Globally Grounded: Episode 20
🎧 TUNE IN on Apple + Spotify (or wherever you listen to podcasts).
In this episode, Kyra gets into what happens when the values you signed up for at work subtly or not so subtly shift under your feet, especially in fast-moving industries like tech. She unpacks how company values are really formed (beyond the hallway posters), why they evolve or drift over time, how to spot early signs of misalignment, and a practical framework for deciding whether to stay, try to influence from within, or plan your exit. All of which are viable options! Along the way, she shares her own experience of feeling the gap between the values on paper and the lived culture, and offers concrete questions and reflection prompts for both job seekers and people staying put for now.
Episode Takeaways
Values are what’s rewarded, not what’s written. The real values of a company show up in how day-to-day work happens…including what’s priorities, who gets promoted, what gets funded, and how decisions are made, not just in the official value statements.
Values almost always shift over time. Market changes, new leaders, new technologies, and growth stages naturally reshape what gets prioritized, but problems arise when companies don’t clearly name or explain those shifts.
Misalignment is information, not failure. Noticing that your own values no longer fit the lived culture is important data you can use to make more intentional choices about staying, influencing, or leaving.
You have options. When values shift, you can stay and try to influence, stay and consciously treat it as a bridge role while you build options, or decide it’s time to exit. All are valid, strategic choices.
Designing your work-life starts with knowing your own non-negotiables. Clarifying your own core values, asking better questions in interviews, and setting boundaries where you are now helps you create a more aligned work-life, even in imperfect cultures.
Related Resources
The Culture Code (Daniel Coyle)
Reinventing Organizations (Frederic Laloux)
The Culture Map (Erin Meyer)
Leading Change (John Kotter)
