TRUE Culture

Robert Cook

Welcome to TRUE Culture: Building Success from Within, the podcast that explores what it takes to build a workplace that inspires excellence, earns admiration, and brings out the best in people. Hosted by Robert Cook, a former global finance executive and now CEO of True Colors International, a 50-year-old training and consulting company known for helping organizations design world-class cultures. This show dives into the real-world strategies behind building effective, people-first cultures that stick. With over 30 years of experience in leadership, consulting, and organizational transformation, Robert brings a no-fluff, results-driven lens to improving how teams communicate, collaborate, and thrive. Each episode features conversations with HR leaders, C-suite executives, educators, and culture champions who share how they’ve used proven methodologies, training programs, and consulting strategies to build stronger teams, resolve conflict, and create lasting change. If you're ready to move beyond surface-level fixes and build a culture your people are proud to be part of — TRUE Culture is your go-to playbook. TRUE Culture, brought to you by True Colors -because culture works best when it’s designed with intention.

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9 episodes
weekly
Avg 47 min
English

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S1 · E8
Thursday · 46 min
Building Culture That Scales: Leadership, Engagement, and AI in the Workplace
Reid Walsh, Chief Human Resources Officer at NeoGov, joins Robert Cook to discuss what it takes to build a thriving culture across a rapidly growing, geographically distributed workforce. With leadership experience spanning public broadcasting, Pennsylvania state government, and private-sector technology, Reid brings a unique perspective on culture, engagement, and organizational transformation. In this episode, Reid shares how NeoGov strengthened employee engagement after rapid growth and acquisitions, why intentional communication matters in remote environments, and how HR leaders can leverage AI, employee feedback, and leadership development to create high-performing teams. She also offers practical strategies for measuring culture, supporting executives, and building workplaces where people feel seen, heard, and valued. Key Takeaways: ● Culture requires intentionality: Remote and hybrid organizations must actively create opportunities for connection, recognition, and engagement. ● Employee feedback drives better decisions: Surveys, pulse checks, and exit interviews provide critical insights that help leaders address challenges before they grow. ● Leadership development strengthens culture: Investing in communication skills, self-awareness, and cross-functional relationships creates more effective leaders. ● AI is reshaping the workforce: Organizations must thoughtfully integrate AI tools while helping employees build confidence and capability. ● Strong HR partnerships fuel business success: HR leaders create the greatest impact when they understand business priorities and help solve leaders’ most pressing challenges. Connect with Reid: Website: https://www.neogov.com/ Website: https://www.powerdms.com/ Report: Public sector HR trends report Connect with Robert: Website: https://www.truecolorsintl.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/483774/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/true-colors-international/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/iSpeakTrueColors Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truecolorsintl/
S1 · E7
August 20 · 49 min
Leadership Isn't Born, It's Built: The 6 Pillars Behind Great Culture
Leadership isn’t something you’re born with—it’s a skill that can be learned, developed, and refined over time. Jim Carlough is a former corporate executive, consultant, speaker, and author of The Six Pillars of Effective Leadership. With decades of experience mentoring leaders and building high-performing teams, Jim specializes in helping “accidental managers” develop the skills needed to lead effectively. In this episode, Jim shares why leadership development is critical to organizational culture, the common mistakes new managers make, and the six foundational pillars that create trust, engagement, and long-term success. He also explains how empathy, integrity, stability, and communication shape workplace culture and why great leaders focus on developing people rather than simply managing tasks. Key Takeaways: ● Leadership Is Built, Not Born: Effective leadership is a learned skill that can be developed through mentorship, practice, and intentional growth. ● The Accidental Manager Problem: Many organizations promote top performers into leadership roles without preparing them to lead people successfully. ● Integrity Creates Trust: Transparent and consistent leadership builds psychological safety and strengthens team performance. ● Empathy Drives Engagement: Great leaders recognize when employees need support and create loyalty through genuine care and understanding. ● Culture Starts with Leadership: Organizational culture is shaped by leaders who model communication, stability, accountability, and respect every day. Connect with Jim: Website: https://www.jimcarlough.com Connect with Robert: Website: https://www.truecolorsintl.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/483774/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/true-colors-international/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/iSpeakTrueColors Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truecolorsintl/
S1 · E6
August 13 · 1 hr 3 min
How Palm Beach County Built a People-First Government Culture
Nicole Gasparri, Chief Administration Officer for the Palm Beach County Clerk of Circuit Court & Comptroller, shares how she helped transform a traditional government workplace into a people-first culture focused on leadership, communication, and employee growth. Nicole discusses building strong teams in public service, creating leadership pipelines from within, improving retention through culture instead of compensation, and using tools like True Colors to strengthen communication and collaboration across departments. She also shares lessons on resilience, accountability, and balancing personal growth with professional leadership. Key Takeaways: ● Employee-first culture drives retention: Creating wellness programs, leadership development, and meaningful employee experiences improves engagement and loyalty. ● Leadership starts at every level: Nicole’s “Everyone’s a Leader” philosophy empowers employees to take ownership regardless of title. ● Communication shapes culture: Teaching teams how to understand personality differences and communicate effectively reduces conflict and builds trust. ● Growth requires accountability: Nicole shares how publicly committing to goals helped her write a book, grow as a leader, and inspire others to do the same. ● Innovation belongs in government too: From AI training to leadership coaching, modern public-sector organizations can evolve quickly with the right mindset. Connect with Nicole: Website: www.mypalmbeachclerk.com Connect with Robert: Website: https://www.truecolorsintl.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/483774/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/true-colors-international/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/iSpeakTrueColors Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truecolorsintl/
S1 · E5
August 6 · 46 min
From Home to Boardroom: How Family Connection Creates Better Leaders
Dr. Carey Chronis explains why the leadership skills that create strong workplace cultures are often first learned at home. Dr. Carey Chronis is a pediatrician, leadership consultant, and author of Connection: Rethink Team Culture From Home to Boardroom. In this episode, he shares how communication, trust, emotional safety, and active listening shape both healthy families and high-performing teams. From parenting lessons to corporate leadership strategies, this conversation explores how stronger human connection leads to better culture, better accountability, and more resilient organizations. Key Takeaways: ● Connection drives culture: Strong teams are built through trust, communication, and emotional safety rather than authority alone. ● Listening is a leadership skill: Leaders who actively listen create stronger engagement, accountability, and collaboration. ● Home and work cultures are connected: The same relationship skills used in parenting directly influence workplace leadership success. ● Positive reinforcement matters: Recognition, encouragement, and consistency help people perform at their best in any environment. ● Great cultures require intentionality: Strong leaders create alignment by communicating clearly, modeling behavior, and fostering psychological safety. Connect with Dr. Chronis: Website: https://www.careychronismd.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carey-chronis-md-15514415/ Connect with Robert: Website: https://www.truecolorsintl.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/483774/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/true-colors-international/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iSpeakTrueColors Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truecolorsintl/
S1 · E4
July 30 · 43 min
Empowering Leaders and Employees for Lasting Impact and Inclusion
What does it take to build a workplace culture that empowers individuals and fosters long-term success? In this episode of TRUE Culture: Building Success from Within, Robert Cook sits down with Dana Almora, Director of Culture and Communications at Pride Industries, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities and veterans. Dana shares how Pride Industries' culture has evolved over the years, from its humble beginnings to becoming a leader in inclusive employment. She dives deep into the importance of creating a people-first culture and the strategies that have helped Pride Industries continue to grow, even in challenging times. Dana also discusses the key role the True Colors program has played in shaping their communication, leadership, and team dynamics. If you’re a leader looking to create an inclusive, engaged workforce and strengthen your organization’s culture, this episode is packed with insights. Key Takeaways: Inclusive culture drives success: Prioritizing inclusivity and fostering a sense of belonging leads to higher engagement and retention Training is essential for growth: Investing in ongoing training shapes a culture of respect and accountability Leadership drives cultural transformation: hands-on leadership and personal connection with employees creates an environment where people feel valued, supported, and motivated to contribute Learn more about Dana Almora and Pride Industries: Website: prideindustries.com 1-844-I-Am-Able (1-844-426-2253) LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dana-almora-8936bb84 Facebook: facebook.com/PRIDEIndustriesPeople Instagram: instagram.com/pridepeopleservices Connect with Robert: Website: https://www.truecolorsintl.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/483774/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/true-colors-international/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/iSpeakTrueColors Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truecolorsintl/
S1 · E3
July 23 · 1 hr
Choose Love Over Fear: Turning Pain into Purpose
Scarlett Lewis, founder of the Choose Love Movement, shares how her work emerged after the loss of her son in the Sandy Hook tragedy, transforming personal grief into a global, preventative approach to emotional intelligence and culture-building. Her nonprofit has reached millions across schools, organizations, and communities worldwide, teaching essential life skills like courage, gratitude, forgiveness, and compassion. This episode explores how culture begins with individual mindset and emotional awareness, emphasizing that choosing love over fear is a daily, intentional practice. Lewis breaks down how unprocessed pain leads to harmful behaviors, and how equipping people with simple, teachable tools can prevent violence, improve well-being, and create environments where individuals feel safe, seen, and valued. Key Takeaways: ● Choosing Love Over Fear: A simple but powerful framework that shifts mindset, behavior, and overall culture. ● Pain as a Growth Opportunity: Unprocessed pain leads to harm, but managed pain becomes a pathway to growth and purpose. ● Four Core Skills Drive Culture: Courage, gratitude, forgiveness, and compassion are teachable tools that shape healthier individuals and environments. ● Emotional Intelligence is Preventative: Teaching these skills early can reduce violence, anxiety, and destructive behaviors. ● Culture Starts Individually: Personal mindset and daily choices directly influence team, school, and organizational culture. Connect with Scarlett: Website: https://chooselovemovement.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scarlett.lewis.336 X: https://twitter.com/ScarlettMLewis LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scarlett-lewis-7428a5b7/ Connect with Robert: Website: https://www.truecolorsintl.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/483774/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/true-colors-international/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/iSpeakTrueColors Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truecolorsintl/
