and bilingual fluency to help business owners across industries plan and execute successful exits. Known for her empathy and disciplined process, she consistently drives strong outcomes for her clients. Whether you're planning to sell your business someday or simply want to build a company that can thrive beyond you, this conversation offers a fresh perspective on what makes a business truly valuable. Listen to the full episode to hear: What buyers really look for when evaluating a business How culture and employee retention affect business value The hidden risks of owner dependency Why every business owner should think about building a sellable business even if they never plan to sell How legacy-minded leaders create companies that can thrive long after they're gone Learn More About Angie Scheribel: Transworld Business Advisors of Colorado Connect on LinkedIn Learn More About Heather Smith: Talent Elevated Resources: Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us , Daniel H. Pink

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