What I Learned Hosting: What Makes a Workplace Culture Thrive in 2025

This week’s edition is a little different from the usual podcast drop.

A few months ago, I moderated a panel discussion with some of the most thoughtful and inspiring People and Culture leaders, in partnership with Paradigm .

They were:

✨ Adrianne C. Smith , SVP and Senior Partner, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at FleishmanHillard

✨ Jessica Gilbert , former Global Head Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at IFF

✨ Amber Lawrence , VP of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Mortgage Bankers Association

✨ Carissa Romero, Co-Founder & Managing Director at Paradigm

We explored the future of workplace culture - what it truly means to build environments where everyone can thrive, feel heard, and do their best work.

What stuck with me most? Culture is not a program. It's not a series of initiatives. It’s not a slide deck or an off-site. Culture is how things are done, said and felt every single day.

I’ve been putting myself out there more to lead and moderate these important conversations and every time, I come away with new clarity, new energy, and renewed purpose. Here are a few big takeaways and quotes I’m still thinking about.

Powerful Moments From the Conversation

One moment that really stayed with me was when Adrianne C. Smith shared:

“Culture isn’t a side hustle. It’s the superpower of an organization. It’s the underpinning of everything we do.”

It made me pause. How often do organizations treat culture as something separate, something we celebrate on certain days, or assign to a team rather than as a core part of how the business actually runs.

I'm sure I'm not the only one that's seen this happen - time and time again. When culture isn’t embedded into the everyday, trust starts to slip. And when trust erodes, so does talent.

✍️ Clarity in Language = Trust

“The work is more important than the nomenclature. Define what workplace culture and DEI look like for your organization—and don’t be afraid to protect the work, even if that means evolving how you talk about it.”

This from Amber Lawrence resonated deeply. In a landscape where language around DEI is often politicized or misunderstood, Amber’s reminder felt grounding. It’s easy to get caught up in the right labels but what really matters is the impact. Her words pushed me to reflect on how we talk about this work, and how we can stay focused on progress, even when the terminology evolves.

🧱 Micro-Moments Are Where Culture Lives

Jessica Gilbert said something that’s been living in my head ever since:

“We are all active architects of the culture of an organization. It sits in the small moments.”

I couldn’t agree more. Culture is built in the in-between: how feedback is delivered, who speaks up in meetings, who gets credit, how leaders show they care. It’s the check-in before the meeting, the eye contact, the ‘how was your weekend?’ These things matter. It had me thinking: what are the small moments I’m shaping each day, with the interactions I have?

📊 Data Without Action Destroys Trust

Carissa Romero from Paradigm reminded us:

“Most people agree building a culture for everyone is a good idea. But it’s hard to do in practice—and too much data with too little action is a real barrier.”

Data can guide us but without action it becomes noise or worse, a signal that leadership isn’t really listening. Let’s be honest culture work can be messy. It’s complex, layered, and constantly evolving. But it’s also deeply worth it! I believe when we turn data into insight and insight into meaningful action, we move closer to building workplaces grounded in trust, belonging, and equity.

Moderating this panel reminded me just how important it is that we stay connected and keep sharing with one another. That’s why I’ll keep showing up and creating space for others to do the same.

🎧 Want to Dive Deeper?

The full panel discussion is available to watch here, and I’d love to hear your thoughts.

👀 What’s Next - Learning How AI & HR Tech Are Shaping Culture

On May 1st, I’ll be moderating our next Culture Connect panel: How AI and HR Tech Are Shaping the Next Era of Workplace Culture.

Save Your Seat

The role of AI in shaping culture and how tech is being used to drive inclusion and trust, is a space I'm still exploring and I’m especially curious to learn what other forward-thinking leaders are doing to keep making real progress.

Joining me are brilliant speakers from Paradigm, HP, and JLL. I know I'm going to come away from this conversation having learned something new. I can't wait!

If you’re also navigating this evolving space, I’d love for you to join me as we learn together.

Until next time 👋🏽

— Natasha ✨