Why we exist
The era of toxic, broken corporate culture is coming to a close.
We're here to ensure the next generation of business thrives, not just survives.
The value of culture
Team culture is the most powerful force in business.
It directly impacts the bottom line and our quality of life. Yet it's rare that a company gets it right.
Harvard studies show that a strong culture increases net income by 765 per cent over 10 years. It’s hard to get a return like that on any investment.
Every aspect of our wellbeing is affected by the culture we work in - our physical and mental health, outlook and behaviour, at home and in society. It can shape a soul.
That's how important it is. It's the only competitive advantage within complete control of the entrepreneur. However, it unfolds by itself without being defined first.
Why it hasn't worked: The Glasshouse
Corporate and industry culture is based on hierarchy and control. Adults aren't trusted to make decisions. It's bureacratic and doesn't allow new ideas to breathe - stifling innovation. It also lacks the 'roots' of psychological safety and takes significant effort to maintain. It's a Glasshouse.
People want more autonomy, creativity and flexible ways of working. At the same time, our most powerful corporations are being tested like never before and cracking under pressure from the market, investors and employees. Are we willing to sign up to the religion of profit over people, at any cost? Or a more authentic and humane existence?
Our Philosophy
We were shocked to learn that 75% of VC backed start-ups fail. That's a lot of wasted sweat, tears, dreams and billions of investment funding.
We want Founders to succeed. The pressures of scaling a company are immense and often manifest through knee-jerk decisions, making the wrong hires quickly and chaotic systems. Building culture from the beginning provides essential guiding principles in the face of uncertainty.
We're also deeply committed to creating places of work where people feel valued, respected and inspired to be the best version of themselves. This is when business reaches its true, incredible potential.
A culture of innovation: The Rainforest
Being innovative is no longer a ‘nice to have’. It’s the difference between success and failure, where companies that constantly generate new ideas to embrace their customer, thrive and grow in a globally competitive market. Just like a Rainforest, key elements must work synergistically to produce oxygen and innovate. GrowthCulture® captures these elements within a framework of a protective canopy, strong mid-growth and safe foundational floor.
Cassandra Gordon
Founder
I'm a corporate refugee. I left that world because I was no longer willing to 'play the game', or be part of a culture where a lack of integrity and harassment was normal. It was toxic, de-humanising and mis-aligned with what I stand for - justice, compassion and respect.
I've spent 25 years driving change and developing leadership across Australia. As an expert in changing culture, I was the last to be called when things weren’t working. I realised that rather than fixing broken, toxic workplaces, the opportunity to really create exceptional experiences for people and their customers was to build a thriving culture from scratch. It’s also the key to design settings that enable innovation to naturally unfold.
I founded the Organisational Intelligence Group and developed the GrowthCulture® and Culture Lab® methods to create thriving cultures that are energising and purposeful.
My life’s mission is for Growth Culture to empower other Founders and their people to design and build strong, thriving, globally competitive businesses that people love working in.
I’m highly strategic, intuitive and catalyse people to step further, expand their perspective and transform into their true selves.
Ben Crothers
Designer
Ben is a designer, strategist, facilitator, author and speaker who has worked with a variety of organisations, from start-ups and large tech (Atlassian and Google) to big finance and small fin-tech, government and non-profits. He has deep practical knowledge of innovative ways of working (Agile, Lean, and Design Thinking), and combines this with over 20 years' experience in design, to help teams of all kinds unlock creativity, strategic thinking and be more courageous in tackling tricky problems.
Ben prides himself in using design as an instrument of empowerment, putting the right tools into the hands of people to tell their stories and share their ideas. He's had great success with helping improve productivity through better ways of working, and was one of the original creators of the much-loved Atlassian Team Playbook. He is well-known for using visuals and drawing to enhance business communication and facilitation, and has written several books on the topic, including Presto Sketching, Draw in 4, and 50 Remote-Friendly Icebreakers.
Cassandra Gordon
Founder
I'm a corporate refugee. I left that world because I was no longer willing to 'play the game', or be part of a culture where a lack of integrity and harassment was normal. It was toxic, de-humanising and mis-aligned with what I stand for - justice, compassion and respect.
I've spent 25 years driving change and developing leadership across Australia. As an expert in changing culture, I was the last to be called when things weren’t working. I realised that rather than fixing broken, toxic workplaces, the opportunity to really create exceptional experiences for people and their customers was to build a thriving culture from scratch. It’s also the key to design settings that enable innovation to naturally unfold.
I founded the Organisational Intelligence Group and developed the GrowthCulture® and Culture Lab® methods to create thriving cultures that are energising and purposeful.
My life’s mission is for Growth Culture to empower other founders and leaders to design and build strong, thriving, globally competitive businesses that people love working in.
I’m highly strategic, intuitive and catalyse people to step further, expand their perspective and transform into their true selves.
