Best Buildingbetterculture Podcasts (2025)

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135 | The Evolving Role of Modern Leadership 36:54

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5d ago36:54

36:54

Summary In this episode of the Building Better Cultures podcast, Scott McInnes speaks with Dara Connolly, CEO of Common Purpose Ireland, about the evolving role of leadership in today's organizations. They discuss the importance of connection, self-awareness, and the need for leaders to adapt in a post-COVID world. Dara shares insights on practical…

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134 | Unlocking Potential: Neurodiversity, ESG, and Organisational Culture in Action 33:34

12d ago33:34

33:34

Summary In this episode of the Building Better Cultures podcast, Scott McInnes speaks with Lorna McAdoo, head of ESG at Version One, about the importance of organizational culture, the role of ESG in shaping that culture, and strategies for enhancing employee engagement, especially in a post-COVID world. They discuss the significance of listening t…

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133 | Empathy: The Missing Ingredient in Leadership | Keith Barry 41:55

19d ago41:55

41:55

Summary In this engaging conversation, the speakers delve into the importance of non-verbal communication in leadership, the journey of a brain hacker, the power of subconscious storytelling, the role of empathy in communication, and the science behind influence through mirroring and rapport. They emphasize that effective leadership requires unders…

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132 | Navigating Middle Management Challenges in Modern Workplaces | Kathryn Whyte 31:54

26d ago31:54

31:54

Summary In this episode, the conversation delves into the intricacies of workplace culture, emphasizing the importance of leadership, purpose, and employee wellbeing. The speakers discuss how culture is shaped by the behaviours tolerated within an organization and the critical role leaders play in modelling desired behaviours. They explore the chal…

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131 | Leadership, empathy & diversity lessons from Mumbai | BBC Shorts 7:01

2M ago7:01

7:01

When 20 senior leaders from 9 countries gathered in the heart of Mumbai, the lessons weren’t found in PowerPoint decks—they were found in the streets, in conversation, and in shared moments of discomfort and growth. In this episode, Scott McInnes reflects on his experience with the Common Purpose Senior Leader Programme, exploring how a city of con…

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130 | From Employee to Owner: The Business of Coffee & Culture 39:10

4M ago39:10

39:10

Episode Summary In this episode of Building Better Cultures, Scott McInnes sits down with Jonathan Reed, CEO of Paddy and Scott’s Coffee, to discuss the company’s incredible transformation over the past three years. Jonathan shares his journey from employee to owner through a management buyout (MBO) and the challenges he faced in reshaping the orga…

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129 | The Eight Practices of Credible Leadership | Jenni Field 36:32

4M ago36:32

36:32

EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode of Building Better Cultures, Scott McInnes sits down with Jenni Field, CEO of Redefining Communications, to discuss her new book Nobody Believes You and the critical role of credibility in leadership. They explore the eight interconnected practices that define credible leadership and examine how leaders can navigate …

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128 | HubSpot’s Culture Code and Leadership Insights for Hybrid Work Success | Eimear Marrinan 41:53

4M ago41:53

41:53

Episode Summary: In this episode of the Building Better Cultures podcast, Scott McInnes interviews Eimear Marrinan, VP of People Experience at HubSpot, about how HubSpot has built and maintained a thriving corporate culture. The conversation explores the challenges and opportunities of hybrid work, the role of feedback and transparency, and the imp…

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127 | From Words to Action: How Storytelling Unifies, Empowers & Transforms Organisations | The Cumberland 36:36

4M ago36:36

36:36

EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode, Scott discusses the power of storytelling in organisations with Des Moore and Shelly Hayward from The Cumberland Building Society. They explore the importance of a common narrative during transformation, the co-creation process that engaged employees, and the significance of events like Cumberland Calling in celebra…

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126 | Building High-Trust Cultures: Leadership Strategies for Hybrid Work Success | Tim Threipland 37:52

5M ago37:52

37:52

Episode Summary In this episode of the Building Better Cultures podcast, Scott McInnes welcomes Tim Threipland from FranklinCovey to discuss the critical role of trust in organisational culture and leadership. They explore how trust impacts performance, the effects of the pandemic on work culture, and the importance of intentionality in building hi…

