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 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/The CEO as Listener-in-Chief: What Executives Really Hear (and Miss) from Employees
In this episode of Culture Over Coffee, Catherine Badalamente, President and CEO of Graham Media Group, joins Beth to talk about what it really means to lead as listener-in-chief, and how active listening can strengthen trust, reveal hidden cultural challenges, and help employees thrive. Catherine shares powerful takeaways including: - Why real listening goes beyond surveys and meetings - How to make it a daily intentional practice - How toxic high performers quietly erode the culture - And what leaders can do to hold people accountable without sacrificing performance. Catherine Badalamente: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherinebadalamente/ Graham Media Group: https://www.grahammedia.com/ 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/