#168 - Stop Building Compliance. Start Building Culture. with  Angela Howard

Welcome to the Charismatic Leader Podcast. In this episode, Brett McDermott sits down with Angela Howard, founder of Call for Culture and former people and culture leader with 15 years of experience. Angela makes the case that most companies aren’t building culture—they’re building compliance. She explains why the phrase “not a culture fit” is often a cover for deeper issues, and how leaders can reimagine workplaces to truly work for everyone.Together, Brett and Angela explore the difference between equity and fairness, the dangers of toxic positivity, and why appreciation must be consistent, specific, and tailored to each team member. Angela shares her six-phase Call for Culture method, showing how to diagnose hotspots like silos, compensation transparency, and lack of candor. She also highlights the reputational risks of performative DEI efforts and why culture change must be both top-down and bottom-up.This episode is packed with actionable insights for leaders who want to stop hiding behind buzzwords and start building cultures that actually work.Key Takeaways:Why “not a culture fit” is often a leadership cop-outThe difference between equity and equality in practiceHow toxic positivity erodes trust and candorWhy appreciation must be consistent, specific, and personalizedThe six phases of the Call for Culture methodCommon hotspots: silos, fairness perceptions, and lack of transparencyThe reputational cost of performative DEI efforts