Changing Culture to Drive Impact
Confronting the elements of your culture that no longer serve your organization can be one of the most strategic and transformative acts of leadership. True leadership isn’t just about operating within the system—it’s about having the courage to reshape the system itself. Often the highest ROI is when we make improvements to the interpersonal systems used by the leadership team – which we call “culture”.
But meaningful transformation requires more than just insight; it demands boldness, vision, and the willingness to address the “un-discussable” with clarity and grace.
Throughout my career, I’ve partnered with outstanding companies, but my time with The Clorox Company in Oakland, California holds special significance. Clorox’s commitment to quality, its competitive drive, and their belief that work can be both intense and enjoyable made my experiences there truly exceptional. But above all, it was the people—their passion, their dedication, and their pursuit of excellence—that made the effort so rewarding.
A Bolder, More Unified, Decisive Leadership Team
As industries evolve, organizations must adapt—or risk stagnation. Shaping a culture that drives financial performance and enriches the experience of every team member and stakeholder is the kind of challenge that fuels me. While I love coaching, facilitation, and training, my greatest passion is guiding organizations through deep cultural shifts. It’s in this work that I bring my full strength—creating an energy and momentum that deliver lasting change.
My role as a coach and consultant is to help leaders and teams navigate these cultural transformations. Seeing them emerge more aligned, empowered, and purpose-driven is what inspires me most.
I am honored to share the recent reflections of Benno Dorer, former CEO and Chairman of Clorox, on the work we accomplished together:
“My goal in bringing Michael in was to elevate the company’s financial performance through cultural transformation, starting with the leadership team.
Michael’s extensive experience with senior teams, combined with his emotional and social intelligence, made him uniquely effective at identifying core challenges and implementing proven solutions.
The impact of his work has endured long after my departure.
By improving meeting management, fostering healthy debate, and driving team alignment, he helped cultivate a shared passion for a common goal. These shifts strengthened decision-making, increased boldness, and contributed to a sustained track record of financial success.
“I highly recommend Michael to any leadership team committed to transforming its dynamics, aligning its culture, and building a high-performance team that rallies around the company’s mission—His work goes beyond financial results—it strengthens the well-being of the people who drive them.”
You can watch his full recommendation in this short video:
