Commentary
Full Court Focus
Valuable insights from two leaders on culture building and priorities
By Dani Carbary and Tara Buchan April 15, 2025
This article originally appeared in the March/April 2025 issue of Seattle magazine.
At its best, organizational culture goes beyond creating a pleasant working environment. It drives engagement, fosters innovation, attracts and retains top talent, and supports long-term success. A strong culture nurtures employees, emphasizing values that promote well-being, belonging, and growth. But what defines an effective culture? What makes a culture problematic? Ultimately, “good” culture is unique to each organization, shaped by its mission and values.
Here’s how two leaders approach building impactful company cultures.
Culture and game plan
For the WNBA’s Seattle Storm, establishing a lasting, authentic culture has been foundational. As CEO and President Alisha Valavanis says, “From day one, our ownership group established and communicated core values that have remained consistent over the years. Our culture is built on four principles:
“Driven: We relentlessly pursue excellence. Entrepreneurial: We embrace creativity and innovation. Responsive: We prioritize our stakeholders. Respectful: We welcome diversity and integrity, treating everyone with dignity.”
These values guide daily decisions, shape annual reviews, and serve as a framework for navigating challenges. For the Storm, culture is more than a set of standards — it’s a blueprint for consistency and growth.
Culture as a team sport
Everyone contributes to a company’s culture. “Sports teach us that feedback is essential for growth,” Valavanis says. “We see feedback and coaching on the court, and we bring that same mindset into the office.” For the Storm, culture is a dynamic, collaborative set of practices. “We talk about culture as an active, living process,” she adds. “We all contribute to it, using feedback as a critical tool for authenticity.”
“We recognize that diverse backgrounds and lived experiences are what keep us competitive and foster a culture of lifelong learning.”
The team gathers feedback through huddles, surveys, manager training, and cross-department collaboration. This intentional process reflects the organization’s commitment to “Respect” (one of the Storm’s core values), ensuring employees, fans, and community partners feel connected to a shared culture shaped by their input.
Investing in trust
Trust is a vital element in company culture that takes deliberate and consistent action to establish. “Building and fostering healthy relationships is at the heart of our business,” says Esther Richmond, community affairs manager at U.S. Bank. “That starts with building trust so that everyone has an opportunity to grow and learn together.”
One way the bank encourages more trust and collaboration is by utilizing its “Business Resource Groups,” or BRGs. Those provide a space and opportunity for employees to share diverse cultural values, which can deepen trust across teams, foster meaningful connections, and ensure more opportunities for every employee to feel a sense of belonging.
Rich in values
Company culture at U.S. Bank is focused on building and promoting a diverse and inclusive workplace. A key part of the bank’s value-driven strategy is centered on addressing the racial wealth gap.
“Through our Access Commitment program, we are able to partner with community organizations who share our same values of helping communities of color advance financially,” Richmond says. “Financial wellness workshops and homeownership initiatives promote lasting economic equity. We are doing this work through deeper engagement with community partners, spreading financial wellness and helping increase homeownership in communities of color.”
By prioritizing these values, the bank continues to build a culture of equity and support.
“We recognize that diverse backgrounds and lived experiences are what keep us competitive and foster a culture of lifelong learning,” she adds. She also emphasizes the importance of “showing up” for these values in all aspects of the business and how goals, strategic vision, and plans can help form and spread company culture.
