Why Hierarchies Kill Innovation: Focusing on Culture Isn't Enough feat. Dawn Holly Johnson

In this episode of Taking Back Monday, host Alyssa Nolte sits down with transformation strategist Dawn Holly Johnson to unpack why traditional hierarchies are crushing innovation—and what to build instead.

With over 20 years of experience across industries, Dawn shares how she helps companies design for value, scale with purpose, and create cultures that don’t just talk about empowerment—they live it.

If you're tired of bureaucracy, burnout, and broken systems, this one’s for you.

Key Takeaways:

➤ Structure drives behavior: Culture can’t thrive inside systems that were built to control, not empower.
➤ Process matters: Without well-designed systems, even the best teams struggle to deliver value.
➤ Purpose over profit: Alignment around mission—not just money—fuels better decisions and better results.

Key Moments:

00:00 Introduction to Taking Back Monday
00:12 Journey into Lean Six Sigma
01:07 Common Issues in Leadership
01:32 The Impact of COVID-19 on Work Culture
01:49 Questioning Traditional Business Practices
02:09 Writing the Transformational Book
05:46 The Importance of Happy Employees
06:34 Challenges of Organizational Hierarchies
13:10 Empowering Teams and Building Trust
20:31 Aligning Purpose and Process
23:14 The Role of Process in Business Success
31:45 Gary Vee and Inspirational Leadership
33:08 Conclusion and Contact Information

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