Overview

In this episode of Culturally Sound, Chandler Cutler sits down with Dr. Kristine Gentry, cultural anthropologist and CEO of Culture Grove, to unpack what truly drives a thriving workplace culture—and why most organizations get it wrong.

With 25+ years of experience decoding human behavior, Kristine shares why real culture change doesn’t come from ping-pong tables or feel-good values—it comes from understanding the invisible systems that shape behavior, power, and trust inside organizations.

From unifying fragmented institutions to guiding C-suite leaders through transformation, she reveals how to build cultures that don’t just engage employees—they ignite performance and create real results.

Whether you lead a startup or a global team, this episode is a must-listen for anyone serious about turning culture into strategy.

Guest Bio

Dr. Kristine Gentry is a cultural anthropologist and the CEO of Culture Grove, a consultancy that helps organizations transform culture from the inside out. With a career spanning academia, executive leadership, and strategy development in complex systems, she brings a research-driven, people-first approach to sustainable organizational growth.

🔗 Connect with Kristine: linkedin.com/in/kristine-mckenzie-gentry

Episode Breakdown

– Anthropology Meets Leadership (00:00 – 10:00)

• How Kristine transitioned from academia to boardrooms

• Why anthropology is the missing lens in culture strategy

– Culture Is Infrastructure (10:00 – 20:00)

• How to move from perks to purpose

• Why most culture programs fail—and how to build ones that last

– Measuring What Matters (20:00 – 30:00)

• What high turnover and disengagement are really telling you

• Turning qualitative insight into strategic impact

– Culture in Action (30:00 – 40:00)

• Real-world case studies: from disengaged teams to award-winning cultures

• How Culture Grove drives measurable results

– The Future of Culture Work (40:00 – 50:00)

• Why culture is every leader’s responsibility

• How Kristine’s “Foundations” program creates meaningful, lasting change

Summary

Dr. Kristine Gentry doesn’t just consult on culture—she transforms it. As CEO of Culture Grove, she helps leaders cut through surface-level solutions and architect cultures rooted in clarity, trust, and human insight. If you're ready to build a workplace where people and business thrive, this conversation is your roadmap.

Relevant Links

🔗 Learn more about Culture Grove: culturegrove.com

🔗 Listen to more episodes of Culturally Sound: corethos.com/culturally-sound