The Culture Builders

In part two of this episode, Owen Cook, Head of Programmes of The Culture Builders, and Emma Simpson, Group People Director for Gleneagles and Estelle, continue their conversation by examining how to successfully manage and engage a workforce spanning five distinct generations.
Emma discusses the importance of fostering an inclusive environment that rejects broad generational assumptions, while also addressing upcoming industry challenges such as talent availability and the concept of "consciously unbossing", highlighting how leadership must evolve to attract future leaders, and explains how technology can be used to eliminate routine tasks to create more space for genuine human connection. Emma and Owen conclude with valuable advice on the evolving role of modern managers and the necessity of aligning people processes to support future leaders.

Welcome to part one of The Culture Builders Podcast, where host Owen Cook, Head of Programmes, is joined by Emma Simpson, Group People Director for Gleneagles and Estelle. In this opening instalment, Emma shares her career journey from studying social anthropology and occupational psychology to navigating leadership across luxury hospitality, financial services, and the energy sector. 
Together, they explore what it takes to build a high-performance culture within luxury hospitality, highlighting the crucial balance between providing an intentional culture of care, supporting workplace wellbeing, and maintaining clear performance management. The conversation focuses on "The Two-Way Deal" - the vital balance between high performance and robust employee care. Emma details Gleneagles' unique "Moments That Matter" initiative, which supports team members through major life milestones.

An inspiring, high-energy episode exploring high-performance culture, personal growth and resilience. Host, and Senior Consultant with The Culture Builders, Emma Boswell, sits down with two-time Olympic gold medalist turned executive coach and member of our faculty Lizzy Yarnold for an uplifting conversation and investigation into one of sport's most prestigious institutions. 
Lizzy candidly shares her journey through the extreme sport of Skeleton - from stepping up under immense pressure and overcoming burnout to navigating life transitions and redefining success beyond elite athletics. Packed with actionable wisdom, Emma and Lizzy deliver a grounded yet motivating discussion on the power of growth mindsets, emotional regulation, and prioritising self-care in high-stakes environments, leaving you with practical strategies and the ultimate spark to conquer your goals and thrive at your absolute best.

In this episode, host Owen Cook, Head of Programmes at The Culture Builders, sits down with inspirational former Chico State head men's basketball coach and motivational speaker, Greg Clink. Drawing on 30 years of collegiate coaching experience, he unpacks what it takes to build championship cultures.
He and Owen explore how these high-performance principles translate directly into workplace culture and organisational leadership and they dive into the secrets of effective team building, from vetting for the “right character and team fit” over pure basketball skills, to driving the stubborn, relentless consistency required to establish a truly high-performing culture.
Greg also reveals how leaders can navigate tough conversations by "confronting the snowball" early, foster player-led accountability, and help every team member buy into and relish their specific role. Tune in for an energising conversation packed with practical insights on character, connection, and community to help you elevate your team's performance.

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".