The Culture Builders

Following on from our recent podcasts looking at our work with ASOS - supporting them to build and sustain a High Performance Culture - we thought it high time to explore the concept more. We talk a great deal about the HPC, which gives a fundamental plan for the creation of an effective culture… But what is it?
 
Our Head of Programmes, Owen Cook, explored the concept with Chris Preston, Co-Founder of The Culture Builders. Putting these two together is always a sure fire way to create a roving and rich discussion. Both are natural storytellers, and they leverage this skill fully on this podcast. Examples, stories and metaphors are littered throughout.
 
Fundamentally, the conversation hinges around two key components (the spools of a cassette tape, to use their language) - the Pillars of Culture, and the High Performance Culture structure. Together they outline how we think about cultures and what should be built within them to create lasting success.
 
You may want a pen and paper ready for this one!

What does it take to navigate the balance between people and performance in a fast-moving, high-pressure digital fashion giant?
 
In our latest podcast episode, Emma Boswell, Senior Consultant at The Culture Builders, and Ras Vaghjiani, Executive Vice President of People Experience at ASOS, explore what a true high performance culture looks like when it is built from the bottom up. They share the insights from their work on balancing people and performance to drive transformation whilst ensuring people thrive at work. Reflecting on the path to the C-suite, Ras shares the pivotal moments that taught her that leadership isn't about being the ultimate expert, but about removing roadblocks and holding the space for others to grow. 
Ras and Emma dive into developing the practical toolkit ASOS uses to raise the bar, from aligning teams through OKRs to the power of a shared ‘leadership compass’. Ras also opens up about navigating today's biggest workplace disruptions, including how she is building a brand-new enablement team to get thousands of employees ‘AI-ready’ for the future.
Whether you are looking to tackle a fear of feedback within your team or wanting top tips on how to model culture of continuous learning from the very top, listen in to find out why a truly thriving culture is a marathon, not a sprint.
 

Written and read by Chris Preston, this podcast shares a recent article from The Culture Builders that looks at one of the biggest leadership questions facing organisations today: how do we embrace AI and automation without stripping away the human connections that make culture thrive? Drawing on real examples from leadership sessions and client conversations, Chris examines the hidden cultural costs of automation, including the loss of interaction, authenticity, creativity through mistakes, and the ability to problem solve when systems become black boxes.
Rather than positioning AI as a threat, the podcast argues that it is an extraordinary opportunity. AI is already transforming the speed, complexity, and quality of work, and the organisations that succeed will be the ones that redesign themselves around it intelligently. But the warning is clear: if leaders simply automate processes without intentionally rebuilding human connection, organisations risk becoming efficient but emotionally hollow places to work.
At its core, this is a leadership conversation. The future will belong to organisations that use the time and space created by AI to deepen relationships, strengthen culture, and increase meaningful human interaction. Chris explores why people managers now play a critical role in protecting humanity within increasingly automated workplaces, and why the decisions leaders make today will shape whether AI accelerates culture or slowly erodes it.

What happens to our professional performance when our biology begins to shift? In this episode, Emma Boswell, Senior Consultant at The Culture Builders, sits down with Jacqui Mayes, a Nutritional Therapist with more than 15 years of experience, to unpack the often-ignored link between menopause and work. Jacqui dives deep into the physiological shifts of perimenopause, from the "brain energy" dip caused by fluctuating oestrogen to the cognitive toll of brain fog and fatigue.
Building on standard medical advice, this conversation focuses on "feeding your next phase". Jacqui offers practical, accessible strategies to reclaim clarity and energy, exploring how the power of phytoestrogens, "eating the rainbow" for gut health, and managing the stress-symptom cycle can transform your wellbeing. This episode is essential listening for any leader looking to navigate hormonal changes with intention, compassion, and sustained performance.

In this episode, Emma Boswell - Senior Consultant at The Culture Builders - and Nutritionist Jacqui Mayes explore how nutrition serves as a fundamental pillar for sustaining performance as part of the "Bank of Me" concept that we use to support Performance, Growth and Wellbeing. Jacqui shares her personal journey from a high-pressure career in television production to becoming a nutritionist, illustrating how poor dietary habits and high stress can lead to physical depletion. 
They discuss the "hidden costs" of common workplace habits, such as relying on caffeine and skipping meals, which can result in poor cognitive function and fatigue. The conversation also provides practical, small-scale shifts that any professional can implement to improve their physiological state. 
Ultimately, the episode encourages listeners to take ownership of their energy and treat their health with the same strategic planning they apply to their professional projects.

