How does culture shape leadership and decision-making in organisations? (with Marc Jacobs)

In this episode of The Chair, I sat down with Marc Jacobs, a governance expert with a deep background in intercultural management and organisational transformation. Together, we explore how organisational culture acts as an invisible force. Marc shares insights into the iceberg model of governance, the importance of cultural intelligence in global organisations, and why boards often acknowledge culture… but rarely act on it. A rich conversation about what truly drives organisational behaviour, and how to surface what lies beneath. I’m Najia, founder of Colibri Advisory. I help boards and executive teams turn strategy into action by building governance frameworks that drive growth, empower leaders, and inspire confidence. TIMELINE 00:00 - Introduction 00:58 Adapting to Customer Work Styles 03:16 Holistic Governance and Culture Integration 07:02 Organizational Culture Measurement Tools 11:22 Cultural Differences in Decision-Making 16:02 Legal Trust: Civil vs Common Law 19:16 "Partnering Must-Haves Discussion" 21:23 Transitioning from Startup to Scale-Up 24:11 Embrace Diverse MindsetsHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.