The latest edition of FUEL For Thought featured two standout contributors from this year’s EX Summit: Ayesha Syeddah, CEO of The Culture Collective, and Erika O’Leary BL, barrister, researcher and behavioural specialist. Hosted by Director of Brand Experience Jonny Boyle, the session explored how culture, belonging and behaviour are reshaping modern workplaces.
The conversation offered clear, grounded insight into what organisations need to consider as expectations of leadership, collaboration and employee experience continue to evolve.
Culture as a Living System
Ayesha reframed culture as something deeply operational: a living system that influences how organisations think, behave and make decisions. Instead of a set of values or an initiative rolled out once a year, she described culture as core infrastructure. When it’s cared for, trust strengthens and teams move with purpose and clarity; when it’s neglected, even strong strategies fail to land.
She emphasised belonging as a central driver of cultural health. Belonging is built in everyday interactions - who is included, who is heard and who feels safe to contribute fully. Her work at The Culture Collective focuses on embedding these principles throughout organisations so that culture becomes something people experience, not just something written down.
Behaviour, Leadership and the Future of Work
Erika brought a behavioural-science perspective to the discussion, highlighting the measurable impact psychological safety has on performance, creativity and decision-making. Belonging, she noted, is not an abstract ideal but a practical advantage that supports better outcomes across teams.She spoke about the rise of “low-ego, high-accountability leadership”: leaders who prioritise openness, listening and transparency over hierarchy. This approach, she explained, strengthens resilience and enables teams to adapt more effectively to change.Ayesha and Erika also explored the need to intentionally design workplaces where different kinds of people can thrive. Hiring diversely is only the first step; systems, communication styles and decision-making structures must evolve to genuinely support inclusion. They also stressed the importance of balancing data with empathy — using insight to guide decisions while staying closely connected to lived experience.This edition of FUEL For Thought highlighted how culture, behaviour and leadership intersect to shape the future of work. More conversations with leading voices across culture, brand experience and organisational development are on the way.
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