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125 | The Leadership Edge: Mastering Communication & Connection | Marsha Acker 41:35

1+ y ago41:35

41:35

Have you ever witnessed patterns of communication that didn’t seem helpful or productive in your teams? Leadership and communication go hand in hand, and who better to unravel this intricate relationship than Marsha Acker. As the CEO of Team Catapult, Marsha understands that there is more to leadership than just technical prowess; it’s about unders…

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124 | How To Avoid The High Cost Of Miscommunication | Erin Lebaqz 37:12

1+ y ago37:12

37:12

Can clear communication and the power of the pen have a transformative impact on your business? Absolutely! Get ready to discover all the 'write stuff' as we explore the influence of intentional communication with the founder of High-Value Writing, Erin Lebaqz. In this episode, Erin takes an in-depth look at how leaders can foster trust, respect, a…

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123 | How to Avoid Culture-Killing DEI Blunders | Aleksandar Damchevski & Christiane Bisanzio 35:46

1+ y ago35:46

35:46

How does the saying go? Is the glass half full, or is it half empty? Now, apply this to DEI in the workplace, and you'll see our guests, Christiane Bisanzio and Aleksandar Damchevski, challenge this very notion. In this episode, Aleks and Christi delve into the evolving landscape of DEI, highlighting the progress made and the work that still needs …

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122 | Mastering Internal Communications: The Lifeblood of Organisations | Emily Hecker 37:43

1+ y ago37:43

37:43

Workplace culture is as strong as the communication it thrives on and as fragile as a string of miscommunications. Internal communications is the lifeblood of organisations, holding the power to inspire, inform and engage employees. This week, leading internal communications expert and author of ‘Me, Myself and IC’, Emily Hecker, joins Scott to div…

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121 | Cultivate Sustainable & Vibrant High-Performing Cultures | Eric Stone 34:40

1+ y ago34:40

34:40

Get ready to blast your workplace culture into new heights with the valuable guidance of this week’s special guest, Eric Stone. Eric is the founder of Clear Path Ventures and an acclaimed author who promises to enlighten your understanding of aligning organisational behaviour with values. Throughout the discussion, Eric lays out the five pillars of…

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120 | Workplace Well-being: A Blueprint for Transformation | Brian Crooke 38:34

1+ y ago38:34

38:34

Are you ready to transform your workplace into a haven of well-being? If so, buckle up as Brian Crooke, founder of Workplace Well-being Ireland and Course Director of the Postgrad Certificate in Workplace Wellness at Dublin’s Trinity College, guides us through the ever-evolving landscape of workplace well-being. From his journey as a ‘recovering’ m…

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119 | Building Bridges of Trust: The Foundation for a High-Performance Environment | Lily Woi 34:35

2y ago34:35

34:35

Ever wondered what the secret sauce is for enhancing performance and productivity? Well, wonder no more as culture change catalyst, author and leadership coach Lily Woi is here to unveil how to drive change and boost your working environment. Lily is no stranger to working with multinational companies to drive change and transformation and believes…

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118 | Unleashing the Power of Courageous Leadership: A Pathway to Success | Joanna Howes 35:06

2y ago35:06

35:06

Are you striving to become a more courageous leader, challenge the status quo and drive innovation? If so, this latest episode with Joanna Howes, International Coach of the Year and founder of The Change Creators, is for you as we delve into leading with courage, igniting your self-awareness, unlocking high performance and empowering others. We und…

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117 | The Red Thread Model Every Leader Should Know | Sonya Shelton 40:04

2y ago40:04

40:04

Are leaders blaming employees for their own failures? In today's rapidly changing corporate landscape, establishing a strong company culture is more important than ever. Companies that fail to create a sense of purpose and passion risk losing talented employees and alienating consumers. That's where Sonya Shelton comes in. As the CEO and founder of…

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116 | The Adventure of Leadership: Unleashing Your Inner Explorer | Sue Stockdale 38:55

2y ago38:55

38:55

Have you ever wondered how we can approach life as an adventure? In the world of work, a sense of adventure can mean embracing change and uncertainty, taking risks, and being open to new experiences and opportunities. Joining Scott this week to delve into the adventure of leadership and unleashing your inner explorer is Polar explorer and executive…

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115 | Inbox Overload to Email Excellence | Mastering the Art of Business Communication | Kim Arnold 39:35

2y ago39:35

39:35

Have you ever had to deal with miscommunications in the workplace? Are you struggling to keep up with the sheer number of emails you receive daily? Joining Scott this week is communication expert Kim Arnold to shed light on how to connect more effectively. Kim delves into the world of email communication, explores the impact of poor email etiquette…

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114 | Mastering the Art of Communication | Katja Schleicher 39:47

2y ago39:47

39:47

We've all heard that knowledge is power—but in the age of the internet, is knowledge still enough? Special guest Katja Schleicher, founder of Impact Communications Coaching, is here to teach us more about the shift from knowledge to emotional selling proposition and the importance of communication in an age of digital media. Get ready to find out h…

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113 | The Feedback Loop to Success | Jay Williams 41:10

2y ago41:10

41:10

Do you strive to create an open and honest workplace culture? Author, leadership expert and communication coach Jay Williams is here to share his insights on building a culture of open, honest, and timely communication through the powerful feedback loop. Jay emphasises the importance of emotional engagement and alignment in organisations and offers…

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112 | Disrupting Norms - How to Make Work More Likeable | Greg Offner Jr. 42:39

2y ago42:39

42:39

Are you aware of the three employee archetypes? The Keeper, the Leaper, and the Sleeper? If not, prepare to learn about them and how best to engage them. Greg Offner Jr. – speaker, coach and consultant is here to share his fascinating insights on the psychology of change in organizations and how to disrupt the norm to create sustainable change. Dra…

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111 | Creating A Culture of Care | Paul Ter Wal 39:07

2y ago39:07

39:07

Is your organisation drowning in a sea of Human Resources policies? Are you tired of the stagnant work culture norms? Is this war of talent and high employee turnover era worrying you? If so, this episode is for you! Corporate culture and engagement specialist Paul Ter Wal is here to guide you on creating a positive culture, making your organisatio…

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110 | Unlocking The Secret to Transformational Change | Sophia Kristjansson 40:35

2+ y ago40:35

40:35

Is your organisation on a mission to achieve true inclusion and belonging but struggling to know where to begin? If so, this episode is for you! Joining Scott to discuss inclusive leadership and the secret to transformational change is special guest Sophia Kristjansson. Sophia is a US-based with UK university roots, founder of Lexicon Lens, A DEI p…

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109 | Your Organisational Culture is Your USP (Unique Selling Point) | Dan Sodergren 44:50

2+ y ago44:50

44:50

On our latest episode of the Building Better Cultures podcast, we speak to Dan Sodergren. Dan is the Co-Founder of YourFLOCK. This SaaS platform helps teams to grow by finding the best-fit candidates and maximising their value to your unique team based on culture. In this episode, we talk about organizational culture, employee engagement, and remot…

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108 | The Science of Storytelling & How It Works | Richard Newman 41:03

2+ y ago41:03

41:03

Do you think storytelling has no place at work? That it’s just a fluffy exercise that doesn’t deliver results? Then, the latest guest on the Building Better Culture podcast, Richard Newman, the Founder and CEO of BodyTalk, says, “You’re missing the point!” Richard shares that for a millennia, the human brain has learned to sequence and process info…

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107 | Empathy & Compassion in Organisational Culture | Rob Volpe 36:36

2+ y ago36:36

36:36

On this episode of the Building Better Cultures podcast, we drill down on the pivotal role that empathy plays in the workplace – especially in this time of remote work and back-to-back-to-back Zoom interactions. It’s about understanding someone else’s perspective, yes. But equally important is the ability to fully and non-judgmentally inhabit anoth…

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106 | Raw Leadership Principles; Curiosity, Authenticity & Vulnerability | Colleen Bashar 39:55

3y ago39:55

39:55

In this episode of the Building Better Cultures podcast, we learn about the principles of Raw Leadership, how to lean into your authentic power as a leader and how to create better organisational cultures that your employees want to participate in. Our guest is Colleen Bashar, is the Senior VP of Global Solution Sales for Guidewire Software; a clou…

