We had the good fortune of connecting with Ivan Palomino and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ivan, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My thought process behind starting PeopleKult was driven by a clear and urgent market need that I observed after founding my first venture. In my earlier work, I focused on applying behavioral science to help individual employees improve their personal productivity and wellbeing. While that was rewarding, it quickly became evident that these same powerful science based principles could address a much larger and more persistent challenge: the organizational culture as a whole.

I saw that so many organizations were struggling with deep-rooted cultural pains—whether it was a lack of collaboration, flagging innovation, or poor agility. Leaders knew they had a problem, but their traditional strategies simply weren’t effective. They were investing heavily in one-off workshops or generic training programs, which we know are largely inefficient; research shows that on average, only about 15% of people will actually practice what they learn after a couple of months. These approaches fail because they don’t create sustainable behavioral change at scale; they treat culture as an abstract topic to be discussed, not a set of daily actions to be lived.

This created a significant gap in the market for a solution that was fundamentally different—one that was built on science and could deliver tangible, measurable, and lasting results. PeopleKult was created precisely to fill that void. The vision was to offer a new, more effective way to build healthier and high-performing cultures, not by just talking about change, but by systematically embedding and reinforcing new, positive behaviors into the very fabric of an organization’s daily operations.

What should our readers know about your business?
Thank you for asking. At its heart, PeopleKult is a culture transformation consultancy with a fundamental difference: we treat culture as a science. Our mission is to help organizations build high-performing, human-centric workplaces by focusing on the most critical element: measurable, sustainable behavioral change.

What Sets Us Apart

What truly sets us apart from others is our methodical, science-backed approach. We operate on three core principles:

1. We Measure Our Impact: I have a non-negotiable rule that I won’t recommend a solution if we can’t measure its impact. In a field that can feel ‘soft,’ we bring rigor and data. We diagnose the underlying cultural pain points and provide tangible evidence of improvement, moving culture from an abstract concept to a clear business metric.
2. We Are Human-Centric: We never forget that organizations are made of people. For any change to stick, individuals need to understand how it benefits them directly. Our work is rooted in positive psychology and behavioral science to ensure that new cultural habits are adopted willingly because they make employees’ work lives genuinely better.
3. We Start with Leadership: Culture is amplified from the top down. A leader’s actions and attitudes are mirrored throughout the company. Therefore, all our work begins with the leadership team to ensure they are the primary champions and role models for the change we aim to create.

Our Journey and Challenges

This approach wasn’t born in a boardroom; it was born from personal experience. I spent nearly two decades in a Fortune 500 company and witnessed countless strategic initiatives fail because the human element was underestimated. I also personally experienced the negative impact a misaligned culture can have on mental health, and leaving that environment to build a life with purpose was the proudest and most pivotal moment of my career.

But the path to where we are today was not easy. The first major challenge was the entrepreneurial mindset shift. In the corporate world, you’re an expert; as an entrepreneur, you have to embrace uncertainty and let go of perfection to validate your ideas quickly. I had to learn to fall in love with the *problem* my clients had, not my own proposed solution.

The second major challenge was overcoming the “measurement problem.” Everyone talked about culture, but few could effectively quantify it or the impact of their interventions. We overcame this by developing our own frameworks and partnering with technology companies to build tools that could scientifically assess culture and track behavioral change over time.

What I’m Most Proud of and What We’ve Learned

What I’m most proud of is the tangible, positive impact we have on the daily lives of employees. When you realize that people spend most of their waking lives at work, improving that environment has a profound ripple effect on their well-being, their families, and their communities. I’m most excited about scaling this impact, making the psychology of a thriving workplace accessible to everyone.

Along the way, I’ve learned some crucial lessons:
Your biggest risk is often inaction. My fear of leaving a stable career was far less dangerous than the reality of staying in a place that wasn’t aligned with my values.
You can’t achieve a goal you don’t practice. Culture isn’t a poster on the wall; it’s the sum of thousands of daily micro-actions. You have to build it through habit.
Balance is not a destination; it’s a skill. It requires the discipline of self-awareness—to detect when you’re off track and have the courage to take corrective action.

