Who Really Owns Workplace Culture? | Zach Blumenfeld & Nick Lombardino

Culture Isn’t HR’s Job: Building Work That Feels Human with Nick Lombardino & Zach Blumenfeld

What if culture wasn’t something you rolled out—but something you practiced, person by person, day by day? In this episode of Human Side Up, host Natasha Nuytten sits down with Nick Lombardino and Zach Blumenfeld, co-founders of CultureCon (a certified B Corp), to unpack what actually makes workplace culture stick. From their origin story (Madison roots, high school connections, and an “accidental” community that turned into a movement) to the behind-the-scenes realities of building CultureCon, Nick and Zach share why the best cultures aren’t built by slogans—they’re built by trust, autonomy, and meaningful connection. They dig into the tension between flexibility and loneliness in remote work, why “culture fit” is often the wrong goal, and what it means to build “culture from the inside out”—starting with self-awareness, personal responsibility, and how you show up as an individual contributor. If you’re a leader trying to build culture without outsourcing it to HR—or an employee who wants to make work better from wherever you sit—this one is packed with practical insights and a whole lot of heart.

Highlights & Takeaways

💡 Culture is everyone’s job (and why HR can’t carry it alone)

💡 Trust + autonomy = real connection (not just perks)

💡 Flexibility vs. belonging: what remote work can’t replace

💡 “Inside-out culture”: self-awareness as the foundation for meaning at work

Human Side Up

Hosted by Natasha Nuytten, CEO of CLARA, Human Side Up cuts through the noise to reveal how real leaders create workplaces—and lives—where people can thrive.

Connect with Natasha:

🔗 LinkedIn

🎧 Spotify

📺 YouTube

Connect with CLARA:

🔗 LinkedIn

🌐 Website

📺 YouTube

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