Ep. 31 - Cheryl Holland Gives a Masterclass on Creating Exceptional Culture

What does it actually take to build a culture people don’t want to leave?In this episode, we sit down with Cheryl Holland, Founder of Abacus Planning Group, to unpack what exceptional culture looks like in practice, not theory.This is not about perks or pizza parties. It is about the intentional, daily work of valuing people, building trust, and creating systems that support both performance and humanity.Cheryl shares how her team built a culture so strong that it shows up without prompting, why praise is a leadership skill most people get wrong, and how culture must be embedded into hiring, onboarding, feedback, and decision-making.We also go deeper into the hard side of leadership. Cheryl opens up about a defining moment when multiple team members exited at once, including a breach of trust, and what that revealed about leadership, accountability, and strengthening culture under pressure.If you are a leader trying to “fix culture,” this conversation will challenge how you think about it entirely.Key takeaways: Why people cannot care for others if they do not feel cared for first  How to use specific praise to build stronger, more effective teams  What it really means to build culture into the DNA of an organization  How to lead through trust-breaking moments and come out stronger  Why attention, not time, may be your most valuable leadership tool This episode is a masterclass in leading with intention, even when it is hard.If today’s conversation resonated, connect with us and be part of the community of leaders who refuse to lead alone. JadaWillis.com | [email protected] | [email protected]