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105 | The Power of Pride Stories | Shorts by BBC 7:14

3y ago7:14

7:14

Celebrating Success and Building Pride: We're doing some focus groups for a new client, and an attendee said, "We used to hear stories of the difference we made, and we don't hear about it anymore. It'd be nice to get that back." Why is it important? Because it helps to celebrate your purpose – Why you exist – through the difference you make,…

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104 | Future of Work - What Now? | Kevin Empey 45:28

3y ago45:28

45:28

On this episode of Building Better Cultures we’re checking in with Kevin Empey, Managing Director of WorkMatters, who first shared thoughts about pandemic fall-out back in March 2021 (Ep 61) Kevin details various models going forward and where the priorities must lie for leaders invested in cultivating agility as well as sustainability. The need fo…

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103 | Hybrid Working: Is it Really the Best of Both Worlds? | Andrew Bartlow 36:04

3y ago36:04

36:04

Organisations of all sizes are trying to define parameters for today's new workplace cultures – whether remote, on-site or in-between. Host, Scott McInnes, invites a people management expert Andrew Bartlow, the Founder and Managing Partner at the People Leader Accelerator, to share his 25+ years of expertise. Andrew shares practical tips and tools …

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102 | Knitting Remote Into Workplace Culture | Darren Murph 49:32

3y ago49:32

49:32

Darren Murph is an organisational architect who specialises in and knows what works – and what doesn’t. Based on 15 years at GitLab, most recently as Head of Remote, he has all kinds of concrete advice for organisations trying to figure out the correct configuration for their individually distributed workplace models. Some C-suiters are reluctant t…

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101 | Build Sustainable Corporate Cultures and Transform Your Workplace | James Hartley 38:29

3y ago38:29

38:29

Big corporate initiatives designed to transform workplace cultures are often top-down affairs, this week’s guest has taken a different approach to integrate sustainability across Swiss Re, a global financial services provider. James Hartley, a global HR Leader at Swiss Re, shares with us the nuts and bolts of their CO2NetZero programme, a rallying …

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100 | The Power of Authentic, Measurable & Sustained Organisational Values | Sandy Cross 38:55

3y ago38:55

38:55

Are you ready to integrate a values-based component into your corporate ethos? It’s a big commitment, but one with tremendous ROI at every level. On this episode of Building Better Cultures, Scott talks with Sandy Cross, CPO in the Professional Golf Association of America (PGA). But for it to work, the effort must be for real. Without buy-in from t…

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99 | The Pandemic Pushed Mental Health Out of the Workplace Shadows | Niamh Fitzpatrick 43:06

3y ago43:06

43:06

If we didn’t already know it, the pandemic laid bare the fact that, as humans, we inevitably bring our whole selves to our jobs - including a range of emotions. This episode of Building Better Cultures focuses on mental health, which has taken center stage in the workplace and softened the separation between personal and professional. Our guest, Ni…

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98 | Hire For Culture Add, Not Culture Fit | Shorts by BBC 4:42

3+ y ago4:42

4:42

There's been a recent trend towards hiring for culture or values fit. It seems sensible in principle - hire people who share a similar working ethos and they should fit in and get going more quickly - but, in doing so, what might you be missing? How can hiring people with similar value sets help to create more diverse workforces? Or create that bit…

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97 | Mastering Communication in the Hybrid Workplace: Essential Skills for Effective Leadership | Peter Hopwood 47:03

3+ y ago47:03

47:03

In this episode of Building Better Cultures, we hear from a top virtual-speaking specialist who sees a golden opportunity in the virtual world. Peter Hopwood, a global executive speaker coach, believes the most reticent public speakers can emerge as stronger, more engaging communicators than ever before. There are ways to leverage your online envir…

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96 | Navigating Mental Health & Wellness in the Post-Pandemic Workplace | Donna Reilly 45:39

3+ y ago45:39

45:39

This episode of Building Better Cultures throws a spotlight on mental health and well-being as we tentatively re-enter workplace cultures forever changed by the pandemic. Scott’s guest, Donna Reilly, is an expert in the development of corporate wellness programs. She reflects on Covid19’s long-term impacts on organisations and the adjustments leade…

