Why I Started Culture Minds

Why I Started Culture Minds (and Why Workplaces Need a Rethink)

After more than 20 years in HR, I noticed a pattern. Many organisations still operate like it’s 1920: hierarchical, power-driven, and often stuck in quiet (or not so quiet) battles over who gets to decide what. And somewhere in all of that… people get lost.

Which is ironic because people are literally the reason organisations exist. Yet disengagement creeps in, energy fades, and productivity dips.. not because people don’t care, but because the system makes it hard to show up fully.

That’s when the idea for Culture Minds was born.

The World of Work Has Changed… But Organisations Haven’t.

COVID and recent societal shifts changed how people work and what they expect from employers. Yet many organisations still rely on decades-old models, processes, and leadership habits. It’s like trying to run the latest apps on a Nokia from 1998—technically impressive, but not very realistic.

Culture Minds asks a simple, slightly rebellious question: What if organisations genuinely treated people and culture as a strategic investment, not just an annual HR checkbox?

Culture shows up in the small things: the way decisions are made, the tone of conversations, whether people feel safe speaking up, and even that “Sunday night feeling” about going back to work. Often, it’s the most honest measure of workplace health.

What Makes Culture Tricky

Culture isn’t just policies, job descriptions, or leadership vision. It’s the invisible environment created by thousands of tiny interactions every day—the micro-behaviours, unspoken rules, and moments where someone either feels heard… or doesn’t.

That’s what we explore at Culture Minds: the deeper dynamics that quietly drive performance, engagement, and retention.

A Personal Note

Starting Culture Minds wasn’t just professional—it was personal. After years in corporate life, I was tired of politics and constant battles to get people and culture on the agenda.

Life outside work was evolving too. As a parent, I wanted to be present: picking up my children from school, making dinner, running baths, and being there when they need me. Culture Minds allows me to do work I love and have that balance. And that feels pretty special.

This blog is just the beginning, a place to explore leadership, culture, and the future of work. (and its true landing page will be found soon!) What workplace challenges are you seeing right now? What topics resonate with you? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

For now, it’s Friday evening, the laptop is closing, and it’s time to switch off. I hope you do the same.