Culture won’t move at the speed of strategy, so leaders have to back up the message with consistent actions. In this episode, Jon Last, President, Sports and Leisure Research Group, talks with Tara Marotti, President & CEO, Burke Inc., about leading a 95-year legacy organization through rapid change as it evolves into a global, data-driven consultancy. Tara shares how AI, client budget pressure, and faster decision cycles are reshaping the insights industry, and why leadership alignment and a steady communication cadence matter. They discuss transparency and the “why” behind change, creating psychological safety, and leaning into tough conversations. Tara also covers hybrid culture-building, training teams to experiment with AI, and how employee ownership influences trust, stability, and long-term transformation.
00:00 Consistency Through Communication
00:15 Podcast Welcome and Theme
01:02 Meet Tara and the Challenge
01:42 Industry Shifts and AI Pressure
02:49 Holding Vision and Priorities
04:02 Legacy Meets Innovation
04:50 One Voice Leadership
06:14 Team Alignment Tactics
09:21 Cadence and Transparency
12:36 Authenticity and Explaining Why
14:29 Bringing People Along Daily
16:03 AI Training and Employee Agency
17:24 Reading the Room on Change
19:36 Culture in a Hybrid World
20:55 Intentional Culture and Values
22:27 ESOP Ownership and Transformation
24:20 Closing Advice for Leaders
25:46 Wrap Up and Subscribe
Insights & Innovators Podcast from MRII | Hosted by The Greenbook Podcast Network
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