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95 | From Data to Action: Unlock the Power of Surveys for High-Performance Cultures | Karen Jones 43:45

3+ y ago43:45

43:45

Not only is meaningful, sustainable cultural change possible in the workplace, but it’s also something that can be mapped and measured. In this episode of Building Better Cultures, Karen Jones spells out the many elements of the gold standard diagnostic model she deploys as a Managing Director at Denison Consulting. The inquiry starts with a survey…

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94 | Creating Boundaries | Shorts by BBC 7:10

3+ y ago7:10

7:10

Our latest BBC shorts is about Creating Boundaries. The pandemic has accelerated the idea of home / remote working and it’s here to stay. It’s given us the flexibility to create a more blended approach to our work and home lives, like bringing the kids to school, doing a load of laundry, grabbing a coffee or going to a doctor's appointment. BUT… We…

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93 | Breaking Language and Cultural Barriers: Strategies for Effective Global Internal Communications | Ray Walsh 36:47

3+ y ago36:47

36:47

The Building Better Cultures podcast starts out the new year with a lively conversation featuring Ray Walsh, a communications and internal localization consultant whose professional background and years of living in various European markets have given him unique insights into the power and nuance behind effective messaging. The author of “Localizin…

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92 | Taking time to reflect | Shorts by BBC 4:32

3+ y ago4:32

4:32

It's the end of the year and a time to think about what we've achieved this year and perhaps start to think about what lies ahead. But taking time to reflect on achievements isn't something I've ever been very good at, and I don't think others are either. But it is really important to take stock and celebrate our achievements. If we don't it can of…

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91 | Enlightened Leadership Embraces the Power of Failure | Gill Kernick 41:12

3+ y ago41:12

41:12

The world is no longer linear, and yet old command-and-control management structures persist. In this episode of Building Better Cultures, international management consultant Gill Kernick shares powerful insights about why it is that C-Suite executives sometimes lack the leadership skills necessary to support healthy workplace cultures. Internal co…

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90 | Thinking about change from the bottom up | Shorts by BBC 5:31

3+ y ago5:31

5:31

Peter Senge, the American systems scientist and author said, "People don't resist change; they resist being changed." And we've all heard the McKinsey '70% of change programmes fail' stat hundreds of times (largely because of a lack of buy-in from people and leaders). Most corporate 'big change' is agreed by CEOs and senior teams and then pushed do…

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89 | Leading with SOUL: Unleashing the Power of Conscious Leadership | Zana Goic Petricevic 46:38

3+ y ago46:38

46:38

Host Scott McInnes’ guest on this episode of Building Better Cultures exemplifies the passion she prescribes for strong leadership. Zana Goic Petricevic, founder and managing director of Bold Leadership Culture, brings a uniquely compelling brand of coaching and transformational approach to empowering workplace cultures. Her new book, “Bold Reinven…

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88 | Engagement's not a dirty word | Shorts by BBC 6:11

3+ y ago6:11

6:11

It sometimes feels like Employee Engagement has been superseded by the new, best thing in leadership thinking - purpose, values, leading in a hybrid world etc. But, for me, it's about getting the fundamentals of work right so that workplaces are the best they can be to allow people to be the best they can be David Macleod and Nita Clarke published …

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87 | Lead from Behind: How To Cultivate Healthy Cultures and Empower Teams | Peter Docker 42:08

3+ y ago42:08

42:08

While it may seem counter-intuitive at first, there is wisdom in the concept of leading from behind. This episode of Building Better Cultures deconstructs team dynamics and the long-term impact of providing individuals the space to contribute. Host Scott McInnes invites Peter Docker, the popular motivational speaker and author of multiple books, to…

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86 | From Startups to Fortune 500: Lessons in Leadership & Culture | Jo Dutta 40:41

3+ y ago40:41

40:41

Startups are known for being fluid, nimble and open to experimentation. In this episode of Building Better Cultures, Host Scott McInnes’ guest is someone uniquely positioned to explain the mindset and best practices under which these ventures thrive. Chief Marketing Officer for MUSH, a Chicago-based food company that has experienced phenomenal grow…