It’s our 10th episode and our first guest! Dr. Kristine Gentry (cultural anthropologist and founder of Culture Grove) and co-host Monica M. Smith (intercultural leadership expert and founder of Tradewinds Career Consulting) sit down with Madhuri Kumar, a global talent executive who has led culture, change, and people strategies across Fortune 500s (GE, Halliburton), tech and health tech, nonprofits, and higher ed (UT Austin, University of Houston). With a Wharton Global CXO certification and doctoral work in leadership of change, Madhuri helps enterprises architect human-centered AI adoption that fuels growth, resilience, and innovation.

What we cover

• Why this AI wave is different: GenAI is employee-led and pervasive. Policy, trust, and enablement must catch up.
• Culture as the multiplier: High-trust, resilient cultures experiment, learn fast, and adapt together.
• Leaders’ playbook for AI change: Transparent comms, clear timelines, shared language, safe experimentation, and real feedback loops.
• Resilience over fear: Treat AI as a people and trust challenge, not only a tech rollout.
• A practical model in the wild: How broad AI fluency and employee autonomy (e.g., weekly share-outs, hackathon rituals) accelerate adoption.
• Jobs & skills are shifting: Entry-level tasks are automating; upskilling and role redesign can move people into higher-value work.
• Quality & ethics: Prompt engineering, bias checks, and data validation are new must-have capabilities.
• HR tech reality check: Messy, bolt-on data stacks meet a moment where AI can finally help clean and personalize (e.g., adaptive L&D).
• ROI truth: Many orgs use AI; far fewer see returns. Culture and clarity of use-cases make the difference.

Chapter guide

• 00:00 Welcome, milestone 🎉 & intro to our first guest
• 03:20 Madhuri’s origin story: learning the “math of change” across cultures
• 08:17 How AI differs from past transformations (employee-led, faster, broader)
• 14:00 Resilience & trust as the real adoption currency
• 17:30 Building shared language & autonomy (AI fluency programs, show-and-tell rituals)
• 28:28 Prompting as power; where humans stay superior (for now)
• 31:32 Bias, ethics, and responsible AI in people practices
• 38:37 Rituals that scale learning: demos, hackathons, open houses
• 42:12 Adoption ≠ ROI (yet): why culture bridges the gap

Join the Collaborative Culture community

New episodes every other Wednesday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you listen. If today’s conversation sparked ideas for your team’s AI journey, connect with Kristine at Culture Grove to explore an AI-ready culture audit or leadership session. Or connect with Monica at Tradewinds Career Coaching to obtain training, guidance, and coaching for global leaders and their culturally diverse teams

Thanks for Listening!

We’d love to hear from you.

Kristine Gentry, PhD

kgentry@culturegrove.com

🌐 www.culturegrove.com

🔗 LinkedIn: Kristine McKenzie Gentry

Monica M. Smith

tradewindscareerconsulting@gmai.com

🌐 www.tradewindscareerconsulting.com

🔗 LinkedIn: Monica Mary Smith

If you enjoyed the show, please: subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who cares about building better teams. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Show description

RTO isn’t a culture strategy. It’s a seating chart. In this episode, Monica M. Smith (Tradewinds Career Consulting) and Dr. Kristine Gentry (Culture Grove) unpack why so many “back to the office for culture” mandates fall flat and what actually builds connection, trust, and performance. We explore the post-pandemic “great realignment,” the comfort vs. culture trap, and how leaders can replace visibility theater with systems that drive clarity, accountability, and belonging, wherever people work.

If you’re a CEO, CHRO, or people leader wrestling with hybrid/remote decisions, this conversation gives you a practical lens: treat culture as an operating system based on values that impact beliefs, behaviors, and structures.

Show notes & timestamps

01:10 — Why RTO now?

Real estate pressures, investor optics, and nostalgia meet employee agency and flexible norms forged during COVID.

02:30 — “Culture” vs. comfort

Leaders often conflate seeing people with leading people. Visibility ≠ value. Proximity ≠ performance.

