56. "Everyone can contribute to positive culture" with Anna Young

Embodying change: Transforming power, culture and well-being in aid organisations

In this episode of Embodying Change, Melissa Pitotti talks with Anna Young, an organizational culture specialist, to explore how humanitarian teams can align their values with their daily work. Drawing from her research and extensive experience in the humanitarian sector, Anna shares actionable strategies for creating cultures rooted in kindness, connection, and appreciation—while addressing the systemic challenges that cause burnout and misalignment. This conversation is packed with practical insights, inspiring reflections, and a clear call to action: Start small, but start today.

About Anna Young:

Anna Young is an organizational culture expert based in Tasmania and Sweden. With a background in humanitarian response, she specializes in helping teams operationalize their values, foster healthier work cultures, and sustain their impact. Anna works globally with humanitarian organizations to create great cultures through bringing values into action through team behaviours, norms and rituals. She specializes in the ‘how’ of culture creation so that everyone can be a part of the change.

• LinkedIn: Anna Young
• Website: AK Young Consulting
• Collaborative Project: Culture Matters
  
  

Key Learnings:

1. Values as Guardrails: Teams thrive when their values are lived through behaviors and decisions. Misalignment creates disillusionment and burnout.
2. Small Practices, Big Impact: Start with simple, intentional actions—appreciation rounds, thoughtful check-ins, or celebrating milestones.
3. Shared Responsibility: Team culture isn’t just the manager’s job. Each member contributes based on their unique strengths and values.
4. Addressing Inclusion: Exclusion, favoritism, and cronyism undermine team culture. Building intentional rituals fosters fairness and connection.
5. The “Big Three” for Thriving Teams: Connection, celebration, and appreciation are foundational for positive and productive team dynamics.

   Resources to Explore:
   

• Anna Young’s Culture Matters platform (collaboration with Deb Ingersoll)
• The Center for Nonviolent Communication (NVC) for tools for identifying and reconciling values
• The Working Well report featuring research on values and burnout in humanitarian organizations