Demystifying Company Culture and Getting Real About Better Workplaces Episode #3

In this series of episodes on Our Agile Tales, we’re getting radically honest about company culture with Lizzie Benton—culture coach, founder of Liberty Mind, and one of the most refreshingly candid voices in the world of modern work.

Let’s face it: “culture” has become a buzzword. It’s often pitched as a magic bullet for success, but most organizations still struggle to define it—let alone get it right. In this series, Lizzie helps us move beyond the platitudes. She unpacks what culture actually is, why so many transformations fall flat, and what it really takes to build a workplace where both people and business can thrive.

We’ll explore the tools and mindsets that matter, and dig into the uncomfortable truths that often get overlooked.

In this episode:

We continue our conversation with Lizzie Benton and cover topics such as the importance of autonomy in teams, examples of hierarchical organizations experimenting with agile methods, and strategies for effective recruitment and team development. Lizzie emphasizes values-based recruitment, meaningful experiments within hierarchies, the significance of feedback, and the importance of coaching and listening skills. The episode also provides practical advice on improving meeting structures and fostering a culture where feedback is timely and constructive.

• 00:00 Introduction
• 02:07 Empowering Teams in Structured Organizations
• 05:32 Values-Based Recruitment and Hiring Challenges
• 10:00 Training and Developing Existing Employees
• 12:44 Effective Meetings and Decision-Making
• 16:51 The Importance of Listening and Coaching
• 20:12 Mastering Feedback in Company Culture
• 29:31 Conclusion

About Lizzie Benton:

Lizzie is a culture coach and the founder of Liberty Mind. She helps companies evolve beyond bureaucratic structures toward more human-centered, purpose-driven workplaces. She’s worked across industries—from tech to charities to construction—always with a focus on unlocking human potential and helping teams co-create meaningful change.

Her approach blends depth and practicality, rooted in progressive practices like self-management, Liberating Structures, and Teal principles. Lizzie is a certified Holacracy Practitioner, Semco Style Expert, and TuffLeadership coach. She’s been named one of the top 30 millennials changing the world of work and has been featured in Forbes, The Metro, and The Financial Times.

Visit us at https://www.ouragiletales.com/about