08:55 — Performative culture in action

From shutting off Slack comments to perks as distraction—the difference between branding and behavior.

22:40 — What employees actually feel

Why authenticity beats slogans—and why perks can’t paper over weak systems.

26:45 — What’s working now

Trust, outcome clarity, conflict skills, manager coaching, reasonable workload boundaries, and belonging across locations.

33:30 — From perks to infrastructure

“Don’t smoothie-bar your way to trust.” Build processes, rituals, and decision rules people can rely on.

40:50 — RTO + the DEI rollback

Two control moves dressed in “culture” language; why uniformity undercuts belonging and results.

43:40 — The bottom line

If you lack trust, communication, and alignment, being in the same room just magnifies dysfunction.

If you build systems that reinforce values, culture spreads—regardless of location.

Key takeaways

• Policy isn’t culture. Returning bodies to buildings won’t fix misaligned beliefs, behaviors, and structures.
• Clarity beats proximity. Define outcomes and operating norms; stop using attendance as a performance proxy.
• Model > mandate. Executives must live the values; managers can’t carry what leaders won’t model.
• Build systems, not perks. Trust grows from consistent processes (decision rights, conflict norms, workload boundaries), not smoothie bars.
• Flexibility is strategy. Treat hybrid/remote as a talent and performance advantage—not a concession.
• Belonging ≠ sameness. Design for contribution across locations and life stages; uniformity erodes inclusion and innovation.

Call to action

If this sparked ideas or debate, share the episode with a colleague and bring one prompt to your next leadership meeting:

“What system, if we improved it this month, would most increase trust across our team?”

Thanks for Listening!

We’d love to hear from you.

Kristine Gentry, PhD

kgentry@culturegrove.com

🌐 www.culturegrove.com

🔗 LinkedIn: Kristine McKenzie Gentry

Monica M. Smith

tradewindscareerconsulting@gmai.com

🌐 www.tradewindscareerconsulting.com

🔗 LinkedIn: Monica Mary Smith

If you enjoyed the show, please: subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who cares about building better teams. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AI doesn’t have to be a layoff story. it can be a growth story. In this episode of Collaborative Culture, hosts Dr. Kristine McKenzie Gentry and Monica M. Smith explore what it means to lead AI adoption with your culture front and center.

They discuss how leaders can turn the AI revolution into a moment for innovation, inclusion, and trust — not fear.

You’ll learn how to:

• Build a culture-first AI strategy that aligns with your company’s values and long-term goals
• Engage employees as co-creators in AI transformation
• Avoid “spreadsheet-style” leadership that undermines innovation
• Recognize and reward the human expertise that drives technological success

Whether you’re an executive, HR leader, or entrepreneur, this episode offers a roadmap to integrating AI without losing the heart of your culture.

Episode Highlights:

• (01:31) What it means to lead with a culture-first AI strategy
• (04:45) Why innovation and culture are inseparable in the AI era
• (06:37) How leaders can anchor AI transformation in company purpose
• (09:24) Change management pitfalls — and why 70% of initiatives fail
• (15:20) Retaining talent in the age of automation
• (18:19) Lessons from Chevron’s Hess acquisition and culture’s impact on performance
• (20:22) Practical steps for leaders: assess readiness, foster dialogue, build innovation teams

Referenced Resources:

• Ranjay Gulati on Deep Purpose (Harvard Business Review Press)
• Charles O’Reilly on Innovation Culture (Stanford Graduate School of Business)
• MIT Sloan Management Review Podcast (Episode link in show notes)

Subscribe:

Follow Collaborative Culture on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen — and leave a review to help others find the show!

Thanks for Listening!

We’d love to hear from you.

