The Culture Works

#1 New York Times Bestselling Author, Thinkers 50 Executive Coach, Standing Ovation Keynote Speaker

The Culture Works

The Culture Works helps create great places to work—where people are engaged, enabled and energized. Built upon extensive research into the most profitable and sustainable cultures, The Culture Works has developed a process, services, and products used with organizations worldwide to enhance employee commitment and drive real business results.

- See more at: http://www.thecultureworks.com

Partner and Founder of "The Culture Works"

As a Culture and Leadership Guru, and an Apostle of Appreciation, I preach about the power of celebrating what people are doing right at work, not just correcting what is going wrong. Creating the right culture where people believe that what they do matters and that they make a difference everyday. And when they make a difference, it is noticed and celebrated!

Culture and Leadership Expert

Thinkers50

It's an honor to be included among the top 50 executive coaches in the world by Thinkers50, and supported by Coaching.com

Coaches50 

100 Coaches

I was invited by Marshall to participate in his 100 Coaches Program (#MG100). The aim of 100 Coaches is to inspire successful people and leaders to “pay it forward” by helping others achieve positive, lasting change and behavior; for themselves, their people, and their teams.

100 Coaches brings together diverse individuals who are leaders in their field to provide coaching and support to other successful leaders based on the unique needs of their industry and position.

Dr. Goldsmith is recognized as the #1 Leadership Thinker in the World (by Thinkers50), #1 Executive Coach & #2 Leadership Thinker (by Global Gurus), as well as one of the top ten Most-Influential Business Thinkers in the world. The #MG100 project became the most watched video in LinkedIn’s history when it was announced on the platform.

Executive Coach

One Kind Act a Day

Advisory Board Member

Build then Bless

Build Then Bless Ambassadors are an elite group of seasoned business experts who know how to create and build winning cultures. Ambassadors not only raise awareness about building and blessing others, but they know how to inspire others to do the same. 

Build Then Bless® helps companies and organizations implement a first-of-its-kind culture operating system that creates happier people, increases employee retention, provides higher client satisfaction, and gives the entire organization a greater sense of purpose.

Build Then Bless Ambassador

Cornell University

In my role as guest lecturer at Cornell, my goal is to describe, inspire, enable and lay out a blue print on how employees can fulfill their personal ambitions, create a culture of belonging as well as a Best Place to Work.

Guest Lecturer

O.C. Tanner

Apostle of Appreciation

Blair Television

I ran the unwired networks for Blair TV clients.

VP Marketing

Chester Elton, Bestselling Author, Executive Coach, Keynote Speaker

Chester Elton
Author | Executive Coach | Keynote Speaker | Building Great Workplace Cultures

Chester Elton is a #1 New York Times Bestselling Business Author, Organizational Culture, Employee Engagement, and Leadership Expert.

One of today’s most influential voices in workplace trends, Elton has spent two decades helping clients engage their employees to execute on strategy, vision, and values. In his provocative, inspiring, and always entertaining talks, Elton provides real solutions to leaders looking to build culture, drive innovation, and enhance wellness. Elton’s work is supported by research with more than one million working adults, revealing the proven secrets behind high-performance cultures and teams. 
 
He has been called the “Apostle of Appreciation” by Canada’s Globe and Mail, “creative and refreshing‚” by the New York Times, and a “must-read for modern managers” by CNN. Elton co-authored multiple award-winning bestselling leadership books, including All In, The Carrot Principle, Leading with Gratitude, and Anxiety at Work. His books have been translated into more than 30 languages and have sold more than 1.6 million copies worldwide. The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Fast Company, and the New York Times often quote Elton. He has appeared on NBC’s Today, CNN, ABC, MSNBC, NPR, and CBS’s 60 Minutes. 
 
Elton consistently ranked among the world’s top leadership and organizational culture experts. He co-founded The Culture Works, a global consultancy, and is a board member of Camp Corral, a non-profit for the children of wounded and fallen military heroes. 

Why Chester Elton as your Executive Coach?
Chester is a Marshall Goldsmith Stakeholder Centered Leadership (SCL) Certified Executive Coach. He uses a proven methodology of one-on-one sessions, report-outs and frequent assessment to enhance an individual’s leadership skills and effectiveness. Improvement is gauged through surveys and 360s with pre-selected colleagues, team members, and other stakeholders.

Chester provides real solutions to help leaders develop robust cultures, increase their employee engagement, and lead high-performance teams. He is a distinguished Thinkers50 Coaching Award winner and serves as a leadership consultant and executive coach to high-performing executives. A few clients are American Express, The World Bank, Zoox, momofuku, McKee, Kitsap Credit Union

I saw this sign and had to stop for a picture. Big impact starts small. Smile at a stranger, check on a neighbor, write a note to an old friend. Kindness is how we lift the world.

Chester Elton

Executive Coach | Keynote Speaker | Culture as a Competitive Advantage. I teach leaders how to build high-performing teams in a rapidly changing world

Every #leader hears that voice—the one that says “You’re not good enough,” “You blew it,” or “You’re falling behind.”
 

⁉️ But here’s the truth: The most important #leadership conversations don’t happen in the boardroom. They happen in your own head. What's your experience with quieting that unrelenting voice in your head?

In this week’s Gratitude Journal, I reflect on a visit to a remarkable company Pollo Tropical where kindness fuels culture, reduces turnover, and delights customers.

If you have a great story about making kindness a leadership priority, I hope you will share it!

🎧 Want more on how kindness builds high-performing brands? Check out our latest episode of The Culture Works podcast featuring Brent Ridge, MD:
 https://apple.co/3rD9MxW

#KindnessAtWork #TheCultureWorks #Gratitude #Leadership #GOAT #Beekman1802‍‍‍‍‍‍ #WorkplaceCulture #EmployeeEngagement Adrian Gostick Natalie Duell

Your attitude is contagious, make sure it’s worth catching.

As a leader, how you show up sets the tone. A calm, positive presence can inspire confidence even in the toughest moments. Your words matter, but your energy speaks first.

💬 What kind of energy are you spreading today?

Be where your feet are.
Put the phone down, look people in the eye, and listen until they feel seen. Presence builds trust faster than any title.

Today’s micro-challenge: give someone your full attention for 90 seconds. No scrolling. Just listen. Who’s it going to be? 🥕

Your team is watching what you do-not just what you say.

Consistency builds confidence. Be steady. Be reliable. Be real.

💬 What’s one small habit you use to build trust with your team?

#TrustInLeadership #ChesterElton #ConsistentLeadership #PeopleFirst

Proud moment for The Culture Works community: Adrian Gostick and I made Inc. Magazine’s Top 50 Leadership & Management Experts for 2025. 

Thank you for believing in leading with gratitude and building workplaces where people feel seen and supported.

Full list: https://lnkd.in/ejhBhZTG

Grateful for Marshall Goldsmith- his wisdom, generosity, and friendship. I’m equally thankful for the incredible community he’s built through 100 Coaches Agency. 

Proud to be part of it and to keep growing together.

When you lead with questions, people bring you the truth, not the polished version. Better ideas show up. Trust grows. Progress speeds up.
Try it in your next one-on-one and watch the tone shift.

What is one place this week you can practice “Tell me more”?

Do the small hard thing today. No audience. No shortcuts. Just honest effort.

Work anxiety is real. Gratitude is the antidote.

I joined the Workplace Weirdness Podcast with Maya Kadar Kovalsky
to talk about workplace anxiety, recognition, and the impact of gratitude in leadership.

We dig into:
 • Mental health at work and what leaders can do today
 • Burnout, the pressure to be always on, and how some people thrive in chaos
 • Practical gratitude habits like journals that boost morale and focus
 • Turning recognition into better team dynamics and real productivity

Give it a listen and tell me your takeaway. 🥕

https://lnkd.in/d8Z6uYA3

What was your mantra today? What did you learn? Who are you grateful for?
Write their names. Send a note. Share the credit.

Drop your three gratitudes in the comments!

Listen to the full episode of Workplace Weirdness Podcast with Maya Kadar Kovalsky: https://lnkd.in/etnFpDRW

When kindness becomes your competitive advantage.

We sat down with Brent Ridge, MD, physician-turned-entrepreneur and co-founder of Beekman 1802, who's proven that purpose-driven culture isn't soft, it's strategic.

From losing everything in 2008 to building a global clean beauty brand powered by goat milk and genuine human connection.

This conversation proves what we've always believed: culture isn't a nice-to-have. It's the architecture of lasting business performance.

Listen to the full episode now:
https://lnkd.in/ebdkGfY3

📖 Brent's new book "Goat Wisdom" is available now!

#TheCultureWorksPodcast #LeadershipDevelopment #WorkplaceCulture #PurposeDrivenBusiness

Walking through a crowd reminds me that leadership is personal. 

Bring gratitude, lift people, and watch results rise. Name someone today and thank them for something specific. 

If your team needs this kind of energy, let’s talk.

Think kindness is too soft for business?

"Kindness is wellness. It changes your body on a cellular level." - Brent Ridge, MD

Listen to the full episode of The Culture Works Podcast.
https://lnkd.in/ebdkGfY3

#CultureWorks #Leadership #Kindness #Business

"Love Thy Neighbor" isn't just a saying, it's a business strategy.

"We grew neighbor by neighbor by neighbor." - Brent Ridge, MD, Beekman 1802

A new episode of The Culture Works Podcast is live.

https://lnkd.in/ebdkGfY3

#CultureWorks #Leadership #Community #Business

Brent Ridge, MD on staying grounded after building a global brand.

His insight: Being transparent about triumphs AND tribulations creates stronger companies where employees aren't afraid to make mistakes.

Humility isn't just character, it's competitive advantage.

Listen to the episode with Brent Ridge: https://lnkd.in/ebdkGfY3

#Leadership #Humility #BusinessStrategy

Check out what one of my favorite leaders John Day is doing in South America, it is amazing! That copper mine is unbelievable! Good for you John for leading that team. It all starts with people and you inspire your people! Well done!

President - Projects Western Hemisphere at Wood

Did you know Wood has over 2,700 employees in South America? I share some reflections on my latest visit where I had a chance to spend time with our employees, visit our Nueva Centinela project site Grupo Antofagasta Minerals and meet with other key customers like Kinross Gold Corporation and CODELCO – Corporación Nacional del Cobre de Chile. 
 
¿Sabías que Wood tiene más de 2.700 empleados en Sudamérica? Comparto algunas reflexiones sobre mi última visita, donde tuve la oportunidad de compartir con nuestros equipos, visitar el sitio del proyecto Nueva Centinela Grupo Antofagasta Minerals y reunirme con clientes clave como Kinross Gold Corporation y CODELCO – Corporación Nacional del Cobre de Chile.

Alvaro Falcon William Lilis

Bestselling author Adrian Gostick joins Chester Elton to discuss his new novel, Jack Slade: The Song of the Butcherbird - a true story of survival, redemption, and the unbreakable code of honor that defined the American frontier. Perfect for fans of westerns, historical fiction, and Yellowstone.

🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://lnkd.in/gM8h84u3

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Chester Elton's Linkedin Analytics

Chester Elton

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Chester Elton

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Chester Elton's LinkedIn Performance

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