38: Why Culture Fails Under Pressure And How To Fix It
If you’re a high-performing leader wondering why your team of A-players still isn’t winning, this episode is your wake-up call. Bryan sits down with Katrina Ghazarian, a former athlete turned HR powerhouse, to unpack why company culture often crumbles under pressure—and how to fix it before your best people walk out the door.
From simplifying culture audits to setting goals that can actually pass a stress test, Katrina shares sharp insights on leadership habits, vision clarity, and real-time feedback. She also opens up about how becoming a mom sparked her leap into entrepreneurship—and how taking control of her schedule turned into an eight-year consulting partnership.
Whether you're a corporate executive, founder, or transitioning athlete trying to lead at the next level, this conversation is packed with clarity, challenge, and practical ways to build trust, drive results, and stop playing small.
Chapters
00:00 – Cold opens & 75-degree weather gap
01:30 – Meet Katrina: Founder, athlete, culture fixer
03:00 – Culture isn’t a mystery—look at exec behavior
07:30 – Why your goals fail the pressure test
13:00 – The real reason Katrina became an entrepreneur
17:00 – Freedom > money: the power of choosing your time
21:00 – What separates ready clients from the rest
23:00 – Visionaries vs. resistant teams: what’s really going on
28:00 – Your ideas are valid—just ship them
30:30 – Want trust? Go talk to your people
34:00 – Building equity starts with teaching the business
39:00 – The truth is feedback in real time
43:30 – Final thoughts + where to find Katrina
38:10 – Like, Subscribe & Share What’s Next!
Connect with Katrina:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrina-ghazarian/
Website: https://gamedayhr.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Gamedayhr/
Connect with Bryan:
Check out the website: www.whatsnextpodcast.com
Connect with Bryan on Instagram: @bryanfinnerty22
Connect with Bryan on LinkedIn: @bryanfinnerty
PS- Do you love this podcast? We would appreciate it if you could leave a rating and review for the show. This will continue to help us support athletes as they transition to what's next.
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