Our Message to the World

If there’s one thing I want the world to know about the PeopleKult story, it’s this: creating a thriving, human-centric workplace is not a mystery or a luxury; it is a measurable science and the single most powerful driver of sustainable success. Our brand is a testament to the fact that you can build healthier companies and happier, more productive people by focusing on the small, consistent behaviors that create profound change. We’re here to show you how.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
A Perfect Day on the Swiss Riviera (around Lausanne in Switzerland)

The Philosophy: The goal for the day is to share an experience that is deeply Swiss: a perfect blend of stunning nature, local tradition, and a touch of history, all enjoyed at a relaxed pace.

Morning (9:30 AM – 1:00 PM): A Walk Through the Lavaux Vineyards & Wine Tasting

We’ll start the day by taking a short train ride from Lausanne to the heart of the “Lavaux vineyard terraces”, a UNESCO World Heritage site. We’d get off at Saint-Saphorin, a beautiful, tiny wine-making village with narrow, winding alleys.

From there, we’d take a leisurely 45-minute walk through the vineyards towards the village of Rivaz. The path is surrounded by ancient stone walls and offers breathtaking, open views of Lake Geneva and the French Alps. It’s the perfect place for good conversation and incredible photos. In Rivaz, we’ll stop at a local *caveau* (wine cellar) for a *dégustation* to taste the crisp, local Chasselas wine right where it’s grown.

Lunch (1:00 PM – 2:30 PM): A Meal with a View

For lunch, we’ll stay right in the heart of Lavaux. We’d find a traditional “auberge” with a terrace overlooking the lake, like the Auberge de Rivaz or a similar spot in the area. The must-have dish is *filets de perche* (fresh perch fillets from the lake), served with a glass of the local wine we just tasted. It’s a simple, perfect pairing.

Afternoon (3:00 PM – 5:30 PM): History at Château de Chillon

After lunch, we’ll take a short train ride along the lake to the iconic Château de Chillon. This medieval island castle is one of the most beautiful and well-preserved in Europe. We’ll spend a couple of hours exploring its courtyards, grand halls, and dungeons. Seeing the dramatic views of the lake from the castle’s windows gives you a real sense of its history.

Evening (6:00 PM onwards): Relaxed Return to Lausanne

Instead of a formal dinner, we’d head back to Lausanne for a more relaxed end to the day. We can grab a casual drink or a light bite at one of the lakeside cafés in Ouchy, watching the sunset over the water. It’s the perfect, peaceful way to reflect on a day of incredible scenery, history, and flavor.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
That’s a fantastic question, and it gets to a truth I believe in deeply: success is never a solo act. It’s a constellation of support, advice, and encouragement from others who light up the path. I wouldn’t be where I am without the influence of some key people.

First and foremost, my biggest shoutout has to go to my wife. She is my bedrock. Her caring support is invaluable, but it’s her insightful and often challenging advice on life, work, and purpose that has been a true compass for me. The courage to leave an unfulfilling career and build a life aligned with my values was a journey I couldn’t have made without her by my side, reminding me of the bigger picture.

On the professional front, I’m deeply grateful for friends and colleagues who have sharpened my thinking. I have to thank Michel Heitzmann, who was instrumental in introducing me to the world of sustainability change. He helped me connect the dots between human sustainability and the work I do—building *sustainable* cultures and leadership habits that last. He broadened my perspective on what it means to create long-term, positive impact within an organization.

I also owe a great deal of credit to Zuleka Kaysan. Her profound wisdom regarding innovation has been a guiding light. In a field that is constantly evolving, she has an incredible ability to see what’s next and a practical sense of how to bring new ideas to life. Her insights have been crucial in shaping the innovative, data-driven methodologies we use at PeopleKult.

So, it’s truly this combination: the foundational support and purpose-driven conversations at home, enriched by the sharp, inspiring insights from friends and colleagues in the field. They all deserve immense credit and recognition in my story.

Website: https://www.ivanpalomino.net/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivanpalomino.official/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ipalomino/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/ivanpalomino_

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@growthhackingculture

Other: My Newsletter https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7283793344915206144

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