The Culture Gap Leaders Can’t Afford To Ignore

Season 3

Nov 3

Written by Erin Davis

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UNAPOLOGETIC · SEASON 3 / EPISODE 5

THE CULTURE GAP LEADERS CAN’T AFFORD TO IGNORE

WITH CHARLENE THEODORE

ABOUT THE EPISODE

What happens when the culture leaders believe they have does not match the one their people actually experience?

In this episode of Unapologetic, Erin sits down with Charlene Theodore—a lawyer, advocate, Principal of Theodore Advisory Partners, former President of the Ontario Bar Association, and member of the Board of Directors of Canadian Club Toronto.

Together, they examine the gap between organizational intention and employee experience—and why that gap is where legal, reputational, financial and talent risk lives.

Their conversation explores the current pushback against DEI, why evolving the work is different from abandoning it, and why organizations cannot afford to treat workplace culture as separate from business strategy. Charlene also shares insights on talent pipelines, retention, leadership accountability and the choices organizations are making about the cultures they want to create.

This is a candid conversation about progress, responsibility and what it takes to build workplaces that are prepared for the future—not simply trying to recreate the past.

Because the language may change. The work may evolve. But organizations will still need people—and people will remember how they were treated.

MEET THE GUEST

Charlene Theodore is a workplace lawyer, leadership advisor, and founder of Theodore Advisory Partners. With more than 20 years of experience spanning employment law, governance, and organizational culture, she helps leaders understand how workplace systems shape employees' everyday experiences. She previously served as the first Black President of the Ontario Bar Association and led enterprise-wide culture strategy as a C-suite executive at one of Canada's largest law firms. Today, she advises CEOs, boards, and organizations navigating complex questions of leadership, workplace culture, and organizational change.

Website: https://www.charlenetheodore.com

Connect with Charlene: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlenetheodore/