How would you know if your studio’s culture is toxic—before it’s too late?

In this exclusive conversation, we talk with Charlie Sull, co-founder of CultureX and researcher with MIT, about how to spot, measure, and fix toxic workplace culture—especially in the high-stakes world of game development.

Forget ping pong tables and free snacks. Culture is your operating system, and if leaders don’t prioritize it, dysfunction spreads fast.

We break down:

• What creates a toxic culture
• The Toxic Five behaviors that damage morale and hurt retention
• Why standard employee surveys fail—and what to do instead
• How AI and Glassdoor data can tell you some hard truths about your company
• Real stats on game studios vs. other industries—who’s getting it right?

If you're a studio head, team lead, or future cultural change-maker, this episode will challenge your assumptions and give you new tools to build a better workplace.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why culture is more than perks—it’s your company’s operating system
• The Toxic Five traits that silently destroy trust and retention
• How Glassdoor + AI reveal the truth about your team’s culture
• Why top leadership, not HR, is key to lasting culture change
• What game dev studios like EA and Blizzard can teach us about reform
• How to apply the Will + Knowledge formula to lead cultural transformation

Books & Authors Mentioned (and Must-Reads!) from This Episode

• The Advantage by Patrick Lencioni

       - Focuses on the "heart" vs. "science" sides of business—emphasizing the value of culture

• Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni

       - Referenced for understanding team behavior and dysfunction

• Works by Charles O’Reilly

       - Recommended by Charlie Sull for understanding organizational culture and leadership

       - Notable titles include Winning Through Innovation and Lead and Disrupt

• Research & insights from CultureX (Charlie Sull’s organization)

       - Practical tools and AI-driven metrics for measuring and improving workplace culture

🔗 Learn More & Connect
Charlie Sull & CultureX
 🌐 Website: https://www.culturex.com
 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-sull/
 🎧 Podcast Series: Culture Champions (MIT Sloan Management Review)

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