summaryIn this conversation, Rachel Sparkes discusses the critical importance of company culture in influencing employee performance, retention, and overall workplace satisfaction. She emphasizes that culture is not merely about perks like ping pong tables or free snacks, but rather the collective experience of employees from recruitment to exit. Sparkes shares insights on building a people-first culture, highlighting strategies such as co-creating culture with employees, implementing effective onboarding processes, fostering psychological safety, and ensuring consistent recognition and career development opportunities. She concludes by stressing that cultivating a strong culture is an ongoing commitment that requires daily leadership engagement.takeaways