Ep 204: Why Culture Is a Leader's Responsibility (and How to Shape It) with Jenni Catron

In this episode of The Global Leadership Podcast, host Whitney Putnam sits down with leadership expert Jenni Catron to explore the critical role of culture in organizational success. Catron, founder of the Foresight Group and author of 'Culture Matters,' shares her journey from an ambitious but relationally disconnected leader in Nashville's music industry to a passionate advocate for intentional culture-building. She emphasizes that culture is not about perks or fun activities, but about clarity of purpose, shared values, and how people work together to achieve a mission. Drawing from her experience leading churches and consulting with organizations, Catron outlines a practical framework for shaping culture through values, rituals, stories, and consistent rhythms. She stresses that culture is shaped by leaders—whether intentionally or not—and that healthy cultures are built through patient, persistent work over three to five years. The conversation also addresses how leaders can diagnose toxic cultures, the importance of humility in leadership, and why culture should be a top priority over strategy. The episode concludes with a powerful call to action: leaders must stop treating culture as a nice-to-have and instead make it their first priority.