Kristine Gentry, PhD

kgentry@culturegrove.com

🌐 www.culturegrove.com

🔗 LinkedIn: Kristine McKenzie Gentry

Monica M. Smith

tradewindscareerconsulting@gmai.com

🌐 www.tradewindscareerconsulting.com

🔗 LinkedIn: Monica Mary Smith

If you enjoyed the show, please: subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who cares about building better teams. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Dr. Kristine Gentry (Culture Grove) and co-host Monica M. Smith (Tradewinds Career Consulting) unpack the surge in layoffs tied to AI ambitions and what “managing to a spreadsheet” misses about people, risk, and long-term performance. We discuss the ripple effects of rapid RIFs on engagement, institutional knowledge, and resilience; the CEO messaging that’s eroding loyalty; and why culture must sit alongside cost models and AI roadmaps. We also zoom out globally—how regulators, talent markets, and high- vs. low-context cultures are reacting to AI and close with practical ways leaders can reduce risk while modernizing responsibly.

Show Notes

What we cover

• (00:51) Layoff trends: what Q2 cuts signal—and what the numbers don’t show
• (04:55) “Managing to a spreadsheet”: the pitfalls of percent-cut targets
• (10:45) Culture risk 101: institutional knowledge, cross-functional glue & resiliency
• (15:37) AI realism: skills, QA, bias—and why smart people still matter
• (22:33) Research nuance: what AI misses
• (24:31) Global lens: regulators, talent pathways, and cultural expectations

Key takeaways

• Layoffs before readiness raise operational risk. If AI isn’t production-ready across daily/weekly/monthly/quarterly cycles, you’re swapping labor cost for failure risk.
• Percent targets ≠ strategy. Spreadsheet cuts ignore institutional knowledge, cross-team collaboration, and decision-quality—core drivers of resilience and innovation.
• Messaging matters. Publicly downplaying loyalty depresses engagement and accelerates top-talent exits, just when change absorption is most needed.
• AI amplifies what exists. Without people who can frame problems, check bias, and QA outputs, AI can scale errors (and inequities) faster.
• Culture is a control. Treat culture like a set of operating controls (KRIs + KPIs) to govern transformation risk, not an afterthought.

Resources mentioned

• Labor-market reports on job cuts (Challenger, Gray & Christmas)
• AT&T Just Made it Official: Workplace Loyalty is Dead (Business Insider)
• CEO Pride in Shrinking Workforce (CEO Daily Brief)

Next up

• Episode 8: Culture as Your Secret Weapon in the AI Revolution — how to design teams, rituals, and decision systems that make AI work for people and performance.

Thanks for Listening!

We’d love to hear from you.

Kristine Gentry, PhD

kgentry@culturegrove.com

🌐 www.culturegrove.com

🔗 LinkedIn: Kristine McKenzie Gentry

Monica M. Smith

tradewindscareerconsulting@gmai.com

🌐 www.tradewindscareerconsulting.com

🔗 LinkedIn: Monica Mary Smith

If you enjoyed the show, please: subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who cares about building better teams. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Collaborative Culture, Kristine interviews Monica as they dive deep into the realities of global workplace dynamics—from culture disconnects across continents to the hidden biases baked into our definitions of professionalism. They explore what happens when DEI is fully embedded into a company’s operating system versus treated as a surface-level add-on. Monica shares her signature 3-pillar framework (mindset, measurability, and practice) for improving cross-cultural collaboration, and offers real-world advice for working across borders, time zones, and traditions. Plus, a case study of a high-potential leader navigating a transition from IT to international vendor negotiations in India—and thriving!

If you're a leader managing global teams or expanding internationally, this episode is packed with practical insights and powerful mindset shifts.

Show Notes

Timestamps & Key Topics:

• 00:00 – Welcome & setting the stage: Why global context matters in culture and DEI

• 01:00 – DEI backlash in the U.S. vs. global expectations: Why some companies can’t just “drop” DEI

• 04:00 – Monica’s client focus: Global companies at a pivot point

• 06:30 – The command-and-control trap: How legacy companies lose out on innovation

• 15:30 – Monica’s 3-Pillar Framework: Mindset, Measurability, and Practice

• 25:00 – Kristine’s take: Why anthropological principles like ethnocentrism matter

• 27:00 – Monica’s example of cultural differences yes, even in road trips and your family!

