Lead Culture with Jenni Catron

323 | How Anthony Lambatos Built a Best Place to Work (Without Perks or Fluff)

Art of Leadership Network Episode 323

What if building a great culture isn’t about perks, personalities, or one big initiative—but about the small, intentional choices leaders make every single day?

In this episode of the LeadCulture Podcast, Jenni Catron sits down with Anthony Lambatos, President of Footers Catering & Events and founder of MIBE (Make It Better Every Day), to unpack what it really takes to create a workplace where people thrive—and why culture must be treated as a daily discipline, not a one-time project.

Anthony shares the behind-the-scenes story of transforming Footers from a high-stress, old-school hospitality environment into one of the most recognized “Best Places to Work” in Colorado. Along the way, he reveals the pivotal mindset shift that changed everything: realizing his job wasn’t just to run events—it was to create an environment where people could do their best work and grow as humans.

Together, Jenni and Anthony explore:

  • Why serving your people first leads to better results for customers, clients, and the bottom line
  • How leaders unintentionally stall culture by hoping it will “stick” without ongoing focus
  • The four convictions that shaped Footers’ culture—and how they show up in real, practical ways
  • Why language, onboarding, and everyday behaviors matter more than perks or benefits
  • How leaders at every level can (and must) take ownership of protecting the culture

If you’re a leader who feels the gap between the culture you want and the one you’re currently experiencing, this conversation offers both clarity and hope. You don’t need a complete overhaul—you need one intentional step forward.

Because great cultures aren’t built overnight. They’re built when leaders commit to making it better every day.

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