In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Laura Hamill, organizational psychologist, startup co-founder, and author of The Power of Culture. Laura shares how her early experiences and leadership journey at Microsoft shaped her passion for understanding the hidden forces that drive organizational behavior and business outcomes.

Laura emphasizes that culture is not a branding exercise or an HR initiative — it is a core leadership responsibility and a strategic lever for success. She discusses the disconnect many organizations face between their stated values and the actual employee experience, warning of the costly "cultural betrayal" that can occur when leaders aren't intentional about culture.

Drawing from real-world examples, Laura outlines how power dynamics, leadership behavior, and systematic feedback are crucial to building a culture that truly supports business goals. Whether you're leading a global company or managing a key division, this conversation offers pragmatic strategies to turn culture from an abstract idea into a business advantage.

Actionable Takeaways

• Hear how Laura’s early life and career experiences built her deep expertise in organizational culture.
• Learn why executives — not just HR — must lead culture initiatives for real impact.
• Find out how to avoid "cultural betrayal" and strengthen employee trust.
• Discover why behavior modeling, not slogans, is essential to culture change.
• Learn simple ways to assess culture health in your teams without massive initiatives.
• Understand how hybrid work is reshaping how leaders must communicate culture.

Connect with the Guest

• Website: Paris Phoenix Group
• LinkedIn: Laura Hamill
• Book: The Power of Culture available on Amazon

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn

Partnering Leadership Website