#7- How to Build a Culture Employees Actually Feel

SUMMARY In this episode of the Within Podcast, co-hosts Allie, Heidi, and Nikki unpack one of the most talked-about yet misunderstood aspects of business success, culture. Drawing on decades of combined experience across fractional HR, large enterprise leadership, and organizational consulting, the trio digs into what culture actually is (hint: it's not your office or perks), why it matters more than ever, and how to start shaping it with intention.

Allie kicks off with a powerful framing: culture isn’t your environment, it’s the feeling your employees get when they engage with your business. From there, Nikki shares insights from supporting small businesses that often assume they “have culture” because of closeness, only to discover misalignment and quiet disengagement. Heidi rounds it out with lessons from large-scale organizations, where misaligned leadership teams can send culture sideways fast.

Whether you’re running a 15-person startup or managing teams across departments, this conversation will make you rethink how you define, measure, and evolve your culture. Expect practical takeaways on listening sessions, culture assessments, and how to align leadership around shared values and purpose, before turnover or toxicity set in.

ABOUT WITHIN Within is a podcast hosted by Nicky Wallace and Ali Payne, founders of The People Co. It explores what happens when organizations stop chasing surface-level solutions and start doing the real work from within. Each episode unpacks stories of leadership, burnout, growth, culture, and the messiness of being human at work. Whether you’re in HR, leading a team, or just rethinking how work fits into your life, Within offers a candid and refreshing look at how people-first business gets built.

Connect with them on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/nwallace515/ or www.linkedin.com/in/alipayne/ and www.linkedin.com/in/heidibuttolph/