Why Caring is a Strategy: Building Cultures That Drive Loyalty And Results

Executive Summary

In this heartfelt and thought-provoking episode of The Workplace Therapy Podcast, host Scott Arrieta, CEO of Unity & Company sits down with Marcia Donziger, founder and CEO of Culture CARES Global, to explore how workplace culture can be both a healing force and a strategic driver of business results.

Marcia shares her personal journey—from being diagnosed with ovarian cancer in her 20s to founding MyLifeLine, a nonprofit that helped cancer patients stay connected with their support networks. She later transitioned into organizational consulting, driven by her belief that care, connection, and trust are essential for people and companies to thrive.

Together, Scott and Marcia unpack:

  • The Culture CARES framework (Commitment, Appreciation, Respect, Engagement, and Safety)

  • Why psychological safety and trust are the foundation of high-performing teams

  • How to transform culture one business unit at a time, even without executive buy-in

  • The emotional and strategic impacts of mass layoffs—and how to navigate them with humanity

  • Why employee experience is not a soft skill—but a business driver

  • The role of leaders as culture carriers and examples of real-world impact

Listeners will walk away with a renewed sense of what's possible when organizations make care a cornerstone of their leadership strategy.

🔎 Show Notes

Guest: Marcia Donziger
Host: Scott Arrieta, CEO of Unity & Company
Podcast: The Workplace Therapy Podcast
Episode Title: Culture That CARES: Building Trust, Loyalty, and Impact with Marcia Donziger

⏱ Episode Highlights:

  • 2:00 – Marcia’s early career path and how a cancer diagnosis reshaped her purpose

  • 6:30 – The best and worst cultures she experienced—and what made the difference

  • 15:00 – Deep dive into the CARES framework and how it maps to Maslow’s hierarchy

  • 18:00 – Why commitment is an outcome, not an input

  • 21:00 – How to measure culture and get started, even as a mid-level leader

  • 25:00 – The fallout of mass layoffs and how to maintain trust when it happens

  • 34:00 – Case study: How a sales team used CARES to go from red/yellow to all green

  • 36:00 – Lightning round: awkward shoe moments, Miracle Mornings, and pet peeves

  • 47:00 – Marcia’s mission: Freedom, Impact, and Connection

💡 Key Takeaways:

  • Psychological safety isn't a luxury—it's a leading indicator of innovation and performance.

  • Culture can be created from anywhere in the organization—not just the C-suite.

  • Real commitment only emerges when people feel safe, seen, and supported.

  • Leaders leave a legacy—whether they mean to or not.

📬 Connect with Marcia:

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