Dr. Kristine Gentry from Culture Grove joins us to explore the significance of workplace culture. She talks about some of the signs of a toxic culture and offers insights into recognizing employee disengagement. Kristine and Dave also discuss strategies for boosting team engagement and how leaders are an integral part of the process.
Bio:
My diverse and fulfilling career spans teaching anthropology and women’s studies, leading research at a boutique consulting firm, running a family business, heading qualitative research at a nonprofit healthcare system, and now, becoming the Founder and CEO of Culture Grove.
Throughout, my passion for culture and understanding people has driven my success across various industries. As Director of Research at a consulting firm, I identified a disconnect between our research, strategic planning, and the talent management guides our design team produced. To bridge this gap, I developed a process that integrated research findings with client core values and competencies, resulting in award-winning culture change programs across multiple industries. However, despite our success with clients, we struggled to cultivate a positive internal culture, leading to low morale and employee engagement. During this time, my mom had been diagnosed with incurable leukemia. Between the stressful work environment and wanting to spend more time with her, I knew it was time for me to move on.
I joined my family’s business in 2018. Life was good again aside from worrying about my mom’s health. I was learning a new business and leading the operations, sales, and marketing teams for the company.
In 2020, things became more challenging as I managed my family’s business and navigated the impact of COVID on the company as well as on my family while we all mourned my mother’s passing. I decided I needed a change again, as I missed doing the innovative culture and research work I had done in the past. In 2022, I joined a healthcare system’s Strategy and Products team, only to face bureaucratic obstacles that stifled innovation.
Frustrated with waiting for others to enable meaningful work, I reflected on my experiences and realized that my true passion lay in culture work. I believe everyone deserves to work in environments where respect and motivation are paramount. Positive environments driven by strong values enable employees to deliver their best work and provide exceptional customer experiences.
Now, I help CEOs create Culture Strategy Guides to build positive work environments aligned with their visions. Through the Culture Grove Foundations program, CEOs who initially overlooked culture can now establish a solid foundation, ensuring their teams understand core values and make decisions that support the company culture. This approach empowers CEOs to confidently guide their teams, fostering sustainable growth and success for their organizations.
Get In Touch:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristine-mckenzie-gentry/
Click here for a freebie from Kristine “10 Company Culture Red Flags: A Guide for Job Seekers and Leaders”.
Tip of the week:
- Gratitude.
- Identify your core values…follow them in all that you do.