What does it take to lose 40kg while navigating the high-pressure world of civil engineering? In this episode, Lee Piper, a senior leader at Costain, joins us to share his incredible journey from burnout to reclaiming his health. Lee candidly discusses the physical and emotional toll of site life, from the camaraderie of late-night team sessions in Cornwall to the isolation of living in away from home. As well as the specific "trigger" that led him to prioritise his well-being in the run up to retirement.
This conversation is a must-listen for any leader feeling the weight of their role as they approach the later stages of a career. Lee and Chris unpack the concept of being "fit to retire," moving beyond financial planning to focus on physical and mental longevity. From hitting a 15,000-step daily goal to navigating social pressures around alcohol, Lee offers practical, lived-in advice on how to tune out the external noise and invest in your own "Bank of Me".

Join us for an insightful conversation with Abida Lalani, Strategy and Transformation Director. Having worked with Jane Sparrow for several years, the two of them sit down and discuss her wealth of experience in navigating and leading significant change. Abida brings a grounded and practical perspective to the often complex world of transformation.
In this episode, Abida takes us on a journey through her career, from her early experiences in financial services during the financial crisis to her most recent and current roles driving changes. She candidly recounts her personal evolution in embracing change, moving from initial resistance to actively seeking out its challenges and rewards. Sharing key lessons learned along the way, highlighting the crucial role of communication and storytelling, and the importance of understanding the human element in successful transformations. Jane and Abida recount their experiences of guiding  people through a change, share their practical insights into coaching people as leaders and talk about just how to foster a clear vision, and adapt with agility in the face of evolving circumstances.
This is a must-listen for anyone involved in leading or experiencing change, offering valuable takeaways on mindset, strategy, and the power of human connection in shaping the future.

Chris has recently been speaking to a number of experts on the subject of the 50-60 year sprint for professionals in business. Following on from his conversion with Joanna Lockwood, he has reconnected with regular TCB Podcast contributor Steve Butler - author of a number of books, the most relevant of which covers exactly this topic - The Midlife Review.
They highlight the new obstacles that arise in the 50-60 phase, such as family requirements, health and one's own commitment to a career that may well have peaked. 
Steve and Chris also cover how important it is to give those in this phase space to air the needs that stem from the changes - the role of the employer to step into the conversation about changing needs, and how they can best support the person. But, in counterpoint to this,  the discussion also covers the phenomenon of  “ accidental managers” within many organisations, who have not been given the tools or development to manage such a complex scenario.
This an area of interest for you? If so, we highly recommend you to grab a copy of The Midlife Review, which details the conversation about what employees want out of the second half of their career, and how to help them achieve it. 

Using his own recent experience of hitting the '50s doldrums' Chris has reached out to two experts in the area of managing age diversity to seek their thoughts and advice on how organisations can properly support their senior talent as it passes through a very complex decade of life.
 
First up is one of Chris' LinkedIn heroes - Joanne Lockwood - a highly respected expert and thought leader on inclusion and belonging. As a transgender woman in her early 60s, Joanne embodies the essence of transformative change, bringing authenticity and lived experience to her work in diversity, equity, and inclusion. 
 
With Chris on a quest to survive and thrive in the next phase of life, talking to Joanne is both of personal benefit to him and to anyone who is either going through the same life journey and/or is part of the support process within organisations. 
 
Joanne is candid, funny and insightful. It's a must-listen for many of us.

Chris recently spoke at a HR Network conference in Scotland - sharing the outputs from our research around the future trends for leaders, and the impact of the unintended consequences that the many wellbeing, inclusion, care and support initiatives are having on managers and leaders. With so much now to contend with, and a rightful focus on employees living sustainable lives, we've pushed so much into the role of a people manager.
Grace Orr, Director of People for CommuniCorp UK, joined Chris on the stage, to bring to life the situation, with examples, stories and actions that demonstrate how she, and her team, are meeting this new challenge. Grace literally built the culture for her organisation from scratch, and, as she says, when it comes to people: "her name is above the door."
Her input underscores the key messages that Chris shared - the headlines of the content from The Culture Builders' next business book - The Guide. Due out in Summer 2025, the book brings the situation to life, and shares the five most fundamental elements that leaders can focus on to prepare themselves to manage in this new paradigm.
They've teamed back up to record this podcast - capturing the essence of the keynote from the conference, and giving more people a chance to hear the content, the stories and the thinking from the upcoming book.