Culture by Design, Not Default: Leadership Lessons with Delise Simmons

Episode notes

Culture by Design, Not Default: Leadership Lessons with Delise Simmons Episode Show Notes: What if your culture isn’t just an HR buzzword—but your organization’s most powerful performance lever? In this conversation, I sit down with Delise Simmons—keynote speaker, culture strategist, and founder of Culture Think Tank—for a candid, energizing talk about the real drivers of great culture. From her early days shaping the Southwest Airlines ethos to launching JetBlue and building data-driven tools that measure emotional ROI, Delise brings the receipts. And yes, she really did say: “You can’t spell culture without cult, baby.” We explore: Why chasing employee happiness is a trap—and what to focus on instead How to measure culture as a behavioral phenomenon , not just vibes The top 3 things employees are begging leaders to do more of How Gen Z’s relationship with anxiety is changing leadership forever Why your values mean nothing without defined behaviors Whether you lead a team of 3 or 3000, this episode is a masterclass in intentional leadership. Resources & Mentions: Learn more about Culture Think Tank