• 30:00 – Success story: From IT specialist to cross-cultural leader

• 34:00 – The ROI of preparing expats—and why companies should invest early

• 36:00 – The 60% mistake: Why expats often leave for the competitors after return from assignments abroad

Resources Mentioned:

CEOs Touting Smaller Headcounts as Strategic Wins

Instagram Reel on Small Teams, Big Impact

Challenger Gray Report on June 2025 Layoff Trends

“CEO Pride in the Shrinking Workforce” Podcast Episode

Next Episode Teaser:

We’ll be diving deeper into AI and its impact on company culture.

Thanks for Listening!

We’d love to hear from you.

Kristine Gentry, PhD

kgentry@culturegrove.com

🌐 www.culturegrove.com

🔗 LinkedIn: Kristine McKenzie Gentry

Monica M. Smith

tradewindscareerconsulting@gmai.com

🌐 www.tradewindscareerconsulting.com

🔗 LinkedIn: Monica Mary Smith

If you enjoyed the show, please: subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who cares about building better teams. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Description: What does it really take to build a thriving workplace culture? In this episode, Monica interviews Dr. Kristine Gentry as Kristine pulls back the curtain on her process, from uncovering hidden culture gaps to aligning leadership and embedding values into daily behaviors. Learn how strong cultures not only help people thrive, but also drive measurable business performance.

Show Notes: In this episode of Collaborative Culture, Dr. Kristine Gentry shares what it’s really like to work with her as a culture consultant. Drawing on her training as a cultural anthropologist, Kristine explains why culture isn’t something you “fix." It’s something you cultivate.

She walks through her step-by-step process, from quick culture reviews to deep assessments, leadership alignment, and practical implementation. Along the way, she shares examples of how companies can move beyond surface-level fixes, like values on the wall, to create intentional cultures that boost engagement, retention, and business results.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• Why values on the wall don’t equal culture, and what actually makes them stick.
• The difference between a Culture Roots Review (mini-audit) and a full culture assessment.
• How anthropology-inspired methods uncover the unspoken rules shaping culture.
• Why leadership alignment is non-negotiable for culture change.
• How fast-growing companies, M&As, and businesses preparing for sale can benefit from intentional culture strategies.
• A powerful case study of an aviation company where culture work quite literally saved lives.
• Practical entry points for leaders, from advisory calls to long-term transformation projects.

Resources & Links:

• Find out about 3 low-cost entry points to working with Kristine: https://www.culturegrove.com/seeds-of-change
• Learn more: www.culturegrove.com
• Book a call: www.culturegrove.com/call
• Connect with Kristine on LinkedIn: Kristine Gentry

Thanks for Listening!

We’d love to hear from you.

Kristine Gentry, PhD

kristine@collaborative-culture.com

🌐 www.culturegrove.com

🔗 LinkedIn: Kristine McKenzie Gentry

Monica M. Smith

monica@collaborative-culture.com

🌐 www.tradewindscareerconsulting.com

🔗 LinkedIn: Monica Mary Smith

If you enjoyed the show, please: subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who cares about building better teams. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Collaborative Culture, Monica and Kristine dive into the critical difference between teamwork and collaboration, and why culture is the secret ingredient that so many organizations miss when building high-performing teams. While teamwork is essential for structure, roles, and meeting goals, it’s collaboration that fuels creativity, innovation, and resilience. But how do these two forces interact in the modern workplace?

From AI’s impact on team dynamics to the evolving expectations of today’s workforce, we explore why understanding the human side of teamwork is more important than ever. Whether you lead a team of innovators or maintain a well-oiled machine, this episode offers insights into building a culture that empowers your team to do more than just check off tasks — but to truly thrive.

Show Notes:

Key Topics Discussed:

1. Teamwork vs. Collaboration: What’s the difference, and why does it matter in your workplace?
2. The Role of Culture in Team Dynamics: Why culture is the missing link in many teams and how to integrate it into your processes.
3. Adapting to Change: The impact of rapid technological advancements like AI on teamwork and collaboration, and why companies need to embrace adaptability.
4. The Shift in Work Expectations: Exploring the shift from rigid job roles to more flexible, innovative roles as we move away from traditional work models.
5. Real-World Examples: Lessons learned from the aviation industry and healthcare that highlight the consequences of failing to understand the human element in teamwork.
6. Leadership in Teamwork: The importance of leading with empathy, trust, and a focus on human connection in team management.

