Episodes

  • Culture Snapshot - Purpose Is Table Stakes (But It's Not Enough)

    Culture Snapshot - Purpose Is Table Stakes (But It's Not Enough)
    Jul 7 2026
    Is Purpose Enough to Keep Employees Engaged? Most employees say they have a sense of purpose in their work. So why are engagement levels still so low? In this episode of Culture Over Coffee, Kate Rehling explores why purpose is an important foundation—but not enough on its own to create an engaged workforce. Drawing on insights from the ENGAGE 2026 Company Culture Report, she explains why employees can care deeply about their work while still feeling disconnected from the organization they work for. In this episode, you'll learn: ☕ Why purpose and engagement aren't the same thing ☕ The difference between finding meaning in your work versus believing in your organization's mission ☕ Why feedback, recognition, trust, and development matter just as much as purpose ☕ How the Four Engagement Elevators help organizations turn purpose into lasting engagement Key findings from ENGAGE 2026 include: - 92% of employees say they feel a sense of purpose in their work. - Only 34% would highly recommend their company as a great place to work. - One-third of employees aren't motivated by their company's long-term vision. - 39% say they don't receive enough feedback. - 37% don't feel meaningfully recognized. Purpose gives people a reason to care. A strong culture gives them a reason to stay. Discover how leaders can connect purpose to everyday employee experiences to build higher engagement and stronger organizational performance. ENGAGE 2026: The Company Culture Report: https://uyc.thecenterforsalesstrategy.com/engage-company-culture-report Beth Sunshine https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethsunshine/ Up Your Culture https://uyc.thecenterforsalesstrategy.com/home
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    7 mins
  • Culture Snapshot – Have Core Values? Your Employees Probably Can’t Recite Them

    Culture Snapshot – Have Core Values? Your Employees Probably Can’t Recite Them
    Jun 30 2026
    Do Your Core Values Actually Drive Behavior? Most organizations have core values. But can your employees actually name them? In this episode of Culture Over Coffee, Beth Sunshine explores why core values often become wall art instead of a guide for everyday decisions—and what leaders can do to change that. Drawing on insights from the ENGAGE 2026 Company Culture Report, Beth discusses: ☕ Why knowing your core values is the first step toward living them ☕ The surprising gap between executives and middle managers when it comes to understanding company values ☕ How inconsistent hiring, recognition, and accountability quietly undermine culture ☕ Why employees pay more attention to leaders' actions than the values posted on the wall ☕ Practical ways to embed your core values into hiring, coaching, recognition, and performance conversations Key findings from ENGAGE 2026 include: - 89% of organizations have defined core values—but only about half of employees know what they are. - 70% of executives can name their company's core values, compared to just 40% of middle managers. - 73% of employees say leaders fail to consistently model company values. - 85% say leaders tolerate behaviors that contradict those values. If your organization wants stronger alignment, greater accountability, and a healthier culture, it starts by making your core values part of how work actually gets done—not just what hangs on the wall. ENGAGE 2026: The Company Culture Report: https://uyc.thecenterforsalesstrategy.com/engage-company-culture-report Beth Sunshine https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethsunshine/ Up Your Culture https://uyc.thecenterforsalesstrategy.com/home
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    7 mins
  • Culture Snapshot - Why Your Culture Problem Looks Like an Operations Problem

    Culture Snapshot - Why Your Culture Problem Looks Like an Operations Problem
    Jun 23 2026
    Culture Problem… or Operations Problem? Most leaders don’t think they have a culture problem. Instead, they’re asking questions like: Why is execution so slow? Why are we losing good people? Why does everything feel harder than it should? In this episode of Culture Over Coffee, Beth Sunshine explores why many of the challenges organizations label as operational issues are actually culture issues in disguise. Drawing on insights from the ENGAGE 2026: The Company Culture Report, Beth breaks down: ☕ Why turnover, slow execution, and low morale often stem from culture—not process ☕ The hidden costs of low trust, poor communication, and unclear expectations ☕ Why hiring, engagement, and accountability problems are frequently misdiagnosed ENGAGE 2026: The Company Culture Report https://uyc.thecenterforsalesstrategy.com/engage-company-culture-report Beth Sunshine https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethsunshine/ Up Your Culture https://uyc.thecenterforsalesstrategy.com/home
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    10 mins
  • Culture Metrics: What Engagement Surveys Can (and Can't) Tell You

