Culture Over Coffee
Welcome to Culture Over Coffee, a podcast focused on improving company culture and fostering employee engagement hosted by Beth Sunshine, SVP/Partner at Up Your Culture. Every week we chat with experts and thought leaders about the latest proven practices that succeed in reducing regrettable turnover, increasing productivity and retaining key customers. So, pour a cup of your favorite brew and join us. Up Your Culture, an employee engagement and company culture firm, was designed by The Center for Sales Strategy which has almost 40 years of experience improving business performance.
All Episodes
Culture Metrics: What Engagement Surveys Can (and Can't) Tell You
In this episode, Dan Kessler, President of Energage, joins Beth Sunshine to explore how data and action come together to create thriving workplace cultures. Drawing on insights from millions of employee surveys and thousands of companies, Dan shares how organizations can move beyond measuring engagement to activating it. Dan has some amazing takeaways, like: - Why employee engagement data reveals what leaders can’t always see — and how assumptions can quietly derail culture. - Why “survey fatigue” isn’t real (it’s actually inaction fatigue) and how authentic follow-through restores trust. - And how middle managers, often caught between leadership and employees, play a pivotal role in turning insights into cultural momentum. Energage: https://www.energage.com/ Dan Kessler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-kessler-40b4a11/ Evaluate Your Company Culture: https://uyc.thecenterforsalesstrategy.com/quick-culture-assessment Beth Sunshine: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethsunshine/ Culture Over Coffee: https://uyc.thecenterforsalesstrategy.com/culture-over-coffee-podcast Up Your Culture: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethsunshine/Culture Snapshot - Culture Isn't a Vibe: The Systems Behind Great Workplaces
Culture isn’t just something you feel. It’s something you build. In this short Culture Snapshot episode, we’re breaking down why great cultures aren’t powered by perks or positivity alone. Instead, they run on systems: the intentional habits, behaviors, and leadership practices that create clarity and consistency. We’ll also walk through the four “engagement elevators” that help organizations turn good vibes into lasting strength, reminding leaders that when culture runs on systems, it can thrive no matter the storm. Evaluate Your Company Culture: https://uyc.thecenterforsalesstrategy.com/quick-culture-assessment Beth Sunshine: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethsunshine/ Culture Over Coffee: https://uyc.thecenterforsalesstrategy.com/culture-over-coffee-podcastBuilding a Culture of Growth: How “Squiggly Careers” Strengthen Engagement
Career development shouldn’t be a checklist. It should be a catalyst. In this episode of Culture Over Coffee, Beth sits down with Deb Kuhn who leads Career Development and Programs at TransUnion, to explore how growth pathways can transform company culture from the inside out. Deb shares incredible insights, including: - Why TransUnion replaced rigid career ladders with “squiggly careers,” helping employees explore lateral moves, expand responsibilities, and grow in place. - How focusing on transferable skills (what she calls “superpowers”) creates a culture where people feel valued for their unique strengths, not just their titles. - Why career development must stay top of mind to drive engagement and how even simple manager conversations can reignite motivation and ownership. Deb Kuhn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-kuhn-a1520210/ Evaluate Your Company Culture: https://uyc.thecenterforsalesstrategy.com/quick-culture-assessment Beth Sunshine: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethsunshine/ Culture Over Coffee: https://uyc.thecenterforsalesstrategy.com/culture-over-coffee-podcast Up Your Culture: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethsunshine/Culture Snapshot: Almost Leaders - From Good Intentions to Real Leadership Impact
What separates almost leaders from always leaders? In this Culture Snapshot, Beth explores how small gaps in consistency (missed feedback, delayed recognition, or forgotten check-ins) can quietly erode engagement, and how one extra step can transform trust, culture, and results. Evaluate Your Company Culture: https://uyc.thecenterforsalesstrategy.com/quick-culture-assessment Beth Sunshine: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethsunshine/ Culture Over Coffee: https://uyc.thecenterforsalesstrategy.com/culture-over-coffee-podcast Up Your Culture: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethsunshine/