Culture Starts Here, Ep1: Meet ATLAS [podcast video]

August 26, 2025 | General
By The A-Team
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We’re excited to announce Culture Starts Here!

This special series is created in partnership with our friends Nick Lombardino and Zach Blumenfeld – the founders of CultureCon and hosts of The CultureCon Podcast.

ADVISA’s Culture Starts Here series is all about helping leaders and organizations harness the power of culture as a true competitive advantage.

In this first episode, Nick and Zach sit down with Heather Haas, CEO of ADVISA, and BJ McKay, Leadership Consultant at ADVISA, to kick off Culture Starts Here. Together, they introduce the foundation of the series: why culture matters, how it can fuel business performance, and what leaders can do to carry culture with intentionality.

This episode lays the foundation for what’s to come in the Culture Starts Here series – which will include deep dives into each of the five ATLAS drivers, real-world applications, and practical advice for leaders at every level.

Culture Starts Here, Episode 1 Highlights

Why culture matters

Culture isn’t just a “nice to have.” It can be either a growth killer or a competitive edge.

When aligned with business goals, culture accelerates results and creates thriving workplaces where people love to contribute. When misaligned, it stalls growth and creates friction.

In this episode, Heather shares stories from a wide range of client organizations. In each case, what made the difference wasn’t just strategy – it was culture.

Leaders are culture carriers

BJ and Heather both emphasize that leaders set the tone. What leaders tolerate and celebrate becomes the norm, shaping culture in real and lasting ways.

At ADVISA, we often say: “Leaders are culture carriers.”

This means culture isn’t HR’s responsibility alone – it’s something leaders at every level must pick up and carry with intention.

What leaders tolerate and celebrate becomes the norm, shaping culture in real and lasting ways.

ATLAS framework for cultural competitive advantage

To help organizations create the culture they need to succeed, ADVISA developed the ATLAS framework – five critical drivers that, when aligned, create cultural competitive advantage:

  • Activation from Above – executive ownership of culture
  • Trust and Shared Purpose – clear mission, vision, and values
  • Leader Effectiveness – equipping leaders to model the right mindsets and behaviors
  • Actionable People Data – putting people insights in leaders’ hands
  • Systems – aligning processes, tools, and norms with the desired culture

When these five drivers work together, culture stops being abstract – it becomes the engine that propels business results.

“Where do I start?”

If delving into all five drivers feels daunting, you’re not alone.

The good news is, you don’t have to do it all at once. Heather suggests starting small – focus on one driver, and use a simple tool to assess where you stand today.

That’s why ADVISA created ATLAS Navigator, a free five-minute assessment that provides a snapshot of strengths and opportunities across the five drivers. It’s a great conversation starter for leaders, managers, and teams who want to begin the culture journey with clarity.

👉 Take the ATLAS Navigator five-minute culture check here!

Key takeaways from Episode 1

  • Culture can drive or derail business success… alignment matters.
  • Leaders set the tone; they carry and shape culture daily.
  • The ATLAS framework clarifies five culture drivers to help organizations focus their attention.
  • Your organization’s systems and processes must support the culture you desire.
  • Start with data and link culture directly to business outcomes.

About Culture Starts Here

Culture can be an organization’s biggest threat to growth – or its greatest opportunity for competitive advantage.

In Culture Starts Here, a special series on the CultureCon podcast, ADVISA CEO Heather Haas and leadership consultant BJ McKay share insights and tactics you can use to jump-start your organization’s optimal culture. This and every episode of Culture Starts Here includes the answer to the most common question ADVISA’s leadership consultants hear: Where do we start?

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