Building Culture-First Companies: Insights from Culture Amp's CEO, Didier Elzinga
“HR Heretics” | How CPOs, CHROs, Founders, and Boards Build High Performing Companies
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Show Notes
For today’s essential Heretics 101 feature, Kelli and Nolan talk to Culture Amp CEO Didier Elzinga, revealing data-driven insights on building culture-first companies, balancing psychological safety with accountability, and prioritizing growth as engagement’s foundation.
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KEEP UP WITH DIDIER, NOLAN + KELLI ON LINKEDIN
Didier: https://www.linkedin.com/in/didierelzinga/
Nolan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nolan-church/
Kelli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellidragovich/
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LINKS:
Culture Amp: https://www.cultureamp.com/
For coaching and advising inquire at https://kellidragovich.com/
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TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Intro
(00:30) From Harry Potter to Building Culture Amp
(02:16) What Is a Culture-First Company?
(03:19) The Coherency Matrix: Trust vs. Mission Orientation
(04:40) Growth: The One Thing That’s Never Changed
(05:36) Leaders Matter More Than Managers (The Data)
(07:09) Don’t Bother Convincing People Who Don’t Get It
(08:02) How Structured Reviews Closed the Gender Gap
(09:17) Sponsor: Ethena | Metaview
(12:39) Data Is Just the Start of Honest Conversations
(13:28) Esther Perel: Leaders Don’t Know How to Say No
(14:16) My Engagement Survey Mistake as CPO
(15:32) Feedback Is Not a Gift, It’s a Workout
(16:23) How We Run Culture Amp: Values and Growth
(18:45) We Can’t Be Everything for Everyone
(20:07) Storytelling: The Most Important Leadership Skill
(22:07) Finding Your Authentic Narrative
(23:32) Wrap
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