Why It Matters:

As organizations grapple with change, adaptability, and innovation, the ability to foster effective teamwork is no longer just about meeting deadlines. It’s about creating an environment where collaboration thrives, and individuals can bring their full selves to work. Monica and Kristine discuss how to build the right foundation for team success by blending structure with culture.

Takeaways:

• Teamwork gives structure, but culture drives true collaboration.
• Embrace change by cultivating a team dynamic that values collaboration as much as efficiency.
• Recognizing the human side of your team is key to long-term success.

Connect with Us:

If you're looking to build a stronger, more collaborative culture within your team, reach out to Monica and Kristine today! Let’s work together to create a culture where teams don’t just perform, but thrive.

We'd love to hear from you! Send your questions, feedback, or suggestions to either of our email or message us via LinkedIn.

Please follow/subscribe, give us a rating and review, and share with anyone who is interested in workplace culture! Thanks for Listening!

Dr. Kristine Gentry

kgentry@culturegrove.com

🌐 www.culturegrove.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristine-mckenzie-gentry/

Monica M. Smith

tradewindscareerconsulting@gmail.com

🌐 www.tradewindscareerconsulting.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monicamarysmith/

If you enjoyed the show, please: subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who cares about building better teams. 

Thanks for Listening!

We’d love to hear from you.

Kristine Gentry, PhD

kristine@collaborative-culture.com

🌐 www.culturegrove.com

🔗 LinkedIn: Kristine McKenzie Gentry

Monica M. Smith

monica@collaborative-culture.com

🌐 www.tradewindscareerconsulting.com

🔗 LinkedIn: Monica Mary Smith

If you enjoyed the show, please: subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who cares about building better teams. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Collaborative Culture, Monica and Kristine pull back the curtain on what collaboration really means in the modern workplace. Far from a buzzword, true collaboration is a dynamic behavior—not just a team activity or a calendar full of meetings.

Together, they unpack:

• The key differences between collaboration and teamwork
• Cultural and structural barriers that stall collaboration
• Why being back in the office doesn't automatically lead to connection
• How trust, purpose, and flexibility create the soil for collaboration to grow

Whether you're managing a global team, navigating hybrid work, or just tired of meetings that lead nowhere—this episode offers practical insights and fresh metaphors (spoiler alert: kaleidoscopes > Rubik’s cubes) to help you lead smarter.

🔗 Show Notes

Resources Mentioned:

• The 6 Types of Working Genius by Patrick Lencioni
• Citigroup’s hybrid work stance, as championed by CEO Jane Fraser
• Iceland’s four-day workweek study (2015–2019) Summary via Autonomy
• Podcast episode from Ropes & Gray on global compliance implementation (mentioned by Monica)

Key Takeaways:

• Collaboration is a behavior, not a location or job function.
• Cultural fluency and contextual awareness are essential to true collaboration.
• Meetings should be intentional and designed around contributions—not just attendance.
• Organizational purpose is the common ground where collaboration thrives.
• Leadership isn’t about control—it’s about enabling connection.

Connect with Us:

We'd love to hear from you! Send your questions, feedback, or suggestions to either of our email or message us via LinkedIn.

Monica M. Smith: LinkedIn | tradewindscareerconsulting.com | tradewindscareerconsulting@gmail.com

Dr. Kristine Gentry: LinkedIn | culturegrove.com | kgentry@culturegrove.com

Please follow/subscribe, give us a rating and review, and share with anyone who is interested in workplace culture!

Thanks for Listening!

We’d love to hear from you.

