The Whole Truth about Company Culture

If you're a founder seeking advice on how to build great teams, this episode of Matrix Moments is for you. Vikram Vaidyanathan hosts The Whole Truth Foods Founder & CEO, Shashank Mehta and they share their wisdom around building great company cultures.

🌟 Shashank sent The Whole Truth Foods' culture document, titled Why We Exist, before he met Vikram Vaidyanathan for the first time. The document outlines the company's mission about the Whole Truth.

💼💡Shashank's conviction in his company’s mission is unparalleled, with a clear vision of positive societal impact and the ability to inspire others to make it a reality, so much so that the team at The Whole Truth Foods has imbibed the founder's mission, made it their own, and keep him accountable.

👷‍♀️ The Whole Truth's manufacturing is run by women - Shashank shares the challenges they faced in doing this, and shares a story about how the company's culture & mission have been received on the factory floors.

00:00 Introduction
2:02 How has being a father changed you?
3:48 Culture eats strategy for breakfast
8:36 How important is shared experience in shaping our values, and does wording really matter in discussions about them?
12:15 Consumer is family
15:19 Integrating Company Values in Recruitment: Strategies and Implementation
16:54: What can you do in a culture round?
23:20: Dealing with High Performance vs. Cultural Fit in Organizations
28:20: Empowering Women in the Factory: Living Company Values
31:50: Prioritizing Company Values in Tough Decisions: Case Studies in Chocolate Production and Exiting Instagram
32:00 Culture-Driven Decision Making: Lessons from Chopped Chocolate and Instagram Exit
36:10 Culture Versus Cult