𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐄𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐬

How adapting to cultural shifts and cultivating a growth mindset empower both personal growth and meaningful change within teams.

Throughout my 25-year career—about a decade with KPMG Consulting and 15+ years with Ascension—I’ve had the unique opportunity to see organizational change unfold over time. Staying with organizations long enough to witness deep cultural shifts has taught me the value of resilience and influence. Sometimes, I was at the forefront of change; other times, I adapted while guiding my teams through it. Experiencing both sides has given me valuable insights into the evolving dynamics of 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬.

In my experience, 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 reflects the collective behaviors, norms, and values that shape interactions and decision-making across the organization. It’s a guiding framework that aligns everyone with the mission and vision while adapting to meet new challenges.

On the other hand, 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐞𝐭 is deeply personal, reflecting each person’s attitude, openness to change, and drive for growth. While culture shapes the organizational environment, mindset is how each individual navigates within it, influencing their impact on the team and the broader organization.

As I engaged with evolving landscapes—driven by market demands, growth aspirations, new leadership, and technological advances—I found that balancing stability with innovation begins with each individual. 𝐵𝑦 𝑔𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑣𝑒𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑠 𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑛 𝑡𝑜 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑠ℎ 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑠, 𝑤𝑒 𝑠𝑒𝑡 𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑣𝑒𝑠 𝑢𝑝 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑒, 𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑓𝑢𝑙 𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑠—whether leading transformation or contributing from within.

𝐌𝐲 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐍𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐬:

1️⃣ 𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 – See each shift as an opportunity for personal and professional growth. Blending established practices with new ideas fosters continuous improvement and resilience.

2️⃣ 𝐀𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞 – Aligning with your organization’s mission, vision, and values provides stability amid change. This alignment helps channel efforts toward shared goals, enhancing the impact of your contributions.

3️⃣ 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐞𝐭 – Thoughtfully questioning the status quo promotes both innovation and personal development. A growth mindset allows you to see challenges as opportunities to make a meaningful difference and expand your capabilities.

By embracing both cultural and mindset shifts, I’ve found that challenges transform into growth pathways. This approach has helped me—and those around me—build a resilient environment where meaningful change and collaboration come naturally.

How do you approach balancing tradition with fresh perspectives in your own career journey?💬

About the Author: Ram Dittakavi, Sr. Director of Enterprise Analytics at Ascension, the largest non-profit healthcare organization, is a Multi-Disciplinary, purpose-driven Leader passionate about transformation, continuous learning, relentless improvement, and sharing insights for personal and professional growth through mentoring and coaching.