Search
Select region
Close filter
What We Do

Culture

How we look at culture

Leaders set the tone within an organization. Therefore, in finding great leaders and helping them become the best possible version of themselves, we at Egon Zehnder have always worked at the very heart of organizational culture. There are many ways of describing organizational culture, but a simple definition of it is “The way things are done around here”. We believe that the best way to examine culture is by looking closely at the behaviors exhibited in an organization. In high-performing organizations, the members believe in a shared vision, which leads to shared beliefs and expectations. These in turn produce behavioral norms (or socially created standards about what constitutes appropriate or inappropriate attitudes and behaviors), that powerfully shape the behavior of individuals and groups. Looking at culture this way, it allows to measure, manage and change it.

Culture is a critical driver of success

Research and experience have taught us that alignment of strategy, structure, and culture – along with a clarity of purpose and values – is a powerful driver of success. There is a clear correlation between organizational culture and a firm’s performance (e. g. in terms of financial standing, market valuation, reputation, etc.). Understanding cultural norms is crucial to understanding, aligning and/or changing the organization as well as hiring and integrating new members.

How we can help you

Egon Zehnder’s Culture Profile is a light and versatile tool designed to help discover and unlock the true potential of culture. The tool can serve our clients in many ways and in many different situations, including:

  • Executive Search | Exploring the culture alignment between candidates and organizations
  • Executive Assessment | Discovering cultural preferences and contribution of the executive
  • Team & Organizational Culture Change | Aligning and working towards a desired culture
  • Merger & Acquisition (M&A) | Understanding and uniting two different cultures

Egon Zehnder has collaborated with Prof. Charles O’Reilly (Stanford Graduate School of Business) and his team to create the Egon Zehnder Culture Profile. It is based on the Organizational Culture Profile (OCP), a scientifically validated self-report tool developed by his research team in 1991 and updated since. The OCP is well established in academic circles and has been validated and used across industries to help clients with a range of cultural challenges. We have created a proprietary version of the tool for our practice, without compromising on the validity or scientific robustness.


Culture Consultants

Greig Schneider

Greig Schneider

Boston

Global Lead

Greig Schneider, based in Boston, was Egon Zehnder’s Managing Partner in the U.S. from 2010 to 2016 and served several years on the firm’s Board of… Read more

Bhawana Malhotra

Bhawana Malhotra

Singapore

Global Lead

Bhawana Malhotra, based in Singapore, has deep expertise in health care and guides clients in the health, consumer, and technology sectors. Read more

Alejandro Elizondo

Alejandro Elizondo

Mexico City

Alejandro Elizondo, based in Monterrey, Mexico, is active in Egon Zehnder’s Industrial, Financial, Technology, Services and Family Business practices. Read more

Carlos Lieja

Carlos Lieja

Mexico City

Carlos Lieja, based in Mexico City, is active in Egon Zehnder’s Technology & Communications, Consumer, and Mobility & Automotive practices. Read more

Dom Loehnis

Dom Loehnis

London

Dom Loehnis, based in London, works closely with media companies, including broadcasters, publishers, and information services… Read more

Hilke Öry

Hilke Öry

Amsterdam

Hilke Öry, based in Amsterdam, leads Egon Zehnder’s Financial Services practice for The Netherlands. She is also a core member of Egon Zehnder’s… Read more

Isabelle Claus

Isabelle Claus

Brussels

Isabelle Claus is active in Egon Zehnder’s Industrial and Human Resources practices. Based in Brussels, she is a trusted advisor to clients on… Read more

Moritz von Campenhausen

Moritz von Campenhausen

Hamburg Office Leader

Moritz is a certified Integral Development Coach and acts as a development advisor for top executives and their teams. Read more

Marc Erzberger

Marc Erzberger

Geneva

Marc Erzberger, is a trusted advisor to companies in the global consumer and commodities sectors. He works with public companies… Read more

Peter Flueckiger

Peter Flueckiger

Zurich

Peter Flückiger leads the Global Chemical and Process Industries segment of Egon Zehnder’s Industrial Practice. He also advises clients in the… Read more