    Culture Metrics: What Engagement Surveys Can (and Can't) Tell You
    Jan 8 2026
    In this episode, Dan Kessler, President of Energage, joins Beth Sunshine to explore how data and action come together to create thriving workplace cultures. Drawing on insights from millions of employee surveys and thousands of companies, Dan shares how organizations can move beyond measuring engagement to activating it. Dan has some amazing takeaways, like: - Why employee engagement data reveals what leaders can’t always see — and how assumptions can quietly derail culture. - Why “survey fatigue” isn’t real (it’s actually inaction fatigue) and how authentic follow-through restores trust. - And how middle managers, often caught between leadership and employees, play a pivotal role in turning insights into cultural momentum. Energage: https://www.energage.com/ Dan Kessler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-kessler-40b4a11/ Evaluate Your Company Culture: https://uyc.thecenterforsalesstrategy.com/quick-culture-assessment Beth Sunshine: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethsunshine/ Culture Over Coffee: https://uyc.thecenterforsalesstrategy.com/culture-over-coffee-podcast Up Your Culture: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethsunshine/
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    38 mins
  • Culture Snapshot - Culture Isn't a Vibe: The Systems Behind Great Workplaces

    Culture Snapshot - Culture Isn't a Vibe: The Systems Behind Great Workplaces
    Dec 18 2025
    Culture isn’t just something you feel. It’s something you build. In this short Culture Snapshot episode, we’re breaking down why great cultures aren’t powered by perks or positivity alone. Instead, they run on systems: the intentional habits, behaviors, and leadership practices that create clarity and consistency. We’ll also walk through the four “engagement elevators” that help organizations turn good vibes into lasting strength, reminding leaders that when culture runs on systems, it can thrive no matter the storm. Evaluate Your Company Culture: https://uyc.thecenterforsalesstrategy.com/quick-culture-assessment Beth Sunshine: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethsunshine/ Culture Over Coffee: https://uyc.thecenterforsalesstrategy.com/culture-over-coffee-podcast
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    5 mins
  • Building a Culture of Growth: How “Squiggly Careers” Strengthen Engagement

    Building a Culture of Growth: How “Squiggly Careers” Strengthen Engagement
    Dec 11 2025
    Career development shouldn’t be a checklist. It should be a catalyst. In this episode of Culture Over Coffee, Beth sits down with Deb Kuhn who leads Career Development and Programs at TransUnion, to explore how growth pathways can transform company culture from the inside out. Deb shares incredible insights, including: - Why TransUnion replaced rigid career ladders with “squiggly careers,” helping employees explore lateral moves, expand responsibilities, and grow in place. - How focusing on transferable skills (what she calls “superpowers”) creates a culture where people feel valued for their unique strengths, not just their titles. - Why career development must stay top of mind to drive engagement and how even simple manager conversations can reignite motivation and ownership. Deb Kuhn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-kuhn-a1520210/ Evaluate Your Company Culture: https://uyc.thecenterforsalesstrategy.com/quick-culture-assessment Beth Sunshine: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethsunshine/ Culture Over Coffee: https://uyc.thecenterforsalesstrategy.com/culture-over-coffee-podcast Up Your Culture: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethsunshine/
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    27 mins
  • Culture Snapshot: Almost Leaders - From Good Intentions to Real Leadership Impact

    Culture Snapshot: Almost Leaders - From Good Intentions to Real Leadership Impact
    Dec 4 2025
    What separates almost leaders from always leaders? In this Culture Snapshot, Beth explores how small gaps in consistency (missed feedback, delayed recognition, or forgotten check-ins) can quietly erode engagement, and how one extra step can transform trust, culture, and results. Evaluate Your Company Culture: https://uyc.thecenterforsalesstrategy.com/quick-culture-assessment Beth Sunshine: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethsunshine/ Culture Over Coffee: https://uyc.thecenterforsalesstrategy.com/culture-over-coffee-podcast Up Your Culture: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethsunshine/
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    6 mins
  • The CEO as Listener-in-Chief: What Executives Really Hear (and Miss) from Employees

    The CEO as Listener-in-Chief: What Executives Really Hear (and Miss) from Employees
    Nov 20 2025
    In this episode of Culture Over Coffee, Catherine Badalamente, President and CEO of Graham Media Group, joins Beth to talk about what it really means to lead as listener-in-chief, and how active listening can strengthen trust, reveal hidden cultural challenges, and help employees thrive. Catherine shares powerful takeaways including: - Why real listening goes beyond surveys and meetings - How to make it a daily intentional practice - How toxic high performers quietly erode the culture - And what leaders can do to hold people accountable without sacrificing performance. Catherine Badalamente: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherinebadalamente/ Graham Media Group: https://www.grahammedia.com/ Evaluate Your Company Culture: https://uyc.thecenterforsalesstrategy.com/quick-culture-assessment Beth Sunshine: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethsunshine/ Culture Over Coffee: https://uyc.thecenterforsalesstrategy.com/culture-over-coffee-podcast Up Your Culture: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethsunshine/
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    32 mins