How can leaders create workplaces where people actually want to stay? In this episode of Behind The Numbers With Dave Bookbinder, I talk with Dr. Alise Cortez—Chief Ignition Officer at Gusto Now, author, and host of the Working on Purpose podcast—about building purpose-driven cultures that attract and retain top talent. We discuss why leadership feels harder today, the damage caused by outdated practices like presenteeism, and the importance of hybrid and flexible work models. Dr. Cortez also shares actionable strategies for: Embedding purpose and values into daily work Leading the “whole person” to boost engagement Restoring trust and psychological safety Driving retention through meaningful culture and small manager behaviors If you’re a business leader, manager, or advisor looking to improve employee engagement and retention, this conversation delivers practical tools you can apply immediately.   About Our Guest: Dr. Alise Cortez is the Chief Ignition Officer at Gusto, Now!, a human and organizational transformation consultancy specializing in unleashing business results by igniting and growing high-performance teams passionate about delivering on the organizational mission. The resulting rewards? Higher engagement, performance, innovation, retention, customer delight, and thus profitability. Dr. Alise is also an organizational psychologist and logotherapist,inspirational speaker, researcher, author, and host of the Working on Purpose podcast, and she is bent on awakening people and organizations to their passion and purpose and inspiring them to make a contribution worthy of their one, precious life. She is the author of:  Purpose Ignited: How Inspiring Leaders Unleash Passion and Elevate Cause (2020)  Passionately Striving in “Why”: An Anthology of Women Who Persevere Mightily to Live Their Purpose (2021)  The Great Revitalization: How Activating Meaning and Purpose Can Radically Enliven Your Business (2023)  Coloring Life: How Loss Invites Us to Live More Vibrant Lives (2023)  The Power of Soulful Healing: Turning Wounds into Wisdom (co-author Arthur Ciaramicoli, 2025) Having developed her expertise within the human capital / organizational excellence industry over the last 25 years, she is focused on “raising the game” of organizations and individuals to live and work with “gusto,” step into their purpose to realize their potential, and make the impact they crave that betters the world. About the Host: Dave Bookbinder is known as an expert in business valuation and he is the person that business owners and entrepreneurs reach out to when they need to know what their most important assets are worth. Known as a collaborative adviser, Dave has served thousands of client companies of all sizes and industries.  Dave is the author of two #1 best-selling books about the impact of human capital (PEOPLE!) on the valuation of a business enterprise called The NEW ROI: Return On Individuals & The NEW ROI: Going Behind The Numbers.  He’s on a mission to change the conversation about how the accounting world recognizes the value of people’s contributions to a business enterprise, and to quantify what every CEO on the planet claims: “Our people are this company’s most valuable asset.” Dave’s book, A Valuation Toolbox for Business Owners and Their Advisors: Things Every Business Owner Should Know, was recognized as a top new release in Business and Valuation and is designed to provide practical insights and tools to help understand what really drives business value, how to prepare for an exit, and just make better decisions. He’s also the host of the highly rated Behind The Numbers With Dave Bookbinder business podcast which is enjoyed in more than 100 countries.   🔸 Grab Dave’s Books: The New ROI: Return on Individuals  | The NEW ROI: Going Behind The Numbers  |  A Valuation Toolbox for Business Owners and Their Advisors: Things Every Business Owner Should Know 🔸 Connect with Dave on LinkedIn  🔸 Connect with