What even is culture anyway? Why It’s Happening Whether You Notice or Not (and How to Lead It Intentionally)

In the first episode of A Curious Space, hosts Kate Nicholroy and Maddie Fox kick off their opening series with a practical exploration of organisational culture: what it really is, how it forms, and why leaders can’t afford to ignore it. Moving beyond values statements and posters on the wall, Kate and Maddie unpack culture as “the way things actually get done around here” — the visible and invisible forces that shape behaviour, decision-making and performance. Using the iceberg model of culture, they explore the gap between what organisations say they value and what people experience day to day. Through examples from Timpsons, Netflix and investment banking, they examine how different cultural choices play out in practice, why culture change takes time, and how small leadership behaviours can create powerful ripple effects. The episode also introduces new ways of thinking about organisations as living systems rather than machines — and what that means for leadership, trust and learning. This episode is for leaders who know culture matters, and want to shape it intentionally rather than leaving it to chance. Key leadership reflections: Culture is tested most when leaders are under pressure Small, repeated leadership behaviours create outsized cultural impact People are quick to spot dissonance between stated values and lived reality Owning the culture you actually have enables more honest hiring and engagement Fear shuts down learning — and leaders set the tone for both Resources mentioned: Wheatley, Margaret — Leadership and the New Science Heffernan, Margaret — Beyond Measure: The Big Impact of Small Changes Coyle, Daniel — The Culture Code Morgan, Gareth — Images of Organization McCord, Patty — Powerful: Building a Culture of Freedom and Responsibility Gratton, Lynda — work on organisational “hotspots” and high-performing teams Brown, Brené — writing and talks on leadership, vulnerability and high performance Send us your agony aunt suggestions, or your general thoughts to [email protected]  we'd love to hear from you! About the hosts Kate Nicholroy is a systemic team coach and facilitator working with senior leadership teams across the UK to help them think and work better together. She is founder of the Good Ideas Agency (www.goodideasagency.com) and holds executive coaching accreditations with the EMCC and ICF. Maddie Fox is a senior HR leader and executive coach working with individuals, teams and organisations, who want to develop authentic, conscious leadership skills, navigate challenging change and build foundations to become more resilient. She is the founder of MadFox Group (www.madfoxgroup.com). This episode was recorded by your hosts Maddie Fox of MadFox Group, and Kate Nicholroy of the Good Ideas Agency.  It was produced by Tim Fox with original music by Richard Flindell.