“In the first 100 days in most organizations, employees feel overwhelmed. They feel unconnected... unseen, unheard, unappreciated… Lots of times leaders will say, "Well, it will be better if we're all back in the office." Why? What proof do you have? As we look at research data... the great majority of employees are happier working remotely than want to work in the office.”
~Joey Coleman

We're republishing one of our "Culture Classics" featuring Joey Coleman, bestselling author of 'Never Lose an Employee Again'. Joey brings a bold, data-backed perspective on employee retention, remote work, and the critical importance of the first 100 days. With experience spanning the CIA, law, academia, and global adventures, Joey’s insights challenge conventional leadership thinking and offer practical strategies for building cultures where people feel seen, heard, and valued.

📢 Do you want to build a high-performance culture? It all starts here: http://www.rethinkculture.co

Production, video, and audio editing by Evangelia Alexaki of Musicove Productions.

Listen to this episode to discover:

• Why the first 100 days are make-or-break for retention
• How remote work can outperform office setups
• What leaders must rethink about HR and culture
• The power of values-driven leadership
• How to build loyalty without overwhelming your team

Further resources:

• Never Lose a Customer Again, by Joey Coleman
• Never Lose an Employee Again, by Joey Coleman
• Never Enough, by Jennifer Breheny Wallace
• A Gentleman in Moscow, by Amor Towles

Episode Chapters:

• 00:00 — Introduction
• 01:49 — Joey’s passion for retention
• 03:26 — About Joey’s second book
• 06:53 — Workplace shifts post-COVID
• 09:02 — The office vs. remote debate
• 10:40 — Making remote work, work
• 14:11 — Engagement and remote setups
• 16:01 — Other engagement factors
• 18:05 — The 100 days methodology
• 20:34 — Onboarding as a strategic tool
• 25:08 — Rethinking HR language
• 26:29 — Two Truths and One Lie
• 28:02 — Joey’s leadership role model
• 31:44 — Defining the ideal leader
• 34:53 — Living and leading by values
• 42:17 — Culture as a leadership priority
• 45:59 — Two Truths and One Lie: Reveal
• 48:56 — Book recommendations

"None of us will build great companies. We will lead incredible people who will build great companies. It's a choice. It's a conscious choice." ~Ron Lovett

We’re republishing one of our Culture Classics featuring Ron Lovett, Canadian entrepreneur, author of Outrageous Empowerment and Scaling Culture, and CEO of VIDA Living. Ron built and sold a 3500-person security company before launching VIDA to transform affordable housing across North America. In this episode, he shares how vulnerability, empowerment, and accountability became the cornerstones of his leadership and how they can shape yours.

📢 Do you want to build a high-performance culture? It all starts here: http://www.rethinkculture.co

Production, video, and audio editing by Evangelia Alexaki of Musicove Productions.

Listen to this episode to find out:

• The moment Ron realized culture had to be intentional and personal.
• How “instimacy” and “funishments” build trust and connection fast.
• Why vulnerability is a leadership superpower.
• How Ron screens and coaches for values alignment.
• The power of daily huddles and Friday value calls.
• Why culture, not HR, is the future of performance.

Further resources:

• Outrageous Empowerment, by Ron Lovett
• Scaling Culture, by Ron Lovett
• The Song of Significance, by Seth Godin
• Nuts!, by Kevin Freiberg and Jackie Freiberg
• Uncommon Service, by Frances Frei and Anne Morriss
• Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike, by Phil Knight
• Good to Great, by Jim Collins
• Principles: Life and Work, by Ray Dalio
• BE 2.0 (Beyond Entrepreneurship 2.0), by Jim Collins
• HBR's 10 Must Reads on Talent, by Harvard Business Review

Episode Chapters:

• 00:00 — Introduction
• 01:54 — When culture became important to Ron
• 07:41 — Writing Outrageous Empowerment
• 09:32 — Service-first mindset
• 11:42 — Measuring engagement
• 15:34 — Transparent feedback
• 18:48 — Leading misfits with love
• 21:51 — Instimacy: building trust fast
• 25:48 — Lifelines for connection
• 27:17 — Funishments: playful accountability
• 31:26 — Vulnerability & playfulness
• 33:05 — Leadership expectations
• 33:46 — Building someone’s best job ever
• 36:38 — Rethinking culture
• 40:18 — Peer accountability
• 42:57 — Ron’s book recommendations
• 46:42 — From HR to Culture

“I believe culture is cash. I think our company culture always delivered at least 10 percent extra in revenue. I believe 10 percent on top was always due to the culture because they really wanted to be successful. They really wanted to see the company succeed… When you have high-quality people that feel really good about the company they work for, you're going to feel it at the customer level. When you walk into a business and you're not being treated right, I can guarantee you there's a manager not treating that person right or there's an owner not treating their staff right.”

S04E10 of the Rethink Culture podcast shines the spotlight on Eric Malka. Eric is a visionary entrepreneur best known as the co-founder of The Art of Shaving, a luxury grooming brand that grew to 150 stores and global distribution before being acquired by Procter & Gamble. In this episode, Eric shares how he and his wife built a brand rooted in natural ingredients, obsessive customer focus, and a culture of ownership. He reflects on the importance of hiring passionate people, training them deeply, and creating a workplace where employees felt like owners. Eric also discusses his leadership evolution, the philosophy of “culture is cash,” and why the art of shopkeeping is fading in today’s retail landscape. His insights offer a masterclass in building businesses people love to work for and buy from.

📢 Do you want to build a high-performance culture? It all starts here:www.rethinkculture.co

Production, video, and audio editing by Evangelia Alexaki of Musicove Productions.

Listen to this episode to discover:

· Why Eric believes “culture is cash” and how it added 10% to revenue.

· How obsessive customer focus shaped every decision at The Art of Shaving.

· Why Eric spoke to every new hire, even with hundreds of employees.

· How training and purpose created a “cult-like” culture of ownership.

· Why retail is like a Broadway show and how that mindset drives performance.

· How Eric’s leadership evolved through emotional regulation and self-awareness.

Further resources:

· Eric Malka’s Website: https://www.strategicbrandinvestments.com/

· Eric’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-malka-9071529/

· On the Razor’s Edge: The Story of the Art of Shaving, by Eric Malka: https://www.amazon.com/Razors-Edge-Story-Art-Shaving-ebook/dp/B0D7ZT6QYY

· Good to Great, by Jim Collins: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/76865.Good_to_Great

· The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen R. Covey: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36072.The_7_Habits_of_Highly_Effective_People

· Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business, by Gino Wickman: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8256620-traction

· Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It...and Why the Rest Don’t, by Verne Harnish: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23441052-scaling-up

Chapters:

00:00 — Introduction to Eric Malka & The Art of Shaving

01:47 — The Humble Beginnings of The Art of Shaving

03:24 — Creating a Unique In-Store Experience

06:12 — The Role of Intangibles in Brand Success

07:12 — Scaling Customer Experience Across 150 Stores

10:16 — Building a Culture of Ownership Among Employees

12:47 — Cultural Practices Worth Replicating in Other Companies

14:01 — How Culture Directly Drives Revenue

18:55 — Evolving Leadership Through Emotional Awareness

21:10 — The Decline of Shopkeeping and Customer Service

27:18 — Advice for Entrepreneurs on Building Strong Foundations

28:19 — Recommended Books for Conscious Business Leaders

29:50 — Where to Learn More About Eric Malka