Cultural Excellence: A Leader's Guide to Strengthening the Heart of Your Organization

by Michele Herlein

Overview

Is your organization's culture intentionally designed or simply a default setting? In Cultural Excellence, organizational development expert Michele Herlein provides leaders with a practical roadmap for transforming workplace culture from an accidental byproduct into a powerful driver of success.

Drawing from her experience leading cultural transformations at major companies like Bridgestone and Barge Design Solutions, Michele introduces a comprehensive framework for creating and sustaining high-performing cultures. She demonstrates how to diagnose current cultural health, align executive teams, activate middle management, and implement systems that reinforce cultural values. The result? Organizations where purpose, vision, values, and strategy aren't just slogans on a wall. They are living principles that drive innovation, engagement, and measurable business results.

Filled with real-world examples and actionable strategies, this essential guide shows leaders how to build cultures where employees thrive and business flourishes. Perfect for CEOs, C-suite executives, HR professionals, and leaders seeking to strengthen their organizations through intentional culture design.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798887506586
Publisher:	Advantage Media Group, Inc.
Publication date:	09/23/2025
Pages:	200
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.00(d)

About the Author

MICHELE HERLEIN is a leading expert in organizational culture and transformation, with over twenty years of experience creating intentional cultures that drive business success. As executive vice president and chief administrative officer at Barge Design Solutions, she led cultural initiatives that increased profits sevenfold while maintaining industry-low turnover rates. Previously, she spearheaded successful cultural transformations at Bridgestone Americas and Bandag, Inc.

Combining practical experience with academic rigor, Michele holds a doctorate in business administration focused on organizational development. As founder and CEO of CultureMax, she helps organizations achieve cultural excellence through her proven horizontal and vertical alignment methodology. Her work has earned her recognition as HR Executive of the Year, and her client organizations consistently outperform industry standards in both employee satisfaction and financial results.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“Michele Herlein's Cultural Excellence is an insightful exploration of corporate culture from an expert who has been in the trenches, building great workplaces. Blending theory with real-world applications, Michele’s expertise helps leaders understand how a strong culture can drive employee engagement, innovation, and customer satisfaction. Full of practical strategies for anyone seeking to foster an environment where teams and people thrive, this is a must read!”
— Adrian Gostick
New York Times best-selling author of All In

“Michele Herlein masterfully lays out the framework in Cultural Excellence for any C-suite leader and their team to structurally transform their culture. I personally witnessed this process firsthand in two organizations that needed a reboot. If you want to change your culture, and you don’t know where to start, this book will make that first step a bit easier.”
— Scott Damon
CEO, Bridgestone West (Americas & EMEA); Group President, Bridgestone Americas

“As one very successful CEO said, ‘Culture isn’t part of the game. It is the game.’ I know this to be true from my experience as the CEO of Bridgestone Americas. With Michele’s counsel and advice, we dramatically changed the organization’s culture and with it the company’s performance. Now Michele shares her knowledge and experience in this insightful book. She not only explains the importance of a positive, constructive culture, but how to achieve it. This is a must read for executives and leaders.”
— Gary Garfield
Chairman, president, and CEO, Bridgestone Americas, Inc. (retired)

“Through engaging narratives and actionable strategies, Michele Herlein’s Cultural Excellence proves that developing a strong, positive culture is crucial for any business seeking to excel in today’s competitive landscape. This book is vital for leaders dedicated to fostering workplaces where people—and profits—can thrive together.”
— Bree Pattillo
Owner and CEO, Pattillo Construction Corporation

"Michele Herlein's Cultural Excellence is a crucial primer for future CEOs on the power and influence of organizational culture. Herlein shows how a strong culture can drive shareholder value, increase customer satisfaction, and enhance operational effectiveness. This book is a must read for leaders ready to cultivate a culture that fuels sustained success and organizational excellence.”
— Marty Carver
Former CEO and chairman, Bandag, Inc.

“This book doesn’t just define what great culture is and why it’s so important. Michele gives real-life examples from her own experiences as well as from other leaders to illustrate what specific actions you can take to create a road map for the culture you want to build. If having a great culture really matters to you as a leader—and it should—I would highly recommend this book.”
— Rodney Chester
CEO and board chair, Gresham Smith