Leading Transformational Change with Tobias Sturesson

Caterina Bulgarella joins Tobias Sturesson and Andreas Almlöf to unpack the big lessons from 2025 and what’s ahead for companies navigating rapid change. Together, they dive into how organisations can cut through performative culture work, truly prioritise human dignity, and harness technology – especially AI – without losing sight of what really matters. In this episode, we explore:(01:43) Opening reflections on organisational culture in 2025(04:51) Professional work across multiple countries and cultures(06:37) Contrasting cultures: Sao Paulo insight(10:06) Integrity and business culture(16:06) Cultural health and innovation(17:30) Tech founders’ impact and risks(23:03) Redefining workplace culture(27:33) Technology, limits, and human loss(31:34) Substance over image in workplaces(33:20) Performative culture and reality(38:00) Understanding culture through AI insights(42:00) Transforming data into strategic insights(44:39) Narrowing focus for deeper insights(48:49) Prioritising cultural health and integrity(50:28) Corruption accountability signals progress‘You Can Culture: Transformative Leadership Habits for a Thriving Workplace, Positive Impact and Lasting Success’ is now available here.

Stephen Nguyen-Duc is Chief Compliance Officer at GE Healthcare and a veteran leader who has built ethics and compliance programs for global healthcare powerhouses like Eli Lilly, AbbVie, and Medday. Across more than two decades, Stephen has seen compliance evolve from a box-ticking exercise to a deeply human journey. In this episode, he joins host Tobias Sturesson to break down why organizational integrity is never just about rules – and why surprise is compliance’s greatest foe.In this episode, we explore:(05:00) Integrity as a daily habit(06:30) Rethinking compliance and culture(11:16) Building cultural health together(13:14) Tone at the top misalignment(16:27) Ownership as key to organizational change(21:23) Awareness vs action in organizations(25:44) Cultural health and awareness(28:58) Fostering a culture of listening(32:40) Driving behavioral change together(33:28) Cultural impact on business tools(38:04) Understanding the trust equation(42:44) Empathy and ethical leadership(47:30) Integrity drives business performance(48:27) Optimistic industry progressLinks mentioned:The Trusted Advisor – BookStephen Nguyen-Duc’s LinkedIn‘You Can Culture: Transformative Leadership Habits for a Thriving Workplace, Positive Impact and Lasting Success’ is now available here.

Tobias Sturesson and Andreas Almlöf dive deep into the crucial role that values play in shaping organizations and leadership. Values are far more than just words on a wall; they’re the principles that guide tough decisions, even when those choices come with real costs or discomfort.You’ll also hear personal stories about valuing honesty in leadership, wrestling with failures, and fostering environments where tough conversations about ethical dilemmas are not only safe but necessary. Plus, the episode offers practical frameworks and questions to help leaders navigate values-based decision-making under pressure.In this episode, we explore:(00:00) Reflecting on core values(06:45) Integrity through actions, not words(08:09) Values guiding tough decisions(11:40) Wrestling with corporate values(17:09) Aligning personal organizational strategic values(19:31) Living true to core values(22:15) Embracing dilemmas and trade-offs(27:31) Living and aligning with values(31:04) Navigating values amid strong pulls(33:55) Modeling values-based leadership(35:41) Staying true to our values(39:10) Stand up, fail and keep tryingLinks mentioned:‘Patriot’ by Alexei Navalny‘Walking the Talk’ by Carolyn Taylor‘You Can Culture: Transformative Leadership Habits for a Thriving Workplace, Positive Impact and Lasting Success’ is now available here.

Caterina Bulgarella is a renowned social scientist with over 20 years of experience in organizational culture transformation and assessment. As a leading expert in culture measurement and a co-creator of the widely used Two Factor Model of Ethical Culture, Caterina brings powerful insights into the deeper layers behind workplace data.In this episode, host Tobias Sturesson dives into the pitfalls of traditional engagement surveys and the value of understanding what culture truly means within organizations. Together, they unpack why much of what leaders think they know about culture and ethics is often just the tip of the iceberg, and how to get to the roots beneath the surface. In this episode, we explore:(00:00) Understanding workplace culture insights(05:21) Behavioral insights and measurement journey(09:18) Insights beyond generic feedback(13:27) Understanding organizational culture mechanisms(17:00) Restructuring meaning for cultural change(20:41) Survey credibility and ethical behavior(23:25) Pressure's impact on leadership dynamics(26:16) Two-factor ethical culture model(29:51) Measuring ethical organizational culture(32:51) Insights through dialogic stories(37:25) Respecting history, embracing difference(39:27) Values, culture, and context(44:06) Root causes and cultural awareness(48:34) Embracing curiosity for positive changeLinks mentioned:Connect with Caterina Bulgarella on LinkedIn‘You Can Culture: Transformative Leadership Habits for a Thriving Workplace, Positive Impact and Lasting Success’ is now available here.

Tobias Sturesson kicks off a new season of Leading Transformation Change with co-host Andreas Almlöf. Building on insights from his work with global leaders and his acclaimed book You Can Culture, Tobias unpacks the game-changing role of repairing trust inside organizations.Tune in to hear practical strategies for leaders navigating crises, high-pressure environments and everyday cultural tensions… at a time when AI, regulatory upheaval and shifting values are rewriting the rules of leadership.In this episode, we explore:(05:15) Navigating change with AI, values and DEI(11:19) Why trust is leadership’s most valuable capital(13:22) Accountability and cultural reform in leadership(17:58) How regret can drive real growth(20:45) Building customer trust through openness(23:02) How culture and design shape accountability(29:42) Why unaddressed issues create distrust(32:38) Steps to repair harm and rebuild trust(34:39) Owning responsibility through vulnerabilityLinks mentioned:The Power of Trust – BookThe Power of Regret – BookListen to Daniel Pink: Unlocking the Power of Regret‘You Can Culture: Transformative Leadership Habits for a Thriving Workplace, Positive Impact and Lasting Success’ is now available here.