Kristine Gentry, PhD

kristine@collaborative-culture.com

🌐 www.culturegrove.com

🔗 LinkedIn: Kristine McKenzie Gentry

Monica M. Smith

monica@collaborative-culture.com

🌐 www.tradewindscareerconsulting.com

🔗 LinkedIn: Monica Mary Smith

If you enjoyed the show, please: subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who cares about building better teams. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is culture just a “vibe”? A breakroom ping pong table? A motivational poster with core values no one remembers? The short answer - No.

In this episode of Collaborative Culture, we go deeper.

Join hosts Dr. Kristine Gentry and Monica Smith as they unpack what culture really is — through the lens of anthropology, leadership, and lived experience. From failed meditation mandates to strategic missteps, they expose the most common culture myths and offer a clear, actionable definition that goes far beyond the surface.

You’ll learn:

• Why culture is a strategic skill, not a soft one
• The dangers of leaving culture to chance
• How to spot culture disconnects across locations and levels
• Real-world stories of culture fails — and successes
• How leaders can move from performative perks to intentional, values-aligned culture

Whether you're a CEO, people leader, or culture-curious listener, this episode will reshape how you think about the everyday actions (and inactions) that shape workplace culture.

Culture isn’t something you bolt on. It’s the way you build everything.

📅 New episodes drop every other Wednesday at 8 AM Central.

👉 If you enjoy the show, please subscribe, rate, and share it with your community.

🔗 Connect with your hosts:

Kristine Gentry

• Website: www.culturegrove.com
• LinkedIn: Kristine McKenzie Gentry
• Email: kgentry@culturegrove.com

Monica Smith

• Website: www.tradewindscareerconsulting.com
• LinkedIn: Monica Mary Smith
• Email: tradewindscareerconsulting@gmail.com

Thanks for Listening!

We’d love to hear from you.

Kristine Gentry, PhD

kristine@collaborative-culture.com

🌐 www.culturegrove.com

🔗 LinkedIn: Kristine McKenzie Gentry

Monica M. Smith

monica@collaborative-culture.com

🌐 www.tradewindscareerconsulting.com

🔗 LinkedIn: Monica Mary Smith

If you enjoyed the show, please: subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who cares about building better teams. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🎙️ Episode 1: Meet Your Hosts — A New Conversation on Culture Begins

Welcome to the very first episode of Collaborative Culture! In this kickoff conversation, you'll meet your co-hosts:

• Dr. Kristine Gentry, a cultural anthropologist and founder of Culture Grove
• Monica Smith, a globally-minded leadership coach and founder of Tradewinds Career Consulting

Together, they’re on a mission to redefine how we talk about culture at work.

In this premiere episode, Kristine and Monica share their personal journeys into culture work, the pivotal moments that shaped their philosophies, and how their unique perspectives—grounded in both academic research and real-world leadership—inform their approach to collaboration, leadership, and building thriving teams.

🔍 What to Expect This Season

Get a preview of upcoming episodes exploring:

• Why “culture fit” is a myth
• Navigating cross-cultural challenges in the workplace
• The link between trust and collaboration
• How to build truly high-performing teams—and what gets in the way

Whether you're a business leader, HR professional, team manager, or culture enthusiast, Collaborative Culture will challenge you to see culture not as a vibe, but as the operating system of your team.

📅 New episodes drop every other Wednesday at 8 AM Central.

👉 If you enjoy the show, please subscribe, rate, and share it with your community.

🔗 Connect with your hosts:

Kristine Gentry

• Website: www.culturegrove.com
• LinkedIn: Kristine McKenzie Gentry
• Email: kgentry@culturegrove.com

Monica Smith

• Website: www.tradewindscareerconsulting.com
• LinkedIn: Monica Mary Smith
• Email: tradewindscareerconsulting@gmail.com

Thanks for Listening!

We’d love to hear from you.

Kristine Gentry, PhD

kristine@collaborative-culture.com

🌐 www.culturegrove.com

🔗 LinkedIn: Kristine McKenzie Gentry

Monica M. Smith

monica@collaborative-culture.com

🌐 www.tradewindscareerconsulting.com

🔗 LinkedIn: Monica Mary Smith

If you enjoyed the show, please: subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who cares about building better teams. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.