Episode 20: Beyond DEI: Building Cultures that V.A.L.U.E. Everyone

DEI is facing growing scrutiny—and not just in boardrooms or courtrooms. Many companies are realizing that traditional diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives often fall short of creating real culture change.

In this episode of Culture Secrets, host Chellie Phillips introduces a bold alternative: the V.A.L.U.E. Culture Framework.

Instead of chasing compliance or one-size-fits-all strategies, V.A.L.U.E. invites leaders to build workplace cultures grounded in Vision, Accountability, Leadership, Uniqueness, and Engagement. You'll hear how this people-first approach fosters real belonging, boosts performance, and drives trust from the inside out.

🔑 What we’ll explore:

• Why DEI policies are falling short in today’s environment
• How the V.A.L.U.E. formula redefines inclusion and respect
• Real-life examples of workplaces that thrive through culture—not checklists
• How to start embedding V.A.L.U.E. into your team’s everyday behavior

If you're ready to move from performative to purposeful, this episode is your roadmap.

🎧 Listen now and discover how to build a workplace where everyone feels seen, supported, and inspired to succeed.

Thanks for listening. Grab the book the podcast is based on at https://mybook.to/culturesecrets . Check out my website www.chelliephillips.com for more great content. Follow me on LinkedIn.

Episode Transcript

Chellie (00:00):
if workplace culture is your jam you're in the right
place check out this episode ofculture secrets the podcast
dedicated to creating workplaceswhere both employees and the
companies thrive so Welcome tothis season of Culture Secrets.

(00:23):
I'm Chelly Phillips, your guideto building thriving,
people-first workplace cultures.
If you're here, it's becauseyou know culture isn't just a
buzzword.
It's the heartbeat of yourorganization.
And this season, we're goingdeeper than ever before.
Today, we're tackling a shiftthat's been brewing for a while.
More and more companies aremoving away from traditional DEI

(00:43):
initiatives.
The reason?
Many of these programs havebeen reduced to a check-the-box
exercise.
Compliance-driven, impersonal,and often disconnected from the
real people in an organization.
But what if I told you therewas a better way, one that
doesn't just include people, butmakes them feel valued every
single day?
That's what we'll explore todayas we introduce a workplace

(01:04):
culture model that isn't aboutcompliance.
It's about connection.
Welcome to the world of a valueculture.
Let's be honest.
Many traditional diversityinitiatives fall short.
Why?
Because they focus on numbers,policies, and quotas instead of
fostering a culture where everyindividual feel seen, heard, or

(01:24):
valued.
And here's the hard truth.
The businesses that rely onthese surface-level efforts
often struggle with retention,engagement, and innovation.
In contrast, companies withstrong workplace cultures don't
just survive, they thrive.
So how do you create that kindof culture?
You move beyond compliance andinto commitment.

(01:44):
And that's where the ValueCulture Framework comes in.
Value is more than an acronym.
It's a roadmap to a workplacewherever employee thrives.
So let's break it down.
V is vision.
A strong shared vision createsalignment and purpose.
It's about more than missionstatements.
It's about creating a workplacewhere every team member knows

(02:04):
how they contribute to thebigger picture.
A is accountability.
This isn't about blame.
It's about ownership.
When people are accountable,they trust leadership, their
colleagues, and the organizationas a whole.
L is leadership.
Leaders set the tone.
When they lead with Withempathy and integrity, they
create a culture where respectand inclusion are the norm, not

(02:26):
the exception.
You is uniqueness.
A true culture of inclusiongoes beyond representation.
It celebrates the individualstrengths and differences each
person brings to the table.
And finally, there's E,engagement.
When people are engaged,they're invested.
They bring their ideas, theirenergy, and their best selves to
work.
So let's look at a fewreal-world examples of a value

(02:48):
culture.
Let's see how some companieshave been putting it into
action.
In Culture Secrets, I share thestory of a mid-sized tech
company that redefined itsvision to emphasize innovation
and community impact.
The result, a stronger sense ofpurpose and collaboration
across diverse teams.
Or take a manufacturing firmthat built accountability into

(03:08):
their culture.
With clear, transparentstandards, instead of a top-down
mandate, they created anenvironment where employees felt
empowered to speak up and drivechange.
And then there's the retailchains that invested in
emotional intelligence trainingfor their leaders.
It wasn't a one-time workshop.
It became a core part of howmanagers operated daily, leading
to increased trust and morale.

(03:30):
These aren't just initiatives.
They're culture shifts, andthey work.
So how do you make these shiftsin your own company Here's
five-step action plan that youcan start today.
One, communicate vision clearlyand often.
Don't let your company visionbe a framed poster in a So

(04:12):
here's the bottom line.
DEI shouldn't be a corporateobligation.
Inclusion should be the naturaloutcome of a thriving workplace

(04:34):
culture, and a value-drivenculture is the key to making
that happen.
If you're ready to go beyondthe check Thank you.
Thank you.

Unknown (05:11):
Thank you.