The Power Of Culture

Culture is at the core of everything we do—both personally and professionally. In this episode of Richer Soul, we had the pleasure of speaking with Laura Hamill, an organizational psychologist, ex-Microsoft director, and co-founder of Limeade, an employee experience software company. Laura now leads the Paris Phoenix Group, helping organizations transform their workplace culture. She is also the host of the Happy at Work podcast and the author of The Power of Culture (coming November 12, 2024).

In our conversation, we dive deep into the role of workplace culture, how personal experiences shape our professional ambitions, and what it takes to build environments that empower people to thrive.

Key Takeaways: 

1. Your Upbringing Shapes Your Drive. Laura grew up in a unique environment—her parents were true hippies, living off the grid without electricity. This unconventional upbringing gave her a strong desire to change her circumstances. Her ambition, discipline, and hard work became the tools she used to create a different life for herself.
2. Culture Drives Performance and Well-being. The workplace isn’t just about productivity—it’s about fostering a culture that helps people feel valued and engaged. When organizations invest in their employees’ well-being, it leads to greater performance, retention, and innovation. Laura emphasizes that leaders must be intentional in creating a positive culture, not leaving it to chance.
3. Authenticity Matters in Leadership. Leadership isn’t about imposing rules and systems; it’s about authenticity. When leaders create a space where employees feel safe to bring their full selves to work, the entire organization thrives. This means prioritizing well-being, fostering inclusion, and building trust from the top down.
4. You Can Change Your Circumstances. Laura’s journey—from a childhood without electricity to working at Microsoft and starting her own company—demonstrates that our circumstances don’t define us. With the right mindset, learning, and action, we can shift our trajectory and create the life we envision.

Money Learnings:

Growing up with limited resources, Laura learned at an early age the challenges that come with financial struggles. However, rather than seeing it as a limitation, she viewed it as motivation to build a different life. Her experience highlights an important lesson: financial literacy isn’t just about knowledge—it’s about belief. The belief that you can change your financial reality through effort and smart decision-making.

She became highly focused on excelling in school, pushing herself in every way possible, because she believed that education and hard work would be her way out of scarcity. Her story is a testament to resilience and determination.

Laura Hamill’s Bio:

Laura Hamill is an organizational psychologist and the co-founder of Limeade, an employee experience software company. She now runs Paris Phoenix Group, advising companies on transforming their workplace cultures. She is also the host of the Happy at Work podcast and author of The Power of Culture: An Economist Edge Book (releasing November 12, 2024).

Key Discussion Points: 

1. Laura’s unique upbringing and how it shaped her drive for success.
2. The role of culture in employee engagement and business success.
3. Why companies need to prioritize well-being and authenticity in leadership.
4. How leaders can intentionally shape culture rather than leaving it to chance.
5. Lessons from Laura’s personal journey in overcoming financial scarcity.
6. Her work with organizations to help them create better work environments.
7. Insights from her upcoming book, The Power of Culture.

Conclusion:

Laura’s story is a powerful reminder that culture—both in our personal and professional lives—has a profound impact on our success and well-being. Whether it’s the culture we create at home, the workplace environment we build, or the mindset we adopt towards money and opportunity, intentionality is key.

By actively shaping culture, we create spaces where people thrive, businesses flourish, and individuals unlock their full potential.

Links:

Email: laura.hamill@parisphoenixgroup.com

Website: www.parisphoenixgroup.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/laurahamill

Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@richersoul

Richer Soul Life Beyond Money. You got rich, now what? Let’s talk about your journey to more a purposeful, intentional, amazing life. Where are you going to go and how are you going to get there? Let’s figure that out together. At the core is the financial well-being to be able to do what you want, when you want, how you want. It’s about personal freedom!

Check out this episode!

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