Have you been watching March Madness, the 2026 College Basketball playoffs?
Have you seen the news about the Cinderella story of High Point University making it into the tournament, and then upsetting number 5 seed Wisconsin in the first round?
This is not a basketball story. This is a corporate culture story.
The NCAA Tourney is just one step in the 20-year journey of High Point and its President, Dr. Nido Qubein, to take a small, sleepy liberal arts college founded by the Methodist Church, and turning it into “America’s Premier Life Skills University.” Part of that journey has been Dr. Qubein’s intentional decision to craft an amazing company culture at HPU, based on his leadership style, the core values of the university, and the behaviors that are expected of faculty, staff, and students.
Exceptional performance in basketball is just one element of the excellence that is expected in every aspect of this growing leader in higher education. HPU has been ranked the #1 Best-Run College in the nation by The Princeton Review for two consecutive years (2025-2026), recognized for student success, innovation, and campus amenities. It is known for its focus on life skills, career readiness, and a 99% job placement rate.
Crafting Your Company Culture
One of the blessings of my career is the opportunity to teach Corporate Culture at High Point University. Last year I accepted an assignment as Adjunct Instructor in Corporate Culture in the Master of Arts in Communication and Business Leadership in the Nido R. Qubein School of Communication. The MA in CBL is an innovative approach to helping students who have received their undergraduate degree from HPU develop their knowledge, skills, and capacity to work in organizations with a strong culture.
One of the benefits of teaching Corporate Culture to these young graduate students has been the opportunity to continue researching and studying company culture and how leaders craft their culture.
Company Culture is … “The way we do things around here.” It is created around four elements:
- The leadership style of the CEO
- The Core Values that guide decisions and actions
- The behavior that is expected
- The behavior that is permitted.
There is no one right way to craft a company culture, and it is not an easy process. However, we have found some common elements in companies that have a strong culture:
- The CEO has a clear vision for the organization he or she wants to build
- They attract top talent who share the vision and values
- They are committed to living the values
- They effectively communicate the values and the expected behaviors to the organization
- They have the ability and the willingness to hold people accountable for living the values and supporting the culture
There are some very interesting examples in the Home Care industry of leaders and companies that have crafted a strong culture that separates them from the rest of the industry.
Don’t be Left Behind
The Home Care industry is moving forward at an alarming pace. We are seeing newer, smaller companies falling by the wayside, and we see mid-sized companies being acquired by larger companies that are consolidating the industry.
It is clear from my decades of experience that the Home Care companies that will survive and succeed will be those that have a clear vision for the future, that have mastered the basic fundamentals of the business, and that have crafted a culture that enables them to attract and retain top talent and create a place that fosters performance with compassion.
What are you doing to craft your company culture?
