Thriving vs. Surviving: A Leadership Lens for Building Teams That Last

In today’s fast-moving, post-pandemic world of work, the difference between thriving and surviving isn’t just a mindset — it’s a leadership lens that shapes how people show up, make decisions, and work together. When we’re thriving, we’re expansive, collaborative, and strategic. When we’re surviving, we’re reactive, guarded, and often running on fumes.

In this episode of Culture Conversations, Craig is joined by Megan Galloway — executive coach, leadership development expert, and founder of Everleader Consulting — for a deeply human conversation about what it takes to build resilient teams in the face of constant change.

Together, they explore:

• Why so many leaders are stuck in survival mode (and how to break out of it) • The neuroscience of stress and its impact on executive thinking and decision-making

• How strong relationships and proactive communication give teams a competitive edge

• The lost art of healthy conflict and how executive teams can re-learn it

• What it really means to “hold on to culture” during growth, reorgs, and transitions

• Why every team needs to define how they want to relate before crisis hits

Megan shares stories from her coaching work with executive teams across industries, offering practical tools for leaders who want to show up with more clarity, alignment, and capacity.

Whether you’re leading a high-growth company, navigating uncertainty, or simply trying to keep your team connected — this episode offers perspective, grounding, and plenty of “oh wow” moments.