S1 · E2
July 17 · 52 min
Building High-Performance Cultures at Scale: Lessons from a Chief People Officer
Scaling a company is hard. Scaling a company without losing its culture is even harder. Hanna Smith is the Chief People Officer at Tillo, a fast-growing global fintech company, where she leads people strategy, talent development, culture, and organizational growth. With more than two decades of experience in HR and people leadership, Hanna has helped startups and scale-ups build high-performing teams while maintaining strong employee engagement and connection. In this episode, Hanna shares her journey into people leadership, lessons learned from building cultures in high-growth organizations, and why simplicity, communication, and manager development are essential for sustainable success. She also discusses employee engagement, performance management, psychological safety, and the challenges of preserving culture during rapid growth and private equity investment. Key Takeaways: ● Building high-performance cultures starts with clarity: Employees perform best when expectations, success metrics, and company values are clearly defined. ● Great managers are culture multipliers: Investing in leadership and management development has a direct impact on employee engagement and business performance. ● Simplicity drives organizational effectiveness: Reducing unnecessary complexity helps teams move faster, make better decisions, and stay aligned. ● Psychological safety enables better performance: Teams thrive when people feel comfortable speaking up, challenging ideas, and providing honest feedback. ● Culture must evolve without losing authenticity: As companies scale, leaders must intentionally protect the values and behaviors that make the organization unique. Connect with Hanna: Website: https://www.tillo.com/ Connect with Robert: Website: https://www.truecolorsintl.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/483774/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/true-colors-international/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/iSpeakTrueColors Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truecolorsintl/
S1 · E1
July 16 · 1 hr 3 min
How Dyslexia, Self-Awareness, and Classroom Culture Transform Student Success
Helping struggling readers starts with helping them understand themselves. Nancy Hannagan, Founder of Dyslexia Connects, Certified Academic Language Therapist, and Licensed Dyslexia Therapist, joins Robert to discuss how culture, connection, and self-awareness can transform learning outcomes for students. Drawing from more than 20 years in education, and her own experience discovering she had dyslexia at age 43, Nancy shares how educators can create environments where students thrive academically and personally. In this episode, Nancy explores the realities of dyslexia, the importance of early identification, how personality awareness strengthens teacher-student relationships, and why building culture must come before building skills. She also shares practical insights for educators, administrators, and parents looking to better support diverse learners. Key Takeaways: ● Early identification matters: Recognizing dyslexia in the early grades can dramatically improve student outcomes and confidence. ● Culture drives learning: Students learn best when they feel valued, connected, and safe within their classroom environment. ● Self-awareness builds resilience: Helping students understand how they learn empowers them to advocate for themselves and succeed. ● Teachers need support too: Investing in educators through training, connection, and encouragement creates stronger learning communities. ● Dyslexia is manageable, not limiting: With the right strategies, accommodations, and mindset, students with dyslexia can thrive academically and professionally. Connect with Nancy: Website: https://dyslexiaconnects.com/ Connect with Robert: Website: https://www.truecolorsintl.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/483774/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/true-colors-international/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/iSpeakTrueColors Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truecolorsintl/
July 14 · 54 sec
Welcome to TRUE Culture
Welcome to TRUE Culture: Building Success from Within - the podcast that explores what it takes to build a workplace that inspires excellence, earns admiration, and brings out the best in people. Hosted by Robert Cook, a former global finance executive and now CEO of True Colors International - a 50-year-old training and consulting company known for helping organizations design world-class cultures. This show dives into the real-world strategies behind building effective, people-first cultures that stick. With over 30 years of experience in leadership, consulting, and organizational transformation, Robert brings a no-fluff, results-driven lens to improving how teams communicate, collaborate, and thrive. Each episode features conversations with HR leaders, C-suite executives, educators, and culture champions who share how they’ve used proven methodologies, training programs, and consulting strategies to build stronger teams, resolve conflict, and create lasting change. If you're ready to move beyond surface-level fixes and build a culture your people are proud to be part of — TRUE Culture is your go-to playbook.

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