Friedrich Kuhn

Friedrich Kuhn

Berlin

Based in Berlin, Friedrich Kuhn plays a key role in Egon Zehnder’s Health and CEO practices. He developed the Egon Zehnder Transformational Leadership… Read more

Wolfhart Pentz

Wolfhart Pentz

Berlin

Wolfhart Pentz, based in Berlin, is Director of Egon Zehnder’s Leadership Solutions team in Germany and is deeply experienced in leadership coaching… Read more

Rafaella Mazzoli

Rafaella Mazzoli

Milan Office Leader, Rome Office Leader

Rafaella Mazzoli is an active member of Egon Zehnder’s Global Consumer Practice and Leadership Advisory Practice, based in Milan. Read more

Stephan Buchner

Stephan Buchner

Munich

Stephan Buchner, based in Munich, advises national and international clients in the consumer, retail, apparel and fashion, and media and sports… Read more

Clemens Fahrbach

Clemens Fahrbach

Munich

Clemens Fahrbach is active in Egon Zehnder’s Leadership Services Practice. He is a valued advisor on leadership development… Read more

Jaroslav Nemec

Jaroslav Nemec

Prague

Jaroslav (Jarda) Němec, is an active member of Egon Zehnder’s Global Financial Officers, Technology and Communications, and Industrial practices. Read more


Thought Leadership | Culture

Read more insights
New Study from Egon Zehnder and Kearney Debunks the Myth of a Workplace Generational Divide

New Study from Egon Zehnder and Kearney Debunks the Myth of a Workplace Generational Divide

Egon Zehnder, in partnership with Kearny, today released findings from a new survey with over 8,000 respondents from eight different countries dismissing the myth… Read more

Redefining Work in Latin America

Redefining Work in Latin America

The future of work is flexible, but Latin American leaders have yet to strike the right balance between remote and in-person work benefits. Read more

Flexible Working Is Here to Stay

Flexible Working Is Here to Stay

Now is the time to lay the groundwork for the best working practices of the future – because we can safely assume that this… Read more

Master Complexity Before it Masters You

Master Complexity Before it Masters You

As companies move from short-term crisis management to the task of recovery and reimagination, it will be critical for leaders to distill and “bottle”… Read more

Accelerating Focus on Culture and Talent in the Boardroom - Part One

Accelerating Focus on Culture and Talent in the Boardroom - Part One

Egon Zehnder's Greig Schneider and Lisa Blais share their unique perspective on culture and talent and how they are impacting the boardroom in an… Read more

Our Culture is Our Secret Sauce

Our Culture is Our Secret Sauce

Egon Zehnder’s Benito Cachinero in conversation with Workday SVP, People and Performance Evangelist Greg Pryor on how culture is the key to delivering for… Read more

Harvard Business Review – Survey: 68% of CEOs Admit They Weren’t Fully Prepared for the Job

Harvard Business Review – Survey: 68% of CEOs Admit They Weren’t Fully Prepared for the Job

CEOs are known for their confidence, but according to a. Egon Zehnder survey of 402 CEOs from 11 countries, while many did feel ready… Read more

Onboarding Isn’t Enough: Executives Need To Be Fully Integrated Into Your Culture

Onboarding Isn’t Enough: Executives Need To Be Fully Integrated Into Your Culture

Onboarding is an apt term for how many companies support new leaders’ transitions, because – like helping someone onto a ship – there’s not… Read more

Karl W. Alleman: US Midwest Firms Need New Business Culture

Karl W. Alleman: US Midwest Firms Need New Business Culture

US Midwest firms have failed to adapt to international competition and face ongoing disruption driven by globalization and technological change, writes Egon Zehnder’s Karl… Read more

Changing language
Close icon

You are switching to an alternate language version of the Egon Zehnder website. The page you are currently on does not have a translated version. If you continue, you will be taken to the alternate language home page.

Continue to the website

Back to top