About

The very first Culturati: Summit launched in 2016 with a clear ambition: to create a society of leaders who get the power of culture—and want to learn more. Held in Austin, Texas, the inaugural gathering brought together a curated group of executives, entrepreneurs, and scholars for a day of candid dialogue and connection. A featured keynote panel included Harvard Business School’s Amy Edmondson, Spotify’s VP of Operations Simon Marcus, and The Container Store co-founder Garrett Boone for a compelling conversation on psychological safety, operational integrity, and scaling values in dynamic organizations.

​

The day also featured a provocative keynote from Patty McCord, former Chief Talent Officer at Netflix, who challenged long-held assumptions about HR, performance, and trust—inviting attendees to rethink how freedom and responsibility can coexist. Austin Mayor Steve Adler brought a civic lens to the conversation, reflecting on how inclusive leadership and strong cultures can shape not just companies, but communities. From the outset, Culturati positioned itself not as a typical conference, but as a collaborative forum—where leaders could wrestle with complex challenges, share hard-won lessons, and shape the future of work together. The energy and honesty of that first Summit set the tone for what Culturati has become: a trusted, high-caliber community built on shared values, rigorous thinking, and a deep belief in